Stacy Lyn Burnett

The Prison Economist: Rethinking Justice, Education & Economic Impact

The Prison Economist | Keynote Speaker | Justice Reform Advocate | Economic Equity Expert | TEDx Speaker | Author

From incarceration to national leadership, Stacy Lyn Burnett is a powerhouse of advocacy, education equity, and systemic reform. A graduate of the prestigious Bard Prison Initiative and Bard Graduate School, Stacy has turned her lived experience into a force for meaningful change, focusing on transforming access to education, justice reform, and systemic equity for incarcerated individuals.

As the Senior Product Manager for JSTOR Access in Prison, Stacy has expanded access to academic resources for incarcerated learners across the globe. Her policy leadership has influenced New York City’s Mayor’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic and driven reforms in prison food systems, environmental justice, and educational equity.

Stacy doesn’t just challenge the system—she reimagines it. Through her compelling storytelling, data-driven insights, and electrifying presence, she inspires audiences to rethink the social and economic impact of mass incarceration.

Why Book Stacy Lyn Burnett?

• • Award-Winning Thought Leader – Recipient of the Hunter Lovins Award (2023) for innovation in sustainability and prison reform
  • Nationally Recognized Speaker – Featured speaker at TEDx, SXSW EDU, and the White House Conference on Hunger & Nutrition
  • Expert Policy Advisor – Contributor to national legislative efforts on criminal justice reform, including testimony before the New York State Assembly
  • Media Contributor & Author – Published in The Daily News, The Hechinger Report, Salon, Chronicle, and Higher Ed Dive

Discussion Topics:

• • What Prisons Actually Cost – Breaking down the hidden financial, social, and environmental costs of mass incarceration—and who truly pays the price
  • Prison Food Systems: The Overlooked Crisis in Corrections – How food procurement policies affect health, rehabilitation, and taxpayer dollars within the correctional system
  • Beyond Bars: Women & Incarceration – Addressing the unique challenges faced by incarcerated women and how society can build solutions for their success after release
  • Higher Education in Prison: A Path to True Rehabilitation – How access to education behind bars transforms lives, reduces recidivism, and creates pathways for economic mobility
  • The Public & Environmental Costs of Incarceration – Exploring how the prison-industrial complex affects labor, communities, and environmental sustainability
  • Philanthropy & Justice: Institutional Giving for Social Impact – How organizations can drive real change through justice reform investments and educational funding
  • TEDx Talk: “The Power of Media Literacy in Prison” – A groundbreaking presentation on why access to information matters—and how knowledge can empower incarcerated individuals
  • Policy Advocacy & Systemic Change – Driving meaningful reform through legislative action, education access, and systemic innovation

Recent Speaking Engagements:

• • Speaker: White House Conference on Hunger & Nutrition (2024)
  • Speaker: NTIA/Department of Commerce (2023 & 2024)
  • TEDx Speaker (2023): “The Power of Media Literacy in Prison”
  • Featured Speaker: SXSW EDU, International Correctional Education Association, Association of Learned & Professional Society Publishers (UK)
  • Featured Panelist & Keynote Speaker: Higher education, justice reform conferences, and private philanthropy events

Education & Awards:

• • MBA in Sustainability – Bard Graduate School (Data Analytics & Social Entrepreneurship)
  • Hunter Lovins Award (2023)
  • Mid-Hudson Regional Business Plan Competition (2023)

Publications & Media Contributions:

• • The power of media literacy in prisons: TEDx Talk
  • Published in The Daily News, The Hechinger Report, Salon, Chronicle, and Higher Ed Dive
  • Author & Thought Leader – Currently writing a book on the intersection of incarceration, economics, and education

Travels From Connecticut

Downloadable Documents:

• • Stacy Lyn Burnett Profile PDF

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