A Q&A With SBA President Ryan Redd
Ryan Redd, Student Bar Association President, is a third-year student from Charlotte, NC. He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and earned degrees in both Music and Political Science.
Here at W&L Law, Ryan is a member of the Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse, an articles editor on the Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, and a competitor on the Black Law Students Association Mock Trial team.
Ryan spent his 1L summer working at the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center in Charlottesville, VA and also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Donnie Hoover in the 26th Judicial District of North Carolina. This past summer, Ryan interned at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria. Ryan wishes to pursue a career in criminal defense.
How and why did you get involved in the SBA?
I first got involved with the SBA by joining the organization’s Risk Management Committee as a 1L. I did not run for an elected position my first year, but I wanted to play a role in keeping our social events safe. I loved student government in high school and college and thought I could contribute new ideas for my class and the law school as a whole. In my second year, I served as SBA 2L Class President and was later elected SBA President in the spring. Representing and serving my classmates and the entire student body has been both fun and rewarding.
Why is student government important at W&L Law?
Most people who come to W&L Law expect to be a part of a tight knit community. People here want to socialize and form friendships with other law students. The SBA plays a pivotal role in providing opportunities for social and professional interactions between students. We plan parties and facilitate events that make it possible for law students to get to know each other outside of the classroom. Student government is also important at W&L because students have important concerns, suggestions, and interests that deserve to be heard and considered. The SBA’s main mission is to respond to the will of the law student body and communicate ideas and issues to faculty, staff, and administrators.
What are some of your major goals or initiatives for the year?
The SBA is looking forward to a very exciting year. We are evolving as an organization to become more accessible and effective at school and in the community. This year, my first main goal is to strengthen the service aspect of SBA. We recently hosted our annual Service Day, and it is our plan to continue to offer opportunities for service and involvement in the Lexington community throughout the entire year. Second, the SBA is looking forward to partnering with Student Affairs to offer more varied activities and programming both in the law school and outside of Lexington. Some activities we have planned are a whitewater-rafting trip in West Virginia, a charter bus trip to DC, a trip to Monticello, and tickets to concerts, plays, and festivals in Charlottesville, Roanoke, and Staunton. Third, the SBA is working to provide more financial support for professional development and travel (i.e. job fairs, conventions, conferences, and interviews). Finally, the SBA plans to strengthen and develop cross campus connections between the law school and undergraduate campus.
Any other special messages to convey as SBA President?
I am very excited about this year and the opportunity to serve as SBA President. W&L Law is a special place where students have a say in developing the law school experience. I am optimistic about where we are going as a school and as a community. As we undergo structural renovations to the building, we are also improving socially, educationally, and interpersonally.
