This week, we are excited to introduce three board members who carry outstanding dedication to our mission. We welcome the enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment they bring to the Society.
Joyce Davis
Opinion Editor for PennLive, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg
Joyce is the Opinion Editor for PennLive, where she brings her commitment for criminal justice reform into columns and editorials on related issues. She also serves as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, which works to deepen public understanding of local, national, and international affairs.
I was impressed to learn that Pennsylvania's founders recognized the importance of having a watchdog organization for the state's prisons, and I believe the Prison Society can play a crucial role in prison reform."
Joyce’s involvement with the Prison Society began after media coverage drew her attention to conditions in Pennsylvania prisons and the placement of children in adult prisons . Since then, she has remained committed to criminal justice reform and brings her experience as a journalist to her work with us.
Jeff Coleman
Founder of Churchill Strategies, Host on Morning Light
Jeff hosts the positivity-centered show Morning Light and is the founder of Churchill Strategies, a communications and brand consulting firm. He previously served as a Pennsylvania state lawmaker, bringing experience in public service and state politics to our board.
I came to my passion for people in prisons late in life. When several legislative colleagues went to prison, the experience opened up a whole new world of family seperation and the added loss of reputation and idenity. How we respond to these dramatic changes for our neighbors is critical. So much depends on that response.
Jeff’s connection to our mission became personal when several people in his life experienced incarceration. Those experiences gave him a new understanding of the effects of incarceration – not only for the person behind bars, but also on families, relationships, reputation, and identity – and sparked a lasting commitment to supporting incarcerated people and their loved ones.
Simeon Poles
Simeon is a litigation attorney whose work has focused on complex disputes and regulatory issues involving emerging technology. He brings that legal experience, along with a strong commitment to dignity and fairness, to the Prison Society’s Board.
Over the years, I've had family members, friends, and former classmates who have been incarcerated, which has given me a close-up view of challenges that confinement creates—not only for incarcerated individuals, but also for the people connected to them. Those experiences have strengthened my committment to ensuring that every incarcerated person is treated with dignity and humanity."
His connection to the Prison Society began with a visit to a class at SCI Graterford, where he found unexpected common ground with people serving life sentences. He was struck by how many had grown up only a few blocks from him, yet differences in circumstance and opportunity had led their lives in dramatically different directions.
Simeon served on the Prison Society board from 2018 to 2025, including two years as Board President. As he returns to the Board, Simeon brings a valuable combination of legal perspective, personal connection to the issues, and a continued commitment to supporting people behind bars and their families.
“Our Board members bring so much. They bring their professional experience, relationships, their lived experiences, and a deep belief in our mission. Their commitment strengthens the Prison Society and helps us continue showing up for people in prisons, their families, and communities across Pennsylvania.” — Claire Shubik-Richards, Executive Director
We are immensely grateful for the contributions of our board members and hold gratitude for their immense dedication to our work.
