overcoming adversity and achieving dreams through higher education
This article is part of a series celebrating 20 years of the Odyssey Project. Follow along as we remember where we’ve been and look forward to where we’re going. After serving 38 years in prison, Robert Taliaferro returned home in January 2022. As he walked away from Oakhill Correctional Institution in Oregon, Wisconsin, he …
In December 2021, alum Robert Taliaferro had a lot to look forward to. He was celebrating the end of a successful semester with Odyssey Beyond Bars, writing a feature for the Prison Journalism Project — and completing the last of his 38 years in prison.
At Odyssey Beyond Bars, we know that connecting people with high-quality education in prison equips them with tools for lifelong success — and we were thrilled to celebrate some of those successes at the Second Annual Correcting the Narrative Awards.
Our alums remind us that returning home isn’t easy, and successes are sometimes interrupted by setbacks. Ongoing support is key to making sure the good days outnumber the bad. Our new Odyssey Beyond Bars Success Coach, Mike Exum, helps students navigate the inevitable struggles of reentry and provides a voice of encouragement in tough times.
In fall 2023, veterans can start a new UW Odyssey Project course tailored to them. Read about the program and learn how to apply now!
Odyssey Beyond Wars focuses on reading and writing in the humanities as a way for students to process their military experience and adjust to civilian life. Through discussions of texts ranging from classics to modern veteran writers, thinkers, artists and musicians, the program will provide veterans context for their lived experiences and the sense of …
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Transitioning from military to civilian life can be tough, but there’s a new program through the UW Odyssey Project that aims to help veterans continue their education. Odyssey literacy instructor Erin Celello and Odyssey alum and army veteran Dominique Christian joined Leigh Mills in the studio to talk about the program.
As part of the Odyssey Project’s aim to inform and inspire youth to pursue higher education, Odyssey Junior hosts a series of College Workshops working toward gathering resources and building connections between students and professionals in the academic field. All presentations, contact information, and content from our workshops can be found below, in addition to …
Each month, people gather in Madison to watch storytellers match “wits and words” at The Moth StorySLAM competitions, and Odyssey students and alumni are often found not only in the audience but in the stage’s spotlight as well. This year, Odyssey student Marisol Gonzalez was among 10 finalists who earned a coveted spot in the …
Since 2015, more than 160 graduates of UW–Madison's Odyssey Project's core course have earned additional college credits through its sister program, Onward Odyssey. Two of its students share their experience with the program — and what they'd like to do next.