Empowering Transformation

Tufts’ prison education program changes lives
Jody Boykins, who was formerly incarcerated, talks with traditional student Louise Bond, A25, in a class at Tufts. Hilary Binda, founding director of TUPIT, rear right, speaks with David Delvalle, who is now the TUPIT education and reentry director.

Jody Boykins, who was formerly incarcerated, talks with traditional student Louise Bond, A25, in a class at Tufts. Hilary Binda, founding director of TUPIT, rear right, speaks with David Delvalle, who is now the TUPIT education and reentry director. 
 

The Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) began with a bold vision: that offering higher education within prison walls can be transformative, not only for incarcerated individuals but also for traditional Tufts students—and for society as a whole.

Launched in 2017, the program initially served 10 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students. Today, TUPIT serves 85 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students, offering them a pathway from incarceration to meaningful employment and civic engagement, as well as a Tufts degree. In addition, in the last year, 96 traditional Tufts students served as teaching assistants or volunteer mentors or took classes alongside TUPIT students.

Hilary Binda, AG03, TUPIT’s founding director, said donor support has been crucial for the initiative, which is funded almost entirely by donations and grants. Generous gifts have covered the costs of coursework, advising teams, meals, lap­tops, and transportation stipends. 

“In a very practical way, through financial support and volunteer con­tributions, philanthropy has helped to ensure that deep learning across cultural and economic differences can take place, with far-reaching benefits for everyone involved,” Binda said.

A Vision of Change

While the Massachusetts Department of Correction offers vocational pro­grams, TUPIT stands out as one of the few educational initiatives in the state providing incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to earn both an associate and a bachelor’s degree. It offers the same rigorous academic experience available to traditional Tufts students, with courses taught by Tufts faculty.

Through the Tufts Educational Reentry Network (MyTERN), TUPIT also supports formerly incarcerated individ­uals as they transition back into society. MyTERN offers robust courses, reentry resources, and networking opportunities, helping participants develop a community of belonging, build stable lives, and continue their education.

In both programs, the focus is on civic studies, reflecting Tufts’ dedication to civic education and the belief that formerly incarcerated people can become leaders in their communities.

“TUPIT is an extraordinary educational opportunity for all our students, whether they are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or our traditional undergraduate students who work with the program,” said Dayna Cunningham, the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Dean of Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. “The program builds relationships and provides transformational educational opportunities and reentry support to overcome the violence and deep systemic barriers of our carceral system. It serves as a model for how Tufts can do more than its fair share in the world.”

Vital Support

Julia Proshan, A22, who participated in TUPIT’s programs as a peer leader and teaching assistant, noted that supporting TUPIT allows her to continue giving to a cause she deeply believes in. “Connecting with TUPIT students changed my life,” she explained. “I give because these programs provide vital opportunities for amazing students to pursue their passions and fight the unjust barriers they face both during and beyond incarceration.”

Arlyss Herzig, A23, appreciates knowing that her gift has a “direct impact on the lives of people affected by the criminal legal system and mass incarceration,” she said. “The program opens a world of opportunities by providing a quality higher education.”

“Donor contributions have empowered TUPIT to give students opportunities they might not have had otherwise,” said Binda. For example, philanthropy allowed TUPIT to hire David Delvalle, a TUPIT student since 2018, who now serves as the program’s full-time education and reentry director as he works toward completing his degree at Tufts. His role, Binda noted, is essential in bridging the gap between incarcerated and traditional students and fostering deep learning among both groups.

Graduates of MyTERN, the Tufts Education and Reentry Network certificate program in civic studies.

Graduates of MyTERN, the Tufts Education and Reentry Network certificate program in civic studies.

Second Chances

For TUPIT students, the program represents more than an education—it’s a second chance. Participant Jody Boykins, for example, who started taking classes while incarcerated, has been released and is now working two jobs. He aims to earn his Tufts degree in 2027. “When I thought of coming to Tufts, I didn’t think I’d be accepted in that environment,” he said. “But in class, it doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from. We’re all the same.”

Another student, Shane (who is still incarcerated and whose last name is withheld for privacy), reflected, “College in prison, and TUPIT specifically, is one of the most valuable things that’s happened to this prison system. It’s given us comprehensive ways of really looking at the world.”

“Through education, the program fosters personal growth, empathy, and a sense of civic responsibility that many students carry long after they leave prison,” Binda said.

Boykins, for example, said TUPIT helped him face the man who killed his uncle. Seventeen years later, “I found the nerve to listen to him,” he explained. He believes this moment of resolution was made possible through a course he took called The Apology, which explores the concepts of forgiveness and accountability.

Those concepts, according to Binda, form a core part of the classroom experience for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, who are encouraged to not only take responsibility for crimes they have committed, but also study the social factors that lead to crime. As she put it: “The phrase ‘hurt people hurt people; healed people heal people’ has a powerful hold on many of our students.”

The Future of TUPIT

With TUPIT now firmly established, Binda is focused on the future. “We’re eager to start an endowment that ensures TUPIT’s sustainability for the long term,” she said.

As the program moves forward, ongoing donor support will be crucial in transforming more lives, fostering civic responsibility, and creating a stronger, more just community inside and outside the prison system, said Binda. “What we’re doing is so much bigger than just education,” she added. “It’s about rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and showing what’s possible when we invest in people who’ve been forgotten by society.”

To make a gift to support TUPIT, visit go.tufts.edu/TUPITgiving, or contact Emilia Salazar at emilia.salazar@tufts.edu to learn more.