Dillard Alumna Makes History As First Black FEC Commissioner

From Dillard University:

December 18, 2020

Shana Broussard ‘91 is the latest Dillard alum making history. On December 9, Broussard
was confirmed to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).
She is the first African American to serve as a commissioner in the commission’s 45-year
history. Broussard is one of six commissioners.

Broussard was nominated October 28. Afterward, on October 30, her nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate who then confirmed Broussard 92-4.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said, in a statement, “Shana Broussard has a distinguished career as a fierce advocate for free, fair, and open elections and will be an outstanding FEC commissioner. I’m proud to have recommended her for this historic nomination. As FEC Commissioner, I have no doubt that Shana will work tirelessly to protect the sanctity of our elections, the wellspring of our democracy, and defend the right of every American to have an equal say in who represents them.”

In a separate statement, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said, “This is a landmark day since Shana Broussard will be the first person of color to serve on the Federal Elections Commission board in its 45 year history. Shana Broussard is an immensely qualified and well-respected attorney who has worked at the FEC for more than a decade. We must restore trust in the FEC, and this confirmation of Ms. Broussard will go a long way towards doing that.”

Born in Santa Barbara, California, Broussard was raised in Louisiana. Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in political science from Dillard, Broussard attended Southern University Law Center where she earned her J.D. As an attorney, she served as an attorney advisor for the Internal Revenue Service as well as deputy disciplinary counsel for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and New Orleans assistant district attorney. Broussard has also served as counsel to FEC commissioner Steven T. Walther. With the FEC, Broussard received the Outstanding Performance Award in 2011 and 2014.

The FEC “was created to promote confidence and participation in the democratic process” according to the agency’s website. Formed on the heels of the infamous Watergate scandal, the FEC is an independent regulatory agency that manages and enforces the federal campaign finance law with jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for president and vice president of the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

This press release was produced by Dillard University. The views expressed are the author's own.