As the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law celebrates the class of 2026, these student spotlights offer a glimpse into the impressive backgrounds, talent and dedication of this year’s graduates. From judicial clerkships and public service to private practice, military service and leadership roles, these graduates are carrying the Volunteer spirit into their work across Tennessee and beyond.
Alan Michel Alford
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Education: Catawba College, BA, Political Science and Information Systems
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation and the bar exam, I am honored to serve as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Thomas C. Greenholtz on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the 2026-2027 term.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
I knew the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law would provide me with a strong legal education, valuable scholarship opportunities, and the ability to explore both transactional and litigation work. What made my experience especially meaningful were the relationships I built with professors, support staff, and mentors in the community who continually invested in me, along with hands-on experiences through the Transactional Law Clinic and my externship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Those experiences helped shape me into a more confident and well-rounded future attorney.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
Winston Law has prepared me for my next step by providing opportunities to develop my advocacy, leadership, and practical legal skills both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it was authoring a “Know Your Rights Parole Guide for Tennesseans,” participating in the 1L Moot Court competition, gaining wisdom from Professor Buck Lewis, or helping secure a trademark for a client through the Transactional Law Clinic, each experience challenged me to grow as both a future attorney and servant leader. Winston Law taught me the importance of using the law not only as a profession, but also as a tool to engage with and serve the broader community.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
Being a graduate of Winston Law means resilience, growth, and responsibility. It represents not only the education and training I received, but also the relationships, challenges, and opportunities that shaped me along the way. More than anything, it means knowing that I belong.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Finnegan Intellectual Property Summit Scholar; Finnegan IP University Scholar; The Reparations Project Parson Dwight Law 30K Scholar; Julian Blackshear Scholar; Tennessee 9th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office Intern Recognition Award; Black Law Students Association; Privacy, Intellectual Property, and Technology Law Society, executive board; CALI Award in Lawyers as Leaders.
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Olutayo Alston
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: McDonough, Georgia
Education: Western Governors University, MBA; Wesleyan College, BA; Emory University, Paralegal Certificate
What are your plans following graduation?
I will be working as an associate with Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott & Cannon in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
As a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, I needed a school to which I could commute. The bar passage rates, school ranking, professor profiles, and Vol culture at Winston Law reflected a higher likelihood of success. The community of support and professor engagement I encountered made my experience even more meaningful and exceeded my expectations.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
Winston Law has prepared me to step confidently and competently into the Chattanooga legal market, with a heart for public service and servant leadership.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
Being a graduate of Winston Law means that I have gained a strong legal education and a community of support.
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Dustin Bates
Degree: Master of Legal Studies
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Education: Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, DMS; Bethel University, MS, Physician Assistant Studies; University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, BS, Biology and Chemistry
What are your plans following graduation?
I will continue to oversee curriculum, assessment, and ongoing operational management of the Lincoln Memorial University Physician Assistant Program in Knoxville, Tennessee, in my current role as assistant dean and program director.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
As an alumnus of the University of Tennessee System, I knew I could rely on the highest-quality professors and content design to ensure my education was challenging and rewarding.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
The knowledge I have gained through the Master of Legal Studies program has strengthened my understanding of the legal system and its broader impact. It has also enhanced my ability to make informed, thoughtful decisions in my professional role, ensuring that my actions are considerate and beneficial to all parties involved.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
This degree showcases my passion for lifelong learning, a virtue I hope to instill in my son as he grows.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Member of the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants, Physician Assistant Education Association, and American Academy of Physician Assistants; Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society
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Layton Coker
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Waco, Texas
Education: Baylor University, BA, University Scholars
What are your plans following graduation?
During the 2026-2027 term, I will clerk for Judge Emily Marks of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. After that, I am excited to return to Tennessee and join Bass, Berry & Sims PLC as an associate in its Nashville office.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
My family has been in Tennessee for a long time, and I always planned to stay here. UT has a strong reputation in the state, and being at a school where I wanted to put down roots made the experience feel like more than just earning a degree.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
The professors here are more accessible than I expected. I got real feedback, had real conversations about where I was headed, and left feeling like people actually knew who I was. That mentorship pushed me in ways that carried over into everything—my writing, how I approach problems, and how I carry myself professionally. I feel ready in a practical sense.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
Tennessee lawyers know each other, and being a Winston Law graduate puts you inside that community in a real way. I want to be here for the long haul, so that matters to me. At some point, I would like to give back to the school the way people here gave to me.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Tennessee Law Review, editor-in-chief, 2025-26, and staff editor, 2024-25; Appalachian Justice Research Lab; research assistant to Professor Valorie Vojdik; Legal Process Fellow for Professor Carlos Yunsan; 2025 Jon E. Hastings Memorial Award; 2026 James R. & Nell W. Cunningham Award for Legal Writing; CALI Awards in Antitrust, Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, and Legal Process I
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Mariel Cuellar
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Highland, Indiana
Education: University of Notre Dame, BS
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation, I will serve as a judicial clerk to the Hon. J. Daniel Breen of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee for the 2026-2027 term.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
During Admitted Students Day, I felt a strong sense of community at the law school, and my interactions with staff and students after that were very responsive and helpful. I have dedicated myself to being very involved in the law school community over the last three years, and the assistance and encouragement I have continued to receive has shaped so much of what I have been able to achieve. The relationships I have built through this support are the most important takeaways from my time here.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
In a practical sense, I have had countless opportunities to gain real-world legal experience and have had my writing skills continually shaped and stretched. More importantly, though, I have developed a very clear idea of the type of attorney I want to be. The culture at Winston Law has allowed me to surround myself with friends and mentors who continually inspire and motivate me to “do good” in my work and my community.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
My parents were unable to attend college, so graduating from law school is an incredible, and at times incomprehensible, achievement all on its own. I am so proud to have achieved this goal at Winston Law, where I know I will continue to find an ever-present support system and the desire to pass this support along to future students.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Tennessee Law Review, executive board publications editor; Latino Law Students Association, vice president; Pro Bono Organization, public relations chair; First-Gen Advisory Board member; Inaugural First-Gen Graduation and Cording Ceremony closing remarks; Legal Process Fellow; Community and Inclusion Committee; Winston Fellows Selection Committee; CALI Awards in Legal Process II, Advanced Legal Research, Judicial Writing, and Advocacy Clinic; Volunteer of Distinction Award
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Justin Franklin
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Education: Cornell University, MPA; Louisiana State University, BA, Political Communication
What are your plans following graduation?
