She powerfully relates how stories bring theory to life.  Her fascinating real life stories titled  Silas and the Beer Bottle, Death by Cop and Bloody Snow, are lessons of building influence by trusting oneself, seeking hope and understanding that things are not always as they seem.   Terryl highlights the influence of stories you tell yourself and others, sharing “Most people, including myself, underestimate our stories.”

Terryl Cadwell is an adjunct professor for both the University of South Dakota and the University of Sioux Falls coordinating criminal justice practicums for upper level college students and teaching policing and corrections in a “smart” classroom setting.  For ten years she held the top administrative position of Chief of US Probation and Pretrial Services for the District of South Dakota, where she was responsible for community safety and successful outcomes for over 700 federal offenders under supervision with one of the highest risk offender populations in the nation. 

Terryl has extensive experience as an assistant deputy, probation/parole practitioner and court services officer.  Her multidimensional knowledge base in justice system practices, human behavior and administrative excellence led her to become a sought after national speaker.   She has over 30 years of background partnering with tribal, state, and federal judges, attorneys, defendants and offenders, law enforcement agencies, and therapeutic treatment providers.

She received her BA in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and an MS in Selected Studies (emphasis communication/counseling) from the University of South Dakota. Additionally she is a graduate from the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) Leadership Development Program, Washington, DC and is a FJC National Training Academy Instructor, Baltimore MD and Charleston SC.  Terryl also is a National Rifle Association Firearms Instructor from Front Sight, NV, teaching defensive handgun use.