Cristel Vaughan is the new warden at Roanoke River Correctional Institution in Tillery, according to the state Department of Adult Correction.

Most recently, she served as a project manager for NCDAC. She began her career as a correctional officer at Odom CI in 1996 and later transitioned to Roanoke River CI as a case manager. 

Over the years, she advanced through the program ranks, eventually serving as a program director at Franklin CC and as the associate warden for programs at Franklin CC and Warren CI. 

Throughout her career, Vaughan has worked closely with internal and external partners to develop and implement programs for incarcerated individuals while overseeing major projects throughout NCDAC. Her experience includes offender management, staff development, program administration and institutional leadership. 

Roanoke River Correctional Institution is the site of Correction Enterprises 5,500 acre farm, which includes a poultry-laying operation and plants corn, wheat and soybeans and a variety of fruits and vegetables. 

An on-site cannery processes and cans crops grown on the farm and a produce warehouse distributes fresh produce and eggs to prison kitchens across the state.