National Black Pre-Law Admissions and Preparation Conference and Law Fair

Reginald T. Shuford, Esq. is a senior staff counsel in the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation's Racial Justice Program. An attorney with the ACLU since 1995, he helped pioneer legal challenges to racial profiling nationwide and is the ACLU's chief litigator in challenges to racial profiling, leading national litigation efforts and consulting with ACLU state affiliates and others in cases of "driving while black or brown," airport profiling, and profiling related to the war on terror. Since 2002, working with colleagues around the country, Attorney Shuford filed five landmark lawsuits against four major airlines alleging racial discrimination and a nationwide challenge to the Transportation Security Administration's management of the No-Fly List.

His docket also has included cases involving mortgage lending discrimination, educational adequacy and equity, the school to prison pipeline, and the right to counsel for indigents. He also has been involved in advocacy against racism in the use of the federal death penalty and in favor of affirmative action.

In addition to his litigation duties, Attorney Shuford also leads the ACLU National Office's efforts to recruit and retain attorneys of color.

Mr. Shuford speaks regularly on the issue of racial profiling and has written on the topic. He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including CNN's Burden of Proof and Talk Back Live, ABC's 20/20, Court TV's Pros and Cons and Crier Today, and in a documentary on MTV entitled True Life: I Am Driving While Black.

Evett L. Simmons, Esq. is a partner and chief diversity officer of Ruden McClosky Smith Schuster & Russell, PA. She concentrates her practice in real estate, probate, and guardianship litigation.

Committed to increasing the pipeline to the legal profession, she is the current chair of the American Bar Association’s Presidential Council on Diversity in the Profession and chairperson of the Crump Law Camp Committee. She is a past president of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association and past president of the National Bar Association. Currently, she is a current member of the NBA’s Board of Governors. She is also the chair of The Florida Bar’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).

Attorney Simmons is a 2007 recipient of the National Bar Association’s Gertrude E. Rush Award, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in the community and in their respective professions, show concern for human and civil rights, and are models of excellence in legal education, public policy, and social activism.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Florida Southern College, her Juris Doctor from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Suffolk University.

Shakeer A. Abdullah is the director of multicultural affairs at Capital University Law School. In this position, he is charged with facilitating the success of students of color at the law school. Previously, he worked at Ohio State University (OSU) as coordinator of new diversity initiatives in the Multicultural Center. He was responsible for planning and coordinating initiatives that supported various populations. Mr. Abdullah earned his master’s degree in higher education from OSU.

Michelle Allison, Esq. is the associate director of admissions at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts with honors from Howard University and her Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law. Prior to her current position, she served as the assistant director of admissions at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, and clerked for a Massachusetts Superior Court judge and two Boston law firms.

Elizabeth Alston is a third-year law student at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. She received her B.A. in government from the University of Texas at Austin. While in law school, she has become very active in the Black Law Students Association, serving as the historian and treasurer, and as the secretary of the Rocky Mountain Region in 2006-2007. She is currently the 2007-2008 chair of the Black Law Students Association Rocky Mountain Region.

Tamara Martinez-Anderson is the assistant dean of admissions and financial aid at Michigan State University College of Law. She has been in the field of law school admissions for ten years at both private and public institutions. She serves on the Services and Programs Committee of the Law School Admission Council. Ms. Martinez-Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Utah State University and attended graduate school at the University of Michigan.

Mary Quealy Antin, Esq. is the assistant dean of career services at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. She practiced law with an emphasis on public interest for 15 years before making the change in 2002 to counseling law students and attorneys on career choices. In working with the students and alumni of Thurgood Marshall, Ms. Antin draws on her own experience as an undergraduate at Newton College of the Sacred Heart (Boston College), a graduate student in liberal arts at Tulane University of New Orleans, and a law student at the University of Houston; her experience with students as a teaching member of the faculties of Dillard University, Houston Community College, and the University of Houston, respectively, and her professional experience as a member of the legal community and a passionate advocate for her clients. Dean Antin is also a writer.

Regan Armstrong, Esq. is a family law attorney with Armstrong & Bedell, LLP. She graduated from the University of Houston Law Center in 2002. She is a member of the Texas State Bar Family Law Section, the Houston Northwest Bar Association, the College of the State Bar of Texas, and other organizations.

Rhonda Beassie, Esq. is the assistant dean of career development and assistant clinical professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Dean Beassie is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Houston Law Center. She taught in the law school's Clinical and Legal Writing Programs before assuming direction of the Career Development Office. Ms. Beassie developed expertise in legal placement as the first supervisor of the University of Houston Law Center's Externship Program developing student placements in judicial internships, government agencies, health law organizations, and public interest legal services agencies. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Dean Beassie worked in both marketing and human resources fields.

Antoy Bell, Esq. graduated cum laude from Morehouse College with a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Iowa College of Law in 2004 where he participated in the legal clinic and the Jessup International Moot Court Competition. He is licensed to practice law in the state courts of Texas and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas. Attorney Bell is a member of the Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the National Bar Association.

Everett Bellamy, Esq. is an assistant dean and adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center. Since 1980, he has taught Small Business Law at Georgetown. In 1998, he taught International Business Regulation in Florence, Italy. He has also been an instructor for the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) program, and the Charles Hamilton Houston Law School Preparatory Institute. He is a former member of the National Bar Association Board of Governors, former co-chair of the Law Professors Division, and past chair of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Conference of Black Lawyers. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin, and his J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University.

Natalie Bernal is a regional manager for Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), which is based in New York, New York. Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) is the nation’s premier summer internship program for talented students of color leading to full-time job offers. Since its inception, SEO’s Career Program has placed over 4,000 Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Native American students in internships that lead to opportunities in exciting and rewarding careers in the most competitive industries worldwide.

