Tania Tetlow


Tania Christina Tetlow is an American lawyer, law professor, and president of Loyola University New Orleans. On May 2, 2018, she was elected the first female and layperson to hold the position at Loyola.

Early life

Tetlow was raised in New Orleans, by her father, L. Mulry Tetlow, who was formerly a Jesuit priest, and her mother, Elisabeth. She attended Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans and was a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship. Tetlow attended Tulane University on a Dean's Honor Scholarship at age 16, and then graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. She was a Truman Fellow.

Career

While a student at Tulane, Tetlow served as an aide to former congresswoman and ambassador Lindy Boggs. After graduating from law school, she served as a law clerk to Judge James Dennis, United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, and from 1996-2000, she was an associate at Phelps Dunbar Law Firm in New Orleans, litigating complex commercial transactions, civil fraud, and representing journalists in first amendment issues. She then served as an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, prosecuting violent crimes and major narcotic cases.
In 2005, Tetlow became an Associate Professor and Director of Tulane's Domestic Violence Clinic, where students represented clients escaping violent relationships and protecting their children. She raised $2.3 million in federal grant funds for the clinic. Tetlow organized efforts for criminal justice reform in New Orleans for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and has advised several governments around the world. In 2014, she traveled to China as part of a U.S. State Department delegation people-to-people high level exchange. In addition to her involvements with law, she also helped raise $7 million to rebuild libraries following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Tetlow started her teaching career in 1998 as a part-time adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she taught a seminar on constitutional law and race. She rose to full professor at Tulane Law School and focused her scholarship on equal protection and jury discrimination against victims of crimes. Her research helped create new anti-discrimination policies at the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2015, Tetlow became the Associate Provost for International Affairs at Tulane. It was a newly created position to coordinate the university's international activities, programs and students.
Tetlow was appointed the Senior Vice-President and Chief of Staff at Tulane in 2015 and served as the top strategic advisor to the university's president, Michael Fitts. During her time in that role, the university's enrollment, retention and fundraising increased.
On May 2, 2018, Tetlow was elected as the 17th president of Loyola University New Orleans, following the retirement of Kevin Wildes, the previous president. She is the first female to become president of the university. In addition, she is the first non-Jesuit to hold the position; all of the previous presidents had been Jesuit priests.

Loyola Presidency

Tetlow was inaugurated as the 17th president of Loyola on November 16 at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in New Orleans. The inauguration was a two-day celebration that included a missioning mass, an on-campus student event, and the official ceremony. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, President Emeritus of Xavier University of Louisiana, Dr. Norman C. Francis, journalist and friend of Tetlow, Cokie Roberts, and Tulane President, Michael Fitts were among the guests who spoke at the inauguration ceremony.

Personal life

Tetlow married Gordon Stewart in 2009. She has a daughter and a stepson.

Awards

Top Fifteen Women in Business, National Diversity Council.
New Orleans Family Justice Center Champion.
Top Fifty Women Leaders, New Orleans City Business.
National Young Leader Award, National Urban League.
Public Service Award, New Orleans Association of Women Attorneys.
Tulane University President's Award for Graduate and Professional School Teaching.
Top Fifty Lawyers, City Business.
Cover of New Orleans Magazine as a Top Ten Woman Achiever.
Fellow of the British American Project.. One of 50 delegates chosen from both countries as young leaders.
Prosecutor of the Year, Victim and Citizens Against Crime.
Harry Truman Scholar.
National Merit Scholar.

Boards and Leadership Positions

Chair, Mayor's Advisory Committee on Response to Sexual Assault, 2014–present.

New Orleans Civil Service Commission, 2014–present.
Board Member, Tulane Hillel, 2015–present.
US Chair, British American Project, 2010-2012.
Chair of the Board, New Orleans Family Justice Center. 2011-2014.
Member, Women of the Storm, 2007–present.
Governor's Commission on Women's Policy. 2008-2012.
Chairperson, New Orleans Library Board and Foundation, 2003-2008.
Chair, Louisiana State Library Board, appointed by Ltn. Governor Landrieu. 2008-2010.
Transition Team on Criminal Justice for Governor Jindal, 2008.
President, Committee of 21, 1999. An organization committed to elected women to public office in New Orleans.

Publications and Presentations

“Criminalizing ‘Private’ Torture,” 58 William and Mary Law Review 183
“Solving Batson,” 56 William and Mary Law Review 1859.
“Granting Prosecutors Rights to Combat Discrimination.” 14 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law 1117.
“Why Batson Misses the Point: Focusing on Discrimination Against Jurors Instead of Discrimination By Jurors.” 97 Iowa Law Review 1713.
“Discriminatory Acquittal.” 18 William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal 75
“How Batson Spawned Shaw: Requiring the Government to Treat Citizens as Individuals When it Cannot.” 49 Loyola Law Review 133.
“The Founders and Slavery, A Crisis of Conscience.” 3 Loyola Journal of Public Interest Law 1
“Lindy Claiborne Boggs: Exercising Great Power by Giving Away All the Credit,” Louisiana Women in History, Volume II.
“Lindy and Me,” Newcomb College, 1886-2006, University of Georgia Press.