Prison Education Partnership (PEP) Director Dan McGloin has been selected to join the Corrections Education Leadership Academy, where over the next year he will work alongside 11 leaders representing corrections agencies, colleges, and education and reentry programs across the country. Together, they will build stronger connections among corrections, colleges, communnity partners, and employers, creating more opportunities for incarcerated students to turn their education into meaningful careers.

As one of the nation’s leading prison education programs, UMA continues to help shape what high-quality correctional education looks like. Dan’s participation creates new opportunities to bring proven ideas back to Maine, strengthen pathways from education to employment for incarcerated students, and ensure UMA remains an active voice in national conversations that influence the future of prison education.

Congratulations, Dan!

UMA has earned full federal PEP certification, clearing the way for many more incarcerated students to earn a degree.

The Â鶹APP has received official certification from the U.S. Department of Education as a federally approved Prison Education Program. The certification lifts the funding caps UMA operated under for years and expands access to Pell Grants, making it possible for the university to serve many more incarcerated students than it can today.

The restriction it removes is decades old. For nearly 30 years, incarcerated people were denied Pell Grants under a 1994 congressional ban. A later pilot program allowed UMA and other schools to offer Pell-supported courses behind bars, but only under tight restrictions and financial caps. The 2020 FAFSA Simplification Act lifted the ban, though institutions still had to complete a lengthy certification process to qualify. UMA has now cleared it.

For Pamela MacRae, associate provost and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the significance comes down to reach. “The U.S. Department of Education’s approval of UMA as a Pell-eligible Prison Education Program marks a transformative milestone for our institution,” she said. “By lifting previous funding caps, this allows us to expand our reach far beyond the students we currently serve. We are proud to work with the MDOC, break down financial barriers for justice-impacted students, and provide life-changing educational pathways that support opportunities for successful community reentry.”

The case for that reach is in the results, as Jonathan Henry, vice president of enrollment and institutional effectiveness, explains. “As a public university, it is our duty to serve Maine citizens and support their educational aspirations. We are proud that this nationally recognized prison education program is altering the lives of hundreds of residents in our correctional facilities. We know from MDOC that the return-to-custody rate of PEP graduates is under 5 percent, whereas statewide the return rate is 25.5 percent over a comparable tracking period. It is strong evidence that a college education is transformative.”

The impact of the program is visible in what students do after graduation. UMA PEP alumnus T. Tyler Thibeau. Named UMA’s 2026 Interdisciplinary Studies Student of the Year, he completed his sentence and his bachelor’s degree, and enrolled in a graduate computer science program at the University of Maine, where he is pursuing both a master’s and a Ph.D. “UMA showed me the light within myself,” he said. “They gave me the space and encouragement to shed toxic layers, rediscover my curiosity and love of learning, and use that to become a researcher working to reduce recidivism.”

At the 2026 PEP commencement, graduate Jomo White looked to the future. “I don’t plan to look for opportunities. I plan to create them. We can accomplish tremendous things beyond these gates.” And Dustin Carpenter, who spent ten long years earning his Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree, expressed his gratitude to the instructors and staff who made reaching this milestone possible. “Thank you for treating our minds as something valuable,” he said. 

What began in 2006 as a single classroom funded by one philanthropist now reaches roughly 150 students enrolled across seven MDOC sites, pursuing degrees in business administration, computer information systems, mental health and human services, music, and more. With federal certification now in place, more justice-impacted students than ever can earn a degree and, with it, the foundation to build a stronger future for themselves, their families, and their communities. 

For more information about the UMA Prison Education Partnership, visit.

Imagine trying to earn a university degree in an environment defined by constant disruptions, no privacy, impending court dates and ongoing family struggles, and persistent self-doubt. For the students enrolled in the Â鶹APP’s Prison Education Partnership, these struggles are daily realities of their educational journey. 

On Wednesday, May 20, eight students at the Maine State Prison marked a hard-earned milestone. Their commencement ceremony showed what access to higher education can make possible when students are given the opportunity, structure, and support to keep moving forward. 

It took graduate Dustin Carpenter ten years of steady, patient effort to earn his Bachelor of Liberal Studies. “Time will pass no matter what,” Carpenter reflected. “Who will you be when it does? Don’t watch the clock. Do what it does. Keep going.”

Turning to the faculty and staff who supported his decade-long journey, he added a phrase that cuts straight to the core of why this work matters: “Thank you for treating our minds as something valuable.”

Access that meets students where they are 

UMA is committed to making higher education accessible to anyone in Maine, wherever they are in their educational journey. In a place like the Maine State Prison, that means giving students a genuine chance to find their confidence, earn a degree, and become problem-solvers who make their communities stronger.

The impact of that access was evident in graduates’ accomplishments and vision:

• T. Tyler Thibeau, named UMA’s Interdisciplinary Studies Student of the Year, has completed his sentence. He crossed the commencement stage at the Augusta Civic Center on May 9, and is now enrolled in a graduate computer science program at the University of Maine pursuing both a master’s degree and a Ph.D.
• Thomas Heaberlin, recipient of the Perseverance Award for his resilience through setbacks, earned his Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and was recently approved to begin graduate studies.
• Abdihamit Ali, who earned an Associate of Science in Justice Studies, put his sense of purpose simply: “I want to give more than I have ever taken.”
• Jomo White, looked beyond the limits of his current circumstances, declaring,  “Discipline can overcome doubt. I don’t plan to look for opportunities, I plan to create them. We can accomplish tremendous things beyond these gates.”

Making learning possible 

Creating access to a college education in prison takes sustained effort from everyone involved. Faculty, staff, and correctional partners work together to make learning possible in an environment where course materials, technology access, and study time can all require careful coordination. Maine State Prison Warden Nathan Thayer noted that UMA staff consistently advocate for students to have what they need to succeed, a process that requires both institutions to keep finding practical ways around barriers most college students never have to consider. 

