Since 2018, I’ve taught at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (formerly the Tennessee Prison for Women). Working with the inside students, the term we used in the LIFE Program at Lipscomb University for students who are incarcerated, has been the most emotionally challenging, joyful, and rewarding part of my career.
“The LIFE Program has taught me to think better about myself, my life and reach for my goals. Every night after class, I call home and tell my mom about all that I have learned and she learns things as well. I am thankful for a second chance at an education regardless of my circumstances. I hope that other institutions will implement programs like LIFE to inspire people to keep hope alive.”
Tabatha
I am always looking for collaborators in this work. If you are interested in prison education and have any connections in Michigan, I’d love to hear from you. For good reason, much of this work is private, but if you’re interested in talking with me about this work or would like to see my syllabi, please reach out!
Selected Work
- February 2021: Prison Education Studies and Leadership. Interview. Baylor University.
- Summer 2020: LIFE Common Read, The How of Happiness
- March 2020: The East Central Writing Centers Association Conference (ECWCA), Indianapolis, IN. “Creating a Culture of Access: Prison Writing Programs & Going Beyond the Bars” with Karen-Elizabeth Moroski
- November 2019: The Michigan Writing Centers Association (MiWCA), Mount Pleasant, MI. “Considering Accessibility in Prison Writing Programs” with Karen-Elizabeth Moroski
- Spring 2019: Working with Inside Students: First-Year Writing Course Design
Dr. Stacia Moroski-Rigney 