Andy Matevousian

I am deeply grateful to Andy Matevousian, the senior Regional Director in the Bureau of Prisons who oversees all federal prisons in the North Central Region. Andy has been more than a colleague; he has been a trusted friend and one of the most important champions of our advocacy efforts.

From USP Lompoc to the Ninth Circuit

My relationship with Andy began many years ago, when he was serving as a Captain at USP Lompoc during my confinement there. At the time, neither of us could have imagined that years later we would reconnect on the outside in pursuit of a shared mission: improving outcomes for people in America’s prison system.

That reconnection happened in 2015, when I was invited to give a keynote at a symposium hosted by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Sacramento. After my presentation, Andy walked up to congratulate me. More than seven years had passed since I had last seen him inside Lompoc. He had since advanced to the role of Warden at USP Atwater.

From Presentation to Program

When Andy invited me to give a presentation at Atwater, I made a suggestion: rather than just a speech, why not create a program—something that would help people in prison prepare systematically for success after release?

Andy agreed. That decision became the foundation for one of the most important projects of my life.

We developed what would become the cornerstone of Prison Professors’ advocacy efforts: a structured, self-directed reentry course that encourages people to live as if they are the CEO of their lives. Through the program, participants learned to define excellence, memorialize their journey, and document their preparation for reentry.

Expanding the Reach

The success of that pilot course helped build my credibility with the Bureau of Prisons. Andy became my strongest supporter. He helped bring our programming to every prison in his region, allowing tens of thousands of people to participate.

The results have been powerful. People inside are now building records—biographies, journals, book reports, and release plans—that demonstrate accountability and preparation. Those records strengthen our advocacy. They also give staff like Andy the evidence they need to support people for early release opportunities. Andy has told me personally about individuals whose documented growth helped him argue for their advancement.

Why Coalitions Matter

Advocacy requires coalitions. We cannot build change in isolation. We must collaborate with:

• Staff, who play a vital role in influencing culture and supporting growth.
• People serving sentences, who must take ownership of their own journey.
• Communities and families, who can reinforce the importance of preparation and accountability.

That’s why I encourage everyone to participate: open a profile on PrisonProfessors.org, document your progress, or help us connect with others who want to be part of this movement.

As Andy’s example shows, reform is possible when we build coalitions—step by step, record by record, story by story. Together, we can prove that people in prison can earn freedom through merit, and that a system rooted in incentivizing excellence will lead to better outcomes for all.

‍