Noe Bernal is the assistant dean for admissions at Villanova University School of Law. Mr. Bernal began his career in law school administration at South Texas College of Law, where he was the assistant director for career services, and later the director of recruitment and research in the Office of Admissions. Mr. Bernal earned a sociology and Spanish literature degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to law school administration, he worked as a case manager for a social service agency in Houston, Texas. He has presented at numerous Law School Admission Council law school forums and is a member of the Services and Programs Committee.

Gita P. Bolt, Esq. serves as general counsel for Texas Southern University. She has been with the University for 12 years and has served in various capacities, including associate general counsel, assistant general counsel, and director of compliance for the TSU Athletics Department. Prior to joining TSU, she was an assistant attorney general in the Child Support Litigation Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Attorney Bolt is a graduate of Tulane University School of Law and received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Howard University. She is past president of the Houston Lawyers Association, and has served as regional director of Region V for the National Bar Association, a cabinet member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and a member of the Texas State Bar Grievance Committee. She is also a member of the National Association of College & University Attorneys (NACUA).

Alger V. Boswell III is a third-year law student at Valparaiso University School of Law in Valparaiso, Indiana. Mr. Boswell is a member of the Moot Court Honor Society Executive Board and the Sports Law Clinic. The Sports Law Clinic is the only law clinic in the country that offers free legal representation to amateur athletes. Additionally, Alger is the president emeritus of the Valparaiso Chapter of the National Black Law Students Association. After graduation, Mr. Boswell will join the law firm of Hoeppner Wagner & Evans, LLP in Merrillville, Indiana.

Michael W. Boylen is assistant dean of admissions at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island. Mr. Boylen began his career in legal education in 1995 at Suffolk University Law School’s Career Services Office. He transitioned into Suffolk’s Office of Admissions, eventually holding the title of associate director of admissions. While at Suffolk, he was involved in the execution of a Council on Legal Education (CLEO) Summer Institute. In 2002, he joined Roger Williams University School of Law as director of admissions, and in 2005 his title was changed to assistant dean of admissions. He has presented at numerous Law School Admission Council (LSAC) forums, as well as the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA) Conference. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in political science from Suffolk University.

U. Lawrence Boze', Esq. is the owner and primary shareholder of U. Lawrence Boze' & Associates, P.C. His practice areas include personal injury, mass toxic torts, real estate, probate, entertainment, and commercial litgation. Attorney Boze' has served as the vice chair and a member of the Texas Board of Law Examiners since 1997. He has also served as a member on the State Bar of Texas' Committee on Minorities in the Profession. He was the 54th President of the National Bar Association (NBA), served as past vice-president for membership of the NBA, past president of the Houston Lawyers Association, and president and founder of the Texas Association of African-American Lawyers. Attorney Boze' is a graduate of the University of Houston, a summa cum laude graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and a summa cum laude graduate of the Texas Southern University School of Business.

Michael S. Burns, Esq. serves as the assistant dean for enrollment management and director of law admission at DePaul University College of Law. Previously, he served as a legal writing instructor and assistant dean for law career services at DePaul. Mr. Burns also worked as assistant dean for admission at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he also was appointed to the positions of director of academic support, director of the Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars Program, adjunct professor, and associate general counsel for the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a 1992 graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the DePaul Law Review. After completing his legal studies, he joined the Chicago law firm of Peterson & Ross.

Collins Byrd is the assistant dean for admissions at the University of Iowa College of Law. He has been in the field of undergraduate and graduate school admissions for over 20 years. Dean Byrd has served as director of admissions at the University of Minnesota Law School, assistant dean for admissions at William Mitchell College of Law, and associate director of admissions at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Mr. Byrd earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.

Victoria Taylor Carter, Esq. is the associate dean for admissions and financial aid at Charlotte School of Law. Dean Carter also teaches as an adjunct professor in CharlotteLaw's legal writing program. Prior to her current position, she served as assistant dean of admissions for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Law, and as a legal writing professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law. Dean Carter has also taught as a visiting instructor at the North Carolina Central University School of Business. Prior to her academic career, Dean Carter was an education consultant for Omuteko Gwamaziima Charter School and an employment relations consultant for Wachovia Bank.

Lynda Cevallos, Esq. is an attorney who serves as pre-law coordinator and undergraduate advisor for the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) of the American Bar Association, and oversees the Thurgood Marshall College Scholars Program. Before joining CLEO, Ms. Cevallos practiced employment and labor law for a Washington, DC law firm, and clerked for the National Labor Relations Board, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Attorney Cevallos is a cum laude graduate of Rutgers University and earned her Juris Doctorate from the Washington College of Law at American University.

Everett Chambers, Esq. is the director of academic support and an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He also manages a part-time probate law practice. Attorney Chambers is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.

Judge William Churchill is currently a United States Administrative Law Judge and a Chief Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Business Administration from St. Edwards University, and a Bachelor of Science from Berea College. He is a certified mediator, certified fraud examiner, and has extensive executive leadership training. Judge Churchill is a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Minorities in the Judiciary.

Cary Lee Cluck, Esq. is the assistant dean for student affairs at the University of Mississippi School of Law. She received her Juris Doctor from the law school, where she was an active member of the Moot Court Board and the Journal of National Security Law. Prior to her current position, she was a judicial clerk for the 10th Chancery Court District in Mississippi.

Adebola O. Coker, Esq. is an associate in the Houston office of Mayer Brown. She is a magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is also a Juris Doctor graduate of Harvard Law School and a Master of Public Administration graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Latoya Colley is a third-year law student attending Texas Tech University School of Law. She serves as an executive board member of the Black Law Student Association - Texas Tech Chapter, Criminal Trial Lawyers Association, Hispanic Law Student Association, and a host of other organizations. Ms. Colley currently serves as the college student director for the Rocky Mountain Region of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA).

