Minneapolis College, Minnesota Department of Corrections (MnDOC), Lino Lakes Correctional Facility and Stillwater Correctional Facility joined in a partnership in 2021 to provide eligible incarcerated students the opportunity to achieve a two-year Associate of Arts degree at no cost.
The program at Minneapolis College enrolled more than 80 students in the first year. Initial funding was provided through grants and donations from Ascendium, Jobs for the Future, and the Minneapolis College Foundation.
The TREC program is built around three core pillars:
First, we believe that higher education is a dynamic and visionary space. By centering justice-impacted learners, we challenge assumptions and champion higher education as a vital public good that must serve all people, equitably, and inclusively.
Second, our goal is to use the power of education to bridge the social, political, and economic divides between incarceration and freedom. In doing so, we help reimagine what is possible by working toward a society where transformative opportunities are a solution for systemic challenges.
Third, we recognize that traditional metrics for reentry and academic achievement often overlook the full humanity of our students. We are committed to redefining success in ways that honor the whole person and reflect our shared vision of a world rooted in healing, equity, and abundance.
Ultimately, TREC exists to expand access, remove barriers, and ensure that all students—especially those impacted by incarceration—are empowered to thrive within higher education and beyond.
Meet the TREC Team
- Michael Valesano | TREC Program Director | Minneapolis College
- Eunha Jeong-Wood| TREC Program Coordinator | Minneapolis College
- Sarah Lemanzyk | TREC Program Coordinator | Minneapolis College
- Kenneth Rivera | TREC Program Re-entry Coordinator | Minneapolis College
- Travis Sands | TREC Program Director | Metro State University
- Michael Lee | TREC Program Coordinator | Metro State University
- Julie Santella | TREC Program Coordinator | Metro State University
- Emily Oliver| TREC Grants/Curriculum Coordinator| Metro State University
General Inquiry | trec@minneapolis.edu
