President, Tracey G. Jackson, PhD, JD: president@gwacbar.org

 Dr. Tracey G. Jackson grew up in a military family. She received her BA and MA degrees in Political Science from Fayetteville State University. Dr. Jackson graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration and a concentration in Social Welfare Policy. Additionally, she earned a JD from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law) in 2018 and served as the Student Bar President.

Dr. Jackson is a Supervisory Hearing Examiner for the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles in the Adjudication Division. Before this position, Dr. Jackson held positions in the legislative branch of the District of Columbia. She was the Committee Director for the Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs. In that position, she managed legislation referred to the committee, conducted agency performance and budget oversight, and analyzed District agencies' budgets under the committee’s purview.

Additionally, Dr. Jackson is the President of Limitless Growth Solutions Corp. and the owner of SEADS2Grow Publishing LLC, Affiliate member for Cannaglobe, and Jackson’s Jewels. Limitless Growth Solutions Corp provides executive coaching and consultation to assist individuals and companies in reaching their goals by tailoring the U-Centric Model to the client and providing tailored solutions to meet their needs.

President- Elect, Patricia-Joy Mpasi: presidentelect@gwacbar.org

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

Immediate Past President, Keela Seales

Treasurer, Dr. SaFiya Gales

Corresponding Secretary, Natalie Laroche: info@gwacbar.org

Recording Secretary, Laura Goodson

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.

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

Judicial and Executive Appointments Chair, Dr. SaFiya Gales: info@gwacbar.org

Zenia Laws

Community Outreach Chair, Knia Tanner and Zenia Laws: info@gwacbar.org

Zenia Wilson Laws currently serves as Special Counsel in the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General's Public Advocacy Division, working with community members and stakeholders to address nuisance issues. Previously, she was a Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Aid DC, assisting low-income consumers with debt collection, foreclosure, and bankruptcy cases. Prior to that, she was a Community Lawyer in Maryland, providing community-based legal assistance to returning citizens and jobseekers facing legal barriers to employment.

Zenia earned her B.A., summa cum laude, from Morgan State University, and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she was a Fannie Angelos Scholar and law clerk for the NAACP. After law school, she volunteered with AmeriCorps VISTA, focusing on fair housing and outreach to underrepresented communities. 

Membership Chair, Shahidah Williams: info@gwacbar.org

Employment and Professional Development Chair, Robin Earnest: info@gwabar.org

After working as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Robin started the appellate practice of Earnest Attorney at Law, LLC. Through this practice, Robin represents indigent appellants assigned by appointment from the Criminal Justice Act panels for the Fourth and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeal, as well as the D.C. Court of Appeals.  As a passionate promoter of minority representation in appellate law, Robin’s 2023 Washington Lawyer article discusses how area appellate practices might reduce the existing gender-minority gap.    

Robin also serves as Chair of the Steering Committee for the D.C. Bar’s Criminal Law and Individual Rights Community, and as a member of the Committee on Admissions for the D.C. Court of Appeals. She is a 2023 recipient of the Lawyers of Distinction award for excellence in appellate law; and a 2022 nominee for the NBA WLD’s Outstanding Woman Lawyer In a Solo/Small Firm Practice award. 

Robin received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and her LL.M. (in Environmental Law) from The George Washington University Law School. Robin is licensed to practice in Maryland, D.C., and N.C. (vol. inactive). 

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, Lucille Blackburn: info@gwacbar.org

Dinner Series Chair, 

Program Planning Chair, Yvonne Harris Burnley

Yvonne Harris Burnley is currently General Counsel for her family- owned music publishing company, Seventh House Ltd., launched by her father, Eddie Harris. Mrs. Burnley’s father is the late Jazz Saxophonist Eddie Harris, and she actively oversees the management of his legal affairs and his intellectual property rights. Mrs. Harris Burnley oversees the review of mechanical and synchronization licenses for the usage of Eddie’s music in film and television. She manages and monitors copyrights and royalty distributions for songwriters affiliated with Eddie’s  works. Mrs. Harris Burnley is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and a graduate of Howard University School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Mrs. Harris Burnley has also handled matters in the areas of probate, antitrust, insurance defense and bankruptcy law matters.