instruction in both the male and female pods,” Weinland said. “The men’s pod took the math test to assess if they can be successful with just printed curriculum. The answer is yes, they can. So, testing will be expanded in the male pod over the next year while making sure we are taking care of our female inmates.” Since the team has been offering classes and materials, one female inmate has passed all five tests and earned her high school diploma. “My time in the Payne County Jail was spent finding ways to improve myself,” said Hunter Dunagan, the first to receive a diploma through the program. “I am thankful for every teacher who came and spent time giving me an education. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to do my time. Now, I can make sure all the time I’m doing isn’t a waste, and I leave here with the skills for a better future.” Dunagan said she quit attending school after the 10th grade, so getting an education while in jail was about finding “opportunities in unexpected places.” “I’m thankful that I was able to get my GED,” Dunagan said. “Now I can look into furthering my education.” Weinland said her team’s work offers a second chance to a unique population, opening new doors for inmates like Dunagan upon release. “When she is released, she doesn’t have to start from zero,” Weinland said. “Upon her release, she’ll have options to explore, like attending OSU or having the opportunity to look at jobs she wouldn’t otherwise have been able to. I’m really excited for her.” Payne County Jail pupils are not OSU students, but the faculty involved keep OSU’s land-grant mission at the forefront of their minds. “The heart of the land-grant mission lies in promoting education, enhancing economic development and enriching lives,” Weinland said. “That is exactly the goal of our work in the jail. “You need a high school diploma for most every economic opportunity in our society. With that diploma, you can pursue post-secondary opportunities and open access to gainful employment. That could really change their trajectory and open opportunities to further impact our community and our state.” To learn more, including how to support OSU faculty efforts at the Payne County Jail, contact Weinland at kathryn.weinland@okstate.edu. Faculty and graduate students from the departments of Mathematics, Psychology, English, Political Science and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics volunteer their time to educate and test inmates inside the Payne County Jail. Scan to watch exclusive content about this faculty led program. 26 CONNECT 2024
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