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Kenya King
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Perimeter College
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ATLANTA, Ga.—Patrick Rodriguez, interim director of Georgia State University’s Prison Education Project, has been named a Georgia Trend 40 under 40 recipient.
The magazine recently released its annual recognition of the state’s best and brightest under 40.
Rodriguez, 31, joined the university’s prison education project in February 2022.
He also serves as co-executive director of the Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison, garnering $1 million in grants to expand pathways from incarceration to higher education.
Rodriguez was incarcerated and released from prison in December 2019. Since his release, he has worked to serve those who have been impacted by prison. Through policy research and partnerships with colleges, universities, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Department of Community Supervision, Rodriguez builds strategies focused on a common goal – education and empowerment for all Georgians.
“I’m a passionate advocate for providing high-quality post-secondary education to those within and those exiting Georgia prisons, as I believe education should be accessible by all,” said Rodriguez.
“When I received my nomination letter from Georgia Trend I realized I was in the right place and advocating for the right things. I’m grateful, and it makes me believe that anything is possible.”
Rodriguez serves on the advisory board for the Georgia National Alliance on Mental Illness and is a recipient of the inaugural 2022 Canary Impact Prize.
Georgia Trend 40 under 40 honorees will be celebrated at an award ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Georgia Aquarium.
Based at Perimeter College, GSUPEP will graduate its first class of associate degree students in May 2023.