About Us

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The Prison Education Program was established in 2016, building on collaboration between the University of Oregon and the Department of Corrections to offer credited classes through the Inside-Out Program beginning in 2007.

We work in an interdisciplinary academic framework, and with a broad range of students, campus organizations, community groups, and national organizations working to improve educational opportunities in prisons.

Timeline at the University of Oregon

Our Team

Shaul Cohen

Shaul Cohen is the Director of the Prison Education Program. He is a professor of Geography at the UO, with research interests in conflict resolution, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and broad ideas of social theories and place and identity.

In addition to his work with the PEP, Shaul is the Academic Director of the Carnegie Global Oregon Ethics Program, an Inside-Out instructor and member of Inside-Out’s National Executive Team.

Katie Dwyer

Katie Dwyer is the Coordinator for the Prison Education Program. She is an instructor at the UO and at Chemeketa Community College, where she teaches Communication. Her interests are in engaged pedagogy, intercultural communication, conflict resolution, and human rights.

In addition to her work with the PEP, Katie is the Program Coordinator for the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights.

Josh Cain, PEP TV Curator

Josh Cain is the content curator for the Prison Education Program’s PEP TV Project. He utilizes his lived experience as a formerly incarcerated person and his extensive educational involvement to bring a well-rounded perspective to this position.

In addition to his work as a PEP Associate, Josh contributes regularly for colleges, and volunteers for Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE), a non-profit focused on prisoner advocacy and criminal justice reform.

TC*, LEAP Program Consultant

TC is a college instructor whose research and teaching areas include carceral education, restorative justice, critical race theory, and anti-racist education. TC is the content creator and project lead for the LEAP (Learning, Engagement, and Activities Packets) project, which engages with people in special housing units. This involves selecting content, designing packets that are both beautiful and useful, and responding to written work by participants. Outside of UO PEP work, TC is a leader and innovator in organizing opportunities for incarcerated folks and in working in film and other artistic spaces.

*Note: because of the nature of this project, TC is anonymous in written comments and online.

PROGRAM INTERNS

Interns assist in class and workshop facilitation, administrative support, innovating new projects, and taking care of a myriad of other necessary roles. Interns have been trained by the Prison Education Program, and most are also trained DOC volunteers and have completed the national Inside-Out training.

Beatrice

LEAP Packets

Majors: English & History

Cici

Administrative

Major: Political Science

Francesca

Policy Research & Organizational

Major: Sociology

Hannah

Executive Clerk

Major: Law

JJ

Public Relations/Donor Relations

Major: General Social Science

Kyle

Re-Entry

Major: Planning, Public Policy, and Management

Michael

Communication

Major: Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

Miriam

Events/Volunteers

Major: Global Studies

Monique

Workshops

Major: Sociology

Olivia

Packet Classes

Major: Family and Consumer Services

Paige

Faculty Liason

Major: Psychology

Sadie

Digital Media

Majors: Economics & Planning, Public Policy, and Management

Will

PEP TV

Major: Philosophy

ANOTHER CHANCE AT EDUCATION (ACE)

This OSP Education Group has been meeting regularly since 2010. In that time, the group has conducted instructor trainings, has co-authored academic writing, has invited visitors from a variety of academic and community groups, and has supported multiple educational efforts at the Oregon State Penitentiary and elsewhere in Oregon.