Our Team
Romarilyn Ralston is the founding Senior Director of the Justice Education Center for Claremont Colleges and the former executive director of Project Rebound at California State Fullerton. While at CSUF, she helped expand Project Rebound to other CSU campuses across the State. Romarilyn was instrumental in establishing the John Irwin Transformative Housing Initiative, the first transformative housing initiative in the country for reentry college students, and the Center for Hope and Redemption, a transformative justice space that centers community and university collaboration around issues of justice, gender, and race.
After serving 23 years in prison, she earned a bachelor’s degree with Honors in Gender & Feminist Studies from Pitzer College. She then went on to achieve a master’s degree in liberal arts from Washington University in St. Louis. She will complete a PhD in Executive Management (2027) from The Claremont Graduate University Drucker School of Business. In addition to advanced degrees, Romarilyn has completed several fellowships: CORO Fellowship in Public Affairs, Women’s (Solis) Policy Institute, Napier Fellowship for Peace and Justice, Leading with Conviction Fellowship, and a Galaxy Gives Fellow.
Education has fueled her commitment to helping others discover the transformative power of post-secondary education and community accountability. In 2022, she received a full pardon from Governor Gavin Newsom. Her dedication has earned her numerous social justice awards and recognitions, including accolades from the California Legislature, the National Council of 100 Black Women-Orange County Chapter, and Pitzer College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021. This year, Romarilyn was one of six women selected as the Woman of the Year by CA State Senator Josh Newman, District 29.
Nigel Boyle has been a distinguished professor of political studies at Pitzer College since 1992, where his extensive experience and leadership have profoundly impacted the institution. Over the years, he has held several key leadership roles, including Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. These positions allowed him to influence the academic direction and priorities of the college. His deep commitment to education extends beyond the classroom as he continues shaping the academic and administrative landscapes at Pitzer College.
Currently, Nigel serves as Pitzer’s Associate Dean for Global and Local Programs, a role that underscores his dedication to fostering educational initiatives that are both internationally oriented and community-focused. His work in this capacity highlights his belief in the power of education to bridge cultures and address local challenges, reinforcing the college’s mission of social responsibility and global citizenship. Since 2013, Nigel has brought his expertise and passion for education to the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Norco, where he has served in multiple roles, including teacher, academic advisor, and administrator. His contributions at CRC are particularly noteworthy; he has been instrumental in coordinating over 100 “Inside-Out” classes at the facility. These classes result from a collaborative effort involving faculty from seven esteemed institutions, including the five Claremont Colleges, the University of Redlands, and California State University, San Bernardino. This initiative has been pivotal in creating educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals, providing them access to higher education and its transformative power.
Nigel’s vision and leadership led to the founding of the Pitzer BA program at CRC, which has significantly expanded the educational horizons for those incarcerated at the facility. In addition to his work at CRC, Nigel is the Faculty Director for the Justice Education Center Steering Committee. In this role, he continues advancing the Center’s mission of promoting justice through education, further solidifying his legacy as a champion for academic excellence and social equity. His career is a testament to the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on individuals, institutions, and society.
Bernie Hernandez Bernie Hernandez currently serves as the “Inside/Out” program coordinator for the Justice Education Center at the Claremont Colleges. Bernie graduated from Pitzer College in 2023, while incarcerated, as part of the B.A. cohort program at Norco prison.
Bernie’s journey is a powerful testament to his resilience and determination. He graduated from Pitzer College in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, which he earned while incarcerated at Norco prison as part of the B.A. cohort program. During his time at Norco, Bernie took on leadership roles, serving as a Student Senate representative, where he was actively involved in the college’s student council. He strongly advocated for his fellow students in this capacity, ensuring their voices were heard and their needs addressed.
Bernie’s contributions extend beyond his immediate academic environment. This underscores the significant positive impact he has made through his efforts to support and uplift others. Bernie was selected as the commencement speaker for the 2024 Chicano Latino Student Affairs graduation at the Claremont Colleges, an honor that speaks to his leadership, influence, and the respect he commands within the academic community.
Suzan Greene brings a wealth of experience to Pitzer College, drawing from an impressive 48-year career in the business world. Her extensive background includes three decades as a Word Processing Manager in the Title Insurance industry, where she honed her skills in managing operations, streamlining processes, and leading teams. Following this, Suzan transitioned into entrepreneurship as the co-owner of a Medical Device Company, a role she held for 12 years. In this capacity, she was instrumental in overseeing the company’s operations, driving business growth, and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Now at Pitzer College, Suzan applies her vast expertise to provide essential administrative support to the Justice Education Center team. Her role is crucial in maintaining the smooth operation of the Center, where her organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage complex tasks are invaluable. Suzan’s corporate management and business ownership background enables her to contribute a unique perspective to the Center, enhancing its ability to serve the academic community and the broader justice-focused initiatives it supports. Her dedication and experience make her a key team member, committed to advancing the mission of the Justice Education Center
The Claremont Colleges Justice Education Center Steering Committee
Derik Smith is chair of the Department of Literature at Claremont McKenna College and is an affiliate faculty member of the Intercollegiate Department of African Studies at Claremont College. His work focuses on American literary culture, with a particular interest in poetry. His current scholarship addresses African American poetry, intellectual history, and the connection between critical race studies and the Baha’i Faith. His work has appeared in many publications, and he is the author of Robert Hayden’s In Verse: New Histories of African American Poetry and the Black Arts Era, which was awarded the 2019 Book of the Year prize by the College Language Association.