Jay B. Cutts, M.A., is the director of the Cutts Graduate Reviews. For the past 17 years, he has helped students nationwide get accepted to law school through personalized LSAT preparation programs that address each student's learning style, the hidden patterns of the test, and testing strategy. Mr. Cutts holds degrees in linguistics and special education with honors and distinction from the University of Michigan and University of New Mexico. He is the creator of LawTrack, a free month by month, four year prelaw planning system that coaches students on how to be thoroughly prepared for a successful law school application. Mr. Cutts is pioneering the use of private and federal grant funds to help colleges with large minority or socio-economically disadvantaged student populations research, develop, and implement programs to help students get accepted to and succeed in law school and other professional programs.

David E. Danner, Esq. is an attorney in solo practice focusing primarily on family law matters and employment law cases. Danner graduated from Tennessee State University with a double concentration Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and management. Attorney Danner received his law degree from Boston College Law School. He has chaired the Legal Redress Committee of the NAACP - Nashville Chapter, and chaired the Advocacy Committee of Reconciliation Ministries, during which time he drafted a bill lobbied by that organization for a Family Bill of Rights which became a Tennessee state statute providing for family visitation rights for inmates. He is also the founder of the Tennessee Black Lawyers Association.

Rita Davis, Esq. joined Hunton & Williams LLP in 2000. She received her J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and her B.A. from Washington and Lee University. During 2000-2001, she was a judicial clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Arnold, Senior Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In her practice, Ms. Davis represented a wide range of clients on issues involving commercial contract disputes, consumer finance, electric utility litigation, personal injury litigation, and appellate advocacy.

Carolyn Dennis is director of admission for Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon. With over nine years of law school admission experience, Dennis oversees all admission and prospective student outreach efforts. She actively participates in multicultural student outreach, law school admission educational panels, and is a member of multiple local and national educational and legal organizations. Prior to law school admission, Dennis’ professional experience includes working as an account manager for a high-tech public relations firm, freelance copywriter, operations office manager; and as an executive administrative assistant in corporate, not for profit, and college settings.

Linda M. Dunson, Esq. is a magna cum laude graduate of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She has a solo practice with a focus in the areas of family law, estate planning, and wills and probate. Ms. Dunson also has a B.S. degree magna cum laude with a double major in psychology and sociology from the University of Houston. Attorney Dunson is currently pursuing her L.L.M in taxation from The University of Houston Law Center. Attorney Dunson has been actively involved in her community by volunteering with numerous efforts. Ms. Dunson is an active member of the State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Standing Committee, and a member of several lawyer organizations. She is the current president of the Houston Lawyers Association, the African American bar association of Houston.

Ronald Edward Dupree, Esq. is the founder and managing member of The Dupree Law Firm, PLLC, and the founder and president of the Dupree Mediation and Arbitration Group. Mr. Dupree is a graduate of The Florida State University, where he obtained both his bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate degrees. While at Florida State, Mr. Dupree was a Virgil Hawkins Fellow, and an intern for Dean Donald J. Weidner. He also clerked for the law firm of Bryant Miller & Olive, P.A. Attorney Dupree received his mediation training at the University of Texas School of Law's Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution. He is the co-chair of the Houston Young Lawyers Association Solo Practitioners' Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Dispute Resolution Center of Harris County.

Remeko T. Edwards, Esq. is a solo practitioner in Dallas, Texas. Her private practice areas include criminal, family, and juvenile law. Attorney Edwards is a graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She currently teaches a Family Law class at Navarro Junior College in Waxahachie, Texas. Prior to receiving her Juris Doctorate, she was a juvenile probation officer with Dallas County Juvenile Probation Department. Upon receiving her license, she was an attorney with the U.S. Government Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Program in Fort Worth, Texas. Attorney Edwards is active in the legal community and a member of the Dallas Black Criminal Bar Association. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Stanley L. Evans, Esq. is the assistant dean for students at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Central Oklahoma, a Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Texas (Tyler), and his Juris Doctor at the University of Oklahoma. Dean Evans retired from the United States Army with almost 32 years of military service, and started law school at the age of 52. Colonel Evans’ final military assignment was as dean of students and administration for the Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After leading a life of civic and community service, and completing a distinguished law school career, he made history by becoming the first African American to hold a law school dean's position in the state of Oklahoma.

Mary A. Ferguson, J.D. serves as the director of the Diversity Services Office at Michigan State University College of Law. In her multi-faceted role, Ms. Ferguson seeks to ensure that prospective and current law students understand the law school's commitment and dedication to diversity. Further, she serves as a liaison between the law college and the legal community on the importance of increasing diversity in the legal profession. Ms. Ferguson earned her B.A. with honors from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law.

Zandra E. Foley, Esq. is an associate in the Casualty and Tort Litigation Section of Thompson, Coe, Cousins and Irons, LLP. Ms. Foley has represented clients in products liability, premises liability, death and injury claims, accidental auto claims, and professional liability. Ms. Foley received a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law in 2001. While at law school, Ms. Foley was Teaching Quiz Master, National Mock Trial Champion, and a member of the Order of Barristers. Ms. Foley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, cum laude, from Texas A&M University in 1998.

Judge Vanessa Diane Gilmore was nominated to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and was at the time she was sworn in, the youngest sitting federal judge in the nation. After being licensed by the State Bar of Texas, Gilmore began a 13-year tenure at a Houston law firm that later became known as Vickery, Kilbride, Gilmore & Vickery, where she specialized in civil litigation. Governor Ann Richards appointed Gilmore to the Texas Department of Commerce Policy Board, where she also served as chairperson. She also served as chairperson for Texans for NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). She currently serves on the board and advisory boards of a number of charitable organizations, and is the recipient of numerous civic awards for community service. She is a graduate of Hampton University and the University of Houston Law Center.

