Wesleyan CPE

Expanding access to bold and rigorous liberal learning since 2009.

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

“Working with the Wesleyan Center for Prison Education (CPE) has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. Connecting with students who are incarcerated made me rethink how I approach teaching and communication. I realized it wasn’t just about understanding the material I was helping with, it was about meeting students where they are, being patient, and understanding the challenges they face, like limited access to resources and the emotional toll of incarceration.

This experience has helped me become a better communicator. I’ve learned how to explain tough concepts in ways that make sense to different people from different educational backgrounds, and I’ve gotten better at adjusting my approach based on what each student needs. It’s also deepened my understanding of how systemic barriers, like incarceration, make education harder to access. This insight has fueled my desire to work as an attorney, where I can fight to remove those barriers and advocate for those who have been affected by the system.”

We appreciate you, Desaree, for these thoughtful reflections on your experience working with us, and on the two-way learning and growth that happen in the CPE classroom. Here’s to your leadership in seeding this CPE-Vets Scholars partnership; let’s make it part of your powerful legacy at Wesleyan!

https://t.co/ytDERm8cUW

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

We’re back! 📚 This week marks the launch of our largest academic program yet, with 11 classes running including "Developmental Psychology," "Richard Wright & Co.," "Democracy and its Discontents," "Cities of Islam," and "Public Speaking."
We wish our 75 enrolled students, faculty, and TAs the very best in kicking off the semester!

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Two weeks ago, we kicked off the holiday season with a gathering of CPE alums, faculty, and student partners! It was wonderful to be in such inspring company, watching classmates reunite and sharing ideas about the work ahead 🤩. A big shoutout to alumnus, emcee, and event mastermind, Troy G! 🎊

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Ever wondered what it’s like to teach at the CPE?
Hear from three of our faculty members as they discuss their courses, what the CPE’s mission means to them, and their rewarding interactions with their students!

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

How do we maintain the commitment and create opportunities to advocate, enact change, and civically engage? Inspiring CPE alums joined State Senator Gary Winfield to share about their crucial role in the struggle to restore voting rights to community members on parole and ensure that people returning from prison have the government IDs needed to rebuild their lives and cast a ballot. Thank you, @Gary4CT, for your leadership in creating a more inclusive CT system, and thank you, James Jeter and @BernardiTracie, for the same work--and for enriching the conversation with your expert perspectives for the benefit of your wider academic community. Much continued admiration for @KBDPHD for the vision to create spaces like Tuesday’s Wesleyan Engage panel on the Wes campus.

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

AS CPE turns 15 years old, we are also celebrating our 8 years of strong partnership with @ct_middlesex! "Intro to Art History," "Diplomacy & Decision-Making in International Politics," and "Programming Logic" were three of the first Middlesex-rostered CPE courses offered. MxCC was one of just 67 schools nationwide to join the 'Second Chance Pell' experiment back in 2016.

Fast forward: Through this model private-public partnership, we have now run 55 MxCC courses, seen 55 CT State MxCC degrees earned, and created a unique opportunity for all our students to be part of CT's public 2-year college system and be Wesleyan students at the same time.

Above is MxCC campus CEO Kim Hogan honoring the grads at Cheshire in June

[Wesleyan University @wesleyan_u]

For the first time, seven incarcerated students in @WesCPE received Bachelor of Liberal Studies degrees during an in-person graduation. https://t.co/RxzLfjyOP4

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Join Team CPE! Please share widely this opportunity to support talented, tenacious students pursuing Wesleyan bachelor's degrees at CT's only state prison for women:

https://t.co/Va9Eeomth0

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

“This moment is the result of choice and chance. Although for us it started with ambition, this journey began with being afforded an opportunity..." https://t.co/EpmijoePxR

[DR. BROWN-DEAN @KBDPHD]

Affirming the power and promise of higher education. #HigherEducation #prisoneducation
https://t.co/zPzYQt9ZFB

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Khalilah Brown-Dean's address to our grads yesterday went to the core -- wise, intimate, inspiriting remarks from one of our heroes! Thank you again @KBDPHD

[DR. BROWN-DEAN @KBDPHD]

Higher education has the power to positively transform the lives of generations. Honored to share a few words at this historic commencement ceremony held at the Cheshire Correctional Institute. @WesCPE @wesleyan_u

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

That moment when the nation's education secretary drops into the prep room to make sure your commencement cap is sitting proud... What an honor to have Sec. Cardona lead yesterday's procession!

[Secretary Miguel Cardona @SecCardona]

I visited Cheshire Correctional Facility for the first time in April where I met students getting a second chance through education.

Today I went back to speak at commencement where they explained to me that with access to education, that even behind bars, they became free.

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

@KBDPHD @wesleyan_u Glorious words there were, @KBDPHD ! Supremely powerful to see their power reflected back in the shining eyes of the graduates. THANK YOU!!

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Congratulations to the 21 degree recipients honored today at Cheshire CI by the likes of US Secretary of Education @SecCardona ! A magnificent ceremony and celebration of the power of education to change lives wherever the chance is given.

[Wesleyan University @wesleyan_u]

Since its founding by students in 2009, @WesCPE has been an agent of intellectual growth for hundreds of men and women in the Cheshire and York Correctional Institutions by providing access to a liberal arts education. https://t.co/6J1VlRWZDz

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

CPE students were the first college-in-prison participants to meet @SecCardona --sharing with him on his visit to the prison yesterday about their learning, this community, & their vision for what's now possible for them. Proud that CPE alumnus J Torello (Wes BLS class of '23) then had the Secretary's & @GovNedLamont 's listening ear, on the game changer that is access in prison to rigorous liberal education; & how a college-student identity, leaving prison, lets you write a new story for your life.

[CT State Middlesex @ct_middlesex]

Today we welcomed back @SecCardona and @GovNedLamont to discuss opportunities with the prison education partnership between CT State Middlesex and @wesleyan_u. To date, over 50 students have earned their associates degree through Center for Prison Education (CPE).

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Introducing Lula Konner, one of our amazing research partners!

“My name is Lula and I’m a History and Government major from NYC! Outside of the CPE, I host a WESU radio show, work for the Wesleyan Refugee Project, write and edit for The Argus, and am part of an improv comedy group.

I care about prison abolition and replacing the current punitive system with one that offers rehabilitation and resources, and I think that education is crucial to this project. Wesleyan’s CPE is a uniquely advanced and resourceful prison education program—it is one of the few programs to offer liberal arts bachelor’s degrees to students in both men’s and women’s prisons. Because of this, I have wanted to get involved with the CPE since I got to Wesleyan and I feel lucky to now work as a research partner!

I am excited to continue fulfilling the York and Cheshire students’ research requests this semester, from specific, course-related research to research related to students’ individual interests. I am especially eager to continue researching reentry/post-release resources on behalf of students who will be released soon. Hopefully, all of these forms of research give students some autonomy in accessing the information and resources from which they are largely cut off.”

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Wednesday night marked the finale of our March guest lecture series at CPE. Akua Naru shared her Keeper Project to rescue the full record of women and girls in hip-hop. Merve Emre explored Ferrante's MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, and Jason Watt shared his ancestral memoir-based project.

[Wesleyan CPE @WesCPE]

Join our small but mighty CPE team!

We are currently hiring a full-time program coordinator for our women's facility site!

Learn more and apply here: https://t.co/SVYVBTYlvg