F&M Stories

Latosha Dexter has been appointed to serve as Franklin & Marshall's new general counsel. She began her duties at F&M Jan. 24.

Dexter was selected for her new position after a highly competitive national search. As a member of President Barbara Altmann's senior staff, she will provide legal advice and counsel to administrators, faculty, professional staff, and F&M's Board of Trustees.

Dexter is only the second general counsel in the College's history. She comes to F&M from the University of Memphis, where she was deputy university counsel for nearly seven years, providing legal advice and counsel to university administrators and staff for a campus of more than 21,000 students. Prior to that, she worked for more than five years at the regional law firm of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere and Bell, where her practice focused on advising and representing both private and public institutions in a variety of governmental, employment and educational matters.

In 2006, Dexter left the practice of law for three years to work in human resources at Federal Express Corp., where she was responsible for advising management in FedEx's nationally recognized human resources department and developing and monitoring employee relations' processes. She received the Federal Express Human Resources Award of Excellence for her work.

"Latosha's experience at both FedEx and the University of Memphis, as well as her national certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, have shaped her people-focused approach to practicing law," Altmann said. "She made clear in the interview process that she is committed to a vision of preventative law, which cultivates a culture of compliance and collaboration for the common good. I look forward to working with her and exploring the many ways that her talents and experience can move F&M forward."

"I am honored to join President Altmann's team and collaborate across campus to help shape the next generation to meet the challenges of the future," Dexter said. "I consider myself a collaborative partner rather than just legal counsel. My practice has always focused on building relationships, so the College's concept of 'Together, we create the way forward' aligns well with both my professional and personal outlook."

Dexter earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University and her juris doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a member of the Tennessee Law Review and the Black Law Students Association. She was a member of Inside Memphis Business's Next Gen Leaders inaugural class in 2014 and has been recognized as one of Memphis Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40.

She also is a graduate of the Leadership Memphis Executive Program and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer's Rising Star in the area of employment litigation defense. She frequently speaks at conferences and seminars about effective management, human resources, and employment law.