Rhianna Shabsin
Assistant Dean for Admission

About Me
I’m a native Tennessean, but I lived in South Carolina and Chicago for nine years before my family returned to Tennessee, where I attended middle school and high school. I earned my B.A. in urban studies at Rhodes College in Memphis (barbeque and blues, anyone?) and afterward taught second grade for two years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of Teach for America. After that, I moved up to the Washington, D.C., area and worked in publishing for four years before coming to William & Mary to attend law school. While in law school, I was a member of the William and Mary Law Review, volunteered with America Reads, competed on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, and was one of four student lawyers in the Center for Legal and Court Technology’s 2010 Lab Trial. I also interned at the NASA Langley Office of Chief Counsel and with the United States Attorney’s Office in Tennessee. William & Mary allowed me to have experiences I couldn’t have had anywhere else!

Why William & Mary?
Every law school provides a legal education, but not everylaw school does so in a beautiful historic setting with friendly classmates and at a great price! William & Mary had everything I was looking for – rigorous academics, a collegial atmosphere, and close proximity to some of the nation’s leading cities.

My Williamsburg Favorites
Walks through Colonial Williamsburg in the winter (fewer tourists!), the farmers’ market on Saturday morning in the summer, catching a matinee at the Movie Tavern and then heading out to the outlets for some great deals, and, of course, Busch Gardens. Even after living here for several years, I’m still discovering new things – just one of the many great aspects of life in Williamsburg!