Dr. John Fantuzzo is the  Director of Eastern University’s Prison Education Program. John is an educator and philosopher who has worked in and around the criminal justice system for the past 15 years. He has participated in the Children's Defense Fund's "Cradle to Prison Pipeline" campaign, co-founded an Outreach Program for court-involved youth at Columbia University, and received certification and taught in the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program. While at Valparaiso University (IN), John led the university's prison education committee and partnered with colleagues to expand the university's prison education offerings. John lives in the Philadelphia area with his spouse (an art teacher) and two children (10 and 12). His academic background includes a BA in philosophy from Gordon College, an MA in Philosophy and Social Policy from American University, and a PhD in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University's Teachers College. His published writings have explored the pedagogical ideas of Max Weber and James Baldwin and questioned the meaning of familiar concepts such as equality of opportunity, human dignity, and transformative education. His research interests revolve around recognizing and reclaiming respect for persons in modern institutions, specifically schools, and prisons. John is thrilled to advance Eastern's Prison Education Program and support everything it offers to returning citizens and incarcerated students at SCI-Chester. He appreciates how closely this program aligns with Eastern's commitment to "preparing graduates to impact the world through faith, reason, and justice."