As a doctoral student in criminology, law, and justice at the University of Illinois Chicago, Jenna Pasanen entered her Schweitzer Fellowship year determined to better understand the challenges women face as they prepare to reenter society after incarceration. Partnering with the women’s program at Cook County Jail, she designed workshops on navigating resources for housing, education, and employment, as well as rebuilding relationships.

What began as a one-year Fellowship grew into something much larger. Jenna has continued to develop reentry programming, expand her work with incarcerated women, and now coordinates a course that brings together incarcerated individuals and UIC students to collaborate on legal research. Her story shows how a Schweitzer project can plant the seeds of long-term, systemic impact.

Can you tell us about your original Fellowship project and why you chose to focus on women at Cook County Jail?
My project focused on reentry. I wanted to understand what services existed in Chicago for women leaving jail—housing, employment, education—and help women build skills they could use immediately. We also held sessions on trauma and domestic violence, which are central to many women’s experiences. I brought in guest speakers, including professors from my department, to share their expertise. The idea was to give women tools for stability after incarceration.

What was the response from the women you worked with? Were there moments that stood out?
The women were incredibly receptive. I was nervous at first, but the topics really mattered to them. They asked for resume workshops and career prep, and we built trust through informal conversations, too. Many shared their personal stories of trauma and survival, which were very meaningful for me. It felt like a privilege to bear witness to those stories.

After your Fellowship ended, what inspired you to continue this work?
I couldn’t just stop. The women inspired me to keep going. Soon after my Fellowship, I started new workshops with UIC professors and graduate students. We expanded into longer programs co-created with the women themselves. It became a collaborative process where they told us what topics they wanted, and we shaped the sessions together. I have been fortunate to continue this work as a part of my teaching assistant role.

You’re now coordinating a course that brings together incarcerated people with UIC students. How did that come about?
It grew out of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange model, which brings campus students into correctional facilities to learn alongside incarcerated peers. At UIC, we launched a law course at the jail that connects law students and undergraduate students with incarcerated students. It’s unique because it breaks down barriers and allows everyone to learn from one another. The class has been taught in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

What have you learned from the women and students through this collaboration?
I’ve learned how deeply trauma shapes women’s experiences with the criminal legal system. Most of the women I’ve worked with are survivors, yet the system doesn’t recognize them as such. At the same time, I’ve seen how much they can teach us—through their resilience, insights, and determination. For students, it’s transformative to learn in that setting.

What are the biggest challenges for people preparing to reenter society, and how can communities help?
Housing is the biggest challenge. Without stable housing, it’s easy to end up back in the system. Employment is also critical—knowing which employers will hire people with records, where they can live, and what resources are available. Education and skill-building help boost confidence and show women that they are capable of thriving.

The Fellowship emphasizes sustainability. How has your project evolved since then?
Another Schweitzer Fellow picked up the project after me, and the UIC programming has kept growing with new professors, students, and interns involved. Now the course and workshops have a life of their own. My experience has also shaped my dissertation, which focuses on healing from trauma among criminalized survivors of intimate partner violence.

What impact has this work had on you personally and professionally?
It’s changed the trajectory of my career. I’ve developed strong bonds with the women and with the students who join these programs. It’s deepened my research and my teaching, and it’s given me a sense of responsibility to sustain this work.

Looking ahead, how do you hope this work will grow?
I hope to see more students involved, more community partnerships, and more sustainable structures so it doesn’t depend on any one person. The women inside don’t have access to the internet, so we’ve had to create new models of sustainability, but the interest and support are there. It was humbling to see the positive impact of a simple conversation for an incarcerated woman. They spend their days in a deeply dehumanizing environment, but being able to have a meaningful one-on-one chat with an outside facilitator can make their day. I believe these small acts of kindness go a long way in helping them get through their incarceration.

Outside of your academic work, what sustains you?
I recharge with my partner, our cat Princess, Zumba classes, and even video games like Sims 4. And yes, I watch plenty of reality dating shows too.