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.

The Â鶹APP is pleased to announce the following award recipients from the UMA community

Katherine Weatherford Darling, Assistant Professor of Sociology, was selected as a recipient of the Donald Harward Faculty Award for Service-Learning Excellence. This award recognizes outstanding Maine faculty who integrate community or public service into the curriculum and who work to institutionalize service-learning. Recipients are nominated and those selected demonstrate a clear evidence of reflection, community benefit, reciprocity with community partners, and a commitment to advocating for service-learning and/or community action on campus and beyond.

Katherine Weatherford Darling is a medical sociologist and health equity researcher with training in feminist science studies and the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics. Her research and pedagogy actively challenge hierarchies of expertise within and beyond the university. With students and community partners leading the way, she uses participatory sociological methods to understand how social inequities impact the health of Maine communities. Students’ deep personal knowledge and embedded relationships with their communities are essential to their research, and Katherine encourages them to reflect on the interactions between their experiential and academic learning processes.

Heidi Toner, recent UMA 2022 Graduate and previous Student Government Association Chair, received the Heart and Soul Student Award. This recognizes Maine undergraduate students who are actively involved in transforming their campuses and communities into environments of civic engagement. Through a nomination process, six students are selected for this honor. The award goes to students who have developed positive community and campus change; worked to institutionalize their community projects; demonstrated leadership; and implemented innovative approaches to social issues.

Heidi Toner was a non-traditional student in Mental Health and Human Services Program with a concentration in Addictions Counseling on the Bangor campus of the Â鶹APP (UMA-Bangor). Her two teenage daughters are her motivation and inspiration. Heidi has served as President of the Bangor Student Government Association at UMA-Bangor, and also advocates for those affected by substance abuse through the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project. Her efforts on campus to bring self-care and wellness programs, breakfast/snack baskets, and toiletries to the students of UMA-Bangor have been her passion.

Â鶹APP Social Science Program received the President’s Campus Leadership Award. This award recognizes a student organization or campus department at each MCC member institution for contributions to community service, service-learning, and/or civic engagement efforts on their campus.

Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (MPAC) was awarded Community Partner of the Year Award for their work with Â鶹APP Prison Education Partnership.

Salvatore Cardinale was awarded the PILLARS Honorable Mention Student Award. This award recognizes Philanthropy, Innovation, Learning, Leadership, Action, Responsibility, and Service.

Maine Campus Compact is a coalition of 18 member campuses whose purpose is to catalyze and lead a movement to reinvigorate the public purposes and civic mission of higher education. They seek to transform campuses in ways that develop better informed, active citizen problem-solvers, stronger communities, and a more just democratic society.

Amy Rahn, WICCD Faculty Award

Amy Rahn, Assistant Professor of Art History and Charles Danforth Gallery Director

Dr. Rahn is a phenomenal colleague and has passionately supported WICCD’s work since arriving at UMA a few years ago. In addition to her instrumental work on the WICCD book grant project, she has worked to invigorate the curriculum as well as co-curricular initiatives like the exhibition of SĂ©an Alonzo Harris’s photography, which included several events and workshops as well as the related project “Light Confirms My Reality.” This community based photo (and other 2D art) project and exhibition was led by artist SĂ©an Alonzo Harris, in collaboration with faculty and students at UMA and the Charles Danforth Gallery. As described, “This project is a proclamation of radical inclusivity, an invitation to see differently, and transform our perceptions, and therefore our images, of others.” She and Harris also guest taught a session of INT/HON 188: Race and Social Justice. WICCD applauds Dr. Rahn’s service to our campus and larger community!

Amanda Nowak, WICCD Staff Award

Amanda Nowak, Director of the UMA Prison Education Partnership

Director of the UMA Prison Education Partnership

For the last two years Amanda Nowak has directed the Prison Education Partnership at UMA. She has worked collaboratively with many faculty and staff across the UMA, USM, and Maine Department of Corrections systems to enrich the educational opportunities for Maine’s incarcerated and justice-impacted scholars. We wish to honor her passion, dedication, and courage in confronting obstacles and creating pathways to quality education for all.

Audrey McGee and Celena Zacchai, WICCD Student Award

Audrey McGee, DEI Action Club member, organizer for the Radical Self-Care Series and the Health Equity Dialogues, Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator.

During her time at UMA, Audrey has been an active participant in the DEI Action Club and a presenter and organizer for the Radical Self-Care Series and the Health Equity Dialogues. Audrey is passionate about bringing opportunities for healing trauma to marginalized individuals and communities. She will be completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies of Embodied Social Justice—Culture, Community, and Trauma and a Minor in Art. Audrey has dedicated her life work to the use of embodied practices for healing and social justice. As an RYT-200 Yoga Teacher, she recently completed a 300-hr training to become a Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator. She plans to continue this work post-graduation.

Celena Zacchai, UMA Rockland Center Student, Newman Civic Fellow, and Maine Policy Scholar

Celena is a self-actualized scholar and a dedicated civic leader who supports food insecurity initiatives and refugee literacy, among other pressing social justice issues in the greater Â鶹APP community. A distance writing tutor since 2019, Celena has supported the peer learning community of the UMA Rockland Center and expanded that influence to include other UMA campuses and the University of Maine System at large. Celena has also been a Newman Civic Fellow and a Maine Policy Scholar, a legacy she continues by mentoring fellow tutors pursuing these same opportunities now. This is only the short version of Celena’s achievements and she will be further honored at Â鶹APP commencement ceremony!

WICCD Book Grant Program, 2022

With WICCD’s book grant program this year we were able to support two staff members, one faculty member, and nine students in their research projects related to a wide variety of topics related to gender, sexuality, and social justice. Here’s what a few students had to say about their book requests.

About WICCD

WE ARE WICCD!: Women Invigorating Curriculum and Cultivating Diversity

WICCD honors the diversity that exists in Maine by educating our campus and larger community about local, national, and international issues, initiatives, and ideas related to diversity. Because women have been historically underrepresented in social, cultural, political, institutional, and economic spheres, WICCD centers women, gender, and sexuality while working to challenge injustices and inequalities of all kinds. Led by faculty and staff who work toward gender equality and social justice, WICCD provides opportunities for education and engagement to raise awareness around these important intersectional social challenges.

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*Special Film Access – March 11-24 only.