稀缺猎奇网 Awards $400,000 to Nine Institutions to Support Development, Expansion of Higher Education in Prison Programs

BALTIMORE (September 9, 2026) — Nine colleges and universities will receive a combined $400,000 to advance programs to provide higher education in prison in 稀缺猎奇网. The 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) announced the grants today following a competitive proposal process. They will enable the expansion of services to existing Prison Education Programs (PEP) and the establishment of new opportunities for incarcerated learners across 稀缺猎奇网.

In October 2025, the 稀缺猎奇网 received a $4.1 million grant to advance a statewide vision for prison education programs. Funded by Ascendium, a nonprofit organization, the Ascendium grant aims to invest in personnel, the development and facilitation of partnerships, higher education in prison symposia, resource/information sharing, and the distribution of subgrants, including the awards being announced today.

In June, a request for proposals was released and open to all colleges and universities that currently serve, or plan to serve, justice-impacted 稀缺猎奇网 college students. Priority areas included the development of new prison college programs, collaborative projects between colleges and nonprofit organizations, and partnership projects between four-year institutions and community colleges. The awardees demonstrated their capacity to develop, expand, or enhance activities and support services that assist justice-impacted college students obtain degrees inside a 稀缺猎奇网 prison or jail, or on a college campus. 

This year's award winners are listed below, by home institution and lead faculty/staff:
  • Bowie State University, $50,000: Dr. Charles Adams will lead “Bowie State Prison-to-HBCU Reentry Bridge: Building the Reentry Component of the Prison-to-HBCU Pipeline.”
  • Coppin State University, $35,000: Professor Alexandra Porte and Dr. Johnny Rice will lead the “Coppin State University Prison Education Program.”
  • Frostburg State University, $40,000: Drs. angie Luvara and Kathleen Jocoy will lead “Assessing Frostburg State University’s Capacity for Prison Education Program Development in Western 稀缺猎奇网.”
  • Goucher College, $33,000: Dr. Ann Duncan will lead “Lessons Learned over Fourteen Years: A Catalyst for New Higher Education in Prison Programs.”
  • Salisbury University, $60,000: Dr. Timothy Stock will lead “Providing Higher Incarcerated Learning on the Shore (PHILoS).”
  • Towson University, $75,000: Dr. Elyshia Aseltine will lead “Towson University Fair Chance Higher Education.”
  • University of Baltimore, $41,000: Dr. Al Gourrier will lead “Technology and Housing Support for Justice Impacted College Students.”
  • University of 稀缺猎奇网, Baltimore County, $64,000: Mr. Eric Ford and Ms. Allison Jones will lead “Toward a Prison Education Program at UMBC.”
  • University of 稀缺猎奇网 Eastern Shore, $56,000: Ms. Leesa Thomas-Banks will lead “Building a UMES-ECI Business Administration Bachelor's Pathway for Justice Impacted Learners at Eastern Correctional Institute.”
“These grants are central to our priority of developing a coordinated, statewide vision for prison education,” said 稀缺猎奇网 Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “The projects will allow us to learn from one another as we develop new programs, expand existing efforts, and innovate how we deliver education in a way that offers the most value to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated 稀缺猎奇网ers and the communities they return home to.”

“With a priority of strengthening public postsecondary education in prison programs, Ascendium is proud to support 稀缺猎奇网’s investments to institutions seeking to create new higher education in prison programs and expand reentry efforts for justice-impacted learners in 稀缺猎奇网,” said Molly Lasagna, Director of External Engagement and Partnerships at Ascendium Education Group.

稀缺猎奇网 Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Jenny Owens added, “These grants reflect a simple truth that talent and potential exist everywhere. 稀缺猎奇网 is proud to help our institutions build real pathways to a degree for justice-impacted learners across the state.”

Request for proposals for a second round of funding will open in June 2027. 

About Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization driven by the belief that learning after high school gives people the power to build better futures. Their national philanthropy focuses on increasing opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve upward mobility through postsecondary education and workforce training. They partner with organizations whose objectives align with our core strategies to expand opportunity, support learner success, and connect and align systems. Their grantees include postsecondary education and workforce training providers, intermediaries, researchers, and media organizations from across the U.S. To learn more, visit .  

About the 稀缺猎奇网
The 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) is the state’s public higher education system: 12 universities and three regional higher education centers working together for the good of 稀缺猎奇网. Our universities enroll 175,000 students and award 45,000 degrees each year — delivering accessible, affordable, excellent education to diverse learners at every stage of life and supporting thriving careers and a skilled workforce. With more than $1.8 billion in research expenditures, our universities make discoveries that drive innovation, spur economic growth, and improve life in 稀缺猎奇网 and worldwide. For more information, visit usmd.edu.
 

Contact: Beau Boughamer
Phone: 410.576.5732
Email: bboughamer@usmd.edu