Laura Ridolfi

Laura Ridolfi is a Lecturer at the W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI), where she works as a Racial Justice and Well-Being Strategist. With over 15 years of experience, she focuses on challenging racial hierarchies in the administration of justice at local, state, and national levels, advocating for policy changes to promote equity and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in California.

• Education: B.A. from Lewis and Clark College (1999), J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law (2005)

Her expertise lies in Juvenile Justice and Racial/Social Justice, informed by her Fulbright Fellowship research in Kenya and her work democratizing youth justice data. She partners with community-rooted organizations to center the voices of directly impacted youth and families in policy redesign, resulting in significant legal reforms. Her authored BI reports amplify systemic inequities and solutions.

• Scientific Awards: Fulbright Fellowship