DeMonica D. Gladney, Esq. is currently counsel for Exxon Mobil Corporation, where she has practiced for over 12 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice cum laude from Lamar University. In 1993, she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center. She began her legal career as a briefing attorney for the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, Texas. Ms. Gladney is also an accomplished public speaker, poet, and author.

W. Bernard Goudeau, Esq. is an attorney for BP America Inc. and is responsible for providing legal counsel to the company's North American alternative energy business. Specifically, Mr. Goudeau provides counsel on all matters relating to wind energy transactions. Mr. Goudeau is a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) in 1996. During his law school tenure, Mr. Goudeau was president of the Black Law Students' Association, president of the Corporate Law Society, and served as a student representative on the UHLC Admissions Committee. Mr. Goudeau has worked in private practice and served as in-house counsel to other private and public entities prior to joining BP America Inc. in 2004.

Reginald Green, J.D. has served as assistant dean for career resources at South Texas College of Law for nearly a decade, and has counseled hundreds of law students and graduates on legal career options, networking strategies, resume development, interview preparation, and career management. In his current position, Dean Green supervises all aspects of the Law School Career Resources Center (CRC). Prior to joining career placement, Dean Green worked in law school admissions, where he recruited nationally for South Texas as well as served on the law school's admissions committee. He received his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and a B.A. in English from Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to law school, he worked in a management capacity within large and small retail companies.

Dr. Frank Guliuzza is chairman of the Department of Political Science & Philosophy at Weber State University. Additionally, he serves as the university's due process officer, pre-law advisor, and coach to the school's nationally-ranked intercollegiate mock trial team. Dr. Guliuzza received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wyoming, his Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary, and his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. He is past president of the Western Association of Pre-Law Advisors, and chair of the Pre-Law Advisors National Council.

Russell Harris, Esq. is the diversity initiatives manager for the law firm, Mayer Brown; an office he has held for two and a half years. Mr. Harris has held various administrative positions for Mayer Brown for a total of 15 years. He was awarded a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1983. Currently, Mr. Harris also serves as an advisory board member for Legal Outreach and he is an active member of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals.

Ronda L. Harrison, Esq. is associate director of academic assistance and student counseling at South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. She primarily works with at-risk law students, law students with disabilities, and minority students. Ms. Harrison also conducts programs relating to substance abuse, depression, and stress management. She works on pipeline programs with high school and college students in an effort to increase the number of minority students in higher education institutions. She is the convention chairperson for the National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Attorney Harrison is a member of the American Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, Texas Young Lawyers Association, and Houston Young Lawyers Association. She is also a certified mediator.

Orlesia Hawkins, Esq. is a shareholder of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody. She has practiced in the areas of trial and appellate litigation, and trademark and copyright law. In addition to her license to practice law in Texas, Hawkins is a registered patent attorney with patent prosecution experience in the field of biotechnology and business methods. She also has advised clients on technology licensing issues. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering and earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law. Hawkins is a graduate of Leadership Austin, and a board member of Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas and Reading is FUNdamental. She is also a director of the Texas State Bar’s African-American Lawyers Section, and a member of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Heather Haynes, Esq. is currently an intellectual property and entertainment legal analyst and attorney for Bloomberg Law in New York. Until recently, she was an attorney in the Business and Legal Affairs Department of Interscope Geffen A&M Records in Los Angeles, where she handled recording, production, and license agreements for IGA artists such as 50 Cent, The Neptunes, Avant, Sheryl Crow, and The Pussycat Dolls. Previously, she was senior counsel in the Intellectual Property Department at Fox, handling copyright and trademark issues for all of the Fox companies worldwide. Attorney Haynes has also practiced as a solo practitioner and as an associate at a major law firm. She received her B.A. in political science and ethnic studies at the University of California Berkeley and graduated from UCLA School of Law.

Martin R. Hernandez is currently an account executive with Access Group, a non-profit graduate student loan provider. He has served in the financial aid arena for the last 17 years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a graduate of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Prior to Access Group, he served as the associate director of financial aid at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and as a financial aid counselor at Richland College in Dallas, Texas.

Cassandra Louise Hill, Esq. teaches at UCLA School of Law and owns Prep For Law, a pre-law school education and legal career services consulting company. At UCLA, Professor Hill teaches legal research, writing, and advocacy to first-year law students. Prior to joining UCLA’s faculty, Professor Hill was an associate with Baker Botts L.L.P. and practiced in the areas of tax, ERISA, and employee benefits. Professor Hill also served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Vanessa D. Gilmore, a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Texas. Professor Hill received a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and Spanish from the University of Virginia. She is also a recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Key. She graduated first in her class from Howard University School of Law, where she served as an articles editor for the Howard Law Journal and was a member of the National Moot Court Team.

Dannye Holley, Esq. received his B.A. and J.D. from the State University of New York, Buffalo, and his LL.M. from the University of California, Berkeley. This is his 35th year of law school teaching. He currently teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Advanced Criminal Law and Procedure, and Evidence. He is currently a director of the law school's Center for Excellence, which is devoted to legal pedagogy. His recent publications have focused on culpability standards and evaluations, and the evidence rule standards regulating the admission of convictions to impeach.

Angela L. Jackson, Esq. is a magna cum laude graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and received her J.D. from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. From 2002 to 2006, Attorney Jackson was as an associate at Heard, Robins, Cloud and Lubel, LLP in Houston, Texas, where she worked on commercial cases and large personal injury cases. In March 2006, she established the Jackson Law Firm. The firm handles cases that involve real estate, probate, wills and trusts, business law, and also provides legal services for commercial and residential closings for Esquire Title – Sugar Land. Attorney Jackson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Houston Lawyers Association (the African American bar association), and was selected for the Houston Young Lawyers Association's 2004 Leadership Academy.

