Biography

Tracy L Simmons is the Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at Howard University School of Law. Prior to joining Howard University School of Law, Tracy L. Simmons worked for the University of San Diego School of Law as the Assistant Dean of Admissions, Financial Aid and Diversity Initiatives and she also worked for the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, as the Senior Assistant Dean for Admissions, Diversity Initiatives and Financial Aid. Along with two other law schools.

Additionally, Simmons has served as a consultant for the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Achieving Success in the Application Process program for over 15 years. She is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), serving as the Chair of the Pre-Legal Education and Admissions to Law School Section twice and as the Chair for the Part-Time Section. She has also served on the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Consumer Information and Law Student Information Task Force. Simmons also serves on the California System Involved Bar Association.

Most recently, Simmons is a co-founder of the Womxn of Color Collective for law schools professionals, co-chair of the newly formed Legal Professions Chapter of the National Association of Diversity Professional in Higher Education (NADOHE) has joined USD Law’s Children’s Advocacy Institute Council for Children (CAI) and is now a Board of Director with the nonprofit Barrier Breakers, Inc.

Simmons has been involved with the Law School Admission Council in a variety of roles, including serving on the Board of Trustees and as Chair for the Annual Meeting of Law School Professionals for the hybrid LSAC Annual Meeting in Florida in 2021. Other roles include serving on the Services and Programs Committee, the Forum Review Work Group, the Newcomers Workshop Planning Work Group, where she was chair; the Diversity Committee, the Annual Meeting and Educational Conference Planning Work Group, the Finance and Legal Affairs Committee and the 2018 Nominating Committee. She has also served as an appointee-at-large on the Board of Trustees and as trustee liaison to the Test Development and Research Committee, the Finance and Legal Affairs Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Simmons’ last committee was a two-year term on the Services and Candidates Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) between 2014 and 2022, serving as President and Program Chair.

Simmons is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. Simmons has a BA in Psychology with a minor in African American Studies and MA Education with an emphasis Multicultural Counseling from San Diego State University and earned her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.