7th Annual Northwest BBQ
July 13, 2025

Grant E. Tietjen, PhD, is an Associate Professor (with tenure) in the Criminal Justice Program at the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington – Tacoma (UWT). Having earned his Ph.D. in Sociology with a specialization in criminology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Department of Sociology in 2013, Dr. Tietjen also currently serves as the Program Chair for the Criminal Justice Program. He has written, researched, and lectured on criminology, mass incarceration, class inequality, and pathways to correctional/post-correctional education. He has published in multiple peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and academic encyclopedias; with multiple works in progress. His recent book, “Justice Lessons: System Affected Scholars and the Future of Criminal Justice Transformation,” was released in January 2025 from the University of California Press.

As a carceral system impacted scholar, Dr. Tietjen works closely with multiple System Affected Academic organizations, including Huskies Post Prison Pathways (HP3) at UWT and the Division Convict Criminology (DCC) in the American Society of Criminology. Tietjen has promoted rigorous scholarship, mentorship, ceaseless focus on diversity, and engagement in outreach.

L. Elizabeth Shatswell serves as the Correctional Education Manager with JSTOR - ITHAKA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving global access to education. Additionally, she serves as an Academic Partner at the University of Puget Sound, where her research focuses on HEP pedagogical practices and facility training.

Elizabeth served 23 years of a juvenile life-equivalent sentence before being granted juvenile parole in 2023. While incarcerated, she founded the Stop, Drop, and Yoga program and co-founded the HOPE team, an intergenerational initiative focused on end-of-life healthcare.

She volunteers with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CSFY) as a member of the Incarcerated Children’s Advocacy Network (ICAN), the Washington Prison History Project, and is the acting Federal Chair for #UnlockHigherEducation, a P2P initiative.

She is an alumnus of the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS), the Sunshine Lady Foundation, the CJL Mellon Fellowship, and the University of Puget Sound. She holds three associate degrees, one each in Education, Liberal Arts, and Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Religion and Bioethics. Additionally, she is certified in Braille Transcription, Graphic Design and Print Technologies, Building Maintenance, and Yoga Instruction. She plans to pursue a dual MBA/MPH graduate program in the coming year.

Carolina Landa works for the House of Representatives, House Democratic Caucus as an Equity & Policy Analyst. She is formerly incarcerated and believes education is pivotal for rehabilitation. Carolina has 14 years of policy work experience. She has first and second person lived experience in criminal justice reform, developmental disabilities and immigration.

Terrance aka C.A.U.T.I.O.N. is an activist, philosopher, poet, spoken word artist, published author, proud father, formerly incarcerated graduate: Evergreen Alumni and mentor for historically underserved youth. Terrance is whole-heartedly authentic in his pursuit to encourage large scale systemic change and intimate personal healing through self-care, compassion, artistic expression and understanding.