Courtney Everett
Program Coordinator, Prison Education Program
Student, MBA Program
SLU's Prison Education Program celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2023. Courtney Everett is an alumnus of that program. He is now a staff member at SLU, introducing the transformative power of a Â鶹´«Ă˝ education to incarcerated individuals and pursuing an advanced degree in SLU’s Chaifetz School of Business. He says he is "proof that education equalizes and that your circumstances do not define you."
What impact did the prison program have on your life?
I went from believing that success was getting a “good masculine job” to understanding that education makes me a more complete person. Throughout my childhood, college was an out-of-reach dream, so I gave up and landed in legal trouble. While enrolled in SLU’s Prison Education Program (PEP), I experienced a learning environment where I could thrive. I met Dr. Kenneth Parker, who referred to me as “Doubting Thomas” because I was the ultimate skeptic. He told me, however, that the difference between me and Thomas was that Thomas at least stuck his finger in it! I accepted that challenge and began to do more and doubt less. I left prison with two college degrees and a reinvigorated idea of my life’s purpose.
Did you ever imagine you would be in a leadership position with the program?
I never envisioned myself as a leader of anything, especially at a prestigious institution such as SLU. Participating in the PEP exposed my confidence and leadership abilities. I’m very analytical. I read numbers well – my background and education are in business – but I also enjoy philosophy and sociology. As I gained confidence, I began preaching the gospel of Jesus inside the prison – leadership at its best! Now, a leadership role at SLU is second nature. Most would agree that every good leader has a balance of business and people skills. SLU has given me the opportunity to use my skills and serve a higher purpose in a way that I didn’t know existed a few years ago.
What about the prison setting makes it a good target for impact?
Changing a person’s way of thinking has an impact on their life. The PEP allows people to be transformed and reimagine their future. In prison, it’s difficult to incentivize achievement. Even with a 3.9 GPA, you’re still in prison, so our reason for learning must be personal. When you’re learning for the sake of learning, you’re being transformed. You become an asset to your surroundings. For example, the process of writing a simple five-paragraph essay changes your relationships. Learning how to write an introduction, state a thesis, give a body of evidence and write a conclusion becomes how you engage people. It directs how you approach parole hearings, job interviews and your communication with staff members.
How do you know your impact is felt?
While giving a presentation to about 100 men in a prison last week, I was approached by a teary-eyed guy who knew a portion of my story. He said, “You’re doing it, so now I’m going to do it.” It’s surreal for men who have every reason to give up to see someone who was exactly where they are now standing on the other side of the conversation. I am proof that education equalizes and that your circumstances do not define you.