Mechthild Nagel is a Professor of Philosophy at State University of New York in Cortland. She has a B.A. equivalent in Philosophy from Albert- Ludwigs-Universitat at Freiburg, Germany, and an M.A. and PhD. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her most recent publication is Prisons and Punishment: Reconsidering Global Penality (with Seth Asumah), Africa World Press (2007). She has received many awards and honours for her extensive work in many areas of specialty in philosophy, including prisons.