President Jody Lewen was recently honored by the James Irvine Foundation for Mount Tamalpais College’s COVID-19 relief efforts in California prisons. The Foundation applauded Mount Tamalpais College’s work to deliver care packages to incarcerated people and highlighted the need to “invest in humane and effective interventions that include epidemiological strategies for containing and controlling the coronaviruses and strategies for counteracting the feelings of fear, boredom, abandonment, and degradation pervading the prison system.”

The recognition is part of the Foundation’s new effort, Leadership When It Matters Most, which recognizes the efforts of leaders who are adapting their work to address the pandemic and other challenges. Awards were given in six issue areas: education, environment, health, human services, public safety, and workforce and economic development. Dr. Lewen, a 2015 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award recipient, was recognized in the public safety category. Details about the program and fellow honorees can be found here.

Photo: Dr. Lewen, pictured above (far right), with past Leadership Award recipients.