The UMA Social Science Program is pleased to announce that Dr. Lorien Lake-Corral, Professor of Sociology, began a three-year term on September 1 as Co-Chair of the American Sociological Association’s (ASA) “Sociologists Teaching in Carceral Settings” (STICS) Community. Elected by her national peers, Dr. Lake-Corral brings deep expertise in expanding educational equity. She served as a key leader in securing a $940,000 Mellon Foundation grant for Maine’s Prison Education Partnership (PEP) and founded its PEP Teaching Fellows program, which trains faculty in trauma-informed and anti-racist pedagogies.
In her new leadership role, Dr. Lake-Corral will bridge sociological theory with the practical realities of carceral education by building a national professional network, promoting resource-sharing, and advocating for systemic access to higher education in facility settings. “I am honored to serve our broader discipline in this capacity,” wrote Dr. Lake-Corral. “I look forward to elevating our community’s impact by applying sociological insights to reduce recidivism, foster rehabilitation, and support high-quality instruction for justice-impacted learners.”
Her leadership carries forward UMA’s mission of transforming lives through education that meets learners where they are.