Overcoming those barriers make each completed course, and each completed degree, especially meaningful. Keynote speaker John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild Global, spoke from experience about what education can make possible. He served a 16-year sentence beginning at age 21 before earning his own college degrees, and he reminded the audience that completing college coursework in prison sets an example of healing, perseverance, and possibility for the students who follow. 

To date, UMA has awarded more than 160 degrees through the Prison Education Partnership. Behind each degree is a student who chose to keep learning, even when the path was difficult, and who now carries that education forward into the communities they belong to. Welcoming this year’s graduates, UMA President Jenifer Cushman said, “Today, you become UMA alumni. You are part of this university and we are proud of you.” 

Professor Ellen Taylor, joined via Zoom by two of her first-year incarcerated students, presented at the 14th National Conference on Higher Education in Prison in New Orleans. Their April 10 panel, “Words, Sentences, and Lives: The Emancipatory Power of Prison Education,” explored how incarcerated students engage with academic writing and how their experiences can inform stronger, more inclusive prison education programs.

The presentation emphasized the importance of elevating student voices—especially those serving long-term or life sentences—as vital contributors to program design and to improving prison climate. Taylor and her students shared their experiences to highlight how language, literacy, and agency in storytelling empower them as scholars and potential leaders, underscoring the need to include student perspectives in policy and curriculum development. Student-led insight can enhance agency and foster meaningful academic growth behind bars.

Recently, UMA Saco students gathered for a delightful evening filled with creativity and camaraderie at the Paint Night event, generously sponsored by the Student Association.

The artistic soirĂ©e took place at the Center, where students and their guests immersed themselves in the joy of painting “Birch in Winter.” Under the guidance of Elizabeth Daly, the dedicated Student Services Coordinator for the Center, participants explored their artistic talents and expressed themselves through brush strokes and vibrant colors.

One notable aspect of the event was its inclusivity. Recognizing the diverse community at UMA Saco, the Paint Night event was not limited to the physical space of the Center. The event was also broadcast via Zoom to the Women’s Center in Windham, allowing DOC students to join in the creative festivities, fostering a sense of connection and shared experience.

The evening had laughter, shared stories, and the satisfaction of creating unique masterpieces. It was a testament to the vibrant and supportive community that defines UMA Saco.

Special thanks to the to the Student Association for making this event possible, and to Elizabeth Daly for leading the artistic journey. Such events contribute significantly to the overall well-being and sense of belonging within our community.

On February 22 at 12 pm, the Â鶹APP’s (UMA) Leadership Team and members of Maine’s Department of Corrections (DOC) hosted an event at the UMA Augusta campus to dedicate a hand-carved table built by residents of the Maine State Prison (MSP) and gifted to UMA. The table was built by DOC residents who are also UMA graduates and it recognizes, honors, and thanks Â鶹APP faculty and administration for its long history and commitment to higher education in Maine’s prisons.

The table is made from various hardwoods and supported by two columns of hand-carved “textbooks” depicting academic courses and individual faculty names. It is estimated that more than 1,100 hours went into its creation by the MSP craftsmen. The library table dedication honors Â鶹APP long history with the Maine DOC as well as recognizing the incredible artistry that MSP residents devoted to the table’s creation.

The dedication event included short presentations by Â鶹APP Interim President Joseph Szakas, Maine’s Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, Randall Liberty, faculty who teach at the prisons, MSP residents and artisans who built the table, and some graduates of Â鶹APP Prison Education Partnership (PEP).

Â鶹APP PEP began at MSP in 2006 with generosity from Doris Buffett and her Sunshine Lady Foundation. Since its inception, UMA academic programming has expanded to all adult correctional facilities in Maine. Â鶹APP PEP currently enrolls 196 male and female students seeking associate and baccalaureate degrees. In 2016, UMA became a lead institution in the national Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative that provides need-based Pell Grants to incarcerated individuals through the U.S. Department of Education, and that funding continues today.

According to the MDOC Programming Division Report in 2021, “the college program has had a transformative impact on the culture of corrections and in the mindset of residents.” As a result of the Second Chance Pell Experimental Program, the Department of Education reports that “postsecondary education in prison contributes to successful reentry for people who have been incarcerated and promotes public safety.” In Maine, the recidivism rate for participants of higher education in prison is just 5%.

In addition to its participation in the Second Chance Pell Experiment, in 2020 UMA received a $940,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation which provided the first official support position for the college program – a Prison Education Partnership Director. The Grant also provided the addition of 180 laptops and 20 mobile web-conferencing carts across all MDOC facilities increasing both programming and student participation. Since 2006, UMA has awarded over 70 degrees to DOC residents and currently there are several students pursuing Masters and Doctoral degrees.

For further information about Â鶹APP Prison Education Partnership please contact Dan Philbrick, Interim Director of Prison Education – Academics, 207-282-4111 (7433).

Join a new book club for Bangor Area students, staff, faculty and community members interested in learning more about the unequal effects of the criminal-legal system.

This book club was created to foster inclusion of justice-impacted students and community members in the Bangor area. The book we will be reading this semester is Halfway Home: Race Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration written by Reuben Jonathan Miller. As a group we will discuss key topics of the book as well as brainstorming strategies to create a more inclusive College experience for Justice Impacted Students attending UMA.

All are welcome and a copy of the book will be provided. Group meetings will start after UMA’s Spring Break (March 20th).

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Book Club organized by UMA Student Kevin Crowley with funding from the UMA DEI Council Mini-Grants.

For more information contact: katherine.darling@maine.edu or kimberly.snider@maine.edu.