American Campus Podcast
a social and political history of higher education
American Campus Podcast
The “rise and fall” of prison education with Reiko Hillyer
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Lauren Lassabe Shepherd
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From Johnson’s Great Society to Clinton’s crime bill, Reiko Hillyer discusses the “rise and fall” of higher education in US prisons. Plus, she shares her experience as a professor who teaches in prisons.
References mentioned this episode:
- Reiko Hillyer. 2024. A Wall is Just a Wall: The Permeability of the Prison in 20th Century America. Duke University Press.
- Piper Hutchinson. May 2, 2025. “Guts, glory and opportunity on the outside.” Louisiana Illuminator.
- Classroom 4 film https://www.classroom4film.com/
- Mneesha Gellman. 2022. Education Behind the Wall: Why and How We Teach in Prison. Brandeis University Press.
- Justin McDevitt and Mneesha Gellman. 2024. Unlocking Learning: International Perspectives on Education in Prison. Brandeis University Press.
- Lyndsay Faye. 2019. The Paragon Hotel. G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
- Attica Locke. 2012. The Cutting Season. Amistad.
Browse the American Campus bookshelf
Get in touch! Email Lauren at shephell@iu.edu. You can also anonymously request an episode or give feedback on the show.
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