Shirley A Jefferson, vice president for community engagement and government affairs at Vermont Law and Graduate School, was honored with an HBCU Pre-Law Lifetime Advocacy Award at the National HBCU Pre-Law Summit. She also moderated a panel during the summit, held Sept 16-17 in Washington, DC.
“This honor is well-earned,” VLGS President Rod Smolla said. “I have called Shirley the heart and soul of our school, and I mean it. Her energy and passion are infectious, and we are so lucky to have her as part of our community.”
Since graduating from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 1986, Jefferson, born in Selma, AL, has served as a practicing attorney, including as general counsel for the United Black Fund. She returned to VLGS in 1999 as special assistant to the admissions department, and later as director of alumni affairs. A law professor and longtime associate dean for student affairs and diversity, Jefferson was named to her vice president position earlier this year.
Jefferson has been the recipient of a number of awards, including from the Women’s Law Group, Vermont Law School Black Law Students Association, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, and the Student Bar Association.