Honoring Black Alumni

The United States celebrates the achievements of African Americans in February. The law school celebrates and thanks those who have contributed to the fabric of our school and the legal profession through the years too. Meet a representative few:

Patricia Donkor (‘07)

Patricia Donkor (‘07) was named as a Top 40 Under 40 by the National Bar Association in 2017, Patricia is a top-notch employment and labor law defense litigator with Littler.

Kimberly Fedinatz (‘09)

Kimberly Fedinatz (‘09) is Assistant Counsel to the United States Navy, specializing in environmental litigation, compliance and remediation, as well as estate.

Kyle Hayes (‘13)

Kyle Hayes (‘13) began law practice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, went to Con Edison, and then onto Eversheds Sutherland in New York, where he now specializes in Renewable Project Finance & Development/Mergers & Acquisitions.

Keith Minson (‘15)

Keith Minson (‘15) served as a U.S. Capitol police officer before and during law school. Now Keith practices in the Complex Commercial Litigation Department of McGuireWoods.

David Clark (‘15)

David Clark (‘15) worked first as an Assistant Public Defender and then as Criminal Defense Attorney in private practice. David is now a successful Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor in Philadelphia, PA.

Terrica Carrington (‘16)

Terrica Carrington (‘16) is the VP, Legal Policy and Copyright Counsel at the Copyright Alliance in Washington, D.C. In her spare time, Terrica serves as Attorney Advisor to students in the law school’s Arts & Entertainment Clinic.

Angela London (‘18)

Angela London (‘18) clerked for the Honorable Stephen Smith of the 13th Judicial Circuit in Virginia after graduation. Angela is now an Associate for Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, PC in Fairfax, VA.

Chidi James (’01)

Chidi James (‘01) was recipient of the 2019 Dean’s Medal for Alumni Excellence in Pro Bono Legal Services. Chidi is a highly successful litigator and principal with Blankenship Keith in Fairfax, Virginia.

Marcia Kay Thompson (‘98 )

Marcia Kay Thompson (‘98) was recently appointed Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for Jenson Hughes, a global safety, security and risk-based engineering company; she works in Chicago. Marcia has over 25 years of extensive experience working with corporate, municipalities, not for profits, and federal agencies to increase inclusion, equity, and diversity initiatives enterprise wide.

Turkessa Rollins (’01)

Turkessa Rollins (‘01) who attended law school part-time while carrying her daughter, was appointed to serve as judge on the General District Court of the 31st Judicial District serving Prince William County and surrounding jurisdictions in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a substitute judge for seven (7) years and was a Partner with the law firm of Fullerton & Knowles, P.C.

Kellie Budd (’05)

Kellie Budd (‘05) a partner at Mahdavi, Doumar, Budd & Levine, recently received a “Trailblazer Award” from the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the Women Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association.

Melissa Long (’95)

Melissa Long (‘95) was recently sworn in as Rhode Island’s first black Supreme Court Justice.

Rex Flynn (‘08)

Rex Flynn (‘08) is a criminal defense attorney and has received multiple recognitions, including most recently being named by Va Lawyers Weekly as a 2020 Leader in Law. Rex is currently serving as president of both the Arlington Bar and NOVABAA.

Victoria Walker (‘14)

Victoria Walker (‘14) is Associate Counsel for the VA Board of Veterans Appeals, serves the school as an Adjunct Professor, and was recently named to Va Lawyers Weekly 2020 Up & Coming Lawyers List.

Darrell Jackson (’90)

Darrell Jackson (‘90) founded the law school’s Civil Rights Law Journal, and now holds the title of Professor of Law and Faculty Director of the Prosecution Assistance Program at the University of Wyoming College of Law. DJ also serves as an Adjunct Professor in African American & Diaspora Studies. His research interests surround supporting historically marginalized communities.