By Dana Sleger//
At just 33 years old, Shundral Cole is one accomplished woman. In her role as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Department of Justice in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, she is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes committed in the Southern region.
Cole has worked hard to get where she is today, and her extensive resume is impressive, but part of what makes her a powerhouse of a person is her humility and appreciation to those whose steps she follows.
“I’ve been blessed to have some amazing mentors who have guided me through my professional and personal life,” Cole says. “All that I’ve accomplished in my life has been because someone went before me and laid the path to make it easier for me. It’s on their shoulders that I stand.”
She received a bachelor of arts in political science and English from the University of Mississippi in 2005, and in 2008, she received her doctor of jurisprudence from Mississippi College School of Law.
Cole has clerked for Hinds County Circuit Judge Winston L. Kidd and Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge David M. Ishee. She also was formerly an assistant district attorney for the Seventh Circuit Court District in Hinds County.
In 2012, Cole moved to Gulfport and began working as an assistant district attorney for the Second Circuit Court District in Harrison County. Just two years later, she was honored with the Leadership in Law Award as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top Ten Leading Attorneys in Mississippi.
In addition to her dedication to justice, she is committed to her community. Currently, she is the assistant secretary for the Magnolia Bar Association, vice president for Harrison County Young Lawyers Association, as well as a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi Prosecutors Association, Mississippi Women Lawyers Association, and the 2013 Mississippi Bar Leadership Forum class.
Cole also is a board member for Coast Young Professionals; a member of Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; 2014-2015 graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast Class; and was named the 2014-2015 Keesler Air Force Base honorary commander.
Although most of her time is spent researching, writing, and in court hearings for a caseload that includes drug trafficking, firearms, immigration and white-collar cases, she’s also about to take on another responsibility that will be the greatest role of her life.
She and her husband of two years, Joe, will welcome a baby girl in August: Harper Gisele.
“Becoming a federal prosecutor was my dream job, and while I’m proud of that accomplishment, nothing compares to this journey Joe and I are about to embark upon as parents,” Cole says.
The transition from the courtroom to the nursery room is a welcome one, and she credits her career in helping to build some key skills she will need to balance professional life and family life.
“I think my career has helped me prepare for motherhood by learning how to balance and prioritize,” Cole says. “As an attorney, you’re hardly ever just working on one task — there’s usually several things that need your attention at one time. I’ve learned how to make a check list and prioritize my tasks.”
From as early as she can remember, Cole has always wanted to be a mom, especially since her mom passed away when she was only 4 years old, leaving a significant longing for her own mother/daughter relationship.
However, even though she experienced such a devastating loss at a young age, Cole says she was surrounded with good examples of mothers in her life and plans to lean on them for guidance with her own motherhood journey. And part of that first-time parent preparation includes a lot of reading — pregnancy books, blogs, and “a lot of Pinterest!”
After a 12-week maternity leave, Cole will return to the courtroom. Making the adjustment from full-time work to full-time parenting, and then balancing both roles can be overwhelming for new parents at times, but Cole trusts everything will be okay.
“I’m excited about this new chapter and praying for guidance,” she says. “I do have fears/concerns about balancing family and work, but I’m trusting that I’ll figure it out. I won’t be the first working mom whose had to do that.”
Cole is most looking forward to the mother/daughter bond and watching her baby grow, and is especially excited about seeing her husband, an engineering supervisor for Mississippi Power Company, embrace fatherhood.
“Joe is patient and believes in always doing what’s right even when no one else is watching,” she says. “I admire his character and I know he’ll pass it on to our daughter.”
With her husband by her side, lots of prayers, and encouragement from friends, family and work, Cole is ready and excited for the adventure of being the best lawyer mom she can be. And with her track record of excellence, she’ll handle the ups and downs of this multitasking role just fine.
“My game plan is to work as a team with my husband to balance family and work,” Cole says. “We both have careers that keep us busy, but family is our No. 1 priority. We’ll work as a team to make sure our family is taken care of, as well as work. That will surely come with some sacrifices, but it’ll be worth it.”
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