Prisoners Advisory Committee
Our students are a vital part of UBB. One part of the UBB model that sets us apart from other prison education programs is the level of involvement our students have in the operation of UBB. At the core of this student involvement is our Prisoners Advisory Committee, made up of 18 students who have demonstrated a commitment to higher education and the mission of UBB. The Prisoners Advisory Committee meets weekly with UBB staff to help us identify program needs, address student concerns, and ensure that our program remains closely linked to the needs of those we serve.
Devon is 32 years old and from Seattle, WA. He is serving a 25-year sentence and has been incarcerated for 12 years. Devon currently works as a UBB Teaching Assistant and helps facilitate the UBB College Prep Math course. Devon enjoys helping others pursue their educational aspirations, and he is currently working toward his Bachelors of Specialized Studies.
Orlando is a long-time student with UBB. He completed his Associate of Arts in December 2011 and is now beginning work on his Bachelor’s Degree.
Michael
Jeremy has been involved with UBB since 2007 and currently working toward his Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Sciences. ”I can’t imagine who I would be today if I weren’t given the opportunity to really pursue the education that I have now. I can gladly say that I’m no longer the teenager that I was when I came to prison. I am now a young adult with a bright future, even in prison.”
Jeremiah is completing his Bachelor’s Degree through UBB. Jeremiah was incarcerated at 14 years old. Now 34, Jeremiah is emphatic that education is one of the few things that makes his life worth living.
Kimonti is a student and Teaching Assistant with UBB. Kimonti has one semester left before he becomes a 2012 graduate and receives his Associate’s Degree in Social Science. At 18 years old, Kimonti was convicted for his role in a drive-by shooting. Now at 32, Kimonti has emerged as a responsible man and leader who is determined to make a difference in the lives of other young men who come to prion from low-income communities. His wife, family, and community support continue to fuel his passion to give back to both communities from the inside and out.
Noel has been a student with UBB since 2009. Noel works as a UBB Teaching Assistant and helps facilitate the College Prep Math and Intermediate Algebra courses. He will graduate with his Associate of Science after the January 2012 semester and is interested in pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree.
Jeff is stupendously proud to have earned one of the first two Associate’s Degrees earned through UBB. Jeff is currently working on finishing his Bachelor’s Degree and hopes to finish his degree before his release in a few years. Upon his release, he hopes to apply to join the outside UBB Advisory Committee to “give back to the program that has given so much.”
Felix
Jeff
Josh
Trevor is a former Navy submarine mechanic and a future nutritionist and bodybuilder/personal trainer. His academic interests include advanced math and science, and he is currently pursuing his Associate’s Degree. Trevor tutors all levels of math, and he is one of the first UBB students to take Calculus.
John was incarcerated in 1984 at the age of 16 and has spent decades in prison facilities across the country. He is an author and artist and has participated in numerous academic and creative projects during his incarceration. John’s work was recently published in the Spring 2011 issue of Circle Magazine. John also works to improve legal and penal conditions for juveniles.
Arthur has been involved with UBB since coming to WSR in 2008. Arthur currently works as a UBB Teaching Assistant and facilitates the Spanish courses. He is a published author, winning awards from the PEN American Center in 2008 and 2010. His work was recently read by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Junot Diaz, and rapper, Talib Kweli.
Timothy has been incarcerated for over 30 years, and during this time, he has discovered the tremendous and life changing value of education. Although it has taken him nearly 30 years, Timothy earned his Associate of Science degree in 2011. He is a published author and has been a proud member of the Advisory Committee since the beginning.
Bill has tutored with prison education programs at GED/ESL and community college levels for almost 20 years. Bill has facilitated numerous UBB courses, including College Prep Math, College Algebra, Small Business Management, and Human Geography. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration.
Atif is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree and presently working on an honor’s thesis examining fatalism and suffering in modernity in the work of Nietzsche, Wilde, Kafka, Kubrick, and David Foster Wallace. Atif helps with the UBB College Prep English class and tutors students in composition.
Anthony is one of UBB’s first students and a founding member of the Prisoners Advisory Committee. Anthony facilitates our College Prep Math course and tutors students in all levels of math. Anthony will earn his Associate of Arts in December 2011 and will begin work on his Bachelor’s Degree in January 2012.