Board Members

DeShauna N. Lee, Esq. is the Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) at Foley Hoag, where she provides strategic and managerial support to advance the firm’s DE&I initiatives. Although she does not practice law in the traditional sense, DeShauna embodies the best traits of an attorney – strategic thought, integrity, and grit – to advocate for the inclusion, representation, and advancement of underrepresented groups within the legal sphere. With a career spanning various industries, including housing, legal, government, and healthcare, DeShauna brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every space she inhabits.

Civically engaged and action-oriented, DeShauna was recently appointed DE&I Managing Director for the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD). In this role, she leads a team dedicated to promoting diversity within the legal profession and ensuring equitable opportunities for all lawyers. Her influence extends to the Nominating Committee for The Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP), where she identifies and evaluates candidates for board positions and contributes to the annual planning of the organization’s conference, reinforcing her commitment to advancing diversity within the legal profession.

DeShauna’s dedication to equity is further demonstrated through her role on NASA’s Astrophysics Division Inclusion Panel, where she ensures that the proposed research adheres to the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA). At Foley Hoag, she is an active participant in the Foley Hoag Foundation, contributing to initiatives that advocate for equity and social justice across racial, ethnic, gender, and wealth disparities in Greater Boston, New York City, metropolitan Washington, D.C., and Denver.

Maintaining strong ties to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, DeShauna is involved with the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, Cleveland’s Black Bar Association. As Chief of Staff, she mediates disputes and ideates initiatives that align with the association’s mission. She also collaborates with Cleveland State University College of Law to increase bar passage rates for students of color, providing coaching and mentoring as they prepare for the bar exam. Finally, DeShauna is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority.

DeShauna’s previous roles include serving as a commissioner on the Black Girls Commission in Columbus, Ohio, under Councilmember Priscilla Tyson’s leadership, and as a board member at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio, advocating for the protection of civil liberties. She also served on the board of Lettuce Work, a non-profit dedicated to providing training and employment opportunities for adults with autism.

DeShauna credits her willingness to serve to her humble beginnings and being the baby sister of her brother who is on the autism spectrum. A proud native of Cleveland, DeShauna is a graduate of Cleveland State University College of Law and Baldwin Wallace University, where she majored in Psychology and Diversity Studies. She looks forward to continuing her service as a board member and building community with other Black women attorneys in her area.

DeShauna credits her unwavering dedication to service to her humble beginnings and the profound influence of her older brother, who is on the autism spectrum. A proud native of Cleveland, she is a graduate of Cleveland State University College of Law and Baldwin Wallace University, where she majored in Psychology and Diversity Studies. DeShauna is deeply honored to serve as a board member and is excited to collaborate with other dynamic powerhouses on the board to propel MBWA's mission forward. She looks forward to making a lasting impact with the leaders and members, driving meaningful change with passion and purpose.