Dr. Zelda Roland

Biography

Zelda Roland is the Director of the Yale Prison Education Initiative and a Lecturer in Education Studies. As a Yale alumna, she graduated with a BA in 2008 and a PhD in 2016. Zelda created the program that allows incarcerated students to take Yale classes, starting with the inaugural courses in 2018. She has worked to gain support and organize the initiative, helping the first incarcerated student earn Yale College credit. In 2021, she became the inaugural director of the University of New Haven’s Prison Education Program in partnership with YPEI, furthering opportunities for incarcerated students to earn degrees while receiving crucial support during reentry. In her role, Zelda coordinates ambitious initiatives that foster partnerships with Connecticut’s Department of Corrections and various educational and reentry organizations, and she leads professional development and mentorship opportunities for college-in-prison alumni. Zelda is deeply passionate about the transformative power of higher education and advocates for access to education for incarcerated students.

Research Interests