Muhlenberg College Celebrates Latest Graduating Class
April 27, 2026
The Muhlenberg College Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program celebrated its spring semester on Wednesday, April 22 at the Lehigh County Jail. The program, which began in 2017, offers courses taught by Muhlenberg faculty inside the jail in which Muhlenberg students and incarcerated participants collaborate and learn together.
In this article, hear from the program's co-directors, Kate Richmond and Jess Denke, as well as reflections from students in the class.
“The class started with the idea of bringing together college students with students who are incarcerated for a semester long college experience so that they get to understand each other not just through a book, but through the combination of a book in dialogue with lived experience. And what makes that so unique, is that when you’re able to pair book knowledge with lived experience, there’s no way you don’t see the stakes at hand. There’s no way that you don’t want to care and do something about it.”
The Muhlenberg College Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program Graduating Class
