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Michelle Alexandre Is The New Dean At Stetson Law School
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
She is not scheduled to begin the job until June 17, but Michelle Alexandre, Esq., al- ready is settling into her new role as Dean of Stetson University’s Law School.
Last week, she visited Tallahassee and tonight (MAY 7) she’ll be feted at a special re- ception by the local law community at Stet- son’s Tampa Law Center. More visits around the state are planned through the next month.
Alexandre – who was an Associate Dean at the University of Mississippi’s School of Law – is the first African-American to hold the esteemed position following a nationwide search.
Accepting the job was an easy decision, Alexandre said.
“Stetson and I were destined to work to- gether,” she said. “(Stetson’s) vision and my vision are aligned.”
Alexandre’s familiarity with Stetson, however, began years ago before ever stepping foot on campus. She often would encounter Stetson students and graduates while attend- ing legal conferences.
It was in those instances Alexandre said she would learn about “the good work Stetson was doing.”
When she began the interview process for the dean’s position, Alexandre said much of what she knew in passing about Stetson was confirmed.
The school’s curriculum, environment, and engagement are all designed with students at the center, Alexandre said.
“I was thrilled to see that the focus on stu- dents was genuine,” she said. “That was unwa- vering.”
Alexandre said she looks forward to con- tinuing that tradition, with an added focus on student wellness and mentorship.
“They want to know a law school can have the diversity of interests they have,” she said. “All students need to be well-rounded people so they can pick careers that are fulfilling to them.”
A renowned civil rights scholar, Alexan- dre said she’s built her career on pursuing work about which she’s passionate.
“All I wanted to do when I went to law school is to make change,” she said. “And make sure the systems we are creating are sus- tainable.”
Born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn, Alexandre credits her parents for teaching her lessons about justice and fighting for equality.
“I stand on the shoulders of Blacks who struggled to get to another country to make it
MICHELLE ALEXANDRE, Esq. ...Dean of Stetson Law School
better for the next generation,” she said. After graduating from Colgate University – where she also was the first Black Valedicto- rian – she headed to Harvard to study law. After obtaining her degree, Alexandre prac- ticed law for a short time before diving into ac-
ademia.
She taught at the University of Houston,
the University of Baltimore, American Univer- sity and the University of Memphis before landing in 2008 at the University of Missis- sippi as an associate professor.
At Mississippi, Alexandre has racked up several achievements including the Ben A. Hardy Faculty Excellence Award for outstand- ing teaching, scholarship and service and se- lection as an SEC-U Academic Leadership Development Program Fellow for 2017-2018.
Alexandre also was named in 2013 one of Ebony Magazine’s Top 100 influential African Americans and one of the 50 “Most Influential Minority Law Professors 50 Years of Age or Younger” by Lawyers of Color Magazine.
Alexandre said she’s looking forward to becoming part of the fabric of the Stetson community. That means establishing connec- tions and looking for opportunities for collab- orations and partnerships.
“What has been so fulfilling to me has been my connections to community,” she said. “That’s how I’m wired.”
The visits around the Tampa Bay area will be a good start to building those community ties, Alexandre said.
“The purpose is to get to know each other and how to best serve the community we are charged with serving,” she said. “There’s so much good work we can do here.”
Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Welcome A Baby Boy, The Couple's First Child
The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry attend an event at West- minster Abbey in London in March.
LONDON — The former Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday— her first child with Prince Harry.
The duchess went into labor early Monday morning with Harry at her side, the palace announced on Monday afternoon local time.
Harry was with his wife when she gave birth. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.
"It was amazing," Harry said. "As every father and par- ent will ever say your baby is absolutely amazing... I’m just over the moon."
The child will be seventh in line to the throne, follow- ing Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince Harry.
The baby is Queen Eliz- abeth II's eighth great- grandchild.
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