Meet the OCS Staff

Freda Coleman-Jackson, Assistant Dean of Career Strategy. fcoleman-jackson@wlu.edu (540) 458-8536

Freda Coleman-Jackson graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 2009 and was the recipient of the Walter F. George Foundation Public Service Scholarship. During law school, she was an active member of the Legal Aid Volunteer Association and served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Also, she was an intern with Northwest Florida Legal Services and the Office of the Attorney General of Georgia. Following graduation, Ms. Coleman-Jackson began working in law school administration, specializing in admissions, career services, and student affairs. In 2014, she simultaneously launched a career consulting business and began doctoral studies in higher education and student affairs. Ms. Coleman-Jackson will provide general career advice and focused advice for students seeking careers in public interest and government law. Additionally, she will provide interview preparation assistance and document review.

Melanie Starks, Associate Director. mstarks@wlu.edu (540) 458-8356

Melanie Starks graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2006. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a litigation paralegal at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison in New York City and as an international trade paralegal at O'Melveny and Myers in Washington, D.C. Subsequently she moved to Chicago to begin her legal education. While in law school at Chicago-Kent, she was awarded the CALI award for legal writing in her first year and was the recipient of the Kent Justice Foundation Fellowship for public service in both her second and third years. Additionally, while attending law school, she interned at various public interest and government organizations including the Office of the State Appellate Defender and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. Upon graduation Ms. Starks relocated from Chicago to New Haven, where she joined Connecticut Legal Services. She practiced for five years in the Children at Risk Unit providing direct client representation in special education matters. In her role at Connecticut Legal Services, she also engaged in direct advocacy at the state legislature in addition to conducting community outreach through trainings and media presentations. For the past several years, since moving to the Roanoke area, Ms. Starks has been engaged in her community serving in various leadership roles with numerous non-profits and volunteer organizations. She brings her varied and unique perspective to the work she will do facilitating the professional development of both law students and alumni.

J. Caleb Simon, Assistant Director. jsimon@wlu.edu (540) 458-8534

Caleb Simon brings experience in career services, counseling, and workforce development to the Office of Career Strategy, having worked in higher education, K-12, and community settings. Caleb earned his Master of Education in Counselor Education from the University of Lynchburg and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), currently advancing towards licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia. Caleb provides tailored career advice to law students, with a focus on helping them navigate job search strategies, document development, professional development, preparing for interviews and skill-building for successful legal careers.

Daniela Wallace, Senior Recruitment Coordinator. dwallace@wlu.edu - (540)458-8535

Daniela brings a diverse background in marketing, administration, and nonprofit leadership to the Office of Career Strategy. She holds an MBA with a cognate in Non-Profit Leadership and Management from Liberty University, as well as a bachelor's degree in marketing. Daniela has experience supporting executive leadership, coordinating volunteer programs, and managing marketing and data projects in both nonprofit and corporate settings. She joined Washington and Lee University in 2025 and currently supports employer engagement and recruiting operations, event coordination, and career development programming for law students. Fluent in Spanish and English, Daniela is passionate about student services, cross-cultural engagement, and strategic communication.

2025-2026 Rachford Fellows

Rachford Fellows serve as the liaisons between the OCS staff and the student body. As peer counselors, Rachford Fellows connect more easily with law students, removing some of the barriers that kept students from benefiting from OCS guidance. Rachford Fellows increase student engagement, provide a social media presence, improve communication and feedback from students, generate creative programming ideas, foster professional development, and perform critical document review.

• Lindsay Lankau
• Guy Mannick
• John Reynolds

Office Information

Washington and Lee University School of Law
Office of Career Strategy 
Sydney Lewis Hall 
Lexington, VA 24450   
Phone (540) 458-8535  
Fax (540) 458-8168