Profiles

Kary Bosma is the Director of Operations for the Calvin Prison Initiative, which provides a fully-accredited Bachelor of Arts degree to incarcerated students in Ionia, Michigan. Kary earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Calvin University and began serving in a variety of student life and program leadership roles at her alma mater. When the university began the Calvin Prison Initiative, Kary was eager to combine her interests in higher education and restorative justice, joining the CPI team in 2016. She brings her administrative skills and passion for helping students succeed to Handlon Correctional Facility where the CPI serves nearly 100 students. The Calvin Prison Initiative, which began in 2015, has become a model for Higher Education in Prison programs in Michigan; and, in 2021, Kary helped to convene a consortium comprised of Michigan DOC Education staff and colleges and universities involved in or preparing to begin prison education programs. These monthly gatherings provide an opportunity to share best practices, develop shared educational standards, and learn from one another’s experiences.