On May 1, 2026, Efrén Paredes Jr. completed his Spring 2026 semester in the Western Michigan University (WMU) Higher Education for the Justice-Involved (HEJI) program. During the semester he completed the courses School & Society, Shakespeare, Human Development Across the Lifespan, and Public Speaking. He made the Dean’s List, earning A’s in all his classes, and he continues to maintain a 4.00 GPA. It marks the completion of 68 credits earned towards his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
According to Efrén, “I enjoyed the Spring 2026 semester and learned a lot. We had really good professors who are committed to higher education. Dr. Dini Metro-Roland, Dr. Cynthia Klekar-Cunningham, Dr. Grace Tiffany, and Professor Anderson Boatman are all great people who deserve recognition by WMU’s leadership team for their hard work and dedication to teaching students on the WMU-Coldwater campus.”
He added, “It never ceases to amaze me how much my classmates and I continue to learn and how exposure to different teaching methods persists shaping and refining the intricate pieces of our character each week. Every class is a new adventure that broadens our horizons and inner worlds. Our classes continue pushing us beyond our boundaries and teach us to explore life more richly. We keep learning to reimagine the world in new, exciting ways and awaken our curiosities. I am grateful and proud to be a part of Western Michigan University’s Higher Education for the Justice-Involved (HEJI) program.”
Efrén mentioned some noteworthy highlights that occurred during the past few months of his academic journey. One of the highlights of the semester for Efrén was meeting WMU President Russ Kavalhuna on May 9, 2026 when he visited the WMU-Coldwater campus for the first time. Students were inspired by President Kavalunha’s message and took photographs with him afterwards.
During his visit, President Kavalunha graciously answered questions he was asked by a number of students. He also underscored the importance of WMU’s partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and remarked to MDOC administrative staff present during his speech that he invited any suggestions from them to help further strengthen their collaboration. Efrén wrote an earlier post about President Kavalhuna’s visit which can be read here: https://EfrensWords.home.blog/2026/03/23/WMU-President-Makes-Historic-Visit-To-Coldwater-Campus/.
Another highlight during the semester was a visit from New York Times bestselling author Ross Gay to the WMU-Coldwater campus. A couple years ago, one of Efrén’s friends ordered him Gay’s book titled, “The Book of Delights.” It was later required reading for a 2025 literature course Efrén took taught by Dr. Dale Brown. The book is a collection of essayettes about appreciating things in our lives, especially small and seemingly simple moments.
“My peers and I really enjoyed meeting Ross Gay and engaging with him about his writings. Several of us asked him questions and he had the opportunity to expound on his writings,” Efrén remarked. He added, “Moments like these give us glimpses into the lived experiences of individuals who use the power of a liberal arts education to become gifted writers and use their skills to enrich the lives of others. As a writer myself, it is an experience I really appreciate.”
Finally, during the month of April, the students recently selected to comprise the third cohort of students in the WMU HEJI program were transferred from various prisons across the state and moved into the college housing unit at the Lakeland Correctional Facility. The new cohort has had the opportunity to meet individuals from the first two student cohorts. They mingle with them in the housing unit, on the yard, and eat together in the dining hall. The new students also met the HEJI administrative staff during an orientation shortly after their arrival.
It has been a positive experience for the first two WMU HEJI cohorts to meet their new peers and share their academic journeys. They have quickly become mentors and a number of them have begun developing friendships. According to Efrén, “It’s great to see their level of interest and enthusiasm; I’m excited for them. It also feels good to help them navigate their first year of college and ease their anxieties. The more we are able to help them early on, the better prepared, and more successful, we can help them become. One of the most important lessons we repeatedly learn throughout our academic journey is that every life we touch changes, and through each interaction, we are changed as well.”
Efrén began the Summer 2026 semester May 11, 2026 and is taking Spanish II, Human Biocultural Anthropology, and Existentialism through the end of August. He will earn 78 total credits by the end of the Summer II semester and begin his senior year of college in the fall.
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