Natalie Aragonez

Programs and Operations Manager @Alliance For Higher Education In Prison

Operations, program strategy, and cross-sector partnerships for a national organization advancing and expanding access to quality higher education in prison and post-release.Provide project management and strategic support for Education in Action (EiA)—the Alliance’s national initiative to create paid, remote work-based learning (WBL) opportunities for currently incarcerated professionals. Collaborate with departments of corrections, educators, and nonprofit partners to expand EiA as a bridge from higher education to meaningful employment.Oversee two flagship conferences:• National Conference on Higher Education in Prison (NCHEP): A 900+ attendee in-person convening of educators, policy leaders, and system-impacted professionals.• Incarcerated Scholars Conference (ISC): A global virtual event that uplifts the scholarship and creative work of currently incarcerated individuals.Supervise the Alliance Fellows Program, mentoring both currently and formerly incarcerated Fellows through professional development, national exposure, and public-facing projects.Coordinate complex program logistics including budgeting, travel, partner engagement, and stakeholder communication. Help drive systemic change in education and reentry policy through trauma-informed, equity-centered, and lived-experience-informed leadership.