Jess Waltman Elected UM Law School Student Body President

Jess Waltman, a native of Quitman, has been elected the 2015-2016 president of the Law School Student Body Association. Five other officers will also assume responsibility for the upcoming school year.

Jess Waltman
Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Communication

The LSSB president oversees the functions of the other members of the LSSB executive board and represents the law school student body to the school and university’s administrations.

Waltman is the son of Walt and Cheryl Waltman and a 2009 graduate of Quitman High School. He earned a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the university’s E. H. Patterson School of Accountancy in 2013 and graduated from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. While at Ole Miss, Waltman served as an Ole Miss Ambassador and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and the UM Hall of Fame.

Besides his responsibilities as president, Waltman serves as the executive online editor and alumni coordinator for the Mississippi Law Journal and as editor-in-chief of the University of Mississippi Business Law Newsletter. He is also a member of the School of Law Trial Advocacy Board, the Dean’s Leadership Council, the Gorove Society for International Law and the Business Law Network. Before his election in 2015, Waltman served as the 2014-2015 LSSB treasurer and as a 2013-2014 1L senator.

Waltman will be completing summer associateships with the firms of Davis & Crump in Gulfport, and Martin Tate Morrow & Marston in Memphis. He expects to graduate in May of 2016 and plans to pursue a career in commercial and civil litigation.

Rodgrick Glen Hickman, a native of Shuqualak, has been elected to serve as the 2015-2016 LSSB vice-president. The vice-president is responsible for presiding over the meetings of the LSSB Senate. He is the son of Glen and Lucille Hickman and is a 2007 graduate of Noxubee County High School. Hickman received a Bachelor of General Studies degree in history, sociology and legal studies in 2014 from the university’s regional campus in Grenada, where he was a Lyceum Scholar. Hickman is a member of the American Constitution Society and Phi Delta Phi, and he serves as treasurer for the Black Law Student Association, special events coordinator for the Public Interest Law Foundations, and as a staff member for the law school yearbook. Before being elected to serve as vice-president, he served as an LSSB senator for his class.

Hickman will be a summer associate with Glover, Young, Hammack, Walton and Simmons PLLC in Meridian and expects to graduate in May 2017. He plans to pursue a career in corporate litigation.

Gregory James Alston Jr., a native of Hattiesburg, was elected to serve as the 2015-2016 LSSB treasurer. The LSSB treasurer is responsible for conducting the financial business of the LSSB and maintaining its financial records. He is the son of Betsy and Greg Alston and is a 2010 graduate of Presbyterian Christian School. Alston earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy leadership from UM in 2014. While at Ole Miss, Alston served as the 2013-2014 president of the Associated Student Body and was inducted into the UM Hall of Fame.

Alston serves as the CEO of the law school’s Business Law Network and is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council. Before being elected to serve as LSSB treasurer, Alston served as an LSSB senator for his class. This summer, he will be working for state Treasurer Lynn Fitch’s re-election campaign. He expects to graduate in May 2017 and pursue a career in politics and government relations.

Fredricka Jatarya Brown, a native of Greenville, was elected to serve as the 2015-2016 LSSB secretary. The LSSB secretary takes the minutes at each LSSB Senate meeting and maintains the LSSB roster. She is the daughter of Minnie Stone and Fredricka Brown and graduated from Riverside High School in 2010. Brown received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mississippi State University in 2014. At MSU, she received the President’s Service Award in 2013 and the Spirit of Service Award in 2014.

Brown expects to graduate in May 2017, and she is a member of the law school yearbook staff, Public Interest Law Foundation, Black Law Students Association, Law Association for Women and the Dean’s Leadership Council. This summer, she will be serving as a teaching assistant for the Center for Legal Education Opportunity at the UM School of Law. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in criminal litigation.

Margaret Wright, a native of Jackson, was elected to serve as the 2015-2016 LSSB social chair. As social chair, Wright will be responsible for planning social functions for law students, including the annual Barristers’ Ball. She is the daughter of Timothy and Suzanne Wright and graduated from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in 2009. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish in 2013 from UM. While at Ole Miss, Wright was a member of the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and Order of Omega.

Wright expects to graduate in May 2016, and she serves as an executive articles editor for the Mississippi Law Journal and is a member of the law school’s Moot Court Board, Dean’s Leadership Council, Space Law Society, Law Association for Women and the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association.

She will work as a summer associate with the firms of Blair & Bondurant and Wise, Carter, Child & Carraway in Jackson. After graduation, Wright plans to pursue a career in civil defense litigation.

Jessica LeAnn Rice was elected to serve as the 2015-2016 LSSB attorney general. The LSSB attorney general participates in student Honor Council proceedings and maintains the LSSB Code and Constitution. From Flowood, she is the daughter of Marvin and Ann Rice. Rice graduated from Northwest Rankin High School in 2010 and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2014 from the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the Mortar Board national senior honor society.

Rice expects to graduate in May 2017, and she is a member of Law Association for Women and served as a 1L honor council representative. This summer, she will participate in the law school’s summer study abroad program at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. After graduation, Rice plans to practice health law.

Courtesy UM Communications