Our Team
Founder and Co-Director: Carolyn Boyes-Watson, Ph.D.
Carolyn Boyes-Watson is Professor of Sociology at Suffolk University and founding director of the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has published numerous articles and books on restorative justice, juvenile justice and the criminal justice system. Dr. Boyes-Watson is a national trainer in the BARJ model of restorative justice and has worked with schools, juvenile justice systems, youth-serving organizations and communities throughout New England to implement restorative justice. Her most recent publications include Bringing Justice Home: Peacemaking Circles and Urban Youth, Living Justice Press: MN and Heart of Hope: A Guide for Using Peacemaking Circles to Develop Emotional Literacy, Promote Healing and Build Healthy Relationships with Kay Pranis.
Co-Director: Susan Maze Rothstein, Esq.
Susan Maze-Rothstein partnered with the Center for Restorative Justice for over a decade before coming on as Co-Director of the Center in 2019. Prior to that she had a career in law as a practitioner, adjudicator and law professor at Northeastern University School of Law where, for nearly 20 years, she directed the Legal Skills in Social Context, social justice program. Professor Maze-Rothstein, chaired the Restorative Justice Coalition of Massachusetts where she was instrumental in the enactment of the commonwealth's first restorative justice statute. She also co-chaired the Boston Public Schools, Code of Conduct Advisory Council, resulting in incorporation of restorative justice the district’s revised Code of Conduct, responsive to progressive school discipline legislation.
Administrative Program Coordinator: Elaine Hackney
Sharp and savvy in marketing and all matters administrative, Elaine Hackney provides highly experienced faculty and administration support for the team's restorative justice work.
Senior/Fellows/Trainers
Erica Bronstein, Esq.
Erica Bronstein designs and delivers restorative justice training and advises on restorative initiatives. Before working at the Center, she was a Managing Partner at Ibis Consulting Group, a leader in the field of diversity and inclusion. Erica has more than 30 years’ experience as a consultant and trainer on issues of diversity, leadership and teams. Erica is a graduate of Brown University, received her JD at Northeastern University Law School.
Kay Pranis
Kay served the Minnesota Department of Corrections in the position of Restorative Justice Planner from 1994 to 2003. She has worked with leaders in corrections, law enforcement, the judiciary, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, faith communities and education to develop a comprehensive response to crime and conflict based on restorative justice. Kay continues to be active in the field of restorative justice, providing training and technical assistance to national and local initiatives with a special emphasis on the use of peacemaking circles
Janet Connors
Janet Connors is a locally and nationally renowned restorative justice practitioner. She is also, a long time community and social justice activist in Boston, targeting neighborhoods most affected by violence and social injustices. Janet brings over 40 years experience working with youth and families in community based organizations as a Survivor Support Coordinator at the Louis Brown Peace Institute, and member of Mothers for Justice and Equality, “Legacy Lives On” Survivor Support Organization, the Leadership Team of the Family Advisory Committee for the Department of Children and Families, and is a Survivor to Survivor Support and Program Consultant to the Homicide Support Services Program at the BIDMC Violence Prevention and Recovery Center. A survivor herself, Janet lost her son, Joel, to homicide. Janet met in restorative dialogue with two of the young men who killed her son and their mothers. Her own personal journey brought about a change in policy practice to Massachusetts, offering victims the option of participating in Victim-Offender Dialogue. Janet has worked extensively in Boston Public Schools serving as a restorative justice trainer and educator in several BPS alternative high schools.
Estelle Archibald, MA/MDiv
Estelle Archibald is former Director of Family Engagement, Culture and Community at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School. Estelle has been engaged in restorative practices work across schools and communities for more than 10 years in the United States and abroad. She began her teaching practice as a DC Teaching Fellow teaching high school mathematics in DC Public Schools in Washington DC. She has continued in her practice as an educator in professional development and consultant roles in the U.S. and abroad in places such as Abu Dhabi, UAE and Liberia, West Africa. Estelle is a graduate of Spelman College, Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and Boston University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Case Western.
Angela Dornai
Formerly a teacher, department head and administrator, Angie Dornai is a passionate keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on the topics of designing inclusive and engaging school cultures through restorative approaches. Director of Restorative Schools, she offers interactive workshops for those who want to develop a restorative mindset as part of their school culture. She has conducted over 200 restorative discipline conferences at schools. Co-author of two books for educators (Reaching for the Stars 1 and 2), Angie has also conducted numerous workshops on restorative practices for educators across Ontario and around the world. Angie has also chaired the Mediation Services Resource Bank for OSSTF since 2004.
Carmen Veloria has been an urban educator in the P-16 system, as a classroom teacher, college access program administrator, and currently as an Assistant Professor. She focuses on systemic issues that negatively impact the educational trajectory of students of color, and brings this lens to her restorative justice work. Carmen teaches restorative justice at the college level and is also interested in college access initiatives for under-represented students as well as persistence and retention efforts in higher education. Her research interests include urban sociology/education, intersection of race, class, ethnicity, and gender, juvenile justice, and language usage and culture.
