Delaware Law School Black Alumni Network

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Black Alumni Network Leadership Team

Stacey Anderson, Esq.  2020 (she/her)

Chair 

Stacey is a proud 2017 graduate of Northeastern University, in Boston, and 2020 graduate of the Delaware Law School. While a 2L, Stacey served as the Vice President of the DLS BLSA Chapter and, as a 3L, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chair of the National Black Law Students Association. Stacey is employed with the Innocence Project as the State Policy Legal Fellow. The Innocence Project, founded in 1992, exonerates the wrongfully incarcerated and reforms the criminal legal system to prevent future injustice. Prior to joining the Innocence Project, Stacey was a Marciano Legal Fellow with the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network ("RAINN") where she did legal research and legislation drafting focused on sexual violence response, Title IX, and constitutional law.

In 2021, Stacey and Dana Griffin, ‘08, co-founded the DLS Black Alumni Network “BAN.” 

Motto: You know your victory is close when the obstacles seem insurmountable. 

Interests: Piano, Gospel Music, Travel, Art

Carlene Clark, Esq.  2019 (she/her)

Vice Chair 

Carlene is a Pennsylvania Attorney and Philadelphia native who graduated Widener University Delaware Law School cum laude. While in school she served as Wolcott Fellow to the Honorable Delaware Supreme Court (now) Chief Justice, Collins J. Seitz, Jr. After graduation, she served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Ferris W. Wharton of the Delaware Superior Court and worked as a Corporate Litigation Associate at a Wilmington firm. Currently, she is a Law Clerk for the Delaware Court of Chancery with Magistrate Loren Mitchell. In that role, she assists with cases involving corporate law, trust and estate law, contested guardianships, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. Her community service experience includes serving on the Board of Young Involved Philadelphia (an organization whose purpose is to educate and increase civic engagement among young professionals in Philadelphia), a member of both the Philadelphia and Delaware Barristers Associations, and the National Bar Association Women’s Law Division and she has served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Delaware Law School for the last four years. Carlene enjoys raising her two girls, Sidney (11) and Suriya (10), with her partner, Leo.

Interests: Marvel, traveling, supporting local businesses, church, and yoga.

Jocelyn Mendez, Esq. 2021(she/her)

Vice Chair Elect 

Jocelyn is an accomplished litigation attorney who works closely with business professionals to decrease litigation risk, navigate operational challenges, and represent client interests in all phases of litigation. At Fox Rothschild, she represents businesses in a wide range of commercial and workplace disputes. Before joining Fox Rothschild, Jocelyn was an associate at a regional law firm and before that, she served as Associate Legal Counsel in the Office of Governor John C. Carney of Delaware. She also gained valuable experience interning for the Honorable Bret Binder of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

During her time at Delaware Law School, Jocelyn was a dedicated staff and articles editor for the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, President of the Black Law Students Association, and Vice-President of the Latinx-American Law Students’ Association. A trailblazer and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Jocelyn was honored with the inaugural Dean’s Award for the Advancement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Jocelyn remains active at Delaware Law School as a member of the standing committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and as an alumni mentor for both the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and the Black Law Students Association.

Tanisha Walls, Esq. 2014(she/her)

Secretary 

Tanisha graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in 2008 and from Widener University School of Law in 2014. After graduation, Tanisha began her legal career in the Business and Legal Affairs group at Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Washington, DC. In 2016, Tanisha became associate counsel at Viacom in New York City. Tanisha currently holds the role of Senior Counsel at Paramount Global in New York City, where she advises network executives and internal client groups on a broad range of legal concepts across multiple subject areas, including intellectual property, contracts, business associations, marketing and advertising law. Tanisha negotiates and develops solutions to contract issues and solves problems related to the development, production, acquisition and distribution of a variety of high-profile entertainment projects. Tanisha is barred in Pennsylvania and registered as in-house counsel in the State of New York.

Motto: Always be authentic and never settle for less than what you deserve.

Interests: Travel, Arts, Sports, Fashion and Family

Vernon M. Vassallo, Esq. 2021 (He/Him) 

Chair of Community Service

Vernon is a first-generation college student from the Wilmington area and studied at Delaware Technical Community College, Goldey-Beacom College, and graduated from Delaware Law School in 2021. He served on the executive board of multiple student organizations and honor societies, including Pro Bono Chair for the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Vice President of Community Service for the Student Bar Association and Vice President of the Black Law Student Association.

Upon graduation, Vernon passed the Delaware Bar Exam and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Natalie J. Haskins and Felice G. Kerr of Delaware Family Court. He plans to focus his practice on family law and juvenile justice.

Motto:  Strive to be a better person tomorrow than you were today.

Interests: cooking, cycling, rock climbing, music

Nadège Tandoh, Esq. 2012(she/her)

Immediate Past Chair 

Nadège is the Supervising Protection From Abuse Attorney at Women Against Abuse Legal Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she represents clients in protection from abuse, custody and support matters. Nadège is the incoming Vice Chair of the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and will be the Chair in 2025. She is a member of the Family Law Section’s Custody Committee, co-chair of the Diversity Committee, chair of the Outreach Committee and the founder of the Diversity Inclusion Scholarship Committee. In 2021, she was named as a Bar Star by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Nadège is a past member of the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Barristers, and a past member of the Nicholas A. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court. She is a certified arbitrator for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Nadège has served as a course planner and a panelist for several Continuing Legal Education Courses. Prior to joining Women Against Abuse, Nadège was a Staff Attorney at Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia and previously a law clerk in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Nadège is a graduate of Temple University and Delaware Law School.

Motto: Obsessing over the best and worst of your past, limits the possibilities for your future.

Interests: PReading, writing, teaching and spending time with family

Wade H. Harvey, Esq. 2008 (he/him)

Past Chair

Wade graduated from the University of Delaware in 2004, and from the evening division of Delaware Law School in 2008.  He served on the executive board the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and currently serves on multiple Trust Committee boards as Chief Compliance Officer of New York Private Trust Company based out of Wilmington, Delaware

Upon graduation, Wade worked in the legal and compliance divisions of multiple Fortune 500 financial institutions as well provided domestica and international consulting services and mentorship.  He currently lives in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife and children.

Motto:  Live life, learn lessons, love others, liberate yourself

Interests:  Family, film, podcasting, basketball, automobiles, travel.