Bridging Worlds: My Journey on the Governance Board of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network
Finding Purpose in Lived Experience
There are moments in life that fundamentally reshape your understanding of justice, opportunity, and human potential. For me, joining the governance board of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network (FICGN) was one such pivotal moment—a commitment that has become central to both my professional identity and personal mission.
The FICGN represents something truly revolutionary in the landscape of higher education and criminal justice reform: a national community of scholars and professionals who have transcended the barriers of incarceration through education, and who now dedicate themselves to creating pathways for others to follow.
The Power of Lived Experience
What makes the FICGN unique is its foundation in lived experience. Our organization is led by and for those who have navigated both the criminal justice system and higher education—individuals who intimately understand the structural, social, and personal challenges of this dual journey.
As a governance board member, I work alongside remarkable colleagues who embody the transformative power of education. These are scholars, educators, attorneys, social workers, and community leaders who have not only rebuilt their own lives through academic achievement but have committed to dismantling the barriers that stand before others with similar backgrounds.
This perspective—informed by direct experience—gives our work an authenticity and urgency that purely theoretical approaches to reform often lack. We know what’s at stake because we’ve lived it.
Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline
One of our core initiatives focuses on disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline by building its positive counterpart: a prison-to-school pipeline. This work operates at multiple levels:
Policy Advocacy
At the policy level, our board leads campaigns to eliminate barriers to higher education for justice-impacted individuals. This includes challenging discriminatory admission practices, advocating for the expansion of educational programs within correctional facilities, and pushing for increased financial aid options for formerly incarcerated students.
We’ve worked closely with legislative bodies across multiple states to implement “ban the box” initiatives in higher education—removing questions about criminal history from initial college applications. Research consistently shows these questions disproportionately discourage qualified applicants from even completing applications, despite having little to no predictive value for campus safety.
Campus Support Networks
Equally important is our work establishing support networks on college campuses. The transition from incarceration to higher education can be overwhelming. Many formerly incarcerated students are first-generation college students who must simultaneously navigate the complexities of campus life, academic demands, reentry challenges, and often, the crushing weight of stigma.
Through our Campus Allies program, we’ve helped establish dedicated support centers at over two dozen colleges and universities nationwide. These centers provide academic coaching, peer mentorship, housing assistance, and community—critical resources that significantly improve retention and graduation rates.
Scholarship and Research
The FICGN is also committed to changing narratives through scholarship. Our Research Collaborative brings together formerly incarcerated scholars and allied researchers to produce groundbreaking studies on the intersection of education and incarceration.
This research isn’t merely academic—it directly informs policy and practice. When we presented our findings on post-release educational outcomes to the Department of Education last year, it helped secure additional funding for prison education programs nationwide.
The Dignity of High Expectations
One philosophy that guides our governance board is what we call “the dignity of high expectations.” Society often approaches formerly incarcerated individuals with either stigmatizing skepticism or well-intentioned but patronizing charity. Both perspectives undermine human dignity and potential.
At FICGN, we recognize that those who have experienced incarceration bring valuable perspectives, resilience, and determination to academic settings. We don’t just help formerly incarcerated students access education—we celebrate their potential to excel and contribute to their fields at the highest levels.
This commitment manifests in our Distinguished Scholars Program, which supports formerly incarcerated individuals pursuing advanced degrees and academic careers. Several of our inaugural scholars have gone on to tenure-track positions at prestigious universities, authored influential books, and received national recognition for their scholarship.
Transforming Campus Cultures
Perhaps one of our most significant impacts has been in transforming campus cultures. Higher education institutions have historically been exclusionary spaces, often reflecting and reinforcing broader societal inequities.
Through our Campus Transformation initiatives, we work with university administration, faculty, and students to build more inclusive academic communities. This involves comprehensive training programs, curriculum development, and institutional policy reviews.
I recently led a workshop for faculty members at a partner university on inclusive teaching practices for classrooms with justice-impacted students. The feedback was illuminating—many professors had never considered how common pedagogical practices might inadvertently alienate or disadvantage students with incarceration experience.