Carolyn Boyes-Watson is Professor of Sociology at Suffolk University and founding director of the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk. She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has published numerous articles and books on restorative justice, juvenile justice and the criminal justice system. Dr. Boyes-Watson is a national trainer in the BARJ model of restorative justice and has worked with schools, juvenile justice systems, youth-serving organizations and communities throughout New England to implement restorative justice. Her most recent publications include Bringing Justice Home: Peacemaking Circles and Urban Youth, Living Justice Press: MN and Heart of Hope: A Guide for Using Peacemaking Circles to Develop Emotional Literacy, Promote Healing and Build Healthy Relationships with Kay Pranis.
Co-Director: Susan Maze Rothstein, Esq.
Susan Maze-Rothstein partnered with the Center for Restorative Justice for over a decade before coming on as Co-Director of the Center in 2019. Prior to that she had a career in law as a practitioner, adjudicator and law professor at Northeastern University School of Law where, for nearly 20 years, she directed the Legal Skills in Social Context, social justice program. Professor Maze-Rothstein, chaired the Restorative Justice Coalition of Massachusetts where she was instrumental in the enactment of the commonwealth's first restorative justice statute. She also co-chaired the Boston Public Schools, Code of Conduct Advisory Council, resulting in incorporation of restorative justice the district’s revised Code of Conduct, responsive to progressive school discipline legislation.
Administrative Program Coordinator: Elaine Hackney
Sharp and savvy in marketing and all matters administrative, Elaine Hackney provides highly experienced faculty and administration support for the team's restorative justice work.
Senior/Fellows/Trainers
Erica Bronstein, Esq.
Erica Bronstein designs and delivers restorative justice training and advises on restorative initiatives. Before working at the Center, she was a Managing Partner at Ibis Consulting Group, a leader in the field of diversity and inclusion. Erica has more than 30 years’ experience as a consultant and trainer on issues of diversity, leadership and teams. Erica is a graduate of Brown University, received her JD at Northeastern University Law School.
Kay Pranis
Kay served the Minnesota Department of Corrections in the position of Restorative Justice Planner from 1994 to 2003. She has worked with leaders in corrections, law enforcement, the judiciary, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, faith communities and education to develop a comprehensive response to crime and conflict based on restorative justice. Kay continues to be active in the field of restorative justice, providing training and technical assistance to national and local initiatives with a special emphasis on the use of peacemaking circles
Janet Connors
Janet Connors is a locally and nationally renowned restorative justice practitioner. She is also, a long time community and social justice activist in Boston, targeting neighborhoods most affected by violence and social injustices. Janet brings over 40 years experience working with youth and families in community based organizations as a Survivor Support Coordinator at the Louis Brown Peace Institute, and member of Mothers for Justice and Equality, “Legacy Lives On” Survivor Support Organization, the Leadership Team of the Family Advisory Committee for the Department of Children and Families, and is a Survivor to Survivor Support and Program Consultant to the Homicide Support Services Program at the BIDMC Violence Prevention and Recovery Center. A survivor herself, Janet lost her son, Joel, to homicide. Janet met in restorative dialogue with two of the young men who killed her son and their mothers. Her own personal journey brought about a change in policy practice to Massachusetts, offering victims the option of participating in Victim-Offender Dialogue. Janet has worked extensively in Boston Public Schools serving as a restorative justice trainer and educator in several BPS alternative high schools.
Estelle Archibald, MA/MDiv
Estelle Archibald is former Director of Family Engagement, Culture and Community at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School. Estelle has been engaged in restorative practices work across schools and communities for more than 10 years in the United States and abroad. She began her teaching practice as a DC Teaching Fellow teaching high school mathematics in DC Public Schools in Washington DC. She has continued in her practice as an educator in professional development and consultant roles in the U.S. and abroad in places such as Abu Dhabi, UAE and Liberia, West Africa. Estelle is a graduate of Spelman College, Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and Boston University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Case Western.
Angela Dornai
Formerly a teacher, department head and administrator, Angie Dornai is a passionate keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on the topics of designing inclusive and engaging school cultures through restorative approaches. Director of Restorative Schools, she offers interactive workshops for those who want to develop a restorative mindset as part of their school culture. She has conducted over 200 restorative discipline conferences at schools. Co-author of two books for educators (Reaching for the Stars 1 and 2), Angie has also conducted numerous workshops on restorative practices for educators across Ontario and around the world. Angie has also chaired the Mediation Services Resource Bank for OSSTF since 2004.
Carmen Veloria has been an urban educator in the P-16 system, as a classroom teacher, college access program administrator, and currently as an Assistant Professor. She focuses on systemic issues that negatively impact the educational trajectory of students of color, and brings this lens to her restorative justice work. Carmen teaches restorative justice at the college level and is also interested in college access initiatives for under-represented students as well as persistence and retention efforts in higher education. Her research interests include urban sociology/education, intersection of race, class, ethnicity, and gender, juvenile justice, and language usage and culture.