Three Vermont Law School students were recently named to the Executive Board of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), bringing VLS student representation on the board to an all-time high. The new NBLSA leaders are National Director of Programming Alexis Agredo JD’18, National Chief of Staff Brittmy Martinez JD’19, and National Director of Pre-Law Phanuelle Duchatelier JD’18.

"Alexis, Brittmy, and Phanuelle work tirelessly to uphold the noble values of the National Black Law Students Association," said NBLSA Director of Marketing Jordan Gaither JD’17, a former president of the VLS BLSA chapter. "I know each of these powerful women will far exceed their expectations and obligations, and that they will continue to serve their local VLS BLSA chapter as well."

"It is truly a blessing to see VLS breaking barriers and pioneering the path of success," said Gaither, who will begin work at the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office in Georgia in the fall. "Our BLSA members are trailblazers for truth and engineers for justice."

As national director of programming, Agredo will develop, employ, and evaluate programs that align with the goals of NBLSA and work with regional chairs to develop and coordinate uniform programs to further the goals of NBLSA. Agredo brings a unique perspective to this position having previously worked with nonprofit organizations in Atlanta, Ga.; as a team leader for the SPEAK Vermont Prison Debate InitiativeFood and Agriculture Clinic at VLS. This summer Agredo will work at the Vermont Human Rights Commission and, in the fall, as a judicial clerk at the Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia. 

Martinez, as national chief of staff, will assist the national chair in the execution and implementation of various NBLSA goals tasked to the Executive Board. Martinez brings significant leadership experience to her role; she is a social justice activist, former VLS BLSA board member, and legal technology scholar. Beginning in the fall, Martinez will serve as an ambassador to new VLS students, Student Bar Association (SBA) senator, and Black Lives Matter Vermont board member.

As national director of pre-law, Duchatelier will create pre-law collegiate chapters of NBLSA and keep the board and all NBLSA members informed of the status of the collegiate chapters and general membership. A passionate advocate, Global Advocacy Mission Scholar, student clinician at the South Royalton Legal Clinic, and past president of the VLS BLSA chapter, Duchatelier brings strong leadership and breadth of experience to her new position. 

"I had the opportunity to work with these students closely this year as the BLSA faculty advisor," said Professor Joe Brennan. "Each is extremely impressive and will represent Vermont Law School well on the national stage. Congratulations to Phanuelle, Alexis, and Brittmy on this well-deserved honor."

The mission of the National Black Law Students Association is "to increase the number of culturally responsible Black and minority attorneys who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community." For more information about NBLSA, visit nblsa.org. For more information about the VLS chapter of BLSA, visit vermontlaw.edu/blsa and like BLSA on Facebook.

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Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation’s largest and deepest environmental law program. VLS offers a Juris Doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; three Master’s Degrees—Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, and Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy; and four post-JD degrees—LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, and Center for Applied Human Rights. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.​