45 Women to Earn College Certificates in Tennessee Prison Program

Rhodes College professors and students travel weekly to a low-security prison in western Tennessee to teach liberal arts courses to incarcerated women. The program, known as Liberal Arts in Prison, operates out of the Women’s Therapeutic Residential Center in Henning. It began in the fall of 2016 as a small reading group and has since grown into a formal academic offering that grants college credit.

Dr. Stephen Haynes, a religious studies professor at Rhodes for 30 years, directs the initiative. He cited research indicating that inmates involved in higher education are 43 percent less likely to return to prison. The program was designed to meet the specific desire of inmates for transferable academic credits rather than informal discussions. By the end of May, approximately 45 women are scheduled to graduate with certificates in liberal arts.

Inmate Jameshia Davis, who is serving a 24-year sentence for drug and firearm possession, completed the certificate program and now tutors other women. Davis described the initial skepticism she felt about attending a prestigious institution while incarcerated. She noted that seeing her high school son succeed academically encouraged him to pursue his own goals. Davis plans to continue her studies toward a bachelor’s degree after her release.

Over 70 Rhodes students have volunteered for the program since its inception. Seniors Sophie Stevenson and Laurel Phillips lead discussion groups and organizational activities. They report forming close relationships with the inmates, discussing family matters, parole dates, and daily life events. Stevenson stated that the experience has defined her college career and influenced her future career goals in prison education.

Dr. Lori Garner, an English professor who has taught in the program for five years, said the diverse life experiences of the inmates improve her teaching in standard Rhodes classes. She noted that the women bring unique perspectives to literary texts she has taught for decades. This exchange of ideas benefits both the incarcerated students and the faculty members.

As of spring 2025, 92 incarcerated women at the center had accumulated 765 Rhodes credits, with 32 having earned certificates. The program has secured a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand its offerings. This funding supports a new Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program that will allow inmates to enroll in a full four-year degree starting this summer.

The grant also supports the expansion of educational programming to the men’s facility at West Tennessee State Penitentiary. Haynes said sponsors are seeking additional donors to help sustain the program into the future. The initiative aims to provide a structured educational pathway for inmates at both the women’s and men’s facilities.