Tomorrow Talks | Learning Behind Bars: How Prison Education Strengthens Our Community
Description
People who are formerly incarcerated are our neighbors. They return to our communities, raise families, build careers, volunteer, and contribute to the places we all call home. Their well-being is deeply connected to our own. As more communities recognize this shared reality, prison education programs have expanded across the nation—not simply as educational initiatives, but as investments in safer, stronger, and more connected communities.
Join us for an interactive conversation featuring three of Virginia's leading prison education programs: UVA's Prison Education Program, Piedmont Virginia Community College's Higher Education in Prison Program, and Resilience Education. This Tomorrow Talk brings together program directors, formerly incarcerated graduates, and community members to explore how education transforms lives during incarceration and creates lasting benefits long after people return home.
Rather than speaking about prison education, this panel centers the voices of those who have experienced it firsthand. Hear directly from program leaders alongside former participants whose educational journeys have shaped their futures and strengthened their communities.
Whether you're interested in education, public safety, workforce development, or building thriving communities, this conversation will offer an inspiring look at how investing in our neighbors creates benefits that extend to us all.
Lineup
Tierney Fairchild
Tierney Fairchild, Ph.D., is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Resilience Education. She is a visionary leader dedicated to transforming educational opportunities for underserved communities. With a Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Virginia’s School of Education & Human Development, an M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business, and a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania, Tierney's background is rooted in fostering educational reform and executive leadership. She aims to build a practical educational platform that bridges gaps in underserved communities and those impacted by the justice system. Highlighting her influence in educational policy and community development, Tierney was appointed to the Governor's Board of Workforce Development in Virginia in 2021 and has served on the Steering Committee for the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison since 2025.
Julie Olive
Julie Olive is the Director for Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Higher Education in Prison Program. She provides program support to incarcerated students across 3 prisons in central Virginia pursuing their Associate Degree in General Studies. Before becoming the Director for PVCC’s program, she served as an adjunct professor of communication studies, teaching public speaking and communication for the program. Julie is dedicated to expanding access to higher education to incarcerated individuals in Virginia, specifically advocating for expanded access to the humanities and liberal arts.
Amanda Lloyd
Dr. Amanda Lloyd is the Faculty Director for the Virginia Prison Education Program and Associate Professor at the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, where she leads Virginia's first bachelor's degree completion program for incarcerated learners. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Management from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in Humanities from Old Dominion University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and History from Longwood University. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Lloyd has held academic leadership positions within the Virginia Community College System and has taught history and humanities courses at numerous colleges and universities.
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