Meaningful Work Featured During THEI Path Forward Luncheon

The Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) held its annual Path Forward luncheon on the campus of Belmont University.

The Nashville-based nonprofit works with the Tennessee Department of Correction and several colleges to offer degree-bearing higher education to incarcerated individuals.

During the hour-long program, representatives from the various partners in attendance spoke of the importance of THEI and its mission.

Belmont’s Professor of Management and Business Law Haskell Murray, who is among the faculty from Belmont and Nashville State that teach in our prisons, read a poem and made heartfelt personal comments.

Dr. Julie Doochin received a special recognition for her work as a statewide leader in providing post-secondary opportunities for incarcerated individuals. Namely, founding THEI, which was born out a program she launched at Nashville State more than 12 years ago.

In 2022, Nashville State and Doochin, on behalf of the Doochin Family Trust announced a $20,000 scholarship pool for returning citizens that are going to college as full or part-time students.

On behalf of Nashville State, President Shanna L. Jackson, received a special recognition for the college’s ongoing educational initiatives.

“I stand before you representing Nashville State Community College,” said Jackson. “This very much belongs to the college and the folks that work there. We have a good team of faculty and staff that are so involved in this work.”

Nashville State currently works with THEI to provide academic programs at the Turney Center Industrial Complex, Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, and Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. Since the inception of the collaboration, which includes work at the now-closed Charles Bass Correctional Complex, 81 students graduated while incarcerated or shortly after release. 

THEI alum, Nashville State graduate, and current Belmont business student Ricky “Sammy” Sammartino, provided keynote remarks.

As the first in his family from any generation to graduate from college, he expressed immense gratitude for the support he and dozens of formerly (and currently) incarcerated individuals received.

Now, he has nieces and nephews attending college.

“You invested in a guy who was broken, who was considered worthless. You reshaped me. You educated me and gave me something. You transformed me,” he told attendees.

Jeremy White, another THEI alum and Nashville State graduate who is currently attending classes at Austin Peay State University, reemphasized the remarks of Sammartino, saying without the support, he didn’t know what would have happened to him.

After graduating from APSU, White who was a resident at Dismas House and works as a Transitional Program Coach at THEI, plans to apply to the Nashville School of Law.