Tamila “Tami” Alcoran’s college journey began in an unlikely place: prison. This spring, she will graduate from Windward Community College with an Associate in Arts degree and continue to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ , building on academic work she first started through the college’s .
Puʻuhonua provides access to credit-bearing college coursework for incarcerated students, helping create pathways for educational achievement both during incarceration and after release.
“I just got out of prison. I’ve been there for nine years, and my journey actually started at the prison,” Alcoran said. “Taking classes sparked my interest in going back to school—that I can do it.”
During her incarceration, Alcoran completed approximately 20 college courses, earned a 3.76 GPA and received certificates in psychosocial development and mental health technician.
“It’s encouraging that you can do it,” she said. “You get the diploma and it’s like, wow, I did it.”
Transitional support
After returning home, Alcoran enrolled at Windward CC to complete her associate degree. She said support from Puʻuhonua and helped ease her transition back into college life.
“The transition was very smooth,” she said. “The people are wonderful… any question I have, they answer.”
After spending years without access to technology, adjusting to computers presented an early challenge.
“I was a little bit challenged with the computers because I didn’t have a computer for so many years,” she said. “But they were so wonderful and helped guide what I needed to do.”
Paying it forward
Her experiences led her toward social work. After witnessing the challenges many women face after incarceration, Alcoran hopes to help others navigate reentry.
“Knowledge is power,” she said. “Everybody deserves second, sometimes third or fourth chances.”
“Being nine years incarcerated, seeing the comings and goings of women… when they get out, they need something to help them,” she said. “If I can help out in whatever way I can, that’s one of my goals.”
Now preparing for graduation and her next chapter at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, Alcoran hopes her story encourages others to take the first step toward higher education.
Meet more amazing UH graduates
“Don’t be scared,” she said. “It is scary to try and go back to school, but just take one day at a time.”
Windward CC‘s will be held on Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. on campus.
Donate to Windward Community College’s .