PRISON EDUCATION BOOK CLUB
ABOUT US
Dedication and Service
Meet the people who have helped shape and support our book club community over the years.
Dr. Nicole Fox
Nicole Fox, Ph.D., is very passionate about prison education. She has been leading book clubs in Northern California prison facilities for over eight years and cares deeply about justice-impacted folks having access to books. She enjoys building community through book clubs at California State Prisons, Solano, Sacramento, and Folsom. She has had the pleasure of working with CSP-Solano Librarian Ms. Turner for eight years, building book clubs and writing programs together. Dr. Fox’s research analyzes how racial and ethnic contention impacts communities, including how remembrances of adversity shape social change, collective memory, and present-day social movements.
She is an Associate Professor of criminal justice at California State University, Sacramento, where she teaches about atrocity crimes, mass incarceration, global criminology, and law. Her 2021 book, After Genocide: Memory and Reconciliation in Genocide, focuses on how memorials to past atrocity shape healing, community development, and reconciliation for survivors of genocide and genocidal rape.
Her most recent project examines bystander intervention, with an emphasis on individuals who conducted acts of rescue during times of social unrest and political violence. Her scholarship has been published in Social Problems, Signs, Social Forces, Deviant Behavior, the Journal for Scientific Study of Religion, Sociological Forum, Societies without Borders, among others.
Her work has been generously supported by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Grant, the National Science Foundation, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the American Sociological Society’s Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline, and others. She also serves on the United Nations Economic and Social Council and contributes to the UN Commission for the Status of Women, held annually at the UN headquarters. You can learn more by visiting her site.
Adrienna Turner
Adrienna Dionna Turner (“Deo”) is an award-winning author; senior state librarian of two libraries, I See Her support group leader, advocate, and coordinator; and a book club facilitator. Adrienna has a Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies (Paralegal), a Master's in Library Information Science, and a Bachelor's in Information Technology Science (IT). She is an accomplished author of nonfiction, fictional series, and inspirational poetry and prose books. Her latest published works are an apocalyptic-spiritual thriller called Miss the Mark Series. She also has a financial literacy preparedness group at both libraries, offers expressive writing (write with purpose) in the level two library, and positive programming.
Alana Walker
Intern
Alana Walker is a transfer student from Sacramento City College, where she earned her A.S. in Administration of Justice. While taking a class with Professor Fox, she learned about this meaningful program and immediately felt inspired to get involved. Alana wanted to be part of something impactful and is grateful for the opportunity to do so.
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Alana has experienced the indirect impacts of incarceration through family members, which makes this work especially meaningful to her. She views this program as a valuable opportunity to give back while connecting her personal experiences to her academic goals. She also hopes to share her perspective in a way that encourages and inspires other students to get involved. Her future goals include completing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and attending law school.
Karla Rincón Martinez
Intern
Karla Rincón Martinez is a third-year Criminal Justice student at California State University, Sacramento. She was introduced to this service-learning internship while taking CRJ 102 with Dr. Fox. The Prison Education Book Club has provided her with a meaningful opportunity to expand her knowledge while supporting others in reaching their educational goals. Karla aspires to become a criminal defense attorney in the future.​
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Karla has been personally impacted by incarceration through family members, which allows her to feel a deeper connection to the work she does in the book club. As a future attorney, she believes programs like this are essential in giving individuals the opportunity to further their education and find meaningful ways to express themselves. She hopes to use her future career to support rehabilitation and second chances.
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Melissa Marquez
Intern
Melissa Marquez is a senior at California State University, Sacramento, and will earn her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in May 2026. She is originally from Porterville, California. Melissa is currently enrolled in CRJ 190 and CRJ 195 with Dr. Fox, where she was introduced to this program and quickly recognized its significance and impact. She brings several years of experience working with youth as both an after-school teacher and a tutor. These experiences have strengthened her ability to lead, mentor, and support others, while also developing her communication skills and sense of responsibility.
