Marni E. Byrum Receives 2009 Alumni Distinguished Service Award
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 15, 2009 -- Marni E. Byrum, class of '76, is a recipient of the 2009 Alumni Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her outstanding service to the University and the Alumni Association.
Byrum, of Alexandria, Virginia, is an attorney in private practice with emphasis on labor, employment and personnel law. Throughout her career, she has participated in a range of activities to benefit her profession. Byrum is a frequent lecturer regarding labor and employment law issues, is a member of the Boyd Graves Conference, is a Master of the George Mason Inns of Court and was an adjunct faculty member at Washington College of Law at American University. She has served as President of the Arlington County Bar Association, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and the VWAA Foundation. She also chaired the Ethics Committee and the Multi-Jurisdictional Practice Task Force for the Virginia State Bar and serves on the VSB Judicial Nominations Committee.
An active participant in her community, Byrum serves on the Board of Horizons Theatre - which offers theatre from a woman’s perspective with a focus on producing women playwrights and creating opportunities for women theatre artists. In addition, she serves on the Board of Equality Virginia – a non-partisan lobbying, outreach and education organization seeking equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians. She is a past President of the Virginia 4 H Foundation - which brings leadership and positive development opportunities to young people across Virginia.
Byrum served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the President’s Advisory Committee and the Economic Development Advisory Board. She chaired the Dean’s Roundtable for the former College of Arts and Sciences and serves on the College of Science Roundtable. She is a member of the Northern Virginia Regional Campaign Committee and the Pylon Society.
Byrum graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She also holds a J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.