Education in Prison Justice Fellow

Higher Education in Prison Justice Fellow

Position: Higher Education in Prison Justice Fellow
Position Type: One-Year Fellowship (Non-Exempt)
Reports to: Policy Manager
Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid Work Environment)
Compensation: $30/hour
Schedule: 25 hours/week
Start Date: July 22, 2026 – July 30, 2027

The Partnership for College Completion (PCC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to champion policies and practices that increase college completion and eliminate degree completion disparities for low-income, first-generation, and students of color in Illinois — particularly Black and Latinx students. PCC is the only organization in Illinois dedicated to providing leadership for a systems-level approach to support college completion and eliminate institutional inequities by race and income in higher education outcomes.

PCC envisions a state where equitable opportunities to access and complete a college education lead to greater degree attainment, racial equity, and socioeconomic mobility for Illinoisans.

With its vision for system-level reform and institutional change, PCC executes a three-part strategy in pursuit of its goals:

• Supporting colleges and universities directly in their institutional equity change efforts
• Advocating for effective local, state, and national policy and legislation
• Conducting and elevating data and research to increase public awareness and dialogue on higher education equity

The Higher Education in Prison Justice Fellow (Justice Fellow), under the supervision of the Policy Manager, will support PCC’s policy, advocacy, and research efforts related to postsecondary access, success, and completion for justice-impacted students. This fellowship is designed for an emerging leader who has been directly impacted by the criminal legal system and is passionate about advancing equitable higher education opportunities.

The Fellow will contribute lived expertise, policy insight, and strategic support to PCC’s efforts to address barriers facing justice-impacted learners. Through collaboration with PCC staff, higher education institutions, policymakers, advocates, and community organizations, the Fellow will help inform policy recommendations, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and elevate the experiences of justice-impacted students across Illinois.

This term-limited, grant-funded fellowship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in higher education policy, advocacy, research, communications, and nonprofit leadership while contributing to meaningful systems change. The opportunity comes as the Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Board of Higher Education prepare to implement new grant programs of $250,000 each to support prison education programs.

• Conduct research on policies, practices, and trends impacting justice-impacted students in higher education.
• Monitor state and federal legislation related to postsecondary education, reentry, workforce development, and criminal legal system reform.
• Assist in the development of policy briefs, reports, presentations, and advocacy materials.
• Analyze data and emerging research to identify opportunities for improving educational outcomes for justice-impacted students.

• Participate in meetings with higher education institutions, community organizations, advocacy groups, and policymakers.
• Support coalition-building efforts and strategic partnerships focused on educational equity and justice reform.
• Provide recommendations and feedback informed by lived experience and community perspectives.
• Represent PCC at meetings, convenings, and public events as appropriate.

• Lead or contribute to the development of at least three thought leadership and storytelling pieces during the fellowship year, such as blog posts, policy reflections, student stories, or other written content.
• Support the creation of PCC briefs, presentations, social media content, and other communications materials that elevate student voices and advance PCC’s mission and…