You and a guest will meet the Chief Probation Officer for the Western District of Michigan, Rebecca Howell over lunch/dinner in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area or virtually!
Chief Howell is directly responsible for the administration, management, leadership and supervision of all daily activities of the United States Probation Office within the counties comprising the Western District of Michigan. She works closely with district and magistrate judges while managing a staff of over 250 people, including probation officers, administrative and clerical support personnel. Pick her brain on how she rose to the top position as a woman and the obstacles she faced.
Gain insight on what it takes to be a leader in today’s society and how to maintain a competitive edge. She loves to discuss topics involving Women in Leadership, Building Your Own Coalition of Professional Allies, Professional Maturity in the Workplace, Being an Everyday Leader, and Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in the Workplace.
Rebecca Howell, resides in Grand Rapids, MI, an is the 1st African American female Chief U.S. Probation/Pretrial Services Officer for the Western District of Michigan. She was appointed to the position in June 2014. Chief Howell believes in leadership development, building a culture of accountability, and leading with integrity and transparency. She has worked in the criminal justice system for over 30 years.
Prior to her appointment as Chief, she served as the 1st African American female Deputy Chief U.S. Probation/Pretrial Services Officer in the Eastern District of Arkansas for four years and as the 1st African American female Supervisory U.S. Probation/Pretrial Services Officer in the Northern District of Indiana for eleven years. Chief Howell received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University and her master’s degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. While serving in the Western District of Michigan, Chief Howell implemented programs for Employee Wellness, Search and Seizure, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Awareness. She created an IT Department, began succession planning, and established organizational realignment and policy improvement by creating a strategic plan.
Chief Howell also increased collaboration with external stakeholders and created a culture that embraces the strengths of everyone. In addition to her robust employment history, Chief Howell served as a facilitator for the New Supervisors Program at the Federal Judicial Center, was a member of the Administrative Office’s Human Resources Advisory Council, served as the 6th & 7th Circuits’ Representative for the Chief’s Advisory Group (CAG) and was a member of the PPSO Diversity and Training Group. She is also a 2017 graduate of the Judiciary Executive Leadership Program (JELP).
Chief Howell has served on the Board of Directors for One Church-One Offender in Fort Wayne Indiana; United Methodist Community House Program; and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for A Mother’s Touch in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her favorite quote is by Jane Goodall, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Her passion for moving up in her career from a case worker, to probation officer to the top position of Chief Probation Officer was her defining her purpose. She believes she is here on purpose and for a purpose and that purpose involves making a difference in the lives of others.