Beyond Recidivism: Reconsidering the value and purpose of higher education in prison
Facilitated by Will Leaver and Isak Tranvik, Metro State University
This Community of Practice is designed to offer participants the opportunity to critically and constructively reflect on the value of and purpose of higher education in prison. Co-facilitated by Metro State University’s prison education program Faculty and Reentry Coordinators, its sessions are organized to open up dialogue beyond the “reducing recidivism” framework. There is clearly more to higher education in prison than attempting to lower rates of re-incarceration. But what, exactly, constitutes “more”? To answer, sessions spotlight the various higher education in prison models: vocational, professional, liberal, and a final model we call “co-creative” or “public.” Within this general framework, participants will discuss the following questions, among others:
- What do the best educators do to support justice- impacted students during periods of incarceration?
- What, if anything, does that support look like upon release?
- What can/should higher education institutions and/or community organizations do to support students while incarcerated?
- What, if anything, does that support look like upon release?
This Community of Practice will be of interest to higher education faculty/staff and community organizations interested in or committed to supporting justice-impacted students. Applicants are expected to commit to attending all sessions. This CoP will meet the following Fridays, from 1:30-3:00 p.m.:
- January 17, February 21, March 21, and April 18
Meet the Facilitators
Will Leaver is a dedicated researcher and consultant specializing in HEP, reentry, and phenomena shaping the reality of the incarcerated. With advanced degrees in Qualitative Research, Advocacy, and Political Leadership, Will examines how power structures shape the identities and realities of incarcerated individuals. He has collaborated with JFF to enhance reentry programs nationwide and contributed to FICGN’s peer invention initiatives. Will seeks to strengthen transformative educational pathways that challenge and redefine the role of power in the lives of the incarcerated, so like him, they can escape the cycle of incarceration.
Isak Tranvik is an assistant professor of Individualized and Interdisciplinary Studies at Metro State University. He is currently the Faculty Coordinator of Metro State’s prison education program, TREC (Transformation and Re-entry through Education and Community). His teaching career began in an eighth-grade classroom at Gateway Middle in the St. Louis Public School District. Since then, he has taught courses on democracy and popular politics in a variety of contexts: local community colleges and international research universities, private liberal arts colleges and Catholic migrant shelters, public schools, and state prisons. His writing is similarly wide-ranging: his work on dissent, democratic theory, and religion and politics has appeared or is forthcoming in peer-reviewed journals like Political Theory, Constellations, Perspectives on Politics, and Comparative Political Studies. He is currently working on a book manuscript that examines the ways nonviolence helped construct the modern concept of “religion”;—and the ways that the concept of religion remakes what is usually understood as nonviolence.
Community-Engaged Learning Deep Dive
Facilitated by Dr. Amy Zsohar and Dr. Anthony Molaro
Join a dynamic learning community dedicated to nurturing the growth of community-engaged learning! Designed for educators, staff, and leaders with experience in community-engaged learning or service-learning, this Community of Practice offers a space where ideas take root and flourish. Just like planting seeds, we believe that the best learning happens when it’s cultivated together. Here, we believe in the power of co-creation, where each member’s voice shapes our shared learning journey. Rather than adhering to predefined topics, we will collectively explore emerging themes, address real-world challenges, and discover new strategies that can elevate our practice. This is a space to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build a supportive network that advances the impact of community-engaged learning. If you are looking for a dynamic learning community dedicated to nurturing the growth of community-engaged learning, a 2.0 if you will, this is the Community of Practice for you.
Applicants are expected to commit to attending all sessions. This CoP will meet the following Thursdays, from 2:00-3:30 p.m.:
- January 30, February 27, March 27, and April 24
Meet the Facilitator
Dr. Amy Zsohar is an award-winning educator with over 20 years of experience teaching communication courses at multiple levels from high schools to colleges and universities, landing at Inver Hills Community College in South Saint Paul. Through civic engagement, community-based learning, equity-minded practices, and anti-racist pedagogy, she centers her classes around the students finding agency, becoming advocates, and active participants in their chosen communities. Through a critical cultural communication stance, Dr. Zsohar works to create spaces of curiosity and critical thought through not only her classroom, but throughout her campus.
Dr. Anthony Molaro is a nationally recognized speaker, educator, and consultant. He teaches courses in management, marketing, and public services in the MLIS Program at Saint Catherine University, focusing on supporting online graduate students and facilitating enriching learning experiences for adult learners. His expertise spans inclusive teaching, student success, and community-engaged learning, and he has contributed extensively to these fields through his writing and presentations. Dr. Molaro is the 2024/25 Teaching Fellow with the Center for Community Work and Learning at Saint Catherine University, where he continues to innovate and elevate the practice of community-engaged learning.
