Uncrowned Community Builders

Personal: Born in Washington, D.C. Married to Dr. Keith Jenkins

Current Place of Residence: Penfield NY

Occupation: Attorney

Education: B.A., The American University; J.D., Catholic University of America

Community/ Organization/Club/Volunteer Activities:
New Life Fellowship
Rochester Womenââ?¬â?¢s Network
Children Awaiting Parents, Inc.
Corporate Counsel Women of Color
International Trademark Association
Association of Corporate Counsel
Jordan Health Center

Area of Accomplishment:
Terria Jenkins is living ââ?¬Å?on purpose and with purpose.ââ?¬ She has been fortunate to pursue both her professional and personal goals while also living a balanced life focused on family, church and community endeavors. She has achieved her ââ?¬Å?dream jobââ?¬ of being a corporate lawyer for a Fortune 500 company. She also is a leader in her church, New Life Fellowship, where she played an integral role in the transformation of the church to a small group-based pastoral care model that includes the following: lay leadership training programs; curriculum development; program implementation; womenââ?¬â?¢s life group leadership and other key initiatives.

Awards/Honors:
Frederick Douglass Scholar, The American University
Marriott Corporation Scholar, The American University
The Bennett Cup (for excellence in Trial Advocacy), Catholic University of America
Vice Chancellor, Moot Court Board, Catholic University of America

Biographical Sketch:
Born in Washington D.C., Terria is the oldest of four siblings and the only girl. She is a third generation Washingtonian and the first in her family to achieve a professional degree. She has a strong sense of family and has enjoyed a legacy of family commitment. She grew up in a traditional family setting and was privileged to spend a great deal of time with her maternal and paternal grandparents who imparted valuable life skills practical wisdom, a strong value system and a solid sense of ethics that have serve as building blocks and part of the foundation of her life.

Terria has lived her life focusing on being accomplished while also being well- rounded and balanced. She has lived with a sense of adventure and creativity, deciding to take non-traditional approaches to many of lifeââ?¬â?¢s activities and refusing to accept conventional wisdom unconditionally. She describes herself as having taken the ââ?¬Å?scenic routeââ?¬ through the legal profession by having worked in many different settings, both public and private and in a variety of practice areas, most recently the Managing Counsel & Chief Trademark Counsel for Carestream Health, Inc.

Terriaââ?¬â?¢s prior experience also includes serving as Trademark Counsel for Eastman Kodak Company where principally she supported the digital, internet-related and other non-traditional product and service offerings. Her primary responsibilities at Kodak were to oversee and protect the Companyââ?¬â?¢s worldwide rights in non-patent Intellectual Property. She handled a broad range of trademark and copyright matters including branding and identity issues, brand licensing, domain name and portfolio management, as well as advertising and promotion legal matters. Prior to joining Kodak, Terria worked for the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a Trademark Examining Attorney. Terria began her legal career at the District of Columbia Superior Court where she served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Russell F. Canan handling both civil and criminal matters. Thereafter, she worked as a Criminal Trial Attorney with the Maryland State Public Defenders Office.

Terria enjoys actively participating in the Rochester Community. She has taught courses and lectured on trademark matters and legal issues for organizations including the International Trademark Association and the National Bar Association. She also was an Instructor in Kodakââ?¬â?¢s Legal Academy. Terria enthusiastically serves and participates in a variety of professional and community organizations. She is a lay minister at her church, New Life Fellowship, where she passionately serves in a variety of programs and ministries. She also conducts workshops in the community and enjoys mentoring and developing high potential leaders, both young and old.

Terriaââ?¬â?¢s highest value is her deep faith in God. This faith and her relationship with the strong women in her life, particularly her mother and grandmother have both grounded and given her direction to live a sensible, purpose driven and passionate life. It is this sense of being balanced that enables Terria to overcome lifeââ?¬â?¢s challenges with grace and dignity.

How Others Might Describe you: Unpretentious, down to earth, humorous, loyal, passionate and friendly

Response to Adversity, Challenges and Negative Representations: Press though obstacles, opposition, frustration and disappointments with the understanding of who you are and knowing what your purpose in life is. Understand the need to be ââ?¬Å?as wise a serpent yet as gentle as a doveââ?¬ in order to make win-win situations. Move yourself forward and forge alliances and partnerships.

How Other Women can Support African American (AA) Women: Let who you are be a bridge rather than a barrier. Understand that we are all created equal by God and, at least in America, we are all entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is time to come & reason together. Letââ?¬â?¢s come to the table with forgiveness and without malice and begin to move toward healing all women and all people.

Favorite Quote: ââ?¬Å?. . . do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."
Holy Bible, Micah 6:8

Favorite Book: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Favorite AA Female Activist: Harriet Tubman

Favorite AA Contemporary Figures: Condoleezza Rice, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama



The above biographical sketch was researched by Amanda Shisler in partial fulfillment for the re-
quirements of WGST 400- ASSUME[D] the POSITION[S]: Re/Dis/unCovering Resistance & Resilience in the lack Female Body.

Amanda Shisler:
I am a junior at St. John Fisher College where I am a double major in corporate finance and accounting with a minor in Womenââ?¬â?¢s and Gender Studies (WGST). I also am a First Generation Scholar and tutor at Two Doors Community Resource Center. Currently I serve as a Teacher Assistant in the finance department, a student ambassador and a member of the student conduct committee. Previously I was the captain of the Fisher Varsity Cheerleading Team, a student athlete representative, and a WGST Club officer. Starting in January I will be a resident assistant and interning at Kasperski Owen and Dinan CPAs, LLC.

The course title Assume[d] the Position[s]:Re/dis/uncovering Resistance & Resilience in the Black Female Body was created from the interjection ââ?¬Å?Assume the position!ââ?¬ Assumed Positions refer to the myths, stereotypes, and controlling/disfigured images that often have characterized Black womenââ?¬â?¢s lives. Students in the course analyze the representation, resistance, resilience, and reimagination of Black women in America by interrogating the historical and contemporary issues of their colonization, marginalization and subjugation. The course is grounded in Black feminist/womanist theories, enhanced by the use of fiction, non-fiction, films, discussion, and distinguished speakers including UQââ?¬â?¢s Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold. Students explore the work, contributions and agency of early feminists, as well as contemporary scholar-activists and Black women leaders in the Greater Rochester community. The course was created & taught by Dr. Arlette Miller Smith (asmith@sjfc.edu), a contributor to Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady.