Hart began her career with the Department of Corrections at Western Kentucky Correctional Complex as a correctional officer in 1995. She quickly began moving up the ranks and has held numerous positions within institutions including classification and treatment officer, unit administrator and offender information supervisor. She is a 20-year veteran of the department and served as deputy warden at WKCC before being promoted to warden at GRCC in 2015.
Her corrections career includes two years serving as a probation and parole officer in Owensboro.
Hart has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and political science from Murray State University. She is the recipient of the 2004 Commissioner's Achievement award and a graduate of the Commissioner's Executive Leadership Program.
She has been an active member of the Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency (KCCD) since 2003, and has served three terms as chapter president for the Four Rivers KCCD chapter, and 10 terms as KCCD executive board secretary. In addition, she is a three-time recipient of KCCD's "Mary Frances Cooper Award".