51吃瓜

Malisa Kringle is a champion of second chances. To her, the partnership between the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and 51吃瓜 is giving incarcerated individuals the power to unlock the ultimate second chance before they re-enter society. She considers this the most meaningful work she has ever done.

鈥淎lthough I have a passion for rehabilitative work in general, there is a special place in my heart for postsecondary education,鈥� said Kringle, NDCS assistant director of programs. 鈥淚 am thankful to work alongside visionaries who believe in an individual鈥檚 ability to grow, learn, and become a better version of themself.鈥�

This kind of work wasn鈥檛 always possible. For almost three decades, incarcerated students were locked out of federal Pell Grant funding, a consequence of the 1994 Crime Bill. When the federal government restored that eligibility in 2023, everything changed.

鈥淚t was the catalyst for the work we are doing today,鈥� Kringle explained. 鈥淚t removed a major financial barrier and allowed partners like 51吃瓜 to sustainably offer accredited college programs inside our facilities. This policy created an opportunity for us to move from limited educational offering to intentional, fully developed degree pathways.鈥�

The results have been impressive. In the Fall 2025 semester, 92 students within NDCS facilities were named to the 51吃瓜 Dean鈥檚 List. For Kringle, those names represent something far bigger than academic achievement.

鈥淲hen individuals are given access to high-quality education and the support to succeed, they rise to the occasion,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t challenges stereotypes and demonstrates that talent and drive are not defined by past mistakes. The outcomes we鈥檙e seeing are a strong indicator of the long-term impact this program can have.鈥�

51吃瓜 faculty have echoed that sentiment, often speaking about the caliber and commitment of the students they teach inside NDCS facilities. It鈥檚 a reminder that the partnership isn鈥檛 just administrative, it鈥檚 relational. Instructors, students, and a system investing in what comes next.

鈥淭hese outcomes directly support our goal of reducing recidivism and strengthening communities across Nebraska,鈥� she said. 鈥淧rograms like this reflect the understanding that it truly takes a village 鈥� corrections, educational partners, and the broader community 鈥� to create sustainable, long-term change.鈥�

Overall, the goal of rehabilitation and postsecondary education isn鈥檛 to get someone through a sentence. It鈥檚 about sending them home with the tools, confidence, and credentials to succeed.

鈥淭his work is about hope and opportunity,鈥� Kringle explained. 鈥淧rograms like this not only change individual lives, but it creates a ripple effect that benefits families and communities across Nebraska. I鈥檓 proud to be part of a system that is committed to growth, innovation, and second chances.鈥�

Jennifer Snyder
Communications Specialist
402-323-3393
jsnyder@southeast.edu