Shirley A. Jefferson, Esq.

Associate Dean for Students Affairs & Diversity and Associate Professor of Law
Vermont Law School
(South Royalton, Vermont)

Shirley Jefferson joined Vermont Law School in 1999. She served initially as a special assistant to Admissions and later as director of Alumni Affairs. She is now associate dean for Student Affairs and Diversity and an adjunct professor who teaches Race in the Law. As associate dean, she serves as the law school’s senior student affairs officer. She reports to the dean/president on fostering and advancing a strategic and integrated approach to student affairs. She also is responsible for advising and mentoring the Student Bar Association and 60 other student organizations as they develop leadership abilities and practice life skills, self-governance and organizational management, and student activities. She serves as a member of the president’s/dean’s administrative cabinet, creating a unique environment for manifesting a commitment to cultural diversity, promoting school-wide diversity goals and initiatives, and highlighting the value of diversity throughout VLS as it relates to the school’s diversity plan.

Prior to joining VLS, Dean Jefferson served as general counsel for the United Black Fund, Inc., associate counsel in the law office of Wilhelmina J. Rolark, and a legislative assistant on the Committee on Judiciary to Council Member Wilhelmina J. Rolark. While attending VLS, Dean Jefferson received the Alumni Association Award and was a Debevoise Family Scholarship recipient. She also founded the Minority Student Group at VLS. She graduated summa cum laude from Southeastern University and was named to the dean’s list.