One professor later shared how a simple adjustment—avoiding hypothetical scenarios involving criminal behavior in class discussions—had noticeably improved engagement among students who had previously been silent. These seemingly small changes collectively create more equitable learning environments.
The Ripple Effect
What continues to inspire me most about this work is witnessing its exponential impact. When a formerly incarcerated individual earns a college degree, the effects ripple outward:
– Recidivism rates plummet
– Family economic stability improves
– Children are more likely to pursue higher education themselves
– Communities gain dedicated leaders with unique insight into pressing social challenges
– Institutions gain diverse perspectives that strengthen academic discourse
I think of Maria (name changed), who joined one of our campus chapters while pursuing her associate degree after serving seven years in prison. Today, just four years later, she has completed her bachelor’s degree, is halfway through a master’s program in social work, and mentors other justice-impacted students. Her two teenage children, who once saw college as an impossibility, are now actively planning their own higher education journeys.
Stories like Maria’s are not exceptions within our network—they are the rule. They represent the transformative power of education combined with community support and the dismantling of structural barriers.
Challenges and Resistance
This work is not without challenges. Our governance board regularly confronts resistance rooted in punitive mindsets and the deeply entrenched stigma surrounding incarceration. Some institutions remain resistant to explicitly welcoming formerly incarcerated students, citing unfounded concerns about campus safety or institutional reputation.
We also face the perpetual challenges of sustainable funding and resource allocation. Despite overwhelming evidence of their effectiveness, educational programs for justice-impacted individuals remain chronically underfunded.
Perhaps most frustrating is navigating the complex web of collateral consequences that follow incarceration. Even with education and credentials, our members often face licensing restrictions, employment discrimination, and housing barriers that limit their ability to fully utilize their education.
Yet each challenge strengthens our resolve. Our governance board approaches these obstacles not as insurmountable barriers but as the next frontiers of our advocacy.
Looking Forward: The Next Chapter
As we look to the future, our governance board has established several strategic priorities:
1. **Expansion of graduate and professional school pathways** for formerly incarcerated students, with a focus on fields where they remain significantly underrepresented, including law, medicine, and STEM disciplines.
2. **Development of a national credentialing program** for higher education institutions, recognizing those that demonstrate genuine commitment to supporting justice-impacted students.
3. **Creation of an endowed scholarship fund** to ensure sustainable support for formerly incarcerated students pursuing higher education at all levels.
4. **Establishment of a publishing imprint** dedicated to amplifying the scholarly and creative works of formerly incarcerated authors.
5. **Building international partnerships** with similar organizations globally to share best practices and build a worldwide movement.
These ambitious goals reflect our conviction that education is not merely a pathway to individual redemption but a powerful tool for collective liberation and social transformation.
Join the Movement
If you’re reading this and feeling inspired to engage with this work, there are numerous ways to contribute:
– **Educators**: Examine your institution’s policies regarding applicants with criminal records, and advocate for more inclusive approaches.
– **Employers**: Partner with the FICGN to develop internship and employment pathways for justice-impacted graduates.
– **Students**: Start or join a campus chapter dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated peers.
– **Philanthropists**: Invest in scholarships specifically designated for formerly incarcerated students.
– **Everyone**: Challenge the stigma surrounding incarceration by recognizing the humanity, potential, and dignity of those who have experienced it.
Serving on the governance board of the FICGN has been one of the most profound privileges of my professional life. It has taught me that true justice is not about punishment but about creating the conditions for all people to fulfill their potential and contribute their gifts to society.
In a world that often defines people by their worst moments, the FICGN stands as powerful testimony to the human capacity for growth, redemption, and transformation. Through education, community, and advocacy, we are not just changing individual lives—we are reimagining justice itself.
—
*This blog post reflects my personal views and experiences as a governance board member of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network. To learn more about our work or to get involved, please visit our official website.*
