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Romarilyn Ralston
Romarilyn Ralston
01:10

Romarilyn Ralston

Pitzer College

Claremont, CA USA

"I don’t allow the way people see me to get in the way of my goals because we only have one life to live."

Career Roadmap

Romarilyn's work combines: Education, Law, and Teaching / Mentoring

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Day In The Life

Founding Senior Director, Claremont Justice Education Center

I lead justice-focused education programs that support faculty, mentor students, and challenge broken systems.

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Day In The Life Of A Senior Director Of A Justice Education Center

My Day to Day

Each day, I bridge two worlds—college campuses and prison classrooms—leading justice education across the Claremont Colleges. My work includes recruiting and supporting faculty, building Inside-Out courses, mentoring students, and shaping a new major in Justice Education. I collaborate across campuses to design curriculum, expand programs, and advocate for policy change that supports reentry and reimagines justice.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

You can enter this field with or without a degree. The most important thing is to have heart for the work.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Gender and Feminist Studies

    Pitzer College

  • Graduate Degree

    Liberal Studies

    Washington University in St. Louis

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Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    I was 24 when I went to prison, full of shame and uncertainty, not knowing how I’d survive a life sentence.

  • 2.

    Watching women inside paint, lead, and learn helped me see new possibilities for who I could become.

  • 3.

    I audited classes at Scripps College after release and, despite my doubts, applied to Pitzer where I earned my degree with honors.

  • 4.

    I won a prestigious Coro Fellowship and got into Washington University’s master’s program which brought me home to St. Louis, Missouri, with purpose.

  • 5.

    When Michael Brown was killed in 2014, I worked with the Ferguson Commission and became more involved in activism, shaping my belief that education is a tool for justice.

  • 6.

    After earning my master’s degree, I went back to California and was hired by Cal State Fullerton where I co-built Project Rebound and housing for students like me—centered on dignity, not survival.

  • 7.

    Now as senior director at the Claremont Colleges, I lead the Justice Education Center and teach inside California prisons.

  • 8.

    I’m also currently earning my Ph.D. and pursuing my dream to consult and coach formerly incarcerated leaders stepping into their power.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Myself:

    There's no way the Claremont Colleges will allow a 47-year old Black woman who just served 23 years in prison on their campuses.

  • How I responded:

    After auditing some college classes, my professor friend encouraged me to apply to Pitzer College's new resources program. But I thought there was no way they'd accept someone with my background, so I didn't apply. I kept auditing that professor's classes and she just kept pushing me to apply. I eventually did just to get her off my back and I got accepted! I went on to graduate school, got into a prestigious fellowship, earned my master's, and am currently pursuing my doctorate.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I was sentenced to life in prison when I was 24 years old. I was filled with shame and guilt. The other women in prison really supported me and saw things in me that I didn't see in myself. I know now after surviving prison that I can do anything.

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