Key Projects & Initiatives

Explore Dr. Piper’s transformative work across faith, justice, and community healing.

Nehemiah Community Reentry Project

What it is: A faith-based reentry initiative co-led by Dr. Piper that centers spiritual, social, and economic justice for justice-impacted individuals.

Who it helped: Over 300 returning citizens in Bexar County through relationship-based support, healing circles, and community forums.

Impact: Fostered trust, reintegration, and restorative justice through partnerships with churches, health providers, and employment programs.

Intersectionality in Convict Criminology

What it is: A forthcoming book co-authored with J. Renee Trombley, expanding convict criminology to include voices of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Audience: Scholars, students, and activists seeking more inclusive criminal justice frameworks.

Why it matters: Centers lived experience as valid scholarship and shifts narratives about who gets to produce knowledge.

Bexar County Reentry Evaluation Report (2022)

What it is: A policy-focused study assessing local reentry and transitional service programs funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Who it helped: Local government, service providers, and reentering residents.

Result: Provided actionable recommendations for reducing recidivism and strengthening trauma-informed services.

Restorative Justice Teaching & Practice

What it is: A sustained integration of restorative justice pedagogy into UIW’s criminal justice curriculum.

Who it helped: Students, community organizations, and formerly incarcerated individuals.

Highlights: Internships, campus-based dialogue, and policy forums that prepare students for justice-centered careers.

Upcoming Work