Carmen-Nicole Cox ‘11
Carmen-Nicole Cox, a lawyer, advocate and adjunct law professor, recently served as Chief Counsel of Public Policy and Advocacy at United Way California Capital Region. Cox worked to reduce poverty, support families and boost educational results for children.
Cox has dedicated almost 10 years to criminal justice overhaul, holding roles like Deputy Director at For The People, Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary for Gov. Jerry Brown, Chief of Legislation at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Deputy District Attorney in San Joaquin County.
She teaches a course on Race, Mass Incarceration and Criminal Justice Reform. According to her, the class surveys the historic and contemporary relationship between race and the U.S. criminal legal system.
“I believe that the students appreciate having a safe place to wrestle with nuanced subjects that impact each of us daily, even if in different ways,” she said.
She said the discussions allow them to see themselves not just as future lawyers, but as future thought leaders.
“I was so surprised; I cried, like ugly cried, because we all want to believe we are having a positive impact,” she said. “This award gives me some affirmation that my students know that I am committed to them.”
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2007 from Fisk University and a JD from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 2011.