In a groundbreaking achievement, seven men at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, Connecticut, became the first class to graduate from the partnership between the University of New Haven’s Prison Education Program and the Yale Prison Education Initiative.
The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, marked a significant milestone for the inmates, who received their associate degrees in general studies.
Marcus Harvin, one of the graduates expressed his gratitude and disbelief at the opportunity to study at Yale while being incarcerated. Harvin, who aspires to become a defense attorney, proudly carries two identification cards: one from Yale and the other from the prison.
He shared, “That name, Yale, means so much because I’m from New Haven, and to be able to study at Yale and begin studying in prison is unheard of. People even think I’m lying sometimes, so I’ll show them my jail I.D. and my Yale I.D.”
Alpha Jalloh, who earned the highest GPA of all the graduates said during the graduation, “I stand here proudly, but sadly, as the first person among my group of friends to earn a higher degree. This program has enabled us to dream in different ways we never through possible. It nourishes the soul and pushes us to find our place in this world.”
According to their press release, “In 2021, the University of New Haven joined the Yale Prison Education Initiative (YPEI) enabling incarcerated students to matriculate in two- and four-year degrees, creating pathways for released students on campus.”
“Not only did these students graduate from the program, they built it,” said Zelda Roland, Ph.D., founding director of the Yale Prison Education Initiative and the University’s Prison Education Program.
Roland believes in the transformative power of the program. She stated, “ee believe that this is a transformative program, that it has the potential to make a generational impact. We believe that we’re transforming not just individual student’s lives, but also the institutions that we work in, both the universities and correctional system.”
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Governor Ned Lamont attended the graduation as the keynote speaker, who emphasized the graduates’ ability to define their own futures and pave the way for others. He encouraged them to shape their legacies and tell important stories that inspire future generations.
“I loved hearing the pride you have in yourselves and what this ceremony is all about,” he said. “I heard from most of you that you define your own futures. You learn from the past, but you define your futures. I believe so much in this program and what it means,” he said.
The success of the Yale-UNH partnership and the achievements of the inaugural graduating class affirms the power of education to break the cycle of incarceration and create lasting change. Through education, these individuals have not only gained knowledge but also hope for a brighter tomorrow.
