Blackburn Institute

Stannon Banks Works as a representative for TAP Pharmaceuticals. Stannon and his wife, Jennifer, live in Helena, AL with their two lovely daughters.

Jeffery Beaverstock Lives in Mobile, Alabama.

Chad D. Coker After obtaining a law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law in 1999, Chad moved to Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 2003, Chad married Catherine Bryan of Lanette, Alabama. He has been actively engaged in a general law practice since 2001. Chad currently serves as the Municipal Court Judge for the Town of Cherokee and the City of Russellville. He is also currently serving as the President of the Colbert County University of Alabama National Alumni Assocation.

Tanya Cole Lives in Fort Payne, Alabama.

Kristopher Cummings Lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Jill Devasher Lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

Corey Ealons Graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.A. in Communications in 1998. Prior to attending UA, Corey served in the U.S. Army with the 3rd United States Infantry, the Army's Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. Corey currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director for Alabama 7th District Congressman Artur Davis. On January 24, 2004, Corey was selected to serve on the Blackburn Institute's Advisory Board. He is married to Drucilla Harris of Birmingham.

Lee Engel Lives in Atlanta.

Caroline Turner Ezelle Lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, Jay. After a career in lending for 8 years, she now stays at home with their daughter, Helen, and their son, Turner.

Harlan Foster Lives in Montrose, Alabama.

Melissa George Graduated summa cum laude from the UA School of Communication, ranking first in the Department of Journalism. She was a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the XXXI Woman's Honorary Society. Upon graduation, Melissa was appointed by Governor Siegelman to serve in the Press Office as his Proclamations Officer. Melissa continued in this capacity through his full term and was subsequently appointed by Governor Riley to serve as his Deputy Press Secretary/Press Liaison to the First Lady. Melissa has invested herself in several civic capacities in Montgomery including Alabama State University's Teaching Through Theatre program; the Family Sunshine Center, the area domestic violence shelter; and the Capri Community Film Society, central Alabama's only independent theatre. Melissa has recently left public service to pursue both creative and professional opportunities in the private sector.

Frank Gonzalez

Rebecca "Casey" Cole Hemard After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1998, Casey returned to her native Louisiana to attend law school at LSU. Upon passing the Bar in 2001, she took a position as a majority counsel with the House Energy and Commerce Committee under the Chairmanship of Billy Tauzin in Washington, DC. In July of 2005, Casey left the Hill to work for the Executive branch at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in legislative affairs. HHS manages Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the CDC, FDA, and NIH; she also serves as one of the Department's liaisons to the Hill on these issues.

Elizabeth Hendrix Finishing her dissertation now, and she is "all but dissertation" in Instructional Leadership. In the fall, she applied for her first patent. She designed a reading game to stimulate reading interest, and she is awaiting patent approval. In addition, she just published "Permanent Injustice" in Educational Technology and Society, and she is the Central Region Coordinator for constitutional reform in Alabama through the Greater Birmingham Ministeries. In addition, she is Dr. Natalie Adams' research assistant at UA. She hopes to finish her dissertation in the spring of 2006. Her goal is to pursue a law degree with a master's of Public Policy degree in the future. She would like to use her educational background with the policy background in order to work on new legislation that will help our schools and students. She is a social justice advocate, as well. She thinks that we should "lift as we climb" as Angela Davis states, and she hopes to help Alabama become a better state.

Lara D. Hodge Graduated from UA law school in 2000 and from UA undergrad with a B. A. in English in 1997. Lara worked at the DA's office in Birmingham for 3 1/2 years then joined the U.S. Attorney's office in Birmingham in February 2004 as an Asst. U.S. Attorney prosecuting federal crimes. Lara is married to David who is an attorney at Pittman, Hooks, Dutton, Kirby & Hellums in Birmingham.

Jamie Kitson Lives in Atlanta.

Matthew Liverman Currently serves as Assistant Attorney General with the Georgia Department of Law, civil rights division. Matthew received his B.A. in Russian and Political Science from UA in 1998. In 2002, he received his J.D. from the Regent University School of Law in Virginia. Prior professional positions include work with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Henson Law Firm, and as North Carolina Counsel for the London, KY, based Weatherly Law Offices.

Joe Macon, III Lives in Madison, Alabama.

Conroy Marshall Lives in Atlanta.

Serge Miroff Lives in Brookwood, Alabama.

Gretchen Natharius Lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Heather O'Connor Lives in Kingsport, Tennessee.

Malloy Ryan Works for Morgan Stanley and lives in Atlanta.

Chris Strong Inducted into the Blackburn Institute in the 1997-1998 academic year and holds a BS in Engineering and an MBA from Alabama. Chris serves as a member of the Blackburn Advisory Board.

Bryan Taylor A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Bryan served 4 years as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, including service in Iraq and Honduras. He returned to his hometown of Birmingham in January 2006 and is an attorney with Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP.

Ethan Tyler Tidmore Graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2003 and is now an attorney at Bradley, Arant, Rose and White, LLP in Birmingham, Alabama.