Mission

The Florida State University College of Law Black Alumni Network (the “Network”) empowers and supports the Black students, alumni, faculty and staff of the Florida State University College of Law (the “College of Law”) in order to assist those individuals and the College of Law as a whole in achieving their full potential.

Vision

The Network envisions a College of Law on the forefront of addressing the historic marginalization of Black people, including their historical underrepresentation in the practice of law, through targeted support of Black students, alumni, faculty and staff of the College of Law.

Goals

• Facilitate a name change for the College of Law to a name that respects the historical contributions of Black people to the College of Law’s success and represents the College of Law’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• To provide direct support to Black students, alumni, faculty and staff of the College of Law through recruitment, scholarships, hiring and retention.
• To increase networking and idea sharing among Black students, alumni, faculty and staff at the College of Law.
• To directly support the College of Law in its efforts to positively effect the foregoing goals.

Connect With Us 

• Become a member.
• Contact us at FSUCOL.BAN@gmail.com.

The BAN OUTLOOK Newsletter & Emails

• February 2022 Newsletter
• December 2021 Newsletter
• November 2021 Newsletter
• Desmond Meade Announcement - October 2021
• October 2021 Newsletter
• September 2021 Newsletter

BANtv Interview Episodes 

• January 19, 2022 with National Bar Association President Judge Carlos Moore ('02)
• December 9, 2021 with Attorney Sean Pittman ('94)
• November 10, 2021 with Attorney Salesia Smith-Gordon ('92) 

Make a Gift

Gifts support programming, scholarships and professorships that align with the mission, vision and goals of the FSU College of Law Black Alumni Network. Make an online contribution.
 

Executive Officers

Committee Chairs

History of the Black Alumni Network

The FSU College of Law Black Alumni Network (BAN) was created, in partnership with the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, to address the impact of systemic racism on the matriculation of Black law students, the marginalization of Black lawyers and the historic underrepresentation of Black people in the practice of law. Jasmyne Henderson ('15), a Black Alumni Network co-founder, recognized the individual efforts of a growing group of law school alumni to address these issues and urged the law school to form the Black Alumni Network. Henderson, along with co-founders Salesia Smith-Gordon ('92) and Kareem J. Spratling ('06), agreed that the network should be formed to help Black alumni coalesce resources, connect networks and share ideas. To this end, the co-founders and charter members formalized BAN in December 2020 around the ideals of achievement, equity and equality with the goals of establishing an organization that can continue to address the unique challenges of our professional pipeline, bring valued support to the College of Law’s students and faculty, and support Black Alumni Network members in their efforts to bring change to their communities.