In this episode of Together: A Higher-Ed Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Erin Castro and Dr. Andy Eisen of the University of Utah Prison Education Project (UPEP).

Dr. Castro and Dr. Eisen share their journeys into higher education and prison education, starting as graduate students with the Education Justice Project and evolving into leaders at the University of Utah. Together, they reflect on the challenges of creating higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals, building trust and community within prison systems, and advancing education as a public good.

Learn about the launch of UPEP’s first bachelor’s degree program, the creation of a peer mentor initiative for incarcerated students, and their vision for a national research center on education justice.

Donate to Utah Prison Education Project here:
https://ugive.app.utah.edu/designation/3424

Learn more about the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah here: https://us.utah.edu/

In this episode of Together: A Higher-Ed Podcast, we’re joined by Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education.

Commissioner Landward shares his journey into higher education, from growing up with two deans of students in his family to navigating a career that led him to his current leadership role. He reflects on the importance of system-level leadership, the challenges of balancing institutional goals with statewide priorities, and the critical role of trust in fostering collaboration and transformative change.

Learn more about the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah here: https://us.utah.edu/

In this episode of Together. A Higher-Ed Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Morgan Lyon Cotti, Associate Director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

Dr. Lyon Cotti reflects on her journey from being a Hinckley intern as a student to her role today, where she helps connect students with valuable internships and opportunities. She talks about the importance of hands-on learning, the role of mentorship, and how the Hinckley Institute works to make these experiences more accessible for students.

She also discusses the Orrin G. Hatch Center in Washington, D.C., which provides University of Utah students with unique internship and networking opportunities in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Learn more about the Office of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Utah here: https://us.utah.edu/