Shirley A. Jefferson, Esq. earned her Bachelor of Science in public administration from Southeastern University, and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School. She is the associate dean for student affairs and diversity at Vermont Law School. She is also an adjunct professor and teaches Race and the Law, and Non-Profit Organizations. Dean Jefferson previously served as the director of alumni relations and admissions counselor at the law school. After law school graduation, she worked as legislative assistant to Washington, D.C. Councilmember Wilhelmina J. Rolark, became an associate in Mrs. Rolark's law office, and then was associate counsel and then general counsel to the United Black Fund, Inc.

Cassandra B. Jeter, Esq. is the assistant director of admission & financial aid at Capital University Law School. Ms. Jeter received her Bachelor of Science from Howard University and a Juris Doctor at Capital University Law School, where she earned the Dean's Academic Scholarship. As a law student, she served as a teaching assistant in Torts, a research assistant in Labor and Employment Law, a member of the Labor & Employment Law Moot Court team, and was an active member and leader at the law school and regional levels of the National Black Law Students Association. Additionally, she served as a law clerk for Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, and for the Ohio Attorney General's Office. She is currently pursuing her Master of Laws in business at the law school.

Marcus J. Jones, J.D. is an admissions counselor and 2007 graduate of Roger Williams University School of Law. Mr. Jones earned his B.A. from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he was president of his junior and senior classes. During law school, he participated in the Criminal Defense Clinic, where he represented indigent criminal clients. He also completed his master’s degree in criminal justice joint degree program. He spent his summers with Rhode Island Legal Services working on both environmental justice issues and landlord-tenant disputes.

Regina Bynote Jones, Esq. serves as geomarket counsel – United States with Schlumberger, the largest oilfield services company in the world. Previously, Attorney Jones worked with Dynegy Inc. in various roles in the legal and regulatory function. Most notably, she served as chief of staff for Dynegy’s chairman and CEO, Chuck Watson. Ms. Jones serves on the Board of Directors for the African American Lawyers Section of the Texas State Bar. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for The March of Dimes, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, and serves on the advisory board of Child Advocates, Inc. Attorney Jones received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Sam Houston State University and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

Virginia Keehan, J.D. is the assistant dean and director of admissions at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Prior to joining the admissions office at SMU, Dean Keehan practiced corporate and securities law at the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight. Ms. Keehan graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. She earned her Juris Doctor with honors from SMU, where she was a Hatton W. Summers Scholar, a member of the Order of the Coif, Order of the Barristers, and an articles editor for the International Law Review.

Fareza Khan is the director of admissions at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mrs. Khan earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Boston College. Previously, she was the assistant director for financial aid and the law school admissions coordinator at Boston College Law School. During her time as the assistant director for financial aid at Boston College, Mrs. Khan was awarded the Staffer of the Year Award from the Law Student Association.

Eddie L. Koen Jr. is a joint degree student at Samford University Cumberland School of Law and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He will receive his Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Administration in 2008. While in law school, he served as editor in chief for the Southern Regional Black Law Students Association Law Journal, chief justice of the Honor Court, chair of the Death Penalty Moratorium for the National Black Law Students Association, and a member of Samford’s Values Council. He has earned dean’s list distinctions and the Spirit of Service Award. He is the current national chair for the National Black Law Students Association.

Marcus LeBeouf, Esq. is an associate at Baker Botts in their Houston Office, where he practices corporate law. He earned his B.A. in political science from Morehouse College and his J.D. from the Duke University School of Law. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Association, and the Sports Lawyers Association.

Anitra Abdullah-Levy is a third-year law student at Oklahoma City University School of Law. She attended Texas State University - San Marcos, and then received a Master's in Legal Studies. Ms. Levy was admitted to OCU LAW through a conditional admission program which required that she take and pass two law school courses the summer before she began law school. She passed with flying colors and has been consistently ranked at the top of her law school class and is considered a leader by her classmates. She is the president of the law school's chapter of the Black Law Students Association, the treasurer of the Women Law Students' Association, the treasurer of Phi Delta Phi, has served as a senior law ambassador, and competed in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition. This summer, she was an intern for the Honorable David Lewis of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and aspires to become a judge herself.

Demetra Liggins, Esq. is an associate in Winstead’s Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring Section. Attorney Liggins is a cum laude graduate of Samford University Cumberland School of Law and a cum laude graduate of Christian Brothers University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing. She is currently the chair-elect of the Houston Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section. She has received numerous professional awards and recognitions including the Houston Bar Association President's Award for outstanding service as co-chair of the Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession Committee, and she was named as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by H Texas Magazine in 2004, and a "Texas Rising Star" in the 2005 and 2007 editions of Texas Monthly.

LaTasha Mabry completed her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Iowa State University. As a member of the varsity intercollegiate track and field team, she competed as a Big XII All-Academic Scholar Athlete. During the day, Ms. Mabry currently works full-time as a control systems engineer for Jacobs Engineering Group. Additionally, she is working on her Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center in the evening program. After graduation, she hopes to practice intellectual property law.

Margie L. Martin, Esq. is the director of enrollment management and recruitment at Hofstra University School of Law. Previously, she served as the associate director of admissions and financial aid at New York Law School where she created the Minority Recruitment Program. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York Law School. In law school, she was president of the Black Law Students Association and interned at the Mayor's Office of Labor Relations.

