Autobiography

Autobiographical Statement, by Theresa Kennedy-DuPay

• Theresa Kennedy-DuPay is a 47-year-old social activist whose writerly interests focus on human rights abuses, gender and sexual identity and the rights of women, and incarcerated offenders. Theresa began her college education at 35, in 2001, and graduated with multiple degrees in 2009, including a bachelor of science in criminology and criminal justice. 

• Theresa applied for and was accepted into the graduate education program at Portland State, earning a masters degree in Adult Education, Leadership and Policy. She has completed this degree to assist her in teaching prison inmates “creative writing” and believes strongly in writing as a social act because it promotes personal insight, self awareness and empowerment. Theresa is passionate about the importance of continuing adult education and its power to unveil hidden potential and overlooked ways of knowing inherent in many underserved American populations, such as incarcerated offenders. She is devoted to changing lives through the facilitative teacher/learner relationship.