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 Amy Roza

Amy Roza began volunteering with the San Quentin College Program in 2009 and become a staff member a year later in May 2010. Previously, Amy designed and led prevention and intervention programs for court-involved families and for families from New York City neighborhoods over-represented in the criminal justice system with the Center for Court Innovation. She also served for four years with the Prison Education Initiative, a collaborative of educators leading academic classes at New York City’s Rikers Island jail. Prior to this work, Amy was a classroom teacher and then supported and trained new teachers in under-resourced public schools. Most recently, Amy led assessment-driven program improvement at a national literacy non-profit. Amy holds a Masters in Teaching from Trinity College and a BA in Public Policy and Anthropology from Pomona College.

Operations Manager Miguel Kaminiski

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