In 2018, Greg Roseboro (J.D.’87) (fourth from left), who was then the executive director of the law school’s admissions and diversity programs, received the UGA President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award. Celebrating the recognition with him were law school staff and graduates: (l. to r.) Xavier Brown (J.D.’17), Mehrsa Baradaran, Dean Bo Rutledge, Jenna Jackson (J.D.’14), Lonnie Brown and Dominique Holloman (J.D.’04). Photo by UGA Marketing and Communications.

For nearly 30 years, Gregory L. “Greg” Roseboro (J.D.’87) has been one of the most public-facing individuals representing the School of Law due to his role of recruiting the best and the brightest to study law in Athens. It is estimated that during his tenure he has recruited and mentored roughly 6,000 students while serving under four deans.

Roseboro, who excelled as a scholarship track athlete and earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees from UGA, joined the law school staff in 1994. He said he viewed his assistant director position, which included an emphasis on minority students, as a great opportunity to work at his alma mater.

Noting he was one of the first Black professional staff members at the school, he said: “Everyone on the faculty and administration was open to me being here. I had a voice from the beginning. … I was just hoping to be a part of a team working to make the law school a great place.”

Roseboro assumed the helm of the law school’s admissions operation in 2015. Three years later diversity programs was formally added to his portfolio of responsibilities and in another two he was awarded the title of assistant dean for admissions, diversity and inclusion & strategic initiatives.

Over the years, the School of Law has benefitted from Roseboro’s unique perspective as he has been a student, an alumnus, an administrator and a faculty member. His work has also spanned many of the school’s most critical areas: admissions, career services, student affairs, community outreach and teaching.

Roseboro said he has made helping others – faculty, staff, fellow graduates and especially students – a priority.

He has been the advisor for the Davenport-Benham Black Law Students Association, the Asian Law Students Association, the Hispanic Law Students Association and the OUTLaw student organization. He said he actively encouraged student groups with different philosophies to find common ground and produce balanced viewpoints in their individual and combined programming.

Roseboro added that he has met and worked with “some amazing people” during his time at the law school, recalling that he had counseled numerous former students to find ways to make a difference in society. A few examples include:  Jason Carter (J.D.’04), Stacey Godfrey Evans (J.D.’03), Francys Johnson (J.D.’04), Carla Wong McMillian (J.D.’98), Ceasar Mitchell (J.D.’95) and Phaedra Parks (J.D.’98).

Commencement is among the law school’s standout events for Roseboro. “To see students complete what has been a dream for years for so many of them is always special, and I remember my own.”

When asked about the changes he has witnessed during his time at the law school, Roseboro said they have been many. “The physical structure has changed. The credentials of our students have increased, although UGA has always attracted a high-quality student.” He noted the biggest change is perhaps to the school’s facilities, saying “the buildings now reflect the rich history and diversity of the law school.”

Roseboro remembers Hirsch Hall being the very first building he entered on the UGA campus back in 1980, when he met with the late Professor Larry Blount to discuss coming to Athens to be a student athlete, earn his undergraduate degree and possibly attend law school. He said it is very fitting that Hirsch Hall will be his exiting point approximately four decades later.

In retirement, Roseboro plans to spend time with his family, join the senior bowling league, travel and “do a lot of fishing.”

Roseboro’s commitment and dedication to the thousands he has recruited to the law school, the hundreds he has directly mentored and the dozens he has worked alongside are being recognized with the creation of a scholarship that will carry his name. To learn more, please contact the Office of Law School Advancement at (706) 542-7959 or email [email protected].