Dr. Breea Willingham (she/her) is an interdisciplinary scholar and criminology professor whose teaching and research examine the intersections of race, gender, higher education, and the criminal legal system. She is particularly interested in Black women’s experiences with higher education in prison and amplifying the voices of Black women impacted by the legal system.
Influenced by her experiences as a sister and aunt of two men serving life sentences, Dr. Willingham’s research also focuses on the societal ramifications of mass incarceration, especially its impact on families. She has presented her research at academic conferences nationally and internationally, and given lectures at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Willingham is a co-founder of the Jamii Sisterhood, LLC, an organization that offers a safe and innovative space for Black women in higher education in prison. She is also the Managing Editor of the new Journal for Higher Education in Prison, a peer-reviewed journal that publishes solely on the topics and issues in higher education in prison.