40 Under 40: Kasey Lynch Thomas ’12

Almost every step of my life has been influenced by my time at Arcadia. Because of my coursework, I knew that I wanted to go into the criminal justice field. In particular, I knew that I wanted to work in corrections after taking the “Inside Out” course. Before I even graduated from Arcadia, I was working full time in a prison, and now, I currently work in the treatment department of a work release. Arcadia also instilled a sense of social justice in me, leading me to be a part of the Women’s March On Washington in 2017 as well as organizing an ongoing book collection, focusing on books in Spanish and English of varying difficulties, to start or supplement libraries at multiple prisons and work releases in Pennsylvania. 

I will be about 35 years old with a five-year-old son at home. There is so much more I would like to accomplish. I have given much thought to attending seminary to become an ordained prison chaplain, or continuing my education in criminal justice to hold higher positions in the state or federal prison systems. I envision that I will continue to work in corrections, developing my skills as an advocate for prisoner rights and reform. Since my pregnancy, I have also become interested in childbirth education and have begun the process of becoming a trained and certified doula, helping other women on their pregnancy journeys.