Jacqueline Tubbs鈥� success at is clear: She鈥檚 the editor-in-chief of the esteemed and has already secured a great job in Washington, D.C. What truly sets her apart, though, is a motivation that goes far deeper than her personal ambitions in law.
For this Alabama native, her accomplishments at Vanderbilt Law and her undergraduate years at Harvard University are, in part, a result of the profound influence of her late father, who died suddenly of a heart attack during her early teenage years.
鈥淭here was a kind of shift of motivation, of working for something much bigger. I鈥檓 not doing this for myself. I鈥檓 doing it for my family. I鈥檓 doing it for my dad, who would have loved this. I鈥檓 doing it for other people who are growing up without a father or mother. I鈥檓 doing it for all of them,鈥� she said.
Tubbs said her mom sat her and her two siblings down after their dad鈥檚 death and encouraged them to persevere and excel despite the loss鈥攖o constantly work toward being better versions of themselves while supporting each other and improving the world.
CAREER GOALS
Tubbs is following her mom鈥檚 heartfelt advice. After Commencement, she will focus on real estate law and affordable housing in Washington, D.C. And she plans to do pro bono work on civil rights鈥搑elated issues.
鈥淚 feel like God has helped me find this perfect balance between helping others through the legal work and helping my family through the financial stability,鈥� she said.
DARING TO GROW
Tubbs credits , associate professor of law, for being such a dedicated and impassioned mentor to her.
鈥淗e has been such a blessing because he鈥檚 not just there to teach us; he connects with us. If he sees you in the hallway, he鈥檚 going to stop and talk to you, even if both you and he are really too busy to speak,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淗e definitely inspires me as a young Black lawyer working against whatever other people鈥檚 judgments of him might be.鈥�
Shaw also encouraged her to compete in the journal write-on competition, which is how she earned a spot on the Vanderbilt Law Review. Later, Trey Ferguson, JD/MBA鈥�24, inspired Tubbs to throw her hat in the ring for editor-in-chief of the law review, which Tubbs rates as one of the most pivotal moments of her Vanderbilt experience.
“Jac is a once-in-a-lifetime student, a once-in-a-lifetime human being. Jac is peerless at so many things, but I think it’s because she is so well anchored in being a good person. She has a way of asking questions鈥攁 kind, unassuming, directness鈥攖hat invites people into the problem-solving process. I’ve seen her do it in class; I’ve seen her do it for BLSA; I’ve seen her do it in Law Review; I’ve seen her do it in the hallways. That can’t be taught; it’s just who she is,” said Shaw.
“Jac Tubbs will change the world just by being herself.” — Matthew Shaw
鈥淚 am the first Black editor-in-chief of the law review,鈥� Tubbs said. 鈥淢y mom laughs when I say this because I haven鈥檛 had kids, but becoming editor-in-chief was what I鈥檇 imagine having a child is like, where all of a sudden there鈥檚 this one huge responsibility and honor that completely changes your life and takes up so much of your time.鈥� Notwithstanding the hard work, she said she has enjoyed her tenure and is grateful to all who supported her through every stage of the process.
COLLABORATION IS KEY
Tubbs said the law review was a strong proving ground for Vanderbilt鈥檚 values of working in collaboration.
鈥淰anderbilt has been the perfect combination of being excellent and prestigious, while at the same time, people are not all falling into this trap of competition and intensity,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y Law Review executive board has been especially collaborative. We learn from one another and work well with each other. We help each other out a lot. I鈥檓 super thankful for my team.鈥�
FAMILY FIRST
Even though her entire family is deeply rooted in Alabama, Tubbs is still trying to persuade some of them to move with her to D.C. But no matter where she goes, and no matter where they are, her family鈥攁long with God鈥攚ill always be her anchor.
鈥淚t has just been imperative that I stay grounded to the people who knew me before Harvard and who knew me before Vanderbilt and all of these other accomplishments,鈥� Tubbs said. 鈥淚 will stay rooted to them because I鈥檓 really doing it for them.鈥�
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