Tim Walz’s wife Gwen, a former teacher, is a strong advocate for college education in prisons

Max Kenner, upon meeting Gwen Walz over a decade ago when she was the wife of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, recognized her as a valuable ally. Both former educators, Kenner shared his initiative to educate inmates in New York state with Gwen.

Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming presidential election, the potential inclusion of a member of the second family who strongly advocates for prison education is on the horizon.

Establishing the Bard Prison Initiative in 1999 as a student at Bard College, Kenner responded to the 1994 Pell Grant ban for incarcerated students and the 1995 New York state Tuition Assistance Program ban, which severely affected in-prison education.

Kenner has engaged in numerous discussions with Walz over the past decade regarding higher education access in prisons.

“She approached education without bias and with an optimistic view of the potential of all students,” Kenner fondly recalled about Gwen Walz. “She also expressed disappointment in the lack of adequate educational opportunities in the country, particularly in terms of college access.”

With Gwen Walz being a strong advocate for expanding higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals, this cause became a significant component of Governor Walz’s criminal justice agenda.

During her tenure as the first lady of Minnesota, Gwen Walz visited state prisons, had frequent discussions with top Corrections Department officials, led a task force on reducing recidivism, and facilitated the implementation of a new college curriculum within prison walls by recruiting an assistant commissioner.

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio in 2019, Gwen Walz emphasized the importance of discussing education within correctional facilities. She stated, “I firmly believe that people are seeking solutions for various issues in corrections and criminal justice.”

One notable program in Minnesota is the TREC (Transformation and Reentry Through Education and Community), which started in 2021 and is a collaboration between Minneapolis College, Metro State University, the University of Minnesota, and the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility.

Expressing her motivation to educate incarcerated individuals, Gwen Walz told PBS in 2019, “Education serves as a transformative force, which is crucial in addressing challenges. Education significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to prison.”

According to the Bard Prison Initiative, the recidivism rate is less than 4% for all enrolled students and 2.5% for graduates.

In 2020, during the George Floyd protests following his tragic death, Governor Walz faced criticism for his initial response to the riots, particularly from Republicans who felt that he delayed deploying the National Guard. In 2023, Walz signed a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill into law, including significant provisions such as abolishing juvenile life without parole, limiting probation terms to five years or less, and establishing an Office of Restorative Practices.

Considered a key advisor to the governor, Gwen Walz’s public advocacy began with a rally in support of restoring voting rights for ex-offenders as her first official event as the first lady of Minnesota. She maintains an office at the Minnesota State Capitol, marking the first occurrence of a first spouse occupying such a space in the state.

Following his introduction as Kamala Harris’s running mate at a rally in Philadelphia, Walz expressed enthusiasm for the nation to get to know his wife, a veteran of 29 years in public education.

“Never underestimate the impact of teachers,” he emphasized.

Pell Grant Restoration for Incarcerated Students

Between 1999 and 2020, the educational programs within New York prisons operated by Bard were privately funded, with limited reach due to financial constraints.

In 2020, under the Trump administration, Congress reinstated Pell grants for incarcerated individuals, expanding the accessibility of such programs nationwide.

According to a study by the RAND Corporation, inmates engaged in correctional education initiatives were 43% less likely to recidivate compared to those who did not participate.

Kenner mentioned the bipartisan support that led to the reinstatement of Pell grants for incarcerated individuals, making quality education a reality in prisons across New York, Minnesota, and various other states.