91 Millennium - Twenty-fourth Edition LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT LEAD INVESTIGATOR Providence External Review Authority Providence, RI SENIOR CORPORATE PARALEGAL Rees Broome, PC Tysons Corner, VA JOHN P. A’VANT John P. A’Vant was raised in poverty in a white community, where, as a young Black man, he often experienced racism and discrimination. After overcoming challenging racial barriers, he earned a BA in economics from the University of Rhode Island. At age 30, he applied to the Rhode Island State Police. Mr. A’Vant was the only Black recruit to graduate from the state police academy in 1990. He spent over 18 years in the detective bureau, where he was federally assigned to the FBI and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. Mr. A’Vant retired in 2015 at the rank of detective lieutenant. He went on to obtain criminal justice degrees from Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University. Today, Mr. A’Vant is the lead investigator for the Providence External Review Authority, an external review board for the city’s police department. He reviews internal affairs investigations, community complaints, policies, procedures and agency regulations. Additionally, he is the founder and president of the Rhode Island Guardians Association, established in 2017 to advocate for minority police officers and strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color. With over 25 years of excellence in the legal industry, Michelle D. Jackson has thrived as a senior corporate paralegal at Rees Broome, PC since 2025. Playing a crucial role in the firm’s daily operations by drafting transactional documents for attorney review, she previously worked at A&O Shearman (formerly Allen & Overy) in Washington, DC, as well as served as a corporate and real estate paralegal at Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs, PC, for nearly 10 years. Ms. Jackson commenced her legal career in 1997 as a legal assistant. Prior to entering the legal field, she served for nearly eight years in the U.S. Army and was a paralegal in the JAG Corps before becoming a commissioned officer in the MP Corps. While working full-time as a corporate and transactional paralegal, she earned a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Phoenix in 2005, which she cites as a career highlight. Ms. Jackson was recognized among the 2025 Influential Women Series with the Trailblazer in Law and Military Service awards. Looking ahead, she aims to serve as a mentor and trainer of both paralegals and attorneys. MICHELLE D. JACKSON, MCIS
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