• Former inmate now tenured professor leads nonprofit transforming higher education access

  • Dr. Stanley Andrisse’s story proves education can disrupt cycles of incarceration

  • From Prison Cells to PhD empowers justice-impacted scholars nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Dr. Stanley Andrisse, once confined in a Missouri maximum-security prison, now serves as a tenured professor at Howard University and leads From Prison Cells to PhD, a nonprofit dedicated to helping justice-impacted people enter and succeed in higher education. Andrisse’s journey—from the trauma of incarceration and personal loss to excelling in science and launching a major advocacy network—illustrates how second chances and education change lives.

Convicted of three felonies in his early twenties, Andrisse faced bleak prospects and a harsh “career criminal” label. “I applied to six graduate schools while in prison. Five rejected me instantly. The sixth, Saint Louis University, admitted me because a mentor vouched for me. That single ‘yes’ changed everything,” Andrisse said, recounting how he later earned a Ph.D. in physiology and an MBA, graduating at the top of his class federal court ruling. The path was filled with rejection, but education provided an escape from the stigma that loomed over his future medical examiner records.

Finding hope and motivation behind bars

The years spent inside prison weren’t just a test of survival or endurance—they became a crucible for change. Inspired by his father’s courage and subsequent loss, Andrisse discovered science as both an outlet and tool of self-renewal. He immersed himself in books about physiology, bio-medicine, and psychology, finding in research the answers and discipline that jail denied. Education gave purpose to grief and guided Andrisse out of hopelessness box office performance.

Upon his release, the obstacles did not disappear. “Every turn, there was another locked door—housing, employment, even basic dignity. What changed wasn’t the world—it was my mindset and the support I found through mentors,” Andrisse explained. The constant presence of barriers, from job interviews to university admissions, forced him to advocate not only for himself, but for others still in the system or carrying the burdens of a record keynote address.

Building an organization for second chances

This realization gave birth to From Prison Cells to PhD—known widely as P2P—a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. P2P goes beyond advocacy, offering mentoring, job readiness workshops, leadership development, and policy engagement. Through its programs, scholars gain skills, confidence, and encouragement to pursue higher education and professional careers.

Nearly all program participants enroll in post-secondary education, with a remarkable 97.5% matriculation rate and an average GPA of 3.75. These numbers rival national benchmarks for traditional students and highlight not only P2P’s success, but the determination of its scholars immigration enforcement campaign.

“P2P exists so you don’t have to navigate barriers alone,” Andrisse affirms. “The past doesn’t decide your future. Every scholar is living proof that rehabilitation is real” school-to-prison pipeline.

Advocating for justice reform and educational equity

Today, as a scientist and professor, Andrisse is a leading voice for justice reform. He backs policy initiatives such as “Ban the Box,” which aims to remove unfair restrictions on employment and admissions for people with criminal convictions Ban the Box initiatives. Andrisse regularly speaks at academic conferences, advises advocacy coalitions, and provides expert testimony on panels addressing the school-to-prison pipeline and educational disparities access to education.

Through P2P, Andrisse helps shape policy platforms and collaborates with national allies to highlight the urgent need for second chances within the justice system policy solutions. He mentors younger scholars, guiding them through graduate school admissions, research fellowships, and professional development opportunities.

Inspiring others and driving lasting change

Dr. Andrisse’s achievements go beyond accolades. With growing recognition as a mentor, author, and speaker, he remains at the forefront of research, advocacy, and leadership in reentry communities. By sharing his story and supporting hundreds, Andrisse proves that transformation—and restoration—are possible when society invests in potential, not stigma official statements.

His continued commitment to scientific research and community outreach ensures that the doors once closed to him—and to thousands more with similar backgrounds—remain open for future generations. In every classroom, lecture hall, and nonprofit boardroom, Andrisse demonstrates how education and second chances fuel real redemption—one scholar at a time.

What further barriers should colleges and employers remove for justice-impacted talent?

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