Since 2012, Smith has taught courses in and about American prisons in New York and California. He is currently a faculty representative on the steering committee of the Justice Education Center at the Claremont Colleges. He is the acting director of the Wilmette Institute, a distance education provider focusing on the discourse of social transformation. He also serves on the executive boards of the Association for Baha’i Studies, North America, and Starting Over Inc., a non-profit organization focused on policy advocacy, re-entry services, and transitional housing in Southern California, where he lives with his wife and three children.
Karl Haushalter is the Seeley W. Mudd Professor of Chemistry and Biology and the Chair of the Chemistry Department at Harvey Mudd College, where he has been a valued faculty member since 2003. Over the years, Dr. Haushalter has made notable contributions to the college’s academic and research programs, emphasizing scientific rigor and student engagement. As the former Associate Dean of Research and Experiential Learning, he was key in expanding research opportunities and integrating hands-on learning into the curriculum.
In this role, Dr. Haushalter worked closely with the Office of Civic and Community Engagement to launch new initiatives that connect academic learning with community needs, underscoring his commitment to education that makes a social impact. His dedication to community service is further highlighted by his ongoing efforts to combat the stigma surrounding HIV-AIDS and support those affected by the disease through education and empowerment.
Dr. Haushalter teaches the course “HIV-AIDS: Science, Society, and Service,” which combines scientific education with service-learning. This course provides students with a deep understanding of HIV while involving them in meaningful community service, reflecting Dr. Haushalter’s belief in the power of education to address critical social issues. His work at Harvey Mudd College continues to inspire students and colleagues through its integration of rigorous science and compassionate community engagement.
Danny Camarena is a Pitzer College alum and a member of the 2nd Inside-Out Cohort, recognized for his dedication to social justice through the Napier Fellowship. Since his release, Danny has achieved significant milestones, becoming a certified CalMHSA Peer Support Specialist, where he leverages his experience to assist individuals with mental health challenges. He also is a Non-Credit Instructor at Temple University, sharing his insights with students. He has gained valuable experience as an intern for California Lawyers for the Arts, exploring the intersection of arts and legal advocacy.
Currently, Danny works as a Case Manager at InsideOUT Writers, where he provides intensive case management, facilitates creative writing circles, and develops partnerships to support formerly incarcerated individuals during their reentry process. His role is vital in helping these individuals navigate reintegration challenges, offering them the guidance and resources they need to rebuild their lives.
Danny’s commitment to furthering his impact is reflected in his recent admission to the University of Southern California (USC) Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where he will begin his Master of Social Work (MSW) studies in the fall of 2024. His journey continues to be driven by a deep commitment to social justice and the empowerment of marginalized communities.
Kimberly Drake teaches writing and literature at Scripps College, where she is a Professor of Writing, Chair of the Writing and Rhetoric Department, Director of the Writing Program, and Faculty Liaison of the Scripps College Academy. She has taught writing workshops and Inside-Out courses in Southern California prisons and at Crossroads Transitional Facility for Women since 2009. Her scholarship concerns rhetorics of protest and resistance concerning disability, incarceration, race, class, gender, and sexuality; she has also published articles on writing pedagogy and creative nonfiction. Her most recent article, coauthored with Damian Busby, member of the first Inside Out cohort of Pitzer BA students, is “The Tide that Takes You Out of Prison’: Linguistic Justice in a Prison Writing Center,” in The Peer Review 6.1 (Spring 2024).
Erin Runions is a Professor at Pomona College. Her research focuses on the Hebrew Bible and its reception history, with special attention to the influence of the Bible on contemporary culture and politics. In her work, she demonstrates the cumulative effect of biblical reception on sexuality, biopolitics, racialization, governance, war, torture, and U.S. imperialism. Her publications include The Babylon Complex: Theopolitical Fantasies of War, Sex, and Sovereignty (2014); How Hysterical: Identification and Resistance in the Bible and Film (2003); Changing Subjects: Gender, Nation, Future in Micah (2001). Runions has also been an activist for many years, working on issues of police brutality and prison injustice, globalization, antiwar activism, feminist and queer organizing. She currently helps facilitate a writing workshop inside a women’s prison and works on environmental justice issues in the nearby city of Pomona.
Our Consortium
The Claremont Colleges is a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges (Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps) and two graduate institutions (Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute) offering rigorous curricula, small classes, distinguished professors, and personalized instruction in a vibrant residential college community that provides intensive interaction between students and faculty.
Our Supporters
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation endeavors to strengthen, promote, and, where necessary, defend the contributions of the humanities and the arts to human flourishing and to the well-being of diverse and democratic societies. To this end, the foundation supports exemplary higher education and culture institutions as they renew and provide access to an invaluable heritage of ambitious, path-breaking work. The Justice Education Initiative has also allocated funds specifically for producing and supporting justice-related artistic endeavors over the five-year course of the founding grant.
The Bernard & Audre Rapoport Foundation seeks innovative solutions to intractable and persistent problems and strives to cultivate emerging talents and promising models. Their mission is to meet basic human needs while building individual and social resiliency, and the foundation has dedicated more than $75 million in grants to improve the social fabric of life.