Dayna Bowen Matthew, Esq. joined the University of Colorado faculty in 2003 as an associate professor, teaching Civil Procedure, Evidence, Health Law, and Public Health Law courses. In 2004, she became the Law School's associate dean of academic affairs, and in 2007 was promoted to full professor. Professor Matthew has practiced as a civil litigator both in Kentucky, at the law firm of Greenebaum, Doll and McDonald, and in Virginia, at McGuire Woods, where her work primarily focused on the defense of medical care providers and corporate manufacturers. Professor Matthew graduated with a B.A. in economics from Harvard-Radcliffe and obtained a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Monique A. McCarthy, J.D. is the assistant director of admissions for recruitment with the University of St. Thomas School of Law - Minneapolis. In this position, Ms. McCarthy represents the law school at national and regional undergraduate and graduate school fairs and events, and actively recruits an increasingly talented and diverse group of students who are committed to the school’s unique mission. Before joining UST, Monique was the law admissions recruiter and interim law financial aid administrator at Cleveland State University – Cleveland Marshall College of Law in Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations and communications, and a joint J.D. and Master in Public Administration from Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Reginald McGahee, Esq. is the assistant dean and dean of admissions at Howard University School of Law. He earned dual bachelor's degrees in English and political science at South Carolina State University, and then his Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. While a law student, he served on the Board of Trustees, the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team, and as an executive officer of the Student Bar Association. Prior to joining the admissions office at Howard, Dean McGahee worked in the Business and Legal Affairs Division of GM and for the District of Columbia Council.

Dee McKinney, Esq. is the owner of the Law Office of Dagnee “Dee” McKinney, PLLC. She handles mainly personal injury, criminal, and family law matters. Previously, she was the managing personal injury partner and lead counsel of personal injury lawsuits at the Ogletree Abbott Law Firm. She also worked at Jim S. Adler & Associates, where she served as a personal injury trial attorney and lead counsel. Attorney McKinney graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in legal studies and a Master of Education. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. She has served as the president of the Fort Bend County Young Lawyers Association and a member of the District 4 Subcommittee for the Unauthorized Practice of Law.

BarbaraKaye Miller, Esq. is the dean of admissions at Phoenix School of Law. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was an associate editor of the Iowa Law Review. She was an associate with Fuller & Henry in Toledo, Ohio, and became the first African American assistant prosecutor in Lucas County, Ohio. She went on to clerk for the Honorable John W. Potter of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. She has also been a partner at Wise People Managment, and Ryan, Wise, Miller & Dorner, LLC. Prior to joining the admissions office at Phoenix Law, she was vice president of LegalWATCH, Inc., a preventive law training company headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Derrick M. Mitchell, Esq. is a partner in the Public Law Section of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP. He focuses his practice on general obligation and revenue bonds. He has been recognized as a "Texas Rising Star" in the 2005 and 2006 editions of Texas Monthly, and received the 2004 President's Award from the Houston Young Lawyers Association. Attorney Mitchell currently serves on the Leadership Advisory Council of the United Negro College Fund (Houston), the Houston Chapter's Executive Committee of the National Black MBA Association, the Board of Directors of the Midtown Redevelopment Authority, and is the chair of the Policy Council of the American Heart Association. Mr. Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Houston.

Porter Heath Morgan, Esq. received his B.A in Film and B.B.A. in Marketing from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He graduated with his J.D. from The University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2004. He currently practices in Oklahoma, and is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

“The Trials of Law School,” is his first feature length documentary. Morgan has produced several short documentary productions including “Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal and Oil,” a short documentary about a famous legal case. Morgan has also worked as a legal and marketing consultant on film productions and has produced numerous short productions. He also teaches film to elementary children in film classes and camps.

Jamila Patten attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and graduated with a degree in international health. As a health development volunteer in the Peace Corps, she lived on the island of Saint Lucia and worked in HIV/AIDS programming, treatment education and support. After completing two years of service, she matriculated into the University of Houston Law Center. She is a second-year law student and is the current president of the Black Law Students Association at the law school.

Jason E. Payne, Esq. earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center. He spent the first few years of his legal career with Houston firm Hays, McConn, Rice & Pickering, P.C. While there, he worked in various areas including premises liability, toxic tort, workers’ compensation, and personal injury. Mr. Payne is a member of the Texas State Bar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, American Bar Association, and is a certified attorney ad litem.

George Reff, Jr. is a second-year law student at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He is currently the president of the Black Law Students Association and is involved with that organization on both the local and national levels. Prior to law school, he was a senior human resources consultant with The Methodist Hospital system in Houston, Texas. Mr. Reff continues his active involvement in many professional and service-driven organizations and serves in organizations on campus as well. Mr. Reff is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in psychology. He also holds a master’s degree in health care administration from Houston Baptist University.

Albert Roberts is a second-year law student at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He is currently an active member of the Black Law Students Association, Phi Alpha Delta, and the Moot Court Team. He is currently an associate on the Council on Legal Educational Opportunity (CLEO). Mr. Roberts graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Business Administration. Prior to law school, he worked for General Motors and Jones Lang LaSalle as a maintenance supervisor and property manager, respectively.

Elbert L. Robertson, Esq. is a professor of law at the Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a B.A. from Brown University, an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and his J.D. from Columbia University Law School. He teaches Administrative Law, Antitrust, Business Associations, Corporations, Criminal Law, Jurisprudence, Law & Economics, Legal Method, and Torts. His legal experience has included working as a litigation associate for Jenner & Block in Chicago, Illinois, and as a special antitrust attorney and advisor for the Office of General Counsel (Competition Division) for the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. He has served as an assistant professor of law at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and an assistant professor of law at Boston College Law School.

