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Today's edition of the Black History Spotlight takes us to the Inland Empire as we profile John "Tre" Lee ('06) and Tiana Towns ('10).
 
A native of Fontana, John "Tre" Lee made the decision to play for nearby UC Riverside and turned in a solid career as a defender. After winning just four games in his freshman season, Lee helped the team win 20 over his next three years. He earned All-Big West honorable mention honors in 2004 and started 47 of his 65 career matches.

After graduating with a degree in business administration, Lee joined the professional ranks as he played in the USL and for the reserve squad of Chivas USA for four years. His outstanding career led him to being inducted into the Riverside Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

During his playing career, Lee also trained at summer camps and clinics and found a new calling. He is the co-founder of TriElements Fitness, working with athletes of all ages across multiple sports to achieve sport performance success. Along with another former UCR athlete Raphael Amey, they help prepare young athletes for success and reach the next level in their athletic careers.
 

After starting her softball career at Occidental, Tiana Towns became a steady presence on the Highlader softball team over her career, starting 77 of her 131 career games. She holds the UCR single-game Division I record for doubles in a game with three and ended her career ranked 10th in the program DI career list in slugging percentage.

During her time at UCR, Towns became intrigued with the idea of being a lawyer, having been inspired by the fact that she never saw women like herself in the profession. She was accepted into Howard University School of Law and excelled in her first year, landing a series of on-campus interviews with various firms. Her first interview was with a recruiter from the Minnesota-based firm Dorsey & Whitney, which earned her a summer associate internship there and eventually an offer for a permanent position after graduation in 2014.

Towns has excelled at Dorsey, finding a niche in construction and real estate litigation and as an advocate for inclusivity in the law profession. Recently Towns was selected to participate in the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity Pathfinder Program designed for diverse, high potential, early-career attorneys at LCLD member organizations. The goal of the program is to provide Pathfinders with practical tools for developing and leveraging professional networks through relationship-building skills, foundational leadership skills, and an understanding of career development strategies applicable to both in-house and law firm practice.

She is also involved in the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, is Dorsey's representative in the TCDIP Emerging Leaders Group and on the board of the Minnesota Black Women Lawyers Network. Towns also participates in pro bono work, highlighted by the landmark reversal of the death sentence in the Bruce Webster case.

Tiana Towns: Blazing a Path for Others to Follow - Attorney At Law Magazine
Tiana Towns at Dorsey & Whitney LLP - JDSUPRA
TaraLynn Casperson and Tiana Towns Selected for 2020 LCLD Pathfinder Program - Business Wire