Job Summary

The University of Utah Prison Education Project ( UPEP ) seeks an Education Justice Coordinator to lead the coordination and support implementation of its Student Center Training Lab, a national-facing initiative designed to support college-in-prison programs in adopting and adapting UPEP’s Student Center model.

This position is funded through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and contributes to UPEP’s broader commitment to advancing educational access and justice for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. The position is a grant-funded and continuation after one year is contingent upon performance, while continuation after three years is contingent upon availability of funds. Individuals with direct lived experience and expertise with the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.

UPEP is a multidisciplinary initiative that provides on-site college-level curriculum and educational enrichment programming to students incarcerated at the Utah State Correctional Facility ( USCF ). The program offers a bachelor’s degree, credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing courses, workshops, and guest lectures grounded in the humanities and educational justice frameworks.

Since 2024, the University of Utah’s Prison Education Project ( UPEP ) has been developing a Student Center inside the women’s-designated unit at USCF . The center is an educational hub led by incarcerated Education Advocates that centralizes academic resources, peer tutoring, and humanities programming for all incarcerated learners in the unit. More information about the Student Center can be found here: https://prisoneducationproject.utah.edu/student-center.php.

The Education Justice Coordinator will play a dual role supporting the launch and implementation of a Training Lab to assist college-in-prison programs across the country to adopt the model. The Coordinator will work closely with staff, instructors, community partners, and volunteers to ensure that programming at USCF remains responsive and aligned with UPEP’s mission.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibility: Student Center National Training Lab Coordination

The Coordinator’s central responsibility will be supporting the development of the Student Center Training Lab. They will significantly contribute its design by engaging in the following:

• Coordinate the development and implementation of Training Lab curriculum and materials
• Organize and help facilitate trainings for partner programs
• Schedule and coordinate meetings and training sessions on the University of Utah campus
• Coordinate and support site visits to the Utah State Correctional Facility
• Manage logistics for visiting practitioners, including communication, preparation, and follow-up
• Support ongoing technical assistance and relationship-building with partner sites
• Track participation, outcomes, and continuous improvement of the Training Lab

UPEP Student Center Coordination

In addition to providing key coordinating support for the Training Lab, the Coordinator will provide onsite support and coordination for the day-to-day functioning of the Student Center at USCF . This work includes:

• Facilitate weekly Student Center programming at USCF
• Support incarcerated Education Advocates in implementing programming through planning, communication, resource distribution, and coordination
• Assist off-site with center scheduling, materials preparation, and program logistics
• Help sustain the Student Center as a responsive, student-driven educational hub through ongoing off-site support and collaboration
• Participate in weekly UPEP meetings at USCF

This job description is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate’s degree in a related field, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience), plus two years of related experience required; ability to use logic and reasoning to prioritize tasks; computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet software, and/or database software preferred; demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills also required.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be preferred.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or two years related professional experience
• Demonstrated interest in education justice, prison education, or carceral studies
• Evidence of strong organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and manage multiple priorities
• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check required to work at the Utah State Correctional Facility