Before he began teaching, James Perry, associate professor of professional studies, worked in prisoner rights in foreign countries, a passion that has shaped his work at NWU.
In 2008, he took a group of NWU students on a field trip to the Nebraska State Penitentiary.
“I was listening to the questions students were asking and realized they had no familiarity with this whole world,” Perry said. “And what better way to learn about the prison system than to volunteer inside it?”
Perry met with administrators and agreed to start a book club with 15 NWU students and 15 individuals at the Lincoln Correctional Facility. Over the past 17 years, the initiative has expanded to include weekly classes focused on topics the incarcerated individuals want to learn about. NWU students co-teach the classes, facilitating discussions, preparing readings, and leading sessions.
“There is a lack of programming in the correctional system across the United States, including Nebraska,” Perry said. “These individuals often have limited opportunities to fill their time. We want to help them develop the skills and confidence to successfully reintegrate into their communities.”
Recent classes have included Sociology of the Family, Business Law, and Innovation and Leadership. One class focused on the sociological imagination — the ability to connect personal experiences with larger public issues.
“In sociology, we explore how much agency a person has versus how much societal pressures shape their choices,” said Heba Khalil, assistant professor of sociology and criminology, who helps teach the prison outreach classes. “Using real examples, such as being born into limited circumstances, helps participants understand how decisions are influenced.”
“Working with these individuals has shown me how powerful this perspective can be,” Khalil said. “It’s not about excusing poor choices — it’s about understanding them within societal constraints, which many of these individuals find empowering.”
In addition to weekly sessions, participants receive homework or discussion prompts — something new to think about, learn or read between classes.
The NWU students who co-teach the classes are typically sophomores and must complete an introduction to criminal justice course. Students from any major may enroll in the one-credit class, and many choose to participate multiple times during their time at NWU.
“We’ve had physics majors, French majors — students from all backgrounds — who say this is the most impactful class they’ve taken,” Perry said. “They’re engaging with important ideas, whether it’s sociology or leadership. Both groups — the NWU students and their students — realize they can learn from each other, and that’s powerful.”
Ella Fundus, a senior social work student who has taught for two semesters at the Lancaster County Jail, said the experience taught her how misinformed the public’s perception of the incarcerated population can be.
“These individuals are determined and motivated to turn their lives around. I’ve never been in a classroom where every single person was so eager to learn,” she said.
Perry noted that once class begins, the setting quickly fades into the background.
“Within the first five minutes of class, the NWU students and their students are joking together and talking about their lives,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to see those relationships grow.”
Over 17 years, Perry and his NWU students have impacted countless lives.
“I ran into a former student at a convenience store years later,” Perry said. “He told me the experience transformed his life because he was able to have thoughtful conversations with NWU students and professors who took his ideas seriously. It helped build his confidence in his own potential.”
Perry credits correctional staff as essential partners in the program’s success.
“One staff member suggested we teach theater,” he said. “She wrote a one-page proposal outlining what a theater production could look like, and we’re working hard to make that happen this spring.”
The program also exposes NWU students to careers in criminal justice, while encouraging empathy and compassion toward people within the system.
Maria Ghanim, a senior pre-law student, shared that everything she's learned will strengthen her future legal career.
“What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing our students connect personal experiences to the social norms we’ve studied. We don’t judge — we listen, laugh, and even cry. There is no greater force than education and empathy," she said.
For Perry, the emotional impact remains profound.
“They’re amazed that Wesleyan students keep coming back,” he said. “They say, ‘Those are our Wesleyan students.’ They look forward to every visit.”