I will join Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in Memphis, Tennessee, as an associate in public finance.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
I chose UT because of its proximity to home and the law school’s strong reputation. The community here has made my experience special, especially my peers.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
Winston Law has provided foundational lawyering skills and meaningful connections to help me confidently step into legal practice. The faculty and staff are well aware of the law’s most pressing issues and equip students to engage with them and add value wherever we land.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
Being a graduate of Winston Law is a testament to the will, the prayers, and the love of all my friends and family. As a graduate, I stand proudly on the shoulders of those who came before me, and I am honored to continue the work of improving our world through advocacy and representation.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Black Law Students Association, secretary and 3L representative; Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy, senior staff editor; Tennessee Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, staff editor; Appalachian Justice Research Lab; Teaching assistant, Contracts I; 2025 Faculty Hiring Committee member; Next Level Initiative Task Force member; Roy B.J. Campbelle Leadership Award; National Association of Bond Lawyers Frederic L. Ballard Jr. Scholarship; CALI Award in Advanced Legal Research; Dean’s List, multiple semesters; Bass, Berry & Sims Scholarship
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Maxine Wetherbee
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Temecula, California
Education: California Baptist University, BA, Theology and Behavioral Science
What are your plans following graduation?
I will stay in Knoxville and work remotely for Bursch Legal, a small law firm that serves as outside general counsel for nonprofits. My role will be associate general counsel.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
One word: COMMUNITY. Winston Law clearly stood out among the other schools to which I had applied and considered. The inviting, involved, and intentional community at UT made me feel right at home. True to that, the main factor that has made my experience here meaningful is the wonderful people. Faculty feel like friends, and many of my peers are like family to me now.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
First and foremost, Winston Law prepared me by having professors who care and pour into students. The numerous avenues toward mentorship are such an enriching opportunity to learn both life and legal skills from peers, faculty, and staff. Taking advantage of the hands-on and practical experience offered at UT also greatly benefited me. I learned so much about what I wanted to do, and what I did not want to do, from participating in the legal clinic and an externship. My views were also challenged in ways that stretched and strengthened me.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
It means that I get to represent the Volunteer spirit beyond the walls of UT. I hope to embrace all the lessons and principles I have learned during my time here and use them to make a positive impact on our community and the world beyond.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Student Bar Association, wellness director; Moot Court Board; Christian Legal Society; Law Women, executive board member and communications chair; Teaching assistant, Torts; American Inns of Court, Hamilton Burnett Chapter; Dean’s List; CALI Awards in Torts, Legal Writing, Nonprofit Law, and Law Practice Management; Pro Bono Award for most hours, Class of 2026; Tennessee Judicial Conference Scholarship; Daniel H. Testerman Memorial Scholarship; TAFSAA Ann Tinnon Scholarship; Katz Family Scholarship.
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Christina Williams
Degree: Juris Doctor
Hometown: Bradenton, Florida
Education: University of South Florida, BS, Corporate Finance
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation and upon passing the bar exam, I will attend Officer Development School, followed by Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Once completed, I will be stationed as a Navy JAG Corps officer in a role and location to be determined.
Why did you choose the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, and what has made your experience here meaningful?
I chose UT for its historic campus, engaged student body, and proximity to the Smoky Mountains. I chose the Winston College of Law for its individualized classroom settings, student resources, and experiential learning opportunities. Connecting with professors and growing through my externship placements have made my experience here meaningful.
How has Winston Law prepared you for your next step?
Winston Law has prepared me for my next step through practical guidance and experience that I obtained in the domestic violence clinic, judicial externship course, and defense externship course.
What does being a graduate of Winston Law mean to you?
I will always have roots in Knoxville, Tennessee, which shaped me into the woman I am today. Moving here was my first big step toward discovering myself and becoming my own person. Graduating from Winston Law means that mountains will always remind me of my second home, and that although I traversed challenges and difficulties, I gained so much more along the way—in my dear friends, in the community, and in my deepened relationship with God.
Involvement and Accomplishments
Tennessee Law Review, articles editor; Dean’s List; CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Criminal Law, Legal Process II, and Professional Responsibility; Dean’s Scholarship; James Frank & Patricia Ann Wilson Scholarship; Law Women Commitment Award; Marion S. Griffin Scholarship; William B. Plowman Scholarship; James R. & Nell W. Cunningham Legal Research Award; Judge L. Kirby Matherne Scholarship; W. Hugh Overcash Tax Law Scholarship; Advocates’ Prize finalist; Pryor Award for Excellence in Advocacy; Susan B. Anthony Award; Volunteer of Distinction Honoree; Vols for Veterans, president; Themis Bar Review, head representative; Joel A. Katz Law Library assistant; Moot Court; Pro Bono; Christian Legal Society; Law Women; Federalist Society