Justin McDevitt (Co-Founder and Executive Director) is the Assistant Regional Director, Alumni and Reentry Services for Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison (NDPEP), where he also teaches the Career Internship class. Justin holds a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago (‘12), an M.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame (‘14), and is currently finishing his Ph.D. at Notre Dame, researching the political development of collateral consequences for felony convictions. He is also currently co-editing an upcoming volume for Brandeis University Press (Jan. ‘24) on education in prison globally.
Jeff Walker (Co-Founder and Board President) is the Executive Director of The Beacon Community Resource Center. A humble servant and a powerful leader, Jeff is deeply engaged in the South Bend community investing hours of time and passion into local youth and is widely respected from years of leadership in the Faith in St. Joseph County movement. Jeff has a justice-involved son, which is the motivating factor for his passion for returning citizens, sentencing reform, and prison reform.
Eleanor Boothman (Managing Director) is a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame, earning her Master of Nonprofit Administration (‘22). Originally from Peterborough, England, Eleanor received her B.A. from Holy Cross College (‘21). While at Holy Cross, she served as a teaching partner for the Moreau College Initiative at Westville Correctional Facility, interned for the Center for Community Justice, and wrote her senior thesis on the American criminal justice system. Eleanor enjoys playing soccer and spending time with friends.
Brendan Tinoco (Director of Research) is currently a Research Associate at the Notre Dame Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities. He holds an MSc in economic history from the London School of Economics (’18) and a BA in economics and philosophy (ethics specialization) from the University of Arizona (’16). Brendan’s aim is for Life Outside to provide research-proven services and to build evidence of what individuals need most during the reentry process.
Life Outside Reentry Assistance 