Ink drawings of people studying and speaking connected by technological points and lines in a hopeful color scheme

October 29-30, 2024
Virtual

The conference has concluded. Thank you for your interest.

The inaugural Incarcerated Scholars Conference took place on October 29-30, 2024!

This virtual conference featured currently incarcerated scholars who shared their insights on the value, methods, and future of higher education in prison. This year’s theme, Vital Voices and Visions: Insights on Higher Education in Prison, reflects on the importance of centering incarcerated students in the shaping of our field.

Join us for this new annual event - free and open to all!

Have questions? Email us at isc@higheredinprison.org.

timeline:

  • July 17: Proposals Due
  • August 1: Notification of Proposal Acceptance
  • Beginning of October: Registration Opens and Conference Schedule Released
  • October 29-30: Conference

Conference Schedule

Click a day to jump to the schedule for that day.
Register Now

Welcome to the Incarcerated Scholars Conference. As a participant in this conference, we ask that you review the Alliance's Statement on Language before registering: 

The Alliance believes that language is a powerful tool in shaping the culture and narrative in the field of higher education in prison, and in society as a whole. With this in mind, and drawing upon the rich history of work that has previously been engaged on this topic, we want to express our opposition to the usage of terms that are rooted in a history of violent and oppressive systems. Along with a vast majority of our community members, we share the view that terms such as “prisoner,” “inmate,” “offender,” “convict,” and “felon” are stigmatizing, dehumanizing, discriminatory, and continue to enact violence and do not acknowledge an individual’s full identity. We consider it standard practice to abstain from such language, unless you have experienced incarceration and choose to self-identify as such. Read the full statement

Day 1: Tuesday, October 29

11:00 am
12:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Opening Remarks and Keynote

Opening Remarks and Keynote

12:00 pm
1:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Break

Break

1:00 pm
2:00 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the Classroom, Education in OUR Communities

Beyond the Classroom, Education in OUR Communities

C. Flenory, J. Navarro, D. Baca, F. Vallejo, J. Padilla, and D. Holman (California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt students)

1:00 pm
2:00 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

Voices from Abroad: Global Freedom Scholars

Voices from Abroad: Global Freedom Scholars

Dorilene Lima Pacheco (State University of Maranhão, Brazil), Xavier Capes (Global Freedom Scholar SA, South Africa), and Alejandro Miguel Sanz (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina)

This session features presentations in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Live English translation will be available.

1:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Roots of Success: Cultivating Resilience, Environmental Literacy, and Job Training Behind Bars

Roots of Success: Cultivating Resilience, Environmental Literacy, and Job Training Behind Bars

IMPORTANT NOTE: Unfortunately, this session was cancelled - we apologize for the inconvenience.

2:15 pm
3:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Expressive Arts Plenary

Expressive Arts Plenary

Showcase of creative works such as poems and visual arts

3:00 pm
3:30 pm
EST
Presentation

Break

Break

3:30 pm
4:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

Voices of Hope

Voices of Hope

Jaquan D. Ramsey and Ney Pettus (California State University Dominguez Hills)

3:30 pm
4:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Lessons Learned

Deinstitutionalization Through Educational Opportunities

Deinstitutionalization Through Educational Opportunities

Presenter TBA

3:30 pm
4:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Classroom Culture

The Significant Role of Identity Development in the Classroom for Incarcerated Students: Exploring the Complexities of Learning in a Carceral Environment

The Significant Role of Identity Development in the Classroom for Incarcerated Students: Exploring the Complexities of Learning in a Carceral Environment

Jacob M. Carlock (Undergraduate Student, University of Colorado Denver)

Day 2: Wednesday, October 30

12:00 pm
1:00 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Classroom Culture

Culturally Responsive Prison Classroom Education

Culturally Responsive Prison Classroom Education

Presenter TBA

12:00 pm
1:00 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Inside Leadership

Bridging the Gap Between Prison and University: The Importance of the Informal in Prison-based Higher Education

Bridging the Gap Between Prison and University: The Importance of the Informal in Prison-based Higher Education

Nathan and Darren (Coventry University), moderated by Dan Whyte (Director DWRM) and Cath Morgan (Assistant Professor Criminology, Coventry University)

This session features a pre-recorded presentation. Moderators will be present to provide commentary and facilitate Q&A.

12:00 pm
1:00 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

Why Communication Studies Are Good for the Incarcerated Class

Why Communication Studies Are Good for the Incarcerated Class

Dortell Williams (student of Master’s program at Cal State University Dominguez Hills)

12:00 pm
1:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Higher Ed in Prison Can Lead To Quality Jobs

Higher Ed in Prison Can Lead To Quality Jobs

IMPORTANT NOTE: Unfortunately, this session was cancelled - we apologize for the inconvenience.

1:15 pm
2:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Expressive Arts Plenary

Expressive Arts Plenary

Showcase of creative works such as poems and visual arts

2:00 pm
2:30 pm
EST
Presentation

Break

Break

2:30 pm
3:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

From Incarceration to Inspiration: The Role of Education in Personal Growth and Reintegration

From Incarceration to Inspiration: The Role of Education in Personal Growth and Reintegration

Orion Ludwick (Washington County Community College student), Jessica Brann (Washington County Community College student), Jade Pierce (University of Maine Augusta student), Audria Nickerson (University of Maine Augusta student), Krystin Mathewson (Eastern Maine Community College student), Dominique Kirk (University of Maine Augusta student), and Hillary Goding (Washington County Community College student), moderated by Erika Grover (Correctional Education Program Coordinator Women’s Services)

2:30 pm
3:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Classroom Culture

Creating Positivity During Incarceration In and Beyond the Classroom

Creating Positivity During Incarceration In and Beyond the Classroom

Jesse, Rashad, Aaron, Eriq, and Jacob (Ohio State University, Ohio Prison Education Exchange Project students), moderated by Tiyi Morris (Co-director, Ohio Prison Education Exchange Project)

2:30 pm
3:30 pm
EST
Presentation
Track: Beyond the Classroom

If You Could Pick Your Neighbor, Who Would You Rather Have?

If You Could Pick Your Neighbor, Who Would You Rather Have?

Carlos Garcia (Undergraduate Student, Hope-Western Prison Education Program)

3:30 pm
4:00 pm
EST
Presentation

Break

Break

4:00 pm
4:30 pm
EST
Presentation

Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format for presentations at this virtual conference?

ISC presentations will be webinars. Most presenters will be presenting live, though some presentations will be pre-recorded. The webinar Q&A feature will be moderated by Alliance staff.

Is this open to the public? 

Yes, this virtual event is free and open to everyone! Please share this page with your network.

Is pre-registration required? 

Yes. Please register using the link above.

How many presentations will there be each day?

Each day of the conference, there will be two sets of scholarly presentations happening at the same time. These are talks where different presenters share their research and ideas. Some presentations will be done individually by one person, and some presentations will be done in groups.

There will also be an expressive arts plenary each day, where creative works such as poems and visual artworks will be presented. Creative works will not be presented by the artist at the conference, but will be displayed/presented/read by conference staff.

What are the presentation tracks?

Each presentation is part of a specific topic or track, which presenters selected when submitting their proposals. These tracks give attendees some more insight into the content of the presentation.

  • Beyond the Classroom: How can higher education in prison impact people, communities, and the world at large?
  • Classroom Culture: How can we build supportive learning environments within the carceral space?
  • Lessons Learned: In order to improve quality practices, what are some of the most valuable lessons you would like to share with prison education programs, practitioners, prospective students, and corrections?
  • Inside Leadership: How can student advisory councils, student government, etc. enrich higher education in prison?