New UMSV institute addresses restorative justice, public trust

Gary Jean-Juste

The University of Mount Saint Vincent, or UMSV, announced a new partnership with national nonprofit Dedication to Community, or D2C, to establish an on-campus Justice Institute. At the heart of the collaboration is a focus on restorative justice, leadership development and public trust.

The D2C Justice Institute is intended to serve both students and the broader Bronx community. Through academic programming and professional development, students will deep dive into topics such as policing and public trust, mental health and crisis response, and leadership during conflict.

University President Dr. Susan R. Burns told The Press that the initiative grew out of discussions on how institutions can approach justice in more practical, human-centered ways.

“This came to quick fruition because of our interest and desire to bring opportunity for these kinds of conversations and education not only to the University of Mount Saint Vincent community, but to members of our community beyond our campus as well,” she said.

The partnership first took shape after Burns was introduced to M. Quentin Williams, founder and executive director of D2C.

Through early discussions, the two discovered a shared passion for restorative justice and strong alignment between the university’s mission and the nonprofit’s work. William’s organization provides training programs nationwide, working with law enforcement agencies, schools, community organizations, and federal partners.

Its work emphasizes relationship-building, ethical decision-making, and accountability in high-pressure environments.

Burns said that focus aligns closely with Mount Saint Vincent’s Vincentian and Setonian foundations, which emphasize service, human dignity, and responsibility to others.

“A lot of the work that Dedication to Community has done is about really valuing the human being, the human dignity, when situations are stressful or require quick action,” Burns said.

Academically, the Justice Institute is expected to support new coursework and experiential learning related to justice, including social, economic, criminal, procedural and restorative justice. Practitioners will be incorporated into classes, and students will have increased access to internships and career guidance tied to justice-related fields.

“The intent is academic and experiential learning for our students,” Burns said, “It’s really building courses and curriculum that center around these issues of justice.”

Beyond the classroom, the institute will support leadership and professional development programming open to students and community members. UMSV’s Center for Leadership is expected to collaborate with the institute on retreats, workshops, and training programs examining justice as a leadership issue.

Mount Saint Vincent will also serve as the institute’s Northeast headquarters, hosting conferences, symposia and public forums a range of for educators, nonprofit leaders, law enforcement professionals, policymakers and advocates.
Burns added that the institute’s presence in the Bronx is intentional, noting that the borough is often underrepresented in broader policy conversations about justice and public safety.

“Often, the Bronx is a community that is forgotten,” Burns said.

Mount Saint Vincent’s student body reflects many of the communities the institute aims to serve, she noted. About half of the university’s students receive Pell grants, and roughly half are first-generation college students. Service learning is a graduation requirement, with students working alongside organizations serving disadvantaged populations across New York City.

The Justice Institute will maintain a physical presence on campus, with Dedication to Community staff working alongside university faculty and administrators. While early programming will focus on the Bronx and the Northeast, officials said the model is designed to expand nationally over time.