Leadership at UC College of Law strives for a more inclusive future

Mina Jones Jefferson serves as chief of staff, associate dean, and director of the Center for Professional Development. Jefferson, an alumna, joined the College of Law in 1999 after working as a hiring partner partner at a National Law Journal Top-250 law firm. In fact, she is one of the few law school career services professionals in the country who has been on both sides of the table. Jefferson practiced commercial litigation for nine years and was one of the first African American women in the region elected to the partnership of a large firm.

“Diversity in leadership matters, because the more perspectives around the table on an issue, the better the outcome,” said Jefferson, “historically, institutional structures were designed by one group, to benefit that one group. Those structures can limit the inclusion of a variety of perspectives.”

Jefferson’s experience rising through the ranks to become hiring partner helps her advise students on planning their own careers.

“For the majority of my time in private practice and in the ‘big law’ setting, I was the only person who looked like me. That’s a daunting experience in a place where opportunities flow from relationships,” said Jefferson. “In addition to meeting the daily demands of the job, I had this additional reality of having to strategize and build consensus around me.”

As a hiring partner, Jefferson saw new lawyers succeed or fail not based on academic prowess, but ability to navigate the profession. She sees soft skills as essential to long-term career success. The Center for Professional Development holds planning meetings designed to mimic the performance evaluations that occur in the workplace. Through these meetings, law students learn to periodically assess where they are in their career and make adjustments when necessary.

“To succeed as a lawyer, you need to be very strategic about your career and how you are building it. This is particularly true as a person of color—you can’t expect anyone to do it for you,” said Jefferson.

Cassandra Jeter-Bailey serves as assistant dean for Admissions. Jeter-Bailey earned her Master of Laws and Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School and her undergraduate degree from Howard University. She has over 15 years of experience in higher education and was Director of Admissions at Capital University Law School prior to joining the UC College of Law. Jeter-Bailey is both the first African American and first woman to be Assistant Dean for Admissions here.

“Our leadership team reflects the values of our institution, and makes a statement to the world about who we are,” said Jeter-Bailey. “Diversity is not just something we talk about, it’s something we’re actively focused on, something that we live.”

Staci Rucker, assistant dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Diversity, is an experienced leader in higher education. Previously, she was Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Dayton School of Law, where she was the visionary behind the development of Dayton's learning communities, dean's fellows, and academic advising programs. Rucker began her career working at law firms in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta before joining the ranks of academic administration. In addition to her work at Cincinnati Law, Rucker serves on the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals.

“It can be important to have representation of minorities in leadership teams. But representation without action is meaningless. If you are bringing truly different perspectives and ideas, and those are being valued, that’s important,” said Rucker.

After graduating from Howard University, Rucker went to Harvard for law school. She found that expectations were not always communicated clearly. Students were expected to just “know” that, for example, the property law exam would be multiple choice. Later in her career, Rucker wanted to demystify law school for students. Her first opportunity came as Director of Academic Support at North Carolina Central University School of Law. In the past 15 years, the legal academic field has moved towards more transparency; discussing exams, giving feedback throughout the semester, and providing more academic support in general.

“I realized that there was an opportunity to help law students, that’s what attracts me to this work,” said Rucker, ”I get to meet with them and engage one-on-one, and also have an opportunity to make systemic change.”

Rucker believes shared growth, inclusion, and understanding are important goals for a law school concerned with diversity.  “It’s not just the numbers, it’s what kind of learning happens. Let’s have those hard discussions and have them in a respectful and meaningful way such that we educate and learn from each other. There’s lots of opportunity to do that here and it’s something that I am very hopeful for. My goal is for no student to come out of the law school experience the same as they were. You will have exposure to different ideas and different backgrounds—because people and their experiences are really what make up the law.”

Sherry English serves as director of College Relations and Communications. English originally came to UC as an undergraduate student to become a teacher (an English teacher, in fact!) but changed course upon discovering a passion for public relations.

“I think diversity means being open to the differences in thought, opinion, gender, race, and sexuality across the board. You may not always agree with somebody, but it is important to be open to their experience and perspective.  Openness will inform whatever you do,” said English.

Verna Williams is the dean and Nippert Professor of Law at the College of Law, appointed in 2019 after serving as interim dean for two years. Williams had no intention of pursuing a law degree until well after graduating from Georgetown University. Later, she decided that a graduate degree would be necessary and that a law degree would be the most flexible and provide the most opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Williams attended Harvard Law School, which had a relatively diverse student body but an almost exclusively white male faculty. “Lots of students felt intimidated by the place, that they were accepted by mistake and couldn’t just go talk to a professor,” said Williams. “It was just the kind of place Harvard was back then.”

Williams fondly remembers some professors, such as Christopher Edley, who engaged with students and helped them feel that they fit in.  Today, she prioritizes that kind of engagement at UC Law.

“All of us on the faculty have been where the students are. I remember, really well, feeling completely out of place, like I didn’t know what was going on, even overwhelmed at times,” said Williams. “That’s why I’m happy to talk to students and be accessible to them.
I’m familiar with the struggles, I know what it feels like not to get the job you wanted. It’s hard, when you’re starting out, to take the long view of your career and realize that one false move is not going to end your career. No matter how devastating it seems, you’ll most likely get through it. So I’m glad to be here and serve in that capacity. And I like doing it, I really do.”

Williams believes that having a diverse profession is important because the country’s population is incredibly diverse, and becoming more so. “Law is fundamental to our society. What could be more important than making sure that the legal profession reflects our society?”, asked Williams.