News Archive

Politics is part of what makes Alfred Degrafinreid II who he is. Degrafinreid envisioned working for an elected official after completing his legal education at IU McKinney; he’d done that after completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tennessee State University. It’s a goal he achieved and he’s still using the skills he developed working in that arena in his current role.

Degrafinreid, ’12, is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Local Government Relations and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He is committed to maintaining great “town-gown” relations with neighbors and community partners. He also oversees the lifelong learning program, and Vanderbilt University’s Dyer Observatory – both of which have outward facing obligations for two specific demographics.

In his university role, Degrafinreid also is responsible for lobbying efforts at the local level, which involves interaction with the Metropolitan Nashville Council, the fourth largest city council in the nation with 41 members including an elected vice mayor.  “What I like most about lobbying is representing a client,” Degrafinreid said, “learning what’s important to your client and having the opportunity to get legislation passed that can impact their work. In terms of lobbying in higher ed, my job is to make sure nothing is passed that can negatively impact the institution or the students.”

In Indiana, Degrafinreid’s first lobbying job was working for the Hoosier State Press Association and Executive Director and General Counsel Steve Key, ‘94. “You have to listen,” Degrafinreid says of lobbying work. “You have to be in the know and follow what’s going on and know how it applies.” Also, while in law school, he worked as a law clerk at a firm in Indianapolis and learned the traditional law firm path was not for him. “Not that it’s bad,” Degrafinreid said, “it just wasn’t for me. I’m really a policy person. What I love about policy is that the policy legislation comes from ideas. Somebody has an idea about something and that leads to a face-to-face meeting where you agree, disagree. I enjoy the banter and the back and forth.”

That politics is in Degrafinreid’s blood isn’t a surprise. He worked in the Tennessee General Assembly for a senator and the speaker pro tempore of the house prior to enrolling in law school. That experience is what lead him to law school. Degrafinreid said he admired the way the lawyers who worked in the legislature were adept at making laws. After completing his legal education, Degrafinreid worked as counsel for a Tennessee Congressman, worked as the chief deputy clerk and chief administrative officer for the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk in Tennessee, and served as the deputy campaign manager and political director for a U.S. Senate candidate in Tennessee.

His education at IU McKinney prepared him for his current role at Vanderbilt, Degrafinreid said. “The writing program is phenomenal,” he said. “It helped me become a better lobbyist.” Among the many professors he appreciated during his time at IU McKinney, Professor Florence Wagman Roisman stands out for her class on the Civil Rights movement and her class on housing discrimination. “After every class I took with her I left wanting to go out and do something great in public service,” Degrafinreid said.

One class he took during law school he never expected to be relevant: internet law. Degrafinreid describes himself as “not an IP person” but because he took that class, he was able to work on music legislation when he worked for a congressman from Tennessee after completing his legal education. His legal education allows him to “work on issues that stretch me,” he said.