JLUSA Mourns the Passing of Dr. Patrice Palmer

JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA) mourns the passing of Dr. Patrice Palmer, a graduate of the very first Leading with Conviction™ cohort in 2015.

JLUSA’s President and CEO DeAnna Hoskins said: “As a fellow justice-impacted leader from Ohio, I know the huge contribution that Dr. Patrice Palmer has made in that state and across the country, and her sudden passing leaves not only some very big shoes to fill but a giant heart-shaped gap that will no doubt take a long time to fill. Patrice was a giant for criminal justice reform and reentry. We at JustLeadershipUSA extend our deepest condolences to Patrice’s family and loved ones. May her memory be a blessing always.”

Patrice was a giant for criminal justice reform and reentry. … May her memory be a blessing always.

Dr. Patrice Palmer (1962-2026) was the co-founder of Chosen4Change, a cognitive behavioral therapy modality that equips hurting individuals with necessary tools to break the cycles of dysfunctional thinking, actions, and behaviors.

As she often shared in her advocacy, Patrice had spent more than 20 years cycling in and out of the criminal justice system due to drug and alcohol addiction. In 2003, “it was her faith in God, her internal cry and willingness to ask for help, the support of her family, and her commitment to transformation that cultivated her relentless spirit to overcome the challenges in her life” and become the champion for change that she was.

When her alma mater featured her in its alumni magazine in 2023, she was quoted as saying, “I have a criminal record longer than Cleveland Avenue. I was Bonnie and Clyde all by myself. But since then, I’ve been to the White House. I spoke to congressional staff. I have two degrees from The Ohio State University.”

Patrice held a Baccalaureate and a Master’s Degree in Social Work, as well as a doctorate in divinity and theology. She was a licensed Prevention Specialist and Chemical Dependency Counselor as well as a licensed social worker. She was an active member of the Franklin County Reentry Task Force Coalition in Columbus, Ohio, the Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative, the Ohio Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition and formerly served as a member of ACME, a reentry sub-committee for the formerly incarcerated with mental health issues. She held an Ordained Elder of Ministry License, was a national trainer and facilitator of the Peace Love art workshops, and was the former President of Columbus-based Raising the Bar Prison Ministries at Higher Ground Always Abounding Assemblies.

Patrice was a member of the Ohio State University’s College of Social Work Alumni Hall of Fame. She was Franklin County, Ohio’s 2018 Employee of the Year and was recognized by the National Association of Social Workers as National Social Worker of the year in 2022. She was also honored by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and many others.