Patricia C. Gunn, Esq.

Patricia C. Gunn, Esq., has donated thousands of hours to advancing the mission of the Tennessee Justice Center and serving TJC’s clients. A graduate of Fisk University and Boston College Law School, Patricia has had a distinguished career in academia and public service. She served in the United States Department of Justice in DOJ’s prestigious Office of the Solicitor General and in its Office of International Affairs. She then had a distinguished career as a law professor at Ohio University, from which she recently retired.

In 2006-2007, Patricia took a sabbatical from teaching to volunteer full time at TJC, which was in crisis. It was at a critical time, when TJC was struggling to remedy TennCare’s failing system of care for over 400,000 children. Patricia’s generous spirit, calm assurance, and selfless dedication not only served countless clients, but also Inspired and sustained TJC’s staff.

After retiring, Patricia returned to TJC as a two-term board member, from 2020 to 2026. She was an exemplary director. Patricia asked the right questions and provided valuable insights informed by good judgment and moral clarity. Additionally, she recruited and engaged new board members. In the category of “other duties as assigned,” Patricia even located a lost historic photograph that became a mural adorning TJC’s building. Across all of these contributions, Patricia’s consistent kindness has buoyed and inspired the whole TJC team.