Zach Ruppel

Zachary R. Ruppel is a Policy Analyst at JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), where he is a passionate advocate at the federal level for restorative reentry practices and ending the permanent punishments of a conviction. Zach leverages his personal journey to challenge systems and lead meaningful policy reforms at the federal level in tandem with the organization’s national policy advocacy coalition, the JustUS Coordinating Council™. He is an alumni of the Leading with Conviction™ 2021 cohort and joined the JLUSA team in 2023.

Zach has previously served as the outreach coordinator for the Central Ohio Restored Citizens’ Collaborative and as a data analyst for his county’s Office of Justice Policy and Programs. In these roles, he worked closely with city, county, and state officials to promote impactful policy and innovation. Zach graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s in Education and recently completed a graduate certificate in Restorative Justice from the Vermont Law School. He is continuing his education in the MPA program at CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. A resident of Columbus, Ohio, Zach is a dedicated community servant and is passionate about his personal pursuits, including music, gardening, and his role as a proud dog dad.