In 2019, the Alliance launched a program to strengthen the network of higher education in prison programs. The Higher Education in Prison Cohort Program promotes meaningful co-learning and collaboration. We do this by supporting program leaders who are working to create, sustain and grow higher education in prison programs.

The inaugural two-year cohort includes 12 programs from around the United States. Program participants are at different stages of their evolution, they offer many different types of programming, and have various leadership structures.

The cohort represents the diversity of the higher education in prison stakeholder community, including degree and non-degree granting programs, various institutional types, geographic locations, types of facilities, size of program, diversity of staff, leadership, and program participants and existing program infrastructure. The next cohort will begin in 2021.

2019-2021 Higher Education in Prison Program Cohort

Boston University Prison Education Program

College/University Partner(s):

Boston University

Cohort Representative:

Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, Faculty Director

Website:

visit program website

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Campus Within Walls, Southside Virginia Community College

College/University Partner(s):

Southside Virginia Community College Foundation

Cohort Representative:

Lisa Hudson, Coordinator

Website:

visit program website

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Community Education Project, Stetson University

College/University Partner(s):

Stetson University

Cohort Representative:

Pamela Cappas-Toro, Co-Director

Website:

visit program website

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Feather River College - Incarcerated Student Program

College/University Partner(s):

Feather River College

Cohort Representative:

Kim F. Beaton, Assistant Dean of Instruction

Website:

visit program website

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Freedom Education Project Puget Sound

College/University Partner(s):

Tacoma Community College

Cohort Representative:

Tanya Erzen, Faculty Director

Website:

visit program website

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Hawaii State Department of Public Safety Corrections Program Services Education Branch

College/University Partner(s):

University of Hawaii in Manoa’s Community Colleges (Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu Community College, Windward Community College, Maui Community College, and Hawaii Community College)

Cohort Representative:

Amelia G. Jodar, Corrections Education Program Manager

Website:

visit program website

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North Carolina Field Minister Program

College/University Partner(s):

The College at Southeastern

Cohort Representative:

Deanna Kabler, Student Access Coordinator

Website:

visit program website

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Prison Neighborhood Arts and Education Project, Northeastern Illinois University

College/University Partner(s):

Northeastern Illinois University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Chicago

Cohort Representative:

Erica R. Meiners, PNAP Co-Director of Higher Education

Website:

visit program website

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Quinnipiac/Trinity Prison Education Program at York

College/University Partner(s):

Quinnipiac University, Trinity College

Cohort Representative:

Linda Meyer, Professor of Law, Quinnipiac University

Website:

visit program website

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STEP UP/Shasta College

College/University Partner(s):

Shasta College

Cohort Representative:

Robert Bowman, Program Director

Website:

visit program website

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Sacramento State Prison Education Program

College/University Partner(s):

California State University Sacramento, Los Rios Community College District

Cohort Representative:

Mary Maguire, Prison Education Program Director

Website:

visit program website

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Tennessee Higher Education Initiative

College/University Partner(s):

Nashville State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, Roane State Community College

Cohort Representative:

Ka-Rhonda Porter, Academic Coordinator

Website:

visit program website

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