Staff

The Prison University Project has three full time staff. 

Executive Director Jody Lewen, PhD

Jody Lewen started volunteering with the San Quentin College Program in 1999.  She is the founder and executive director of the Prison University Project and is the extension site director of Patten University at San Quentin. She received an M.A. in philosophy and comparative literature from Freie Universität, Berlin and a Ph.D. in rhetoric from UC Berkeley.

Jody has published and presented extensively in the fields of psychoanalysis, literary theory, and criminal justice. She was the 2006 recipient of the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award from UC Berkeley.

Program Director Jennifer Scaife

Jennifer Scaife began volunteering with the San Quentin College Program in September 2005 and became a staff member the following June. Jennifer received a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from Hollins University in Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Indiana University-Bloomington. 

In addition to her responsibilities as Program Director, Jennifer continues to teach college preparatory English in the Program, and, along with four student-editors, manages the annual journal of student writing, OpenLine.

Administrative Assistant Miguel Kaminiski

Miguel Kaminski joined the Prison University Project in January 2008. He recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in English.