Business education to forge new pathways

We believe that people hold their own potential. We work with top institutions and incarcerated learners to develop our award-winning programs.

Unlocking potential with high-quality business and financial education.

What is taught

Business acumen and practical skills to increase employability.

Business education offers a practical foundation. It creates a stability that serves everyone, no matter who they are or what direction they go. Learners uncover how businesses run, how to be a valuable employee, and how to drive their future forward.

How it’s taught

Dynamic teaching that builds confidence beyond the classroom.

The Socratic case study method creates discussion-based, probative, and dynamic forms of dialogue to encourage learners to explore different ideas, challenge their own beliefs, and voice their opinions.

Who teaches

Our dedicated instructors form lasting connections.

We engage MBA and JD partners to foster allyship with incarcerated learners and connect with individuals who want to advance their careers. Social capital is power — the larger the community built around incarcerated learners, the greater the opportunities become.

Years teaching
(3 states, 5 facilities)

13+

MBA instructors (Darden, Columbia, Wharton)

700+

Certificates for incarcerated learners

1100+

Credits awarded to incarcerated learners

425+

Our curriculum

We design flexible programs for business and law schools to offer a transformational experience for MBA and JD students. Over the years, we have partnered with renowned universities to produce rich course materials and an expansive set of case studies.

We work with state Department of Corrections to develop programming that complies with the latest regulations. We also collaborate with incarcerated people at both men’s and women’s facilities to ensure our courses bring value to those completing them.

Foundations
in Business

Entrepreneurship

Financial
Capability*

Business Law
for Reentry

*Non-GED version available.

What our MBA and JD instructors say

  • “Teaching women at Fluvanna, a maximum security prison in Virginia, was one of my all-time favorite experiences at the Darden School of Business. I learned so much about humility, second chances, and the human spirit’s desire to soar.”

    Arshbir Ghuman | Darden MBA instructor

  • "Teaching financial literacy to incarcerated learners at the State Correctional Institution in Chester was by far one of the most memorable experiences I had during my time at University of Virginia Darden School of Business."

    Michael R. Shipp | Darden MBA instructor

  • “Teaching at Fluvanna was one of the most personally meaningful and transformative experiences of my MBA. I learned about myself and became a much more confident and empathetic leader, and was able to give back to others during a time where most of my work was focused on myself.”

    Darden MBA instructor

  • "Teaching was such a fun, challenging, and meaningful experience. I feel so lucky to have gotten to work with the learners in the program and it felt like such a privilege to share that experience with them."

    UVA School of Law J.D. instructor

  • “I will forever remember my students from this program, and getting to know them as people has transformed my understanding of our justice system.”

    Darden MBA instructor

  • “[The experience] reinforced my belief in the transformative power of business to drive positive change.”

    Darden MBA instructor

  • “The depth of rigor and consistent engagement that my students brought to class motivated me to become a better teacher and leader.”

    Darden MBA instructor

  • "The program is just as much about empowering these justice-impacted individuals as it is about changing our own views and preconceived notions about incarceration in this country."

    Wharton MBA instructor

  • "Not only did I learn a ton about mass incarceration in the U.S. and the critical role that business leaders have to play, but I also strengthened my own understanding of business concepts by teaching them to others."

    Wharton MBA instructor

What our students say


“When we walked into these classrooms, it was like we walked into a different world, a world where people believed in us, supported us, and helped us see beyond the prison walls and into the future.”

— Graduate from Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women

77% increased confidence in voicing their opinion

Are you looking for our post-release programs?

Enhancing our curriculum with Business Law for Reentry

We piloted the Business Law for Reentry curriculum at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in partnership with the University of Virginia School of Law in April 2024.

A group of JD students taught workshops with the aim of equipping incarcerated learners with legal knowledge and tools to make informed decisions upon release.

The Socratic method

Popular within schools of business and law, the Socratic case study method engages learners in a problem that they must solve. Pioneered in ancient Greece, the Socratic method has stimulated the minds of students for centuries. These methods and case-study materials had seldom been applied to prison-based education, so we introduced this combined approach to our first set of incarcerated learners in 2011.

Our case studies are built around a narrative, an individual or an organization attempting to resolve a challenge. Each example teaches a specific set of concepts and learning objectives. We invite participants to take on the protagonist’s perspective in the case study. The instructor acts as a “conductor”, facilitating discussions between the group and probing key questions to reach a new understanding.

Our collection features more than 100 expertly crafted cases that delve into essential financial, business, and legal concepts.

These cases, paired with thoughtfully designed assignments, projects, and grading rubrics, form the core of our dynamic, real-world courses.

We also create custom workshops tailored to the specific needs of our partners, ensuring that every learning experience is relevant and impactful.

Our case collection

We focus on the key elements to build successful careers. These topics Include:

  • Salary Negotiation

  • Navigating Relationships in an Office Environment

  • Creating a Personal Budget

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution

Partner
programs

Let’s build a unique program for your organization

We have the technical know-how, relationships, and experience to customize our programs to suit your organization’s requirements.

We work with universities, local government, Departments of Corrections and other higher education in-prison organizations. Get in touch with our team to learn more about becoming a partner.

You can also donate to support our work.