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Tennessee Higher Education Initiative

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Tennessee Higher Education Initiative

THEI provides access to high-quality, degree-bearing college education inside TN prisons. To this end, THEI partners with the Tenn.

Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) funds and coordinates on-site degree-bearing college programs in prisons in Tennessee. Department of Correction and local colleges like Nashville State Community College and Dyersburg State Community College to offer the opportunity for incarcerated individuals at two prisons -- Turney Center Industrial Complex in Middle Tennessee and Northwest Correcti

onal Complex in West Tennessee -- to earn General Ed. Certificates and AS degrees in Business Administration and/or Political Science. Further, THEI encourages and helps formerly incarcerated students continue their academic pursuits upon release should a student be released prior to degree completion. Credits earned behind bars are recognized by and transferable to any Tennessee Board of Regents college or university, as well as SACS accredited private and public colleges and universities outside of Tennessee. The academic program is rigorous and integrates technology with a liberal arts curriculum. There are currently 115 students enrolled in college through THEI.

08/21/2026

Margaret joined THEI in 2026 as an Education and Pre-Entry Programs Associate in Eastern Tennessee, bringing a scholar's lens and a first-generation college graduate's perspective to the work.

Currently a PhD Candidate in Geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Margaret has spent her academic career at the intersection of research, teaching, and hands-on education — serving as a Teaching Assistant, Research Associate, and Outdoor Education Coordinator throughout her graduate studies. She holds an M.S. in Geographic Information Science and Technology and a B.S. from Jacksonville State University.

Margaret sees higher education in prisons, student support, and successful reentry not as services, but as pathways toward transformative justice — a way of pushing back against punitive systems and creating space for something better. We're so glad to have Margaret on Team THEI. 💙

08/20/2026

Everyone deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive.

THEI works to make higher education in prison accessible, equitable, and transformative—because education is the key to liberation.

Learn more: thei.org.

08/19/2026

Wondering how THEI's Education Program works?

THEI coordinates on-site, degree-granting college programs inside Tennessee prisons, leading to real associate and bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions.

That includes hands-on academic support from a team that shows up in person and coordination between students, instructors, and facility partners. Our education program is comprised of six associate degree programs and two bachelor's degree programs, across six prison sites, through four college partners — made possible through THEI's work with the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Correctional Education Investment.

Support our work: thei.org/donate.

08/18/2026

THEI is proud of our own! Barbi Brown, a strong asset within our organization, has been accepted into Belmont University's Strategic Leadership in Education, Ph.D. program, beginning this Fall.

Barbi's commitment to growth and learning reflects exactly what THEI believes in: education as a lifelong, transformative pursuit. Congratulations, Barbi! We're so lucky to have you on Team THEI. 💙

08/17/2026

Every dollar donated this back-to-school season goes straight into THEI's classrooms — course materials, instructor support, and the everyday costs of running college programs inside Tennessee's correctional facilities.

If you've been meaning to give, this is a good week for it! thei.org

08/14/2026

Financial wellness is one piece of a much bigger picture. Building financial stability after incarceration doesn't happen in isolation from everything else going on in a person's life.

For anyone navigating reentry in Tennessee, our Moving Forward Guide is a free, statewide resource covering housing, health and mental health services, food security, employment, higher education, legal support, and more. Find it at thei.org.

08/13/2026

Virginia S. Crump describes herself as "retired… but not tired."

Ms. Crump is an alumnus of the Memphis City School System, Lambuth College and the University of Memphis. Though she enjoyed being a classroom teacher, it was her diligence and commitment that afforded her the opportunity to serve as Principal of Parkview Montessori Magnet School and later the historical appointment at Jackson Central-Merry High School, establishing her as the first African American female high school Principal in Jackson, TN. Ms. Crump served at the Jackson-Madison County Board of Education as Federal Projects and Preschool Monitor. Upon retiring with 30+ years of undaunted and committed service, Ms. Crump was welcomed to Lane College as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Director of Lane Evening Accelerated Program.

Later, her belief in second chances and human potential led her to use a plethora of experiences at Whiteville Correctional Facility as Principal, overseeing academic and career technical programs. Shortly thereafter, she was selected as the Education Superintendent for the State of Tennessee, Department of Correction, Nashville, TN.

Her ultimate career choice was fulfilled upon being welcomed to Team THEI in 2025 where she currently serves as the Director of Special Projects. We're so honored and delighted to have Virginia on Team THEI. 💙

08/12/2026

Can you believe the Path Forward Luncheon was almost four months ago?

Time has flown by, but the energy hasn't faded. We're still thinking about the connections made, the stories shared, and the reminder of just how many people are invested in the work we do.

Want to help support it? Head to thei.org.

08/11/2026

"I believe successful reentry becomes the expectation when we stop focusing only on helping people survive and start equipping them to lead. The more I grow, the more effectively I can help others see what is possible for themselves. If we want to chang eexpectations, we have to develop leaders who embody them. Rockwood is an opportunity to became one of those types of leaders."

Congratulations to Edward Jones on being selected for the 3rd cohort of Rockwood, a national leadership program.

Edward started at THEI as an intern. Today, he supports our alumni through reentry, drawing on his own experience navigating that path. He calls Rockwood the next step in a journey built one intentional decision at a time — a chance to sharpen his leadership and bring more back to the people he serves.

His goal has stayed the same since day one and that's to make successful reentry the expectation and not the exception. We're proud to watch him grow into that vision and what he'll carry back to Team THEI from this experience.

Congratulations, Edward. 💙

08/10/2026

It's that time of year, but at THEI, "back to school" means something a little different. It's a new semester for our students and a fresh start for alumni rebuilding their lives after reentry.

A new semester means our students need supplies to support their coursework — and our alumni coming home through reentry need the essentials in a Welcome Home backpack from our Transitions team.

Our Amazon Wishlist makes it a great way to help. Every item ships directly to our office and goes straight to the students and alumni we serve. Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XZ5W7F42BBVS?ref_=abls_nvfly_yl

Address

1006 Shelby Avenue
Nashville, TN
37206

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.thei.org/

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