Prison Education Panel Opens the Conversation to All
Dr. Noel Vest began his college education in a place many people might not expect: High Desert State Prison.
In 2005, Vest enrolled in CSN’s college-in-prison program and earned his first 21 college credits. After his release, he earned a doctorate in experimental psychology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Today, he is an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Vest will share his perspective during CSN’s Fall 2026 Prison Education Discussion Panel.
The conversation will focus on “Recovery, Accountability and the Role of Education in the Healing Process.”
Why this matters
Prison education may feel separate from the day-to-day work happening across CSN, but it is part of the same goal: giving students meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and move forward.
CSN’s Prison Education Program allows incarcerated students to pursue associate degrees in arts and business, along with certificates in construction estimating, hospitality, culinary arts, welding and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The panel will explore what that opportunity can mean for students, correctional institutions and the communities students may eventually return to. It will also take an honest look at how education, recovery and accountability can work together.
Vest will be joined by Gabriela Najera, warden of Southern Desert Correctional Center, and Dr. Leilani Shive, a CSN mathematics instructor who teaches inside correctional facilities. Leanne Halter, CSN prison education coordinator, will serve as the featured contributor. Dr. Genevieve Minter, CSN prison education manager, will moderate the discussion.
Most importantly, this conversation is open to everyone.
Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to attend. You do not need to work in prison education or arrive with expertise. Come ready to listen, ask questions and learn more about a part of CSN that you may not see every day.
Event details
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
Doors open: 3 p.m.
Panel discussion: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: June Whitley Lounge, North Las Vegas Campus
To attend, RSVP to Genevieve.Minter@csn.edu.
Learn more about the CSN Prison Education Program.