Tag Page EducationJustice

From prison to PhD: Mike’s inspiring U of I journey

Mike Pierce just made history at the University of Illinois—he’s the first alum from the Education Justice Project (EJP), a college-in-prison program, to be accepted into a U of I degree program. After serving over 20 years in prison, Mike fought through tough admissions hurdles and is now working on his master’s, with a PhD starting this fall. His mission? To create higher education opportunities for people still incarcerated. Mike’s story shows how education can transform lives, but also highlights the barriers that formerly incarcerated students still face. What changes do you think would help more people like Mike succeed? #Education #College #EducationJustice