CI Staff
Benay Rubenstein, Founder/Director, has been a leading prison educator for over 25 years, designing and coordinating college programs in New York State and federal prisons. In 1997, Benay produced the award-winning film The Last Graduation documenting the history of higher education in New York State prisons. From 1997-2001 she directed the first program to return to New York State prisons after the loss of Pell and TAP, at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Since 2002, Benay has developed and directed the College Initiative.
Charlene Griffin, Lehman Program Manager, has been a CI staff member since its inception. She is personally motivated to see CI students succeed having been affected by her father's and uncle's incarceration. During the past six years, Charlene has developed and coordinated relationships with all CUNY colleges and Admissions Services. She currently manages the CI Lehman College office.
Cheryl Wilkins, Associate Director of Academic Programs, is responsible for academic advising, College Prep and CI's prison correspondence. She recently celebrated her second anniversary of freedom from incarceration. Cheryl is a graduate student in Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College. A recipient of a $5,000 Davis-Putter Award for her activism, she is collaborating with CUNY Distinguished Professor Michelle Fine on research documenting the reentry experiences of people who served lengthy prison sentences.
Kirk James, Associate Director of Outreach, is a CI student and current candidate for a Master's of Social Work at Hunter College. Kirk came to CI after 4 years of working with the homeless as the Outreach Team Leader/Supervisor for the Bowery Residents' Committee. He spent nine years in prison under the Rockefeller Laws. While incarcerated he started and facilitated various programs addressing prevalent issues such as substance abuse, HIV and AIDS and coping skills.
Michelle Harrison, Data Manager, is a CI student currently working on a Master's degree in Project Management at the Keller Graduate School of Management (DeVry) after receiving the Bachelor of Science in Technical Management, Magna Cum Laude. She is responsible for CI's data management processes as well as assisting with CI's new website. Before joining CI's staff, Michelle was employed as Data Coordinator for the Legal Action Center for seven years.
Michael Carey, Development Manager, began his work with CI as a volunteer tutor in 2002. He holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and has a professional background in publishing. He is responsible for fund raising and program development.
John Molina, Correspondence Coordinator, is a CI student at Lehman College currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Health Services Administration. John is also a Health Education and Prevention Trainer/Facilitator at a LGBT Center run by the largest non-for-profit agency on Staten Island. After spending more than nine years in prison, John has become an ardent advocate of prisoner and prisoner rights and he typically volunteers his free time to do motivational speaking in prisons across New York State.
Volunteers: CI has volunteers who serve as tutors, mentors and assist with administrative tasks. They have backgrounds in criminal justice, education, business, theater, medicine and other disciplines. As an integral part of CI's operations, volunteers work closely with staff in supporting the CI community. Click here to learn how you can volunteer.
