Pitzer Pathfinder

ROMARILYN RALSTON ’14 Passion for social justice, an unshakeable sense of purpose and a bond with Pitzer

When Romarilyn Ralston was incarcerated at the age of 24, her life might have seemed to be over before it started. After serving 23 years, Ralston made the remarkable transition to a highly competitive liberal arts college to earn her Pitzer College degree with honors in gender and feminist studies. She went on to obtain her master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Today, Ralston has dedicated her life to providing individualized support to formerly incarcerated students pursuing higher education as program director of Project Rebound at California State University, Fullerton.

She has been an invited panelist on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Access to Higher Education Challenge Event in 2016 and was a presidential panelist at the 2018 National Women’s Studies Association Conference.

Pitzer has named Ralston the 2020 Distinguished Alumni—honoring her as a graduate who lives the spirit of her Pitzer education and is making meaningful change in her community.

Romarilyn Ralston ’14 has taken the path less traveled to advance herself and her community.