Terri Sewell

Terri Sewell, born in nineteen sixty-five, is a distinguished American politician and lawyer who has made significant strides in her career as the U.S. representative for Alabama's 7th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she has held this position since two thousand eleven, representing a district that encompasses much of the Black Belt and the predominantly African American areas of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa.

A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Sewell's academic journey is impressive. She earned her bachelor's degree from Princeton University, followed by a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. Additionally, she studied at St Hilda's College, Oxford, where she received a second bachelor's degree that was traditionally promoted to a Master of Arts.

Before her foray into politics, Sewell built a successful career as a securities lawyer at Davis Polk & Wardwell and later as a public finance lawyer at Maynard, Cooper & Gale. Notably, she was the first Black woman to achieve partnership at the latter firm, showcasing her trailblazing spirit in a predominantly male industry.

Terri Sewell holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman elected to Congress from Alabama. Alongside Republican Martha Roby, she was among the first women elected to Congress from the state in a regular election, marking a significant milestone in Alabama's political landscape.