NCHEP 2021
FEPPS was honored to have two graduates, Alyssa Knight and Felicia Dixon, in attendance at the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (NCHEP) in Denver, CO in November. Alyssa, Felicia, and BA Program Director Tanya attended panels, met colleagues and even got in a hike in Red Rocks. Alyssa and Felicia, who are both pursuing their Bachelor’s degrees at UW Seattle, have been a part of FEPPS since our beginning and exemplify what it means to be a student leader. They have both participated in the national conference in the past - as co-authors on academic papers and panelists - so it was extremely special for them to be there in person. A favorite panel of all was on abolition feminism and the ways that higher education program can be a tool of this movement.
As a part of this year’s conference, NCHEP also hosted several virtual events and presentations. We were honored to host a panel discussion about our pilot laptop program (read more about that on the next page). FEPPS BA students and AA graduates Tiana and Lisa, with FEPPS staff members Nina and Mia, described the process of implementing this program. They spoke to the importance of technology both as a pedagogical tool and a practical necessity for preparing students to attend school and simply exist in a highly technology centered world upon release. The panel attendees asked many interesting questions ranging from how our servers work to the future of the program. It was particularly exciting to see that other college in prison programs had set up the feed in their classrooms, allowing other students to listen to our presentation, ask questions, and share their perspectives.
FEPPS graduates and UW Seattle students Alyssa and Felicia at NCHEP in Denver, CO
Tiana, Lisa and Nina presenting via Zoom from a classroom in WCCW. Not pictured is Mia, who moderated the panel