Darlene Childers (J.D. '17) understands balance. A mother of two who held a job and went to school part-time, Childers still participated in the SBA throughout her academic career, worked as a graduate research assistant and was named a 2016–17 Bleckley Inn of Court Pupil.
As associate dean for student affairs, Kelly Cahill Timmons interacts with many students. She’s watched one in particular — Darlene Childers (J.D. ’17), president of the Student Bar Association — model leadership.
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“I learn a lot from Darlene,” Timmons said. “Her skills are impressive.”
Childers understands balance. A mother of two who held a job and went to school part-time, Childers still participated in the SBA throughout her academic career, worked as a graduate research assistant and was named a 2016–17 Bleckley Inn of Court Pupil.
Under Childers’ leadership, the SBA worked especially hard, partly because of Childers’ attitude that it’s the SBA’s job to make the law school experience better for their classmates, Timmons said.
To make the SBA more professional and transparent, Childers clearly communicated board meeting times and the location of minutes. She displayed initiative on an issue by researching solutions and contacting other schools. And her organizational skills ensured the always activity-packed Law Week’s myriad events were in place.
“There are many moving parts,” Timmons said. “She had a Google Doc for Law Week. She made sure speakers had parking. She excels in thank you notes.”
Law Week 2017 also had a new component — a community service project —because of Childers’ creativity and service attitude. “Darlene thought we could do more and was willing to make it happen,” Timmons said.
The student leader develops relationships with her peers and the legal community through her “incredible friendliness and openness,” Timmons said, adding that she handles criticism with mature professionalism and admits mistakes.
“Darlene doesn’t take things personally. She’s thoughtful about what she does.”