Cheryl Gray Evans is a graduate of Stanford University and Tulane University Law School. She most recently served as the Interim Executive Director of the National Bar Association, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of African American attorneys, judges, and law school students. She was responsible for guiding the organization through its financial trouble, organizing and implementing the association’s annual convention in New Orleans, and several smaller conferences. Attorney Evans served as the Project Manager for Hampton University’s Minority Men’s Health Initiative. She was responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the grant, including managing the $13.5 million-dollar budget (over 5 years). In November 2003, Attorney Evans was elected to serve the people of District 98 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. She served on the Appropriations, Health and Welfare, and Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs committees. In November 2007, Attorney Evans was elected to serve the people of District 5 in the Louisiana State Senate. She served as Chairman of the Local and Municipal Affairs Committee. Attorney Evans is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated and her professional career and volunteer efforts have focused on the empowerment of communities of color through voting and advocacy. In the legislature, she was a leader on issues related to the improvement of our judicial system and the treatment of children. Charles Hamilton Houston once said that “a lawyer’s either a social engineer or a parasite on society…” In her work for and on behalf of vulnerable communities, Attorney Evans strives to be a social engineer. Cheryl Gray Evans is married to Commander Patrick L. Evans, who currently serves in the United States Navy as a Public Affairs Officer. She is the proud mother of one son, Emory.