Success Stories, Alumni

Trevecca Grad Accepted as a Fellow of International Academy of Family Lawyers

Trevecca graduate Virginia J. Connell has been accepted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).

IAFL is a worldwide association of practicing lawyers who are recognized by their peers as the most experienced and expert family law specialists in their respective countries, and membership is by invitation. IAFL was formed in 1986 as the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers to improve the practice of law and administration of justice in the area of divorce and family law throughout the world. The USA Chapter currently has more than 370 Fellows from 39 states. Connell is one of just six fellows in Tennessee.

She is a 2005 cum laude graduate of Trevecca with a B.A. in management and human relations. Connell received her J.D. from Nashville School of Law in 2010.  Prior to completing law school, Connell was a paralegal for 12 years, including 2 years as a paralegal for Child Support Services of Davidson County.

Connell was also inducted as a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation this fall. The Nashville Bar Foundation Fellows Program was established as a way for the bar to honor its colleagues who have contributed significantly to the community. Fellows are selected by their colleagues. Each "class" of Fellows is limited to approximately 2% of the bar in Nashville.

A member of the Nashville Bar Association, Connell serves as the chairperson for its domestic relations committee. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Lawyers’ Association for Women: Marion Griffin Chapter, Williamson County Bar Association, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, John Marshall American Inn of Courts and Middle Tennessee Collaborative Alliance.

Trevecca Nazarene University is a Christian university in the heart of Nashville focused on preparing students for lives of leadership and service.  Founded in 1901, Trevecca is committed to holistic education that encourages students to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  In addition to its historic main campus near downtown Nashville, Trevecca offers two other locations across Tennessee, and online classes worldwide. Trevecca has been recognized as a national university by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges; as a doctoral university by the Carnegie Foundation; and as the #2 school in Tennessee for bachelor’s degree graduate salaries by GradReports.

With students from 47 states and 39 countries, Trevecca offers 20 associate degrees, 81 undergraduate majors, 25 master’s programs, and three doctoral programs as well as specialist and certificate programs.


Media Contact: Brian Bennett, bwbennett2@trevecca.edu