JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Saint Peter’s University today welcomed Fr. Tom Curran, SJ to campus. Fr. Curran is the current Coordinator of the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN). JPEN is a consortium of Jesuit higher education institutions in the U.S. Central and Southern Province dedicated to offering college courses and degree programs to incarcerated individuals. Launched in 2023, JPEN aims to reduce recidivism, foster reconciliation and provide high-quality education, with over 300 students participating as of late 2025.
Fr. Curran met with leadership and faculty members across Saint Peter’s, most notably touring the LINDA facilities on campus. LINDA is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes new and gently used cosmetics, toiletries, and other necessary items that may be financially out of reach for women whose lives have been temporarily disrupted by some aspect of criminal justice. The organization was founded by Saint Peter’s University Criminal Justice Professor Dr. Beth Adubato and primarily serves women fleeing domestic violence as well as those coming out of incarceration at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.
Fr. Curran and Dr. Adubato were joined by Kari Larsen, Criminal Justice Department Chair and WeiDong Zhu, Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. As Fr. Curran so eloquently put it, LINDA’s focus on women in needs truly reflects cura personalis and help to serve a community is often the “forgotten of the forgotten”.
Fr. Curran also had a tour of the Saint Peter’s Campus Kitchen and Clothes Closet after his meeting with Campus Ministry staff (Fr. Jim Miracky and Erich Sekel). Saint Peter’s staff greatly impressed Fr. Curran with the work they do to serve the community.
In addition, Fr. Curran spent time and discussed prison education with Andrew Skotnicki, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies and former lead of the Prison Education Program at Manhattan University, and Chris Agans, Executive Director of New Jersey’s Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons consortium (NJ-STEP). This session focused on laying out a clear blueprint for the Prison Education program at Saint Peter’s.
Saint Peter’s University President Hubert Benitez also met personally with Fr. Curran to discuss collaborative support between the University and JPEN.
“Saint Peter’s University is proud to join the Jesuit Prison Education Network in launching a Prison Education Program, an initiative that reflects our deep commitment to access, opportunity, and the transformative power of education.
As a Jesuit institution, our mission calls us to accompany those on the margins and to open pathways for individuals whose aspirations deserve the chance to flourish. Through this partnership with JPEN, we are expanding our ability to provide educational opportunities that honor human dignity, promote hope, and embody the Jesuit values of solidarity”, said President Benitez.
“We are especially grateful to Fr. Curran for his leadership and vision in advancing this effort and for helping to bring this important program to Saint Peter’s University.”, concluded Benitez.
Fr. Tom’s visit ended with a virtual meeting with Lt. Rene Felix and Chanel McClary ‘17 from Hudson Correctional Center, a facility with whom Saint Peter’s intends to start a program.