ABOUT AISHA

Over the last decade, Aisha McWeay has served in varied training, coaching and mentoring capacities within indigent defense and community organizations throughout the nation. In recognition of her contributions to public defense, in July 2017 she was awarded the Stephen B. Bright award from Gideon's Promise.

Aisha is a career public defender and indigent defense advocate. Prior to assuming the Executive Director role at Still She Rises in February 2019, Aisha served as the Deputy Public Defender for Nashville-Davidson County, where she began her career as a law clerk. Aisha remains committed to causes that align with strengthening and sustaining high-quality indigent defense while empowering and supporting client communities.

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Aisha graduated summa cum laude from Clark Atlanta University, where she majored in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. Aisha serves as adjunct faculty for the University of Virginia Law School and Vanderbilt University Law School, where she obtained her law degree and recently served as the 2021-22 George Barrett Distinguished Practitioner in Residence. 

 

Current Board Affiliations:

American Council of Chief Defenders, Chair

National Legal Aid & Defender Association, Board Member

Vanderbilt Law School, Board of Advisors Member

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