History

Founding and Origins

Project Rebound was founded in 1967 at San Francisco State University (SFSU) by Professor John Irwin, a formerly incarcerated individual who went on to become a respected sociologist and educator. Recognizing the transformative potential of education, Dr. Irwin created Project Rebound as a way to matriculate individuals directly from the criminal justice system into San Francisco State University.

Soon after its launch, the program was embraced by Associated Students Incorporated, and its mission evolved to focus on "Education as an Alternative to Incarceration" and "Turning Former Prisoners into Scholars." This shift reflected a growing belief that education could serve as a powerful tool for both personal transformation and broader social change.

Since its inception, hundreds of formerly incarcerated individuals have earned four-year degrees and beyond through Project Rebound, demonstrating the program’s deep and lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities.

For nearly five decades, Project Rebound remained a campus-specific initiative at San Francisco State University. However, in 2016, the program’s transformative success led to its expansion across the California State University (CSU) system. With support from the Opportunity Institute and CSU Chancellor Timothy White, Project Rebound launched at eight additional CSU campuses as part of a system-wide effort to support formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted students.

Since that pivotal moment, Project Rebound has grown to serve 21 CSU campuses, forming the Project Rebound Consortium—a unified network dedicated to advancing education, leadership, and opportunity for students affected by incarceration and systemic justice involvement.

The Consortium facilitates collaboration across campuses, ensures consistency in student support, and shares best practices to meet the diverse needs of justice-impacted individuals throughout California. This statewide expansion underscores the CSU system’s belief in education as a powerful vehicle for personal transformation and public benefit.