Jimmy Robinson, Jr., Esq. is vice president and an officer with LeClairRyan, where he specializes in employment litigation, tort defense, and medical malpractice defense. In addition to counseling employers concerning personnel policies and employment discrimination, Mr. Robinson practices before state and federal courts. Prior to joining LeClairRyan in Richmond, Mr. Robinson enjoyed an active trial practice in Roanoke, Virginia. He has experience in conducting arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, and focus groups. He has taken over 15 jury and bench trials to verdict in both state and federal courts in Virginia. Mr. Robinson received his Juris Doctorate from the College of William & Mary and his Bachelor of Arts from Hampton University.

Jason A. Rose, Esq. graduated magna cum laude from Clark-Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice. Mr. Rose earned a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Mr. Rose typically represented the employers as an associate with a specialized labor and employment law firm. He has also been defense trial counsel on behalf of national insurance companies and their policy holders in civil litigation. Mr. Rose currently serves as general counsel to a wastewater management company which provides professional services to municipal utility districts in Texas and Alabama. Mr. Rose is also a member of several prominent Houston area bar associations, and has regularly volunteered his legal services at the NAACP Legal Redress Clinic.

Njeri Mathis Rutledge, Esq. is an assistant professor of law at South Texas College of Law. Her areas of expertise include legal research and writing, criminal law, criminal procedure, employment law, and civil litigation. She received her B.A. magna cum laude from Spelman College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she was a technical editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. Her professional legal experience includes serving as an assistant district attorney with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, an associate attorney with Baker Botts, L.L.P., and as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable John T. Nixon, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. She is a former co-chair of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Houston Bar Association, and a former state representative for the National Black Prosecutors Association. Additionally, she is actively involved in various civic activities.

Tiana J. Sanford is a third-year law student at the University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) in Houston, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Science in political science from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. While attending UHLC, she has been a member of the Associate Board of the Student Bar Association, the Moot Court team, has served as an admissions ambassador, and as tribune for Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity. She was the 2006-2007 president of the UHLC Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and is the 2007-2008 chair of community service. Concurrently, she serves on the executive board of the National Black Law Students Association as the director of membership.

Michael Santana, Esq. is the creator of Legal Writing Prep. Legal Writing Prep is an oline law school preparatory course for entering law students interested in developing the most important skill for law school success: legal writing. Professor Santana has five years law school teaching experience, clerked for the Washington Supreme Court, and practice law for five years in New York City.

Tiffany R. Simmons, Esq. is the legal recruiting administrator for the Richmond office of Hunton & Williams, LLP. In this capacity, Ms. Simmons is responsible for the recruiting and hiring of lateral and entry-level associates. She received her Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL). Upon graduating from law school, Ms. Simmons was offered a position with TMSL as the assistant director of admissions and financial aid, a position which she held for three years. Ms. Simmons is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas and has plans to sit for the Virginia Bar Examination in February 2008.

Tracy L. Simmons, J.D. is the assistant dean for admissions and financial aid at Chapman University School of Law. She received her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law. She received her Master of Arts in education and her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from San Diego State University. Dean Simmons has served as a member of the Admit-M Advisory Committee, the Services and Program Committee for the Law School Admission Council, and is the law chair for the Access Group Advisory Board. Prior to law school, Ms. Simmons was a social worker for an agency in Northern California.

Reginald Skinner, Esq. graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Mr. Skinner spent the summer between college and law school as an intern with the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., where he studied the effects of curriculum tracking on minority students in elementary and secondary schools. He then received his Juris Doctor and Master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. After law school, Mr. Skinner served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Nathaniel Jones of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (retired) and Judge Allyson Duncan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Currently, Mr. Skinner is an associate with Hunton & Williams, where his practice focuses on appellate, commercial, and mass tort litigation.

Claudius Sokenu, Esq. is a partner in the litigation department of the New York office of Mayer Brown. Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Attorney Sokenu was senior counsel at the Security and Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement. He has been honored as outstanding corporate counsel by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and for outstanding pro bono work by the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Mr. Sokenu earned Master of Laws degrees from the London School of Economics and King’s College - London in Corporations, and the Georgetown University Law Center in Securities and Financial Regulation in Washington, DC.

Bryan Snoddy, Esq. is an attorney at Baker Botts in Houston, Texas, where he works on general intellectual property matters, including all phases of litigation, patent preparation, and prosecution. He graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Texas, a law degree cum laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and a Master of Laws from the University of Houston Law Center. Following graduation from law school, Mr. Snoddy served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kenneth Hoyt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Snoddy was commissioned an officer in the United States Air Force by the president of the United States, and is currently in an inactive reserve status after 8 years of honorable service. Attorney Snoddy has earned a number of prestigious awards including the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Officer of the Year, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Shawn D. Stuckey is a third-year law student at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Stuckey is the current co-chair of the legal department for the St. Paul Chapter of the NAACP. He authored a scholarly article which is published in UCLA's Law Review and has been honored by the Minnesota Women Lawyers as the recipient of their 2007 Equal Justice Award. He also holds the position of circulation editor for The Midwest Regional BLSA Law Journal. Mr. Stuckey is a retired NFL player, having played for such teams as the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He attended Vanderbilt University and Troy University for his undergraduate degree and worked on his M.B.A. at The Citadel.

Courtney Devon Taylor is a third-year student at Emory University School of Law. She is interested in international litigation and fashion law. Upon graduation, she will work as a litigation associate at a New York law firm. Courtney serves on the Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association as the national director of the College Student Division. Her responsibilities include assisting pre-law undergraduate students obtain information about law school and the law school application process. Courtney received her Bachelor of Arts in government from Wesleyan University.

