Exploring the Role of Higher Education in Prison and Returning Citizens on Campuses and Communities
MODERATORS: Darren Wheelock, Theresa Tobin and Robert Smith, Marquette University
PANELISTS: Authors: Erin L. Castro, University of Utah; Coray Ames Hoffner, DePaul University; LaChan V. Hannon and Samuel Quiles, Rutgers University–Newark; Christopher (Talib) Charriez, McNeally Prison Education Consortium; Aaron Hicks and Frank Davis, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Lindsay Paturalski, University of Notre Dame; Alesha Seroczynski, Holy Cross College
Metropolitan Universities, the journal of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, provides an opportunity for scholarly peer-reviewed online publication that centers the relationship between communities and campuses. In this webinar series, authors and editors discuss key ideas from the most recent issue and invite readers to join in the work of connecting our scholarship to our practice.
This panel features authors from a recent issue of Metropolitan Universities journal, Vol. 36 No. 1 (2025): Exploring the Role of Higher Education in Prison and Returning Citizens on Campuses and Communities, and moderated by the guest editors. A variety of authors composed research and praxis articles exploring various facets of campus-community relationships. The panel and moderators will discuss their articles exploring higher education in prison and reentry programs. Through their research and scholarship, they have set forth a challenge for us to engage more deeply with higher education in prison programs and reentry approaches, inviting us to reimagine the civic purposes of higher education. After a brief overview of their scholarly work, participants will have the opportunity to engage with the MUJ authors and guest editors.
Open to all: REGISTER HERE
ABOUT THE PANELISTS
Erin L. Castro is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and associate dean for community engagement and access in the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah. Her research seeks to improve policy and practice toward greater equity in higher education for people impacted by incarceration. In 2016, she co-founded the University of Utah Prison Education Project and in 2017 launched the Research Collaborative on Higher Education in Prison. She is a founding editor for the Journal of Higher Education in Prison. She is a planning grant to stand up a national center dedicated to prison education research and leadership.
Christopher (Talib) Charriez is an organizer with East Brooklyn Congregations-IAF, founder of Redemption Scholars LLC, and a McNeally Prison Education Consortium Fellow.
Frank Davis is a community advocate and inspirationist dedicated to breaking down barriers for Justice Impacted People. Having experienced the challenges of re-entry firsthand, Frank combines his lived experience with years of professional expertise to create meaningful change. As someone who has navigated the complexities of life after incarceration, Frank leads with a deep understanding of the struggles faced by individuals coming home. His work ensures they are met with better opportunities, resources, and support systems than he once had. Frank firmly believes that solutions must come from those who truly understand the journey—from people who have lived it.
LaChan V. Hannon, Ph.D., is a former high school teacher and the current Director of Teacher Preparation & Innovation in the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers-Newark. Dr. Hannon received her Ph.D. from Montclair State University in teacher education and teacher development with a focus on parent engagement and culturally responsive school practices. Her scholarly work investigates the intersectionality of race, disability, and parent involvement as they relate to the professional development for school leaders and educators. Her research and teaching interests are on culturally responsive school/parent partnerships, teacher self-study, and teaching for social justice. Her TEDx Talk titled Young, Gifted & Black with Autism was released in 2016. Dr. Hannon has published articles and chapters in academic texts including: International Handbook of Self-Study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practices, Contemporary Justice Review, and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Aaron Hicks is a passionate community leader and founder of The Voices of Power who works tirelessly to support formerly incarcerated individuals and improve their mental health. He understands the challenges they face because he’s faced them himself. He combines his lived experience with collaborative research efforts to find practical solutions and advocate for meaningful policy change. Through his work with community organizations and research partnerships, Aaron is making a real difference in the lives of many, proving that healing and positive change are possible. University of Wisconsin–Madison Prison Education Initiative.
Coray Ames Hoffner is a professor of instruction in writing, rhetoric and discourse at DePaul University.
Lindsay Paturalski serves as the student grants program manager in the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good at University of Notre Dame, where she oversees grant funding and offers advising to graduate and undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Letters. Her doctorate is in the field of history and her dissertation explored the role of social trust in vaccination efforts in the 19th century British Empire. Her specialty is in comparative and interdisciplinary work.
Samuel Quiles’ career spans over seven years of dedicated service in criminal justice and community advocacy, currently driving change as a case manager at the Center for Justice Innovation. In recent roles, including as a Bilingual Case Worker for the City of Newark, I’ve honed skills in suicide assessment, mental health first aid, and youth mentoring, ensuring support for those affected by violence and trauma. My core competencies lie in fostering restorative justice and empowering communities, aligning with my mission to create safer, resilient neighborhoods. At the heart of my approach is a commitment to leveraging my bilingual capabilities and certifications to advocate for and support at-risk populations, reflecting the values of my organization and contributing diverse perspectives to our collective goals.
Alesha Seroczynski is a distinguished professor of practice at Holly Cross College.