Ex-United Black Fund Counsel Is New Asst. Dean At Vermont Law School

Jet, Oct 29, 2001

A Black woman lawyer who once served as counsel for the United Black Fund (UBF) in the nation's capital was named interim assistant dean for student affairs at the Vermont Law School.

Shirley Jefferson, a native of Selma, AL, graduated from D.C.'s Southeastern University and then decided to go north to attend the Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vermont.

Jefferson earned a J.D. degree and returned to Washington to serve as a legislative assistant to Councilwoman Wilhelmina J. Rolark. After becoming an associate in the Rolark law firm, she became a UBF associate counsel, helping organize activities in some 30 communities for the non-profit, grant-making group.

She rejoined the Vermont school in 1999 as the school's director of alumni relations. As an assistant dean, she will provide leadership and guidance for individual students and student organizations as well as chair the law school's diversity committee.