WSSU graduate Ashtyn Jackson becomes first student to attend Wake Forest Law through new partnership
Ashtyn Jackson, a 2025 Winston-Salem State University graduate, works as a writing consultant in Learning Support Services. This fall, Jackson will enter the Wake Forest University School of Law.
In October 2024, WSSU and WFU’s School of Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding that creates a pathway for WSSU students to matriculate into the law school’s full-time residential juris doctor program. The agreement engages Wake Forest School of Law to admit up to two WSSU students into its program each admission cycle, with each receiving a scholarship of no less than $35,000 per academic year for up to three years.
Jackson, a Greensboro native who earned her bachelor’s degree in justice studies, with a concentration in global justice and law and a minor in data science, said being accepted to Wake Forest’s law school is a blessing.
“I applied to Wake Forest and to North Carolina Central University’s law school,” Jackson said. “I remember praying, ‘God, if this is what you want for me, if this is from you, make it happen,’ and God just kept showing up.”
She was also accepted at NCCU but chose Wake Forest in large part because of how welcomed she felt during a campus visit – not to mention the significant financial support the agreement provides.
Jackson is the middle of five children and youngest daughter of Derrick and Kenya Jackson. Sadly, her mother passed away during her freshman year. “School is what kept me going,” Jackson said. “The grieving process, after feeling numb after losing someone, is so big. My friends that I met here at WSSU kept me grounded. And God kept me grounded, of course.”
Jackson said WSSU professors, staff and even fellow classmates helped prepare her to attend one of the country’s most prestigious law schools. WSSU has felt like “home” since her initial campus visit, she said.
“Winston-Salem State University, in hindsight, gave me the space to grow and develop into the young woman I wanted to be,” Jackson said. “Not just from an academic standpoint but also socially by affording me the opportunity to join clubs and organizations that allowed me to be myself and to step into leadership roles to challenge myself. And, of course, being at an HBCU it’s so refreshing to be surrounded by other bright, talented Black youth who are all reaching their goals.”
While many people at WSSU poured into her and helped her achieve success, Jackson said she would be remiss if she didn’t publicly mention Dr. Denise Nation, Dr. Jack S. Monell, Dr. Radscheda R. Nobles and Professor Dominique Johnson. And she said she’s grateful for WSSU Chancellor Bonita Brown, who earned both her undergraduate and juris doctor degrees from Wake Forest University, for spearheading the agreement in the first place.
“God has truly kept me through this entire journey, and without him none of this would be possible,” Jackson said. “I am so grateful to God for this opportunity and every future endeavor. With every achievement I have made and will make, all glory belongs to God.”
“As a proud alumna of Wake Forest University School of Law, it brings me great joy to see one of our own Rams take this same path,” said Chancellor Bonita Brown. “This partnership was created to expand opportunity and remove financial barriers for our students. Watching it deliver on its promise with our first scholar affirms the power of collaboration and that when we build intentional bridges, our students will cross them.”
WSSU alumna Trinity Henderson has also been accepted to Wake Forest’s School of Law under the agreement, as well as four additional law schools, but hasn’t yet announced where she will attend.
