The National Bar Institute (“NBI”) Board of Directors held its Board of Directors Meetings and AnnualMembership Meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, during the National Bar Association 101st Annual Conference.

The 2025-2026 NBI Board of Directors convened in the morning to close out the program year, and the 2026-2027 NBI Board of Directors met in the afternoon to elect NBI Officers and plan meetings for the upcoming year. This structured approach ensured that the organization remained forward-thinking and well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The NBI Annual Membership Meeting kicked off with opening remarks from Dr. Walter Sutton, Jr., Chair of the NBI Board of Directors. Committee Chairs shared annual reports, providing a comprehensive overview of the past year’s accomplishments, welcoming ten (10) new NBI Life Members, and setting the stage for the year ahead.

Due to the NBI’s generous grant in the amount of $15,000.00 to the NBA Law Student Division, law students were able to attend the National Bar Association Annual Convention. Special thanks to Rheonna Reese, NBA Law Student Division Chair, for coordinating these efforts.

A highlight of the day was the attendance of ten (10) outstanding law students at the NBI Annual Membership Meeting to collaborate with seasoned attorneys. The following law students attended the NBI Annual Membership Meeting:

Domonique Graphenreed – Rising Third-Year Student
Suffolk University Law School in Atlanta, Georgia

Ashley Simon – Rising Third-Year Student
Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas

Antoinette Daley – Rising Third-Year Student
Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Valaine Clarke – Rising Second-Year Student
Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in White Plains, New York

Nico Bethea – Rising Third-Year Student
Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts

Jesseca R. Horsley – Rising Third-Year Student
Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama

Glenys Maldonado – Rising Third-Year Student
Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas

Madison M. Berry – Rising Third-Year Student
University of Mississippi School of Law

Jalaya Pressley – Rising Second-Year Student
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia

Jonia Thornton – Rising Third-Year Student
Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia

Rheonna Reese – Rising Third-Year Student
University of California College of the Law in San Francisco

During the NBI Annual Membership Meeting, Regina K. Dillard, Esq., Sonya D. Hoskins, Esq., David Green, Esq., and Stephanie D. Jones, Esq. were re-elected as Directors to the NBI Board of Directors.

Following the NBI Annual Membership Meeting, the NBI Membership Committee hosted a special luncheon for the organization’s distinguished NBI Life Members to express its appreciation for their continued support of the NBI mission and program initiatives. The luncheon offered a perfect setting for networking, reconnecting, building new professional relationships, and celebration. The NBI Board of Directors invited the law students as their special guests to the NBI Life Membership luncheon to collaborate and network with seasoned attorneys. The National Bar Institute is committed to supporting law students and expanding the legal pipeline to increase diversity and success in the legal profession.

Overall, the NBI Annual Membership Meeting was a resounding success, filled with productive discussions, meaningful connections, and a shared vision for the future. The energy and enthusiasm of the NBI Members were palpable, leaving everyone inspired and motivated.