Join us as we meet with Georgia leaders about the recently announced shutdown of the Georgia State University Prison Education Project. 

Open since 2016, Georgia State University announced it would close its prison education program, citing funding constraints. Although current students in the program will get an opportunity to finish their degree, this devastating turn of events will impact the many people incarcerated in Georgia.

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Panelists:

Owen Cantrell, Associate Professor of English, GSU former coordinator of GSUPEP

Owen Cantrell is a scholar, teacher, and writer living in Atlanta, Georgia. He began teaching in prisons in 2011 with Common Good Atlanta. From 2019-2023, he served as a coordinator with the Georgia State University Prison Education Project

Abby Cook, Student, Georgia State University Graduate Student

Abby Cook is a formerly-incarcerated graduate student in Georgia State University’s Political Science department. She is currently co-teaching a politics and punishment senior seminar while working on policy and research initiatives around higher education in prison.

Katherine Perry, Professor of English, GSU, co-founder of GSUPEP

Katherine Perry is a writing teacher, a poet, and a long-time advocate for Higher Education in Prison. She began her prison education work with the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project in 2004 while in graduate school at Auburn University, and she co-founded GSUPEP in 2016.

Isaac Sandoval, former GSUPEP student

Isaac Sandoval received a certification with Pathfinders Organization in 2010, and has since mentored men and women who have been incarcerated as well as those in addiction and recovery. Isaac currently functions as the Director of Medical Operations for the nation’s largest private insurance driven out-patient treatment program, Good Landing Recovery, in Dacula, Georgia.He is responsible for examining and coordinating the facility's activities to guarantee medical quality while assisting with training and implementing effective workflows within the department.

Dana Wiggins, Professor of History, GSU, instructor with GSUPEP

Dana Wiggins is a professor of History and Affiliate Faculty for the Institute of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She began working with prison education in 2017 and teaches classes at Walker State Prison in north Georgia.

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Learn more about the GSUPEP closing:

Inside Higher Ed: Georgia University’s Decision to Close Prison Program Prompts ‘Heartbreak’ (April 12)

Georgia State University: Message for students

Atlanta News First: GSU cancels prison education program despite student success (April 1)

Open Campus: Georgia State University pulls the plug on prison education (March 21)