Kelsey Rushing, Esq.
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BS, Political Science, 1994; MS, Political Science, 1996 |
How did USM prepare you to achieve your goals?
Being involved in various student organizations, I had to learn how to interact with
a diverse group of people. That skill is useful in my line of work. More than just
receiving my degrees, I learned organizational skills, how to negotiate, and the art
of diplomacy. Perhaps the most important thing was the friendships that I formed.
Those acquaintances developed not only into lifelong bonds but a very influential
professional network as well.
I earned a Juris Doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in
1999.
I spent several years in private practice beginning with Ferr Smith and Associates
in Canton, Mississippi. From there, I worked with Blackmon and Blackmon, PLLC, a founding
partner with Smith Rushing Cotton and Robinson, PLLC, and the Law Office of Kelsey
L. Rushing. I served as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Canton in 2009-2010.
I’m currently the Southern Region Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
I am also an Executive Board member of the USM Foundation Board of Directors. I’m
a member of the 100 Black Men of Canton, the Madison County Democratic Executive Committee,
the Magnolia Bar Association, the Mississippi Public Defenders Association, and the
Black Public Defenders Association.
What would you tell your younger self?
Stop stressing. You’ll be fine.
You are where you are today because some courageous and forward-thinking people opened doors for you to be in this space.
Words of wisdom to Black college students?
You are where you are today because some courageous and forward-thinking people opened
doors for you to be in this space. So, always be mindful of the doors you open and
bold in the spaces you create.
Was college worth the investment?
Yes. All education is worth the investment.
What was the most impactful topic covered in The Unheard Word?
It was the pieces on Clyde Kennard. As a history minor, the story was of special interest
to me. Also, being a Black student at a predominantly white institution in the early
1990s, the story of Mr. Kennard’s attempts to enroll at USM, and his subsequent arrest,
had a racially cognitive impact on me as well. Those articles raised the level of
social consciousness of the Black students on the campus. When Clyde Kennard’s conviction
was overturned in 2006, my initial thoughts went back to what I read in The Unheard Word.
➤ To comment on this spring 2021 article, visit the Center for Black Studies on Facebook.
➤ To give and support the Kennard Scholars, visit the USM Foundation.
