“It was not about learning everyone’s stories of why they were in this wretched place, but rather meeting them right where they were at... By the simple act of listening, I made friends. Those friends are friends that I still write to…”
– Campus-Based Student
History of the LIFE Program
The Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) began in 2007 with 15 students from the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (formerly Tennessee Prison for Women) and 15 traditional undergraduate students from Lipscomb University. Founded by Dr. Richard C. Goode, the LIFE program was designed to bridge educational opportunities for incarcerated women and traditional college students, creating shared learning experiences that foster growth and understanding.
In 2018, LIFE launched the nation’s first seminary program within a women’s prison, offering incarcerated students access to theological studies and spiritual development.
With the support of state grants, the program expanded in 2020 to include Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, extending educational opportunities to incarcerated men. Today, more than 50 students are enrolled across both facilities, continuing their academic journeys through the LIFE program.
LIFE marked a significant milestone in December 2022 with its fifth graduation ceremony at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, celebrating the first cohort of students to complete Master’s degrees. In May 2024, the program reached another important achievement with the first Associate’s degree graduation at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution men’s facility.
For students released before completing their degrees, the Richard C. Goode LIFE Scholarship provides financial support to continue their education online or on campus, either full- or part-time. Since its establishment, the scholarship has supported 14 students in pursuing their education after release and has helped five of those students successfully earn their degrees.
“Teaching for Lipscomb in Nashville prisons has served as a Damascus Road experience for me... My experiences in the LIFE Program have left me convinced that, as Jesus taught in Matthew 25, my salvation is bound up with that of people behind bars.”
– Preston Shipp, Faculty
