It can be challenging for Cleveland-Marshall College of Law part-time evening students to be involved with student organizations and extra-curricular activities at the law school while maintaining a full-time career. You would never know that from looking at the resume of 4LE Tiffany Henderson, one of the most active students on campus who also works full-time as a customer support analyst in information technology with PPG Industries.
“It’s part of my personality that I’ve always stayed very active,” said Henderson. “Because it is difficult to be part of the law school as a part-time student, I wanted to take the extra steps to get as much out of the experience as possible. I’ve interacted with many students who I normally wouldn’t see or get to know because they are in the daytime program.”
Henderson currently serves as one of the faces of the law school as President of the Student Bar Association, the governing body responsible for representing the interests of the Student Body of C|M|LAW, after having been a student senator the past three years. She is also a member of the executive board of the Black Law Students Association and is in her second year as a member of the C|M|LAW Trial Advocacy Team.
Henderson has wanted to be a lawyer for as long as she can remember. She was interested in civil litigation when she enrolled in law school but is now more focused on criminal litigation in part due to her experience with the Trial Advocacy Team. Upon graduation, she would like to be a prosecutor and/or a U.S assistant attorney.
Henderson, who has diversified her education during law school as a dual degree student in CSU’s Master of Public Administration program and as a graduate of the law school’s Great Lakes Sports and Entertainment Law Academy, is used to being this active. As an undergraduate at Bowling Green State University, she was the president of her sorority and active as a member of student government and the NAACP. After BGSU, she was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers dance team from 2007-2010.
Henderson made the Cavaliers dance team after going on an audition to support her best friend who was trying out. Factoring in game performances and grueling eight-hour practice sessions as a Cavalier girl while working at PPG, Henderson was regularly putting in 16 hour days.
“As crazy as it sounds I sleep more now during law school than I did while working with the Cavaliers,” said Henderson, remembering consistently sleeping four or four and a half hours a day during that time period. “I don’t think people realize how much work and preparation goes into the dance routines.”
Henderson eventually gave up her spot on the Cavaliers squad because of the grueling schedule, but having danced since the age of five she misses the art. But that will not be for long. The ever-active Henderson already has plans to obtain certification as a Zumba instructor after law school.