As we close out another academic year, we want to take a moment to reflect on our 2024-25 activities and share some exciting updates. This academic year, we offered a record 13 OPEEP classes across four prisons. Ten of those classes were taught by first-time OPEEP instructors, a reflection of our continued growth and the passion and engagement of new faculty members.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll read about OPEEP’s first dance class, taught by Dr. Irvin Gonzalez this spring at London Correctional Institution. In this course, students “investigated fundamental questions about anti-oppression, arts-integrated practices as they worked with each other to build performance praxis grounded in stories of liberation.” OPEEP’s art classes – visual art, theater, and dance – have been met with overwhelming enthusiasm. Students express how these classes provide new avenues for self-expression, connection, and healing.
We look forward to expanding our course offerings, especially our arts curricula, as we welcome 19 new instructors to the OPEEP family. Be sure to check out the article about the 3-day instructor training held in May to learn more about these new OPEEP faculty. Continuing our faculty profiles, we’re excited to introduce Dr. Cristine Warner, who will teach EDTUL 2368: Introduction to Children’s Literature at ORW this autumn. As many of the students at ORW are parents, they are eager to explore the various forms of literature that help shape children’s understanding of the world.
Our learning communities – LAM Collective at ORW and Philosophy for Humans (P4H) at SCI – continue to flourish. Members have been presenting at conferences, engaging in dialogue with scholars, and working on academic publications. P4H’s contribution this month shares highlights from their visit with Dr. Jennifer Lackey.
OPEEP is deeply appreciative of the support we’ve received from across the University. This spring, in collaboration with other faculty, we were awarded two Spark Grants for Community Arts Engagement from the Office of Outreach and Engagement and the Vice Provost for the Arts. The first grant supports theatre programming at Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI),which will be led by Margie Anich, Lecturer in the Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts at Lima Campus. Prof. Anich taught an Improvisation class at AOCI in Spring 2024, and this grant will allow her to offer a two-semester extension of theatre programming at the prison. Our second Spark grant supports a collaboration with the Returning Artists Guild (RAG), Dr. Carmen Winant, Professor of Art (Columbus) and OPEEP Advisory Board member, and Dr. Kate Shannon, Associate Professor of Art (Mansfield) and OSU’s 2025-2026 Artist Laureate. The grant will commission RAG members to create new work for exhibitions on the Mansfield and Newark campuses and to support an exhibit of Home Free: Ohio Artists Envision Prison Abolition on Columbus campus. We look forward to the amazing work that will result from these collaborations!
One of our biggest accomplishments this year was securing our accreditation. This two-year process with the Higher Learning Commission(HLC) culminated with a successful site visit to ORW where an HLC representative met with students, staff, and faculty.
Our degree cohort has now completed their first year of coursework! Students at ORW enjoyed a brief respite before starting summer classes on May 8. They are halfway through their first session course, English1110, taught by OPEEP’s own Education Program Senior Specialist, Babette Cieskowski. PSYCH 4543: Psychology of Gender, taught by Newark campus senior lecturer, Liz Wiess, started last week. Dr. Weiss taught her first OPEEP class in the spring at SCI, and we are grateful that she is bringing her expertise and enthusiasm to ORW.
The academic year was busy and productive, and the summer is no different. Although OPEEP’s work continues year-round, Ciera, a degree cohort student, reminds us in this month’s “Day in the Life” series that rest is essential to one’s well-being. We hope her reflections inspire you to make space for relaxation this summer.
This is the final call for OPEEP Autumn 2025 courses! Two classes have remaining seats – AAAS/WGSS2367.04: Black Women Writer’s, taught by Dr. Morris at ORW, and SOC 5045: Capital Punishment, taught by Dr. Terri Winnick at Richland Correctional Institution (seats are only available for Mansfield campus students in Dr.Winnick’s course). Please visit the OPEEP Enroll webpage to see details on signing up. Enrollment closes on June 18.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to connecting with you on campus in Autumn. Please stop by our table at the Student Involvement Fair on Sunday, August 24 from 4-7pm. In the meantime, stay connected with us on Instagram at @opeep_osu, share our work in your networks, and consider donating to our Campus Campaign. Thank you.
Wishing you a relaxing and rejuvenating summer,
Drs. Tiyi Morris and Mary Thomas
