At CPEP, delivering a high-quality college-in-prison program means far more than offering courses or degree pathways. We work to create something that feels much closer to a true college experience—built carefully within, and despite, the limitations of the prison environment. That means creating spaces for collaboration, discussion, and meaningful intellectual exchange where students can engage with complex ideas in a thoughtful and nonjudgmental atmosphere. In an environment without internet access, open spaces, or freedom of movement, we focus on liberating the mind: helping students strengthen their critical thinking, communication skills, and confidence in understanding and expressing their place in the world.
We support this work through enrichment programs that extend learning beyond the classroom, including debate clubs, writing workshops, book clubs, and guest lectures. A cornerstone of these efforts is our partnership with Cornell University Library and the work of our “radical librarian,” Dr. Maddie Reynolds, who helps expand access to research and academic resources inside prison walls. Each semester, we tailor programming to the unique needs and culture of each facility we serve, with 40–50% of our students participating in these voluntary academic enrichment opportunities. Together, these programs help create the kind of vibrant intellectual community that defines the college experience itself.
Published Student Writing
The Human Side of Us: Writings from Students of the Cornell Prison Education Program is the product of nearly two years of work and advocacy. This October we will be holding a reading event at Auburn Correctional Facility. This will be a chance for our student authors to read their work to an audience of their peers, CPEP staff, instructors and volunteers, DOCCS administrators and other VIPs from across the state. We are incredibly excited to celebrate this achievement with our students and hope to be able to hold a similar event at Cayuga later this fall with their authors.
Shakespeare In The Age Of Mass Incarceration
This new anthology explores how Shakespeare is taught, performed, and experienced within prison environments—through the eyes of both instructors and incarcerated students. Drawing from college-in-prison programs across the country, the collection highlights the transformative potential of engaging with Shakespeare in the classroom and on stage.
We are proud to share that the anthology includes a chapter by CPEP students Julio Iglesias and Chester “Al” Wood, along with CPEP instructor and outgoing advisory board member Dr. Stephen Kim. Dr. Kim worked and wrote alongside Julio and Al for about a year following a class he taught on Shakespeare, which both students excelled in. The project represents the culmination of a three-year collaboration that navigated the challenges of working across correctional programs nationwide.