Dr. Shanita Pettaway

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Pettaway’s higher education journey started after graduating as valedictorian of her high school and receiving a full-tuition scholarship to attend Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (Alabama A&M University). Dr. Pettaway earned a BS in business administration, graduating summa cum laude and with the highest academic average in her major. She later earned a dual JD and Master of Public Administration from Southern University Law Center and Southern University and A&M College on a scholarship. At Auburn University, she earned a Master of Education in administration of higher education, a graduate certificate in college and university teaching, and a PhD in administration of higher education with a 4.0 GPA. Her dissertation, “To Comply or Not To Comply? That Is Not The Question: A Multi-Content Analysis of Title IX Policies at Historically Black Land Grant Universities” examined Title IX policy compliance across three historically Black universities. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Dr. Pettaway currently works as a graduate faculty member in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at the University of South Alabama, where she formerly served as the University Pre-Law Advisor. In this role, Dr. Pettaway’s passion for molding future legal professionals reached far beyond the classroom. She introduced a number of first-time initiatives, including “Ask an Advisor: The Pre-Law Edition” Series, “Lunch and Learn: The Pre-Law Edition” Education & Awareness Event Series, and “Virtual Talk About It Tuesday” Pre-Law Event Series. She also facilitated the creation of standing committees, including Community Involvement, Fundraising, and Women In Pre-Law (WIPL), and steps to coordinate a free online mock LSAT for pre-law students. She also incorporated the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator into advising conversations to help students reflect on potential legal pathways.

Dr. Pettaway has served in several other leadership roles, including Associate Dean for Student Rights and Responsibilities at the University of West Florida and Director of Title IX Compliance and Title IX Coordinator at the University of Arkansas. She also served as the Acting Title IX Coordinator and Contracts Manager & Policy Coordinator at Columbus State University, where she served the Office of General Counsel. She also held a part-time graduate faculty appointment in the Department of Teaching, Leadership, and Counseling, having taught higher education law and ethics, as well as a perspectives course at Auburn University and the Legal Division of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. 

Dr. Pettaway currently serves as an Editor for the Open Access Journal of Criminology Investigation & Justice, a member of the Journal of Education and Training Studies’ Editorial Board, and a member of the International Journal of Law and Public Administration’s Editorial Review Board. She has also been recognized by Mobile Bay Magazine as a 2025 40 Under 40 honoree and received the 2024 Dr. Glenn Sebastian Faculty Member of the Year Award from the University of South Alabama Student Government Association.

As an admissions coach, Dr. Pettaway has turned her own educational journey into a source of inspiration for others and uses her experience as a faculty member to inform her approach. Her classroom blends the rigor of law school with mentorship and care, ensuring students are confident, well-prepared, and supported as they take their first steps toward a legal career. Fundamental to Dr. Pettaway's teaching philosophy is leading students to visualize themselves as legal professionals before they ever set foot on a law school campus. By integrating the rigor and structure of the law school curriculum, her classes capture the very essence of what “pre-law” means.

Dr. Pettaway’s unwavering support and profound care for students leave a lasting impact on their academic and professional journeys. Her efforts and passion encourage students to grow and succeed, leading to confident future legal professionals. She has mentored students accepted to law schools across Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and beyond. 

Outside of her academic and professional work, Dr. Pettaway is a self-proclaimed “lover of all things extra.” She enjoys channeling her creativity into fashion and design, including designing her own clothing and home decor.