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ALUMNI COMMUNITY Our alumni network spreads throughout the country, with successful graduates working in an astonishing number of fields, business sectors, concentrations, firms and industries. This network of success is just one of the tools given to Memphis Law students and graduates. We’ve been successfully training new attorneys for over 50 years, and we’re excited to help you on your road to future legal success with the help of our alumni community along the way.

Rep. Steve Cohen (JD ’73) U.S. Congressman, Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District

The Hon. Bernice Donald

(JD ’79) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

The Hon. Holly M. Kirby

(JD ’82) Associate Justice, Tennessee Supreme Court Caroline Hunter (JD ’00) Vice Chairwoman, Federal Election Commission

Terrence Reed (JD ’00) Managing Director of Employment Litigation at FedEx Corporation Amber Floyd (JD ’10) Senior Associate, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

The Hon. Kathleen Gomes

(JD ’80) Judge, Division 1, Shelby County Probate Court Lawson Baker (JD ’10) Founder, RelayZero

ALUMNI PROFILE | JUDGE DIANE VESCOVO (JD ’80)

Chief United States Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Tennessee

A person’s flesh and blood relatives may make up their closest family, but for Judge Diane Vescovo, Chief United States Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, her ties to the University of Memphis School of Law are almost as strong. Her support and dedication to the law school, as well as the greater University of Memphis, has helped the law school evolve into the jewel that it is today.

She’s been involved with the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter since 2000, where she’s served as president and in many other esteemed roles such as a member of the Law School Dean Selection Committee, the ABA Accreditation Committee and the Law School Grand Opening Gala Committee (as co-chair). She’s also served as a member of the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, the Tiger Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and the National “Our law school serves the entire city and as it thrives and does well, so does the city,” says Vescovo of her belief in the benefits of the University having a thriving law school.

She’s often found herself in a position to help define the future of the University of Memphis School of Law, but Vescovo also has been an integral part in getting the law school to where it is today, literally. Board of Directors for the UofM Alumni Association.

She notes that three of her proudest accomplishments have been her role in the law school moving downtown to its new home in the beautifully restored historic building at 1 North Front Street; her part in conceptualizing and implementing what is now the Pillars of Excellence Awards Dinner; and cochairing the committee that oversaw the Grand Opening Gala of the building itself, which was in most Memphians’ opinions the event of the year in 2010.