Patten University at San Quentin started its 2012 Fall Semester just after the Labor Day weekend. For some of the men serving time on the Mainline, enrolling in a college program and earning a degree are major steps in their rehabilitation. However, for those who have earned their Associate of Arts degree from Patten U., what is next?
Asked On The Line conducted informal interviews with 12 Patten graduates and asked, “Now that you’ve earned an A.A. degree, will you seek a higher degree? What will your major be?”
Most of the men who were interviewed want a higher degree.
Michael Tyler is presently pursuing his bachelor’s degree, but is undecided on the major. “It will be in business management, psychology, or communications. I haven’t made up my mind yet,” said Tyler.
Felix Lucero wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in business and study culinary arts. Ke Lam wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in either child development or kinesiology.
Bobby Evans wants to earn a master’s degree in social work. “I think it’s important for incarcerated people. Education will help us stay out of prison. That means that we become responsible; we keep jobs, pay taxes, and become better parents. There needs to be higher education in prisons,” said Evans.
Kenyatta Leal, the 2011 valedictorian, said he wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but not right now. “Right now, I’d like to enroll in a computer coding academy, be a computer programmer, and be an evangelist for The Last Mile program so that it can be worldwide,” said Leal.
The 2012 valedictorian, Chris Schuhmacher, wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, but was unsure of a master’s degree. “I’m taking it one step at a time,” said Schuhmacher.
James Houston wants to earn a bachelor’s degree in business to learn how to operate a non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth.
Robert Frye, also a valedictorian, has not decided how high a degree he wants to earn, but he said it would be in psychology.
Valeray Richardson wants to earn a doctor of philosophy in a Christian seminary and Jonathan Wilson wants a doctorate in psychology.
Paul Chen said he is not planning to seek a higher degree, but he would major in whatever Patten offers. Only one Patten graduate, David Monroe, said he is not interested in earning any higher degrees.
