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October 2025 Volunteer Spotlight – Jennifer Salisbury, MLS, CP

Jennifer (Jen) Salisbury, MLS, CP, is the Chair of NALA’s Continuing Education Council (CEC). She is using her leadership skills and deep-rooted passion for education to help shape the legal education landscape for students and paralegals across the country. Jen is Program Coordinator and a full-time instructor in the Paralegal/Law Program at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno, Nevada, the only ABA-approved paralegal program in Nevada, and the very program she graduated from.

In 2014, the Program Coordinator was Henry Sotelo, Esq., who helped found the program. He asked Jen to join the Program Advisory Board. After she got her Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in January 2021, she started teaching part-time at TMCC while working full-time as a litigation paralegal. When Henry retired in 2024, he discussed with Jen the option of taking over as Program Coordinator because he recognized her dedication to the program and the paralegal profession. In January 2025, after being selected in a national search, Jen became a full-time instructor and Program Coordinator.

In her time as an instructor in the Paralegal/Law Program, she has mentored students and led NALA Certified Paralegal (CP^®) Exam study groups. She is committed to improving the program through ongoing connections with graduates.

“There’s a lot of power in knowledge,” Jen shared.

A member of the Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (SNAP) since 2011, Jen has been on the Executive Committee since 2014 and currently serves as President. When she was in the Paralegal/Law Program at TMCC, a representative from SNAP visited her class to talk about NALA certification. Jen and her friend decided to pursue their CP^® credentials after graduation and joined a SNAP study group led by CPs. She is grateful for the help SNAP provided in preparing for the test.

“Sitting for the exam is probably one of the most challenging things I’ve done,” she admitted. “But I don’t think you can put a price tag on the feeling of accomplishment. It has benefited me in my work as a paralegal.”

In 2013, Jen officially became a NALA Certified Paralegal. She recalls the process being pretty smooth. The exam was administered digitally over the course of several Saturdays. Reflecting on the experience, she is struck by how the exam has evolved since its inception in 1976. What started as a physical test taken over two days has become two separate digital tests with specific windows. Regardless of the exam format, the Certified Paralegal credential remains a national professional standard for paralegals.

Jen has been a member of the CEC since 2022. Her decision to get involved with NALA was a long time in the making, beginning with discussions with various NALA representatives who visited SNAP events. A primary influence was Amy Turner, who had served on NALA’s Certifying Board and as President of SNAP. Jen attended her first NALA conference in Phoenix in July 2022 and spoke with Melissa Hamilton, ACP, who was concluding her term as NALA President, about volunteering with NALA. Melissa referred her to the incoming president at the time, Debbie Overstreet, ACP, who appointed Jen to the CEC.

She describes the CEC as a diverse and collaborative group that is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to get involved and a great opportunity for personal growth. While she initially thought about moving to another committee, the timing of the CEC Chair opening was too good to pass up. Jen helps promote NALA membership and certification while staying on top of legal trends. She would like to focus more on student outreach, particularly in her local community. Jen’s dedication is grounded in gratitude.

“What I enjoy most about volunteering with NALA is giving back to a profession that has changed my life,” she declared.

She credits mentors like Amy Turner and Henry Sotelo for helping change the trajectory of her life and instilling in her a commitment to service and education.

Jen has been a NALA member for over a decade, since 2013. She loves the educational offerings and getting to know paralegals from across the country. She has found the networking extremely beneficial. When she was working in a law office, she was able to reach out to paralegals outside of Nevada for advice and insights. She encourages other NALA members to get involved and give back.

One of her favorite NALA memories is her trip to her first CEC meeting in Albuquerque in 2022, which she described as a comedy of errors. Fellow CEC member, Jennifer Finch, ACP, had agreed to meet Jen at the airport. However, Jen’s flight was delayed several times until her arrival was pushed from early evening to late at night. When she landed, the airport was nearly empty except for staff, a few nocturnal travelers, and Jennifer Finch. Jen was surprised and touched that her new colleague, whom she had never met in person, had stayed and waited far past a reasonable hour. The two Jennifers are friends to this day.

“It was a true testament to how NALA creates lifelong friendships,” Jen affirmed.

When she is not teaching, mentoring, or volunteering, Jen likes to read and even keeps a stack of books by her bed. She also enjoys hiking and camping with her family, especially in national parks. She is incredibly grateful for their support, acknowledging that she could not have made it to where she is without their sacrifices.

Jen’s life motto comes from Pablo Picasso:
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”