New alumni leadership on deck toward True North

Elvin J. Sutton Jr. 00L has been elected Emory Law Alumni Board president. Sutton spoke at graduation this May and has expressed excitment at taking on this new leadership role.

Sutton is an accomplished attorney and corporate executive with more than twenty-five years of corporate legal experience. He is a proud graduate of Morehouse College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Emory University School of Law where he earned his juris doctor. He has a passion for empowering others and mentoring students and professionals alike.

His impact and legacy of helping others to reach their fullest potential has been seen at all levels, from students in high school, college, and law school to junior attorneys and seasoned professionals. He is a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, and a civic board member with extensive leadership skills and experience. As the director of real estate legal for Chick-fil-A, Inc., Sutton leads a team of legal professionals responsible for the development of new Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the Midwest and Southeast.

As entrepreneurs, Elvin and his wife Kimberly are owners of Class 101 Peachtree City College Planning where they provide comprehensive college planning services to high school students to help them reach their fullest potential.

As the father of two young adult sons, he says he knows firsthand the guidance and encouragement that young people need to be able to walk into their futures with confidence and purpose.

Elvin's civic board leadership includes serving as the corporate liaison for the Executive Committee of the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section.

New Board member

As Sutton takes on Board leadership, he welcomes a new board member in Marcus Sandifer 15L 17L. Sandifer is of counsel at Taft, Atlanta. He is the former senior vice president of business and legal affairs, general counsel, and corporate secretary at Celsius, Inc. His career took off with Gatorade, a PepsiCo brand, where he discovered a passion for fostering inclusive organizational cultures and promoting diversity while serving as a senior human resources manager and a leader in the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

With substantial experience in branding, marketing, and sales, Sandifer also contributed to Nestle's success, working on premium imported water brands such as Perrier, Acqua Panna, and San Pellegrino.

Driven by a deep commitment to serving people, Sandifer pursued a juris master and juris doctor degree from Emory University School of Law. During his time at Emory Law, he excelled academically as a Sutherland Scholar, Dean's Fellow, and vice president of the Student Bar Association. His dedication and achievements were further recognized as he was awarded the title of Most Outstanding Third-Year Student. He has since earned the Young Alumni Award and has been named one of Emory’s 40 Under 40.