CSUSB professor breaks barriers and leads efforts toward academic equity for system-impacted students

Annika Anderson understands the intersection between passion and service in uplifting those with limited access to resources in higher education. As an advocate for formerly incarcerated individuals at California State University, San Bernardino, she fosters a safe space that offers educational, financial, and social support to address their specific challenges.

Drawn to CSUSB’s focus on innovative research, Anderson joined the department of sociology as a junior faculty member in 2015. Upon arriving, she immediately recognized a need she could help fill, dedicating her efforts to empowering criminal justice-impacted individuals and creating meaningful change.

“I [co-founded] Project Rebound my very first semester as an assistant professor,” Anderson said. “I had several advisors say to me, ‘I don’t know if you should start this program; you just started at the university and you need to focus on your research and teaching.’ They expressed their warnings and concerns that it would be too much of a service lift for a junior faculty member, and in retrospect, I agree.”

The launch of this initiative for social change was made possible by the unwavering support of Project Rebound co-founder, former colleague and retired CSUSB professor Carolyn Eggleston. Project Rebound has become a vital steppingstone for formerly incarcerated students, providing them with the necessary resources and support to thrive upon re-entry.

Recalling her experience teaching in the department of sociology, Anderson proudly shared that many of her formerly incarcerated students “sit front and center in my courses, get the best grades, write the best papers and work harder in some ways, because sometimes they feel like they have something to prove.” They are often disregarded because of their past, and they may not realize the immense value their first-hand experience brings to the classroom.

Through her service, research and teaching, Anderson strives for a more diverse and interconnected society. She frequently invites system-impacted guest speakers to share their life experiences in her classes. This not only helps connect real-life stories to the course content but also inspires students to make an impact in some way. Anderson gratefully appreciates that some of her students have gone on to volunteer with Project Rebound and even create their own re-entry programs and resources, further supporting her mission to uplift this underserved community.

Setting a tone of acceptance and inclusion on the CSUSB campus, Anderson frequently works with formerly incarcerated students, including them as authors, collaborators and participators in her research, while providing resources to support them in completing studies of their own.

Acknowledging CSUSB’s commitment to preparing students for 21^st-century jobs, Anderson asserted, “all incarcerated students should have the same opportunity to attend university as students who have never been incarcerated.” She added, “with 95% of the prison population being released at some point, I think it’s important to give them the resources to successfully reenter society.”

Anderson challenges common misconceptions about justice-impacted individuals, noting that many assume they are inherently dangerous, deserving of endless punishment, or universally guilty.

“There are a lot of people who also think ‘You’ve been a victim, why would you support the person who hurt you?’” she said.

“Yes. I was a victim. I am a survivor,” Anderson said candidly. “But I am also an advocate for change. Because not everybody can change, but I believe that most people who have been through the system actually want to change.”

Under Anderson's leadership, Project Rebound provides students with a chance at redemption. Her commitment to service continues to highlight the voices and stories of the men, women and young adults impacted by the system.

For many of these students, there is a fear of visibility and the dehumanizing labels commonly associated with system-impacted individuals. They frequently face challenges in securing jobs, finding housing, or forming relationships. In response, Project Rebound makes academic resources, food services, and monetary support accessible to formerly incarcerated students.

“The best message is that your past does not define you,” said Anderson. “It might have been a stumbling block. You might have done some terrible things, or some terrible things might have happened around you. Nobody knows that story unless you’re ready to tell it. Our job, as an institution of higher learning, is to provide access to the student populations who want to achieve great things for themselves. So, if they want that opportunity, it exists here at California State University, San Bernardino.”