Barb Craft, J.D., has taught at Davenport University for almost 20 years. She is the Legal Department Chair and manages the Paralegal Studies program which is approved by the American Bar Association. She provides support for students as faculty mentor of the Legal Assistants@DU club. In addition, Barb has taught law courses at Michigan State University and the Michigan Judicial Institute.

Barb serves on the Grand Rapids Bar Association’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Bar’s Lawyer Referral and Information Services Committee. She is a member of the Board of Legal Assistance Center and the State Bar of Michigan--the Family Law Section, the Probate and Estate Planning Section, and the Legal Assistants Section. She also participates in the Michigan Women Lawyers Association, the American Association for Paralegal Educators and NALS, the National Association for Legal Professionals.

Her history in the legal arena includes working for Legal Aid of West Michigan, the UAW-GM Legal Services as Managing Attorney, and managing her own law firm. Barb is admitted to practice in the State of Michigan and the United States District Court.

Her commitment to teaching is obvious as she states, “Teaching comes down to two things; demonstrating passionate enthusiasm about the subject matter and giving students an opportunity to apply the subject matter in active and experiential learning.”

• Legal Professional of the Year 2010, 2010