President, Lucille A. Blackburn: president@gwacbar.org

President- Elect, Ariel Woodard-Stephens: presidentelect@gwacbar.org

Immediate Past President, Patricia-Joy Walker

Patricia-Joy Mpasi received her J.D. from William and Mary Law School. After that, she received her LL.M, from the Washington College of Law. She holds a B.A. from the University of Maryland. She is licensed to practice in Maryland and D.C.

Patricia-Joy has a passion for assisting disadvantaged people in the community. She is enthusiastic about protecting children who are abused and neglected. She previously clerked for the Honorable Charles B. Day, in the United States District Court for the District Court of Maryland. Before her clerkship, she served as an Assistant Attorney General, in the Child Protection Section, Family Services Division, for the Attorney General’s Office in Washington D.C. She represented the Child and Family Services Agency, in litigation proceedings involving child abuse and neglect cases. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, she worked at Maryland Legal Aid, where she advocated for children who were abused or neglected, who had developmental disabilities, or who had behavioral issues. Patricia-Joy also worked for a social security disability law firm, where she represented claimants with physical and mental disabilities at the appellate level. She successfully advocated for claimants who were previously denied social security disability benefits.

Treasurer, Jeanine Howard: info@gwacbar.org

Jeanine Howard, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, is a graduate of Temple University and Widener University – Delaware Law School. After graduating from Widener in 2014, Jeanine worked as a prosecutor at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for three years. At the Philly DA’s Office, Jeanine prosecuted a vast variety of crimes – from misdemeanor trials and juvenile offenders to felony bench and jury trials. In 2018, Jeanine moved to Washington, DC where she was a Staff Attorney for the National District Attorneys Association where she provides resources and training to prosecutors nationwide. Currently, Jeanine works as an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia where she continues to prosecute an array of crimes in the city. Jeanine has been heavily involved in the legal community since moving to the District, serving as the Raising the Bar Chair for the Washington Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division (WBA-YLD) from 2019-2021, the 2019-2020 Vice President for the then newly formed DC Chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association and the 2020-2021 Eastern Regional Director for the National Black Prosecutors Association. Additionally, Jeanine was recognized as one of the 2019-2020 recipients of the WBA-YLD’s Chair’s Legacy Award and was also one of the 2020-2021 recipients of the WBA-YLD’s Kim Keenan Advocacy and Leadership Award. In her spare time, Jeanine enjoys volunteering in the DC community serving as a mentor for two local organizations and leading a ministry team at her church

Corresponding Secretary, Natalie Laroche: info@gwacbar.org

Recording Secretary, Afiya Johnson

Judicial Liaison, The Honorable Tanya Jones Bosier

Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier was appointed magistrate judge by Chief Judge Robert E. Morin in January 2017.  She has presided in the Civil, Domestic Violence, and Probate Divisions and Family Court. She serves on several judicial committees.

Before joining the Superior Court bench, Judge Jones Bosier served as an Assistant General Counsel for DC Courts, where she handled complex employee relations matters.  Prior to her employment with DC Courts, she worked as an Assistant General Counsel, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney Advisor, and Section Chief for the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG). While at OAG, Judge Jones Bosier gained extensive experience in administrative, child abuse and neglect, child support, domestic relations, domestic violence, public benefits, and procurement law, as well as in intervention proceedings. Judge Jones Bosier was instrumental in the growth of the Fathering Court Initiative and the formation of the Name Change Calendar, both within the Family Court. 

Judge Jones Bosier is committed to service and volunteers in various capacities within the legal and local community. Judge Jones Bosier has garnered a host of awards, scholarships, and recognitions for her service to the local community. Most recently, she received the 2018 American University Washington College of Law Hairston Alumni Award in recognition of her accomplishments in the field of law and commitment to the law school and the 2014-2015 Adjunct Professor of the Year for her dedication and service to law students.  Judge Jones Bosier continues to serve as an adjunct professor in the WCL externship program and to mentor young lawyers and students.

Law Firm and Corporate Counsel Chair, Vacant: info@gwacbar.org

Judicial and Executive Appointments Chair, Vacant: info@gwacbar.org

Community Outreach Chair, Daraja Caroll: info@gwacbar.org

Daraja Carroll is a Bay Area, California native and graduate of American University Washington College of Law. Since graduating from law school and receiving the 2021 GWAC Barbara E. Whiting-Wright Bar Assistance Award, Daraja has been committed to serving local DC residents through her work as a legal services attorney and now as a court-appointed criminal defense attorney. In addition to her criminal defense practice, Daraja regularly accepts appointments to civil matters through the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. Accordingly, Daraja was recently placed on the 2025 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll where she received recognition from the Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for providing 50 hours or more of pro bono service in the DC area. Outside of her pro bono and legal practice, Daraja is heavily involved with the DC Bar generally, currently serving as a member of the DC Bar Foundation Young Lawyers Network Leadership Council and the DC Bar’s Innovations in Legal Practice Committee. Outside of the law, Daraja has begun archiving materials providing context to her ancestors’ lived experiences and she has traced her genealogy back to 1880 U.S. Census.

Membership Chair, Ebony J. Govan: info@gwacbar.org

Historian, Vacant: info@gwabar.org

Charlotte E. Ray Awards Chair, Jeanine Howard: charlotteeray@gwacbar.org

Jeanine Howard, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, is a graduate of Temple University and Widener University – Delaware Law School. After graduating from Widener in 2014, Jeanine worked as a prosecutor at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for three years. At the Philly DA’s Office, Jeanine prosecuted a vast variety of crimes – from misdemeanor trials and juvenile offenders to felony bench and jury trials. In 2018, Jeanine moved to Washington, DC where she was a Staff Attorney for the National District Attorneys Association where she provides resources and training to prosecutors nationwide. Currently, Jeanine works as an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia where she continues to prosecute an array of crimes in the city. Jeanine has been heavily involved in the legal community since moving to the District, serving as the Raising the Bar Chair for the Washington Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division (WBA-YLD) from 2019-2021, the 2019-2020 Vice President for the then newly formed DC Chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association and the 2020-2021 Eastern Regional Director for the National Black Prosecutors Association. Additionally, Jeanine was recognized as one of the 2019-2020 recipients of the WBA-YLD’s Chair’s Legacy Award and was also one of the 2020-2021 recipients of the WBA-YLD’s Kim Keenan Advocacy and Leadership Award. In her spare time, Jeanine enjoys volunteering in the DC community serving as a mentor for two local organizations and leading a ministry team at her church.

Law Student Affairs Chair, Erica Joy Richardson: info@gwacbar.org

Dinner Series Chair, Ariel Woodard-Stephens: presidentelect@gwacbar.org

Social Media Chair, Sheryl Osakue: info@gwacbar.org