Nydia D. Thomas, Esq. is deputy general counsel for the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. She serves as agency counsel in the areas of juvenile law, administrative law, contracts, legislative analysis, and ethics. Ms. Thomas is a professional trainer and lecturer on juvenile law as well as a recurring faculty member for the Texas Justice Court Training Center, the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, and the Texas Association of Counties. Prior to joining the Commission, she was in private practice in suburban Houston, and coordinated a delinquency prevention program for the Liberty County Juvenile Probation Department. The former councilmember and mayor-pro tem of Cleveland, Texas has received both gubernatorial and attorney general appointments. Attorney Thomas is a graduate of Howard University School of Law.

Walter L. Thompson III is currently a third-year law student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he also received a Bachelor of Arts in management in 2002. Mr. Thompson spent this past summer as a summer associate in the Richmond office of Hunton & Williams, LLP. Additionally, he served as a law clerk for Gary, Williams, Parenti, Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando, P.L., in Stuart, Florida. Upon receiving his juris doctorate, Mr. Thompson plans to pursue a career in litigation.

Julie Tigges, J.D. is the director of admissions at the University of Minnesota Law School. She graduated with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, where she was a note & comment editor of the Iowa Law Review. She clerked with the Honorable Myron H. Bright and the Honorable James B. Loken on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced law in Washington D.C. After leaving private practice, Ms. Tigges worked part-time in academia and small business while raising her children, before returning to full-time higher education administration.

Donna R. Tomlinson, Esq. is an associate with the law firm of Bracewell and Giuliani in Houston, Texas. Her practice focuses on a variety of general business, governance, securities, financing, and merger and acquisition matters for private and public business entities. Attorney Tomlinson earned her Bachelor of Business Administration cum laude from Prairie View A&M University, a Juris Doctor cum laude from South Texas College of Law, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and co-chairs the Minority Affairs and the Aspiring Youth Program Committees of the Houston Young Lawyers Association.

Andrea E. Tran, Esq. is a partner with Pramudji Wendt & Tran, LLP, where her practice primarily focuses on preparation and prosecution of patent applications. Attorney Tran is the chair of the State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section, the immediate past president of the Asian American Bar Association of Houston, and a co-chair of the Houston Young Lawyers Association Minority Affairs Committee. She was named a “Best Lawyer Under 40” in 2006 by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and a Texas SuperLawyer "Rising Star" in 2007 by Texas Monthly Magazine. Attorney Tran received her Bachelor of Science from Trinity University and Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center.

Judge April J. Walker is an associate judge for The City of Houston. She is also an assistant professor at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She has taught at the law school since 1990. Prior to her academic career, she practiced law at Jeru and Associates, served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Texas, and an attorney and counselor at law at Boston and Thornton. Her research and teaching interests include legal research and writing, appellate litigation and lawyering process, property law, real estate transactions, and criminal trial practice. She is a member of the Black Women’s Lawyers’ Association. She earned her B.A. from Michigan State University and her J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Judge Meca Walker is an associate judge with the 309th District Court. She received her B.A. degree in English from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. Thereafter, Judge Walker attended Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where she served as senior editor of the Howard Law Journal. Ms. Walker founded The Law Office of Meca L. Walker in January 2000 and merged her practice with the Law Office of Tonya L. Waller in 2003, thereby establishing Walker & Waller, PLLC. She managed the Houston office which focused in the area of family law.

Barron F. Wallace, Esq. is a partner at Vinson & Elkins in Houston, Texas. He has 16 years of legal experience and his principal areas of practice include public finance, urban infrastructure development, state legislative matters and public/private partnerships. He has significant public law and municipal finance experience in various areas. As a result of his work, he has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as a leader in public finance law in 2006 and 2007; by Texas Monthly as one of its "Texas Rising Stars" in 2004; and by Black Enterprise as "One of America's Top Black Lawyers" in 2003. Attorney Wallace earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Nick Wallace, Esq. is the associate director of admissions for the University of Minnesota Law School. He received his B.A. in political science, Asian studies and religion from St. Olaf College in 2002 and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2005. Nick also received a Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, where he was a MacArthur Fellow.

Toni M. Wallace, Esq. is an associate at Spain Hastings Ward Carey & Chambers, where she concentrates her practice on matters concerning real estate, general civil litigation, and toxic torts. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. At South Texas, she earned the T. Gerald Treece Heart of an Advocate Award, and was a finalist and won the Best Brief Award at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s 53rd Annual National Moot Court Competition. She serves on the Alumni Board of Directors for South Texas College of Law.

Pierre T. Williams, Esq. is an attorney practicing in Austin, Texas. He is the owner of the Law Office of Pierre T. Williams. Attorney Williams serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the African American Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Patricia A. Wilson, Esq. is a professor of law at Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. Prior to joining the faculty, she practiced law for seven years, including four at American Airlines, Inc., and as a litigation associate for two prominent law firms. Professor Wilson earned her Bachelor of Arts with distinction from Purdue University and her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was named as a Wigmore Scholar. Professor Wilson teaches primarily Employment Discrimination, Employment Relations, and Family Law. She also coaches the Baylor Client Counseling team. She is a trained mediator, and is actively involved in the community where she serves on the boards of several local nonprofit organizations.

Lauren E. Winters, Esq. is a visiting professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. She was in private practice for 11 years at two large Portland, Oregon law firms, where she specialized in federal and state business and commercial litigation, and she also advised and represented clients on employment-related issues. She is a cum laude graduate of Gonzaga University School of Law, and a graduate of Willamette University. She teaches Legal Research and Writing, and Civil Rights Law.

Yasmin Yavar, Esq. is an associate in the Houston office of Mayer Brown. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Plan II) and a Bachelor of Journalism in broadcast journalism, both with high honors, from the University of Texas. She also earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.

Victor W. Zhao, Esq. is an associate with Mayer Brown. He received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in biomedical and electrical engineering from Duke University. He also earned his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Chicago Law School.