Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Debra Dean Murphy, Ph.D. and Jess Scott, Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Claire is joined again by co-host Associate Director for the Collaborative Center for Restorative Practices in Higher Education Kaleigh Mrowka, Ph.D. In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere.   

 

Dr. Murphy and Dr. Scott join us to discuss their work as professors and co-directors of the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College. They share insights into the center's mission and its focus on community building, both on campus and in the larger region. Highlighting the diverse topics explored, including climate collapse, racial justice, and overconsumption, they foster open dialogue and learning outside traditional classroom settings. 

 

Dr. Murphy and Dr. Scott provide insights into the center’s partnerships with local organizations that address homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction through meal services and circle conversations. They emphasize the pivotal role of students in driving initiatives, citing examples of student-led interventions that challenge punitive systems and promote restorative justice. 

 

Dr. Murphy is a professor of Religious Studies and the co-director of the Center for Restorative Justice at West Virginia Wesleyan College. She is the author of two books and numerous scholarly articles, and is currently working on a monograph tentatively titled “Grieving the End of the World: Climate Collapse and Other Breakdowns.” 

 

Dr. Scott is an associate professor of Gender Studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College and the co-director of the Center for Restorative Justice. Her research is primarily concerned with the spatial politics of sexuality in South Africa and the US South. Her first monograph, “Home Is Where Your Politics Are,” will be published in June of 2024. 

 

Tune in to learn more about their work and gain insight into how students’ grassroots initiatives are creating actionable hope and fostering change, not just within campus walls, but across entire communities.