Higher Education in Prison Field Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Posting closing date: September 23, 2026

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The University System of Maryland (USM) is seeking a Higher Education in Prison Field Coordinator to support the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) in the successful implementation of “Aligning Services for Justice-Impacted Students within the University System of Maryland”, USM’s grant from the Ascendum Education Group. This position also supports all other aspects of USM’s prison education efforts.

This is a one-year contract position that is eligible for annual renewal. Funding for the position is tied to the grant, which is currently scheduled to continue through Fall 2029.

Reporting directly to the USM Director of the Higher Education in Prison, the Higher Education in Prison Field Coordinator is primarily responsible for implementing strategies that strengthen educational continuity after release, cultivate a strong and connected community of alumni, and help campuses connect students and alumni with the resources necessary to achieve their goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development:

• Assists the Director in the development and implementation of retention, reentry, and student success strategies across USM and partner institutions.
• Assists USM campuses with developing standard operating practices for helping students transition from the prison campus to the community campus.
• Develops training materials and conducts training on best practices for supporting justice-impacted college students for USM campus student support service departments.
• Develops, implements, and maintains an alumni network of justice-impacted graduates of Maryland colleges and universities.
• Assists in the development, coordination, and support of regional education/reentry hubs.

Partnerships & Opportunity Development:

• Builds relationships with USM institutions’ units responsible for student access, retention, and success.
• Collaborates with USM institutions and other Maryland college partners to develop a coordinated approach to providing student support services for justice-impacted college students.
• Builds and maintains relationships with employers, workforce development programs, community organizations, and reentry service providers throughout Maryland.
• Participates in local, state, and national conversations related to higher education in prison, reentry, retention, and post-release student success.

Administrative Support:

• Develops and maintains resource lists and student-facing materials.
• Collaborates with colleges and universities to develop strategies for tracking retention and reentry outcomes.
• Handles administrative tasks such as scheduling meetings, sending communications, drafting reports, and maintaining project documentation.
• Assists in the planning of yearly USM prison education symposiums.

ANNUAL SALARY

$75,000 – $90,000

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

• Two (2) years of experience in reentry support, student services, workforce development, social services or related fields.
• Experience supporting individuals from diverse or underserved populations.
• Experience building relationships with community partners, students, clients, or program participants.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to comply with all policies and procedures of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of the national higher education in prison landscape.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to interact professionally, patiently and diplomatically with a wide variety of constituencies.
• Strong organizational, project coordination, time management, written and verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Detail-orientation and strong follow-through.
• Proficiency with of MS Office applications and collaboration tools such as SharePoint.
• Demonstrated commitment to educational access and student success.
• Ability to travel to PEP program sites and partner locations across Maryland.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor’s or Master's degree in higher education administration, public policy, criminal justice, or a related field.

Experience:

• Experience in reentry support, student services, workforce development, correctional education, or related work.
• Experience working directly with justice-impacted populations.
• Experience working in correctional, prison education, or other high-security institutional settings.
• Experience developing or implementing student success, retention, transition, or reentry programs.
• Experience building or managing alumni engagement, mentorship, or community programs.
• Experience facilitating trainings, workshops, or technical assistance initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of barriers facing individuals returning from incarceration through professional, volunteer, community-based, or direct lived experience. 
• Familiarity with Maryland reentry resources, workforce development programs, and community support networks.
• Administrative, teaching, or advising experience within a post-secondary educational setting. 

Benefits

• Paid Leave: 22 days of annual leave, 15 days of sick & safe leave, 16-17 holidays, 3 personal leave days, 12 weeks paid family medical leave.
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with flexible spending accounts.
• Retirement Plans: Supplemental retirement options with major providers like Empower, Fidelity, and TIAA.
• Life Insurance: Optional term life and AD&D benefits through MetLife.
• Tuition Benefits: Tuition remission for employees and their families.
• Training & Development: Free professional development conferences and unlimited LinkedIn Learning access.
• Credit Union Access: Membership eligibility for SECU, Maryland’s largest credit union.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free counseling, legal, financial, and work-life support services.

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