William Freeman III

William Freeman is a higher education and criminal justice reform advocate dedicated to advancing policies that expand educational access for people impacted by incarceration. His work is grounded in lived experience, critical scholarship, and a commitment to transforming systems that shape opportunity after conviction.

A native of New York who also grew up in Baltimore during the 1980s, Freeman came of age amid the rise of the drug trade and neighborhood violence. As a teenager searching for identity and belonging, he became involved in street life, which ultimately led to a 35-year prison sentence, of which he served 21 years. During incarceration, he began a deep process of reflection and personal transformation.

Inside prison, Freeman was mentored by incarcerated elders who challenged his understanding of masculinity, identity, and survival. Through these relationships, he developed a framework rooted in self-forgiveness, faith, discipline, and education, reshaping his path forward.

In 2014, Freeman enrolled in the Goucher Prison Education Program (GPEP), completing 83 educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs and earning 75 college credits prior to release. In 2018, he was granted release by the Honorable Judge Charles Peters. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Anthropology from Goucher College in 2020, deepening his focus on systemic racism and reentry barriers.

Freeman is actively involved in the Prison to Professional (P2P) initiative, supporting pathways that help justice-impacted individuals transition into education, employment, and leadership through mentorship and professional development.

Today, he serves as Manager of Higher Education Justice Initiatives with The Education Trust in Washington DC.