“Rising Hope has been the most important teaching assignment I’ve ever had.”
Kimberly Malone
MA in Theology, Fuller Seminary
MA in Intercultural Studies
Classes Taught:
Spiritual Formation
Multicultural Perspectives and Models of Spiritual Development
“The courses I teach on spirituality lend themselves to personal reflection and examination of values, decision making, and beliefs. I am inspired by the wisdom and depth of our students. Inside the prison I’ve encountered people who have discovered the freedom, peace, and joy that so many of us are longing for, and it makes me wonder if those of us on the outside may actually be the ones who are captives to so many things.”
The Marshall Project: I Teach Class in Prison. Should My Students’ Crimes Matter to Me?
James Ulrich
Emeritus
BA History Honors, University of Rochester
Master of Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School
Classes Taught:
History of Christianity, Parts 1 and 2
Ethics
Introduction to Hebrew Bible
Introduction to New Testaments
Theology
Introduction to Sociology
“Rising Hope has been the most important teaching assignment I’ve ever had. Mature people pursuing education together for the sake of self improvement create the best learning environment. The free learning space within prison is a unique experience.”
Kevin Dean
BA, Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, Michigan State University
Master of Divinity, Yale Divinity School
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Sociology
Political Theory
Theology
“Rising Hope makes connections between people: between students who otherwise wouldn’t be in the same programs, between the instructors, and between the instructors and the students who we are blessed to get to know every week. My experience in the classroom is that it creates a space of vigorous intellectual exploration that also engages the whole person of the student, encouraging connections between academic inquiry and everyday experience. That’s the kind of education from which we all benefit.”
Dr. Mark Finn
Ph.D., Psychology, Duke University
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Family Counseling
Introduction to Psychoanalysis
“I am a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, and I worked and taught in the public mental health system for many years. I have been more inspired working with my students here than I thought possible.”
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Rosborough
Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry, Hartford Theological Seminary
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Hebrew Bible
Introduction to New Testaments
“In 2017, after forty-two years of pastoral ministry within the United Church of Christ, I retired professionally and was excited to join the Rising Hope faculty. I have a special affection for teaching the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. Studying the sacred texts with Rising Hope students at Fishkill brings them, and us, newly alive, week after week.”
Rev. Dr. John Miller
BA Religious Studies, California State University
Master of Divinity, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Doctor of Ministry, McCormick Theological Seminary
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Counseling
“I served as a pastor for forty years in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Teaching for Rising Hope at Sing Sing has been life changing for me. Serving as a teacher with the men has been powerful. While I have much to teach them, they too, with their life experiences have taught me much as well.”
Dr. Murthy Cheruvu
M.Sc, Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
Ph.D., Solid State Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Classes Taught:
Introduction to World Religions
Ethics: Theory & Contemporary Issues
Creative Problem Solving
“I am retired from IBM Research and Development. I have volunteered with juvenile offenders and incarcerated people for many years. I find great joy in connecting with my students’ pliant minds and souls and inspiring them to transform their lives through education.”
Rev. David Harkness
Master of Divinity, Yale Divinity School
Master of Sacred Theology, Yale Divinity School
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures
Introduction to the New Testament
“I served as a pastor for forty years in the Presbyterian Church (USA). It has been a privilege to teach at Sing Sing. The students have been engaged and the discussions life-giving.”
Brian Pew
Ph.D. candidate in Urban Education, The CUNY Graduate Center
Classes Taught:
Restorative Justice
Composition and College Writing
“I have served as a Special Education Teacher, Dean, and Assistant Principal in the New York City Department of Education. I also am an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Leadership and Special Education at CUNY. I began teaching Rising Hope classes at Sing Sing in 2010, and this powerful experience has informed my doctoral research on racism and marginalization that occurs in punitive disciplinary scenarios and restorative justice initiatives.”
Jean Tansey, LCSW
Master of Social Work
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Human Services
Introduction to Counseling
“The students are eager to learn and participate in class discussions. They are polite, engaged, relaxed and pleased to be in a classroom environment. My intention is to make the experience the equivalent of a typical college setting. As I am teaching basic counseling skills, the students pair up and practice active listening. It is a pleasure to observe how seriously and fully they become involved in the exercise. This has been quite enjoyable!”
Rev. Robert Walker
Master of Sacred Theology, Yale Divinity School
Master of Theology, Perkins/SMU
Master of Business Administration, Cox/SMU
Classes Taught:
Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures
World Religions
“I have been teaching in the Rising Hope program for 16 years and it has been the best teaching experience of my life. The students are eager to learn, hard working and our class discussions are rich and lively. I believe that education is transformation and I find it deeply fulfilling to be part of this transformation.”