A Legacy Continues With a New Voice: Southern Education Foundation Announces its Distinguished Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow
Atlanta, GA — The Southern Education Foundation (SEF) has selected Shelby Singleton as its 2026 – 2028 Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellow, building on the organization’s 159-year commitment to advancing thoughtful, research-informed policy and legal work in support of access to high-quality educational opportunities for all across the South.
The Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship supports early-career attorneys whose work sits at the intersection of education policy, advocacy, and public interest law. During the two-year fellowship, Singleton will contribute to policy research, legislative engagement, and impact litigation focused on public education and related legal issues in Southern states.
Singleton earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University as a Posse Foundation Scholar, then attended the University of Virginia School of Law. During law school, she worked closely with youth organizers and state policymakers on legislation addressing juvenile court fines and fees and gained experience in public service and legal advocacy through roles with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
“Shelby brings the kind of commitment and focus that this fellowship was created to support,” said Raymond Pierce, President and CEO of the Southern Education Foundation. “While early in her legal career, she has taken on substantial work that signals a deep understanding of the law, commitment to education justice and public service across the South.”
As a Lynn Walker Huntley Fellow, Singleton will engage in education-focused legal and policy work for SEF. The fellowship also allows for collaborative education civil rights work with other organizations, including Brown’s Promise, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Education Law Center. The fellowship emphasizes applied experience, mentorship, and collaboration with advocates and policymakers.
Established in honor of Lynn Walker Huntley, a nationally respected leader in education and civil rights law, the fellowship reflects SEF’s continued investment in developing legal talent equipped to navigate the complex policy landscape shaping public education in the South. Singleton will begin her fellowship in September 2026.
More information about the Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship is available at southerneducation.org/lwh-fellowship.