Our Leadership

R. Romona Jackson, Esq.
Founding President and CEO

The Women’s Advocacy Center was chartered in 2018 by R. Romona Jackson. Romona has been a licensed Tennessee attorney since 2010. As a practicing attorney, she represented clients with gender-based asylum claims at her immigration law firm, Jackson & Hurst, LLC. Romona has also represented women in family law matters through the Memphis Public Interest Law Center. In that role, she secured orders of protection for victims of domestic abuse.

A recipient of the Irvin Bogatin Social Justice Award in 2009, Romona has worked to give voice to vulnerable individuals in the U.S. and abroad.

In 2014 while living in Krakow, Poland, she co-founded "Unchained", a grassroots, human rights organization to raise awareness about human trafficking in Central Europe.

Before her law career, Romona had a

16-year business career at International Paper. As a business professional, she worked in various roles of increasing responsibility earning the Chairman's Award and other recognition.

For almost thirty years, Romona has served the Memphis community. She has volunteered as a CASA with the Shelby County Juvenile Court, a mentor with a Memphis charter school, a pro bono attorney with Memphis Area Legal Services and the Community Legal Center, a ministry leader in her church, and as a dedicated member of local civic and nonprofit organizations.

Romona, a survivor of domestic abuse, speaks in the community on the impact of trauma due to adverse childhood experiences. She offers thoughtful approaches to addressing domestic abuse in a holistic manner. Romona also shares insight on issues concerning children, women, and nonprofit leaders.

She is the best-selling author of Starting and Serving, Your Personal Guide to Launching a Successful New Career as a Nonprofit Leader. Her story of faith and perseverance has been told in Canvas Rebel magazine, the Commercial Appeal, Tour Collierville magazine, Voyager magazine, the Re-new-all blog, and on podcasts for Her Town and cityCURRENT.

To request her as your speaker, complete this form.