Melissa’s participation in the prison education book club has broadened her perspective and encouraged her to think critically about incarceration and the role education plays in transforming lives. After graduation, Melissa plans to pursue a career in the criminal justice field, where she can advocate for meaningful reform and contribute to a more just and effective system. She is committed to making a positive impact through both her professional work and ongoing community involvement. Melissa is proud to be part of this program and hopes to continue supporting and expanding initiatives like it in the future.
Olivia Williams Fernandez
Past Intern
Olivia Williams Fernandez is a senior Criminal Justice major at California State University, Sacramento. Through her internship with the Prison Book Club and Professor Fox, she works directly with incarcerated participants in a discussion-based setting. A major part of her role involves engaging in conversation, listening to participants’ perspectives, and helping create an open space where everyone feels comfortable sharing. These discussions often extend beyond the books, touching on life experiences, personal growth, and the ways stories connect to their own journeys.
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Being able to sit with participants, hear their reflections, and witness their openness each session has taught Olivia a great deal about humanity, patience, and the importance of giving people space to be heard. This internship has strengthened her commitment to restorative justice and confirmed her passion for community-based work. It has also shaped how she plans to approach law school and the kind of advocate she hopes to become, someone who listens, understands, and believes in people’s capacity for change.
Kimberly Moreno
Past Intern
Kimberly Moreno is a graduating senior at California State University, Sacramento. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree this Spring. While taking CRJ 190 with Dr. Fox, she was presented the opportunity to be an intern for The Prison Education Book Club. Kimberly's career aspiration is to become a Criminal Defense Attorney with a specific interest in representing those on Death Row.
Kimberly believes that, as a future criminal defense attorney, programs like these are crucial for the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and for the safety of society. Being part of this program has allowed her to be involved in important discussions and given her insight into working with incarcerated individuals.
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"He who opens a school door, closes a prison."
-Victor Hugo
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Dhaksha Pillay
Past Intern
Dhaksha Pillay is a graduating senior at California State University, Sacramento. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree. During her CRJ 190 class with Dr. Fox, she was presented the opportunity to be an intern for The Prison Education Book Club. Dhaksha's career aspirations are to become a lawyer at the United Nations. Her goal is to serve communities that do not have easy access to legal representation.
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Dhaksha took on this internship because she believes that this program allows room for literary conversations, creating self-awareness, increasing interest in education, and fostering love for critical thinking and the development of communication skills. Moreover, she was interested in witnessing the connection and solidarity that had taken place because of the book club. She shares that knowledge is so important and powerful that it can shape an individual's perspective.
Past Intern
Julia Clausen is a past intern and graduated from California State University, Sacramento, in December of 2023 with a degree in Criminal Justice. She started as an intern at Solano State Prison in September of 2023. This opportunity was presented to her after studying abroad with Dr. Nicole Fox in Ghana. During this study abroad, she was able to visit a correctional facility while studying comparative justice. This sparked an interest in her in the correctional facilities in the United States.
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During her first time visiting the prison to be a part of a book club, she was absolutely speechless by how impressive these men are. The way they spoke about what the book club meant to them, how it has helped them, and how they reacted to the book was inspiring. She started regularly going and began facilitating meetings. In this book club, the men are challenged to have uncomfortable conversations and analyze new topics through different lenses.
Not only did the men learn and discuss their analysis of the books, but she was also able to learn from them and hear from different perspectives. She believes that not only does the book club improve their lives, but it has tremendously improved and changed hers.
Julia Clausen
Past Intern
Melissa McDermott is a past intern and graduated from California State University- Sacramento as a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She had the wonderful opportunity and honor of being one of the first interns in the prison education book club. This internship fit well with her goals of becoming a Licensed Clinical Counselor and working with incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals. She believes that programs such as these book clubs provide much-needed light for people who may need it most. Melissa is excited for the future of the book club as well as all those who participated in it!
