How a New Fellowship Elevates Justice-Impacted Leaders in Postsecondary Education in Prison

As the field of postsecondary education in prison continues to grow, there is a significant and timely opportunity to elevate formerly incarcerated individuals into leadership roles. Their unique perspectives and firsthand experiences make them valuable assets in shaping the future of prison education. To further amplify their impact, it's essential to provide these leaders with the skills and connections needed to effectively oversee organizations and drive meaningful change.

The Rockwood Leadership Institute, with Ascendium’s support, is addressing this need through its inaugural 2024 Fellowship for Leaders in Higher Education in Prison. This is a critical initiative designed to deepen the pipeline of formerly incarcerated leaders who are advancing change in the field of postsecondary education in prison. By centering these leaders, the fellowship seeks to empower them with the tools and networks they need to succeed in their roles and foster a more interconnected and collaborative field.

The fellowship brings together 24 leaders from across the country who are engaged in various postsecondary education in prison initiatives. These leaders will benefit from an intensive program that focuses on increasing leadership capacity, strengthening relationships within and across the sector, and creating opportunities for collaboration. By improving individual leadership skills and building strong, enduring partnerships, the fellowship aims to position these leaders as powerful agents of change.

Effective and authentic leadership in this field requires a range of highly developed skills. Leaders must be able to manage complex partnerships, align with other organizations and networks toward ambitious goals, and forge strong partnerships across diverse boundaries of issue area, race, geography, and social identity. The Rockwood fellowship plays a vital role in addressing these needs, ensuring that justice-impacted leaders are well-equipped to guide their organizations and contribute to the broader postsecondary education in prison movement.

Oakland, California-based nonprofit Rockwood Leadership Institute has a proven track record of developing skilled leaders in the social sector. Since 2000, Rockwood has helped leaders overcome personal limitations and secure the critical skills needed to align human resources with a compelling vision and forge partnerships. The fellowship’s focus on justice-impacted leaders is a natural extension of Rockwood’s mission, addressing a significant void in leadership training within the postsecondary education in prison sector.

Among the 24 leaders selected for this fellowship is Shon Holman-Wheatley, director of transitional programs at the Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI). Holman-Wheatley, who has seven years of personal reentry experience, leads a team of reentry professionals dedicated to offering individualized transitional services to students and alumni of Higher Education Programs. His mission is to help justice-impacted individuals achieve social, economic, and spiritual well-being post-incarceration. Despite his extensive practical experience, Holman-Wheatley acknowledges the need to continuously enhance his leadership skills and build networks to potentially lead similar organizations in the future.

“[Postsecondary] education in prison, especially reentry programs, is a niche field,” Holman-Wheatley says. “Not all prison education programs or higher education in prison initiatives include reentry components, limiting peer connections in this specific area. I aim to collaborate with other fellows to strengthen my leadership abilities and create a network that supports not only my goals but also our students and alumni.”

Similarly, Jessica Hicklin, co-founder and co-executive director of Unlocked Labs, recognizes the fellowship as a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth. "As someone new to this field, it's an honor to be included in the inaugural fellowship cohort alongside colleagues who have already accomplished amazing things,” says Hicklin. “The fellowship comes at the perfect time for Unlocked Labs, as we're currently transitioning into a growth phase while also assessing what thought leadership and strategic partnerships should look like in a field where so many organizations are doing incredible work. Through this fellowship, I hope to find the space to think deeply about the future of Unlocked Labs and to collaborate with my fellows on how our next steps can serve not only our mission but also the broader community."

To learn more about the 24 leaders selected for the fellowship, click here.