Spending 23 years in a California women’s prison, Romarilyn Ralston saw firsthand the factors that bring women to prison and what needs to be changed. She worked alongside peers, wardens and state officials to improve living conditions and to develop gender-responsive practices for women in prison. After release from prison, she earned a B.A. from Pitzer College in Gender & Feminist Studies, and a Master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She was awarded a Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs.

In 2015, Romarilyn joined the Center for Women in Transition, to assist with programming, including gender-responsive, restorative justice, and trauma-informed programs. Working with these women confirmed the need for continuous criminal justice reform and reentry models. Now, as the Program Coordinator for Project Rebound, supporting formerly incarcerated students reintegrate into a college setting, she uses her experience to build stronger solutions for returning citizens and increase their quality of life.