Hi Mandy! It’s great to speak with you. This is now the third time that the Virginia Law Weeklyhas Hot Benched you, which I am pretty sure is a record! Since we have been getting to know you over the past few years, I thought we could start by catching up on some things you have spoken about in the past.
So we know you have a son and daughter—how have they been doing?
My son graduated high school recently and is now going to Piedmont Virginia Community College taking business classes. And my daughter just had a son last Thanksgiving, so I am a grandmother now!
Congratulations! That is so exciting to hear! I also know that you are a basketball fan, do you have a favorite team?
I don’t have a favorite team, but I do have a favorite player: Kevin Durant. He is just really good at what he does. I didn’t start watching until my son told me about him, but now I really like watching him play wherever he goes.
What about college basketball? Are you going to participate in March Madness?
I’m a fan of UVA! I do like March Madness, but I don’t do the brackets. My friends have asked me to do it in the past, but I haven’t done it. It really is madness! I think this year I might do a bracket, a lot of people ask me about it.
I’m glad I could talk you into it! I also know you love reading—have you read anything good lately?
No, unfortunately I haven’t been reading lately. I’ve been so busy with work because I have been working three jobs.
You do work at least as hard as anyone in this building, so I am sorry to hear that. What about this: if you were to write a book, what would it be about?
I really like mysteries and suspense—murder mysteries and things of that nature. I’d probably write something like that.
Okay, on to some new topics! Can you share something from your bucket list?
I just want to travel the world. I work so much, so it is difficult to travel a lot. I want to go to Dubai, but I also really want to go to Africa. I am going to Africa before 2025.
That means this year!
Yes I know, I’ve been trying for a long time and have been saving money. I have been talking with friends about it, too. We were supposed to go in 2022, but that just didn’t happen. So now we want to try to go before 2025.
Do you have any personal heroes?
My mother. That is the strongest woman that I know. She is the definition of a superwoman. She is currently seventy-two years old and works three jobs, and she doesn’t even have to. She gets up every day and keeps going, and that is where I get it from. She just makes things happen, and I love her for that. She is my superhero.
Do you have a favorite memory with her?
My mom used to take me and my oldest sister to this camp when we were kids. I can’t remember the name of it, but it was just this weekend thing. She would pack a picnic, and we would do all these fun activities. She made a lot of memories with us, and that has really stuck with me. We haven’t done that for a while, but now we have grandchildren! I think I should call my sister about it, and maybe we can start up again.
Do you have any hidden talents?
When I was younger I used to take things apart—like a computer or clock—and put them back together. It started because I was just bored one day, and I had a clock that I felt like taking apart and putting back together. It was an old school alarm clock with a lot of parts. The most challenging thing I ever worked on was probably an old school radio that my dad had. That one was harder but probably the most fun.
If you were serving dinner to guests, what would be your signature dish you’d serve?
My kids love my pork chops. I cook some mean pork chops.
What is the trick to these mean pork chops?
I’d just tell my guests “they were made with love and cooked to perfection.” You got me wanting one right now. Golden brown and juicy, so delicious. Yeah you’ve got me thinking about them now.
It’s time for our lightning round! Go-to karaoke song?
“Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys. But I’ll only sing by myself.
Guilty pleasures?
Chocolate.
Favorite coffee drink for yourself?
I don’t like coffee.
Really? For as many times as you have been interviewed for the Virginia Law Weekly, I don’t know if you’ve ever been asked that question before. What about your favorite drink to make?
Caramel Vanilla Latte. I love making lattes, and I do make a lot of them. The work has slowed down over the years. We used to be so busy, but people have been buying less coffee lately.
I will issue a PSA to our readership: Buy more coffee! I know you all need it.
What is your favorite drink?
My favorite drink? I like cortados. They are espressos with just a little bit of steamed milk. Kind of like a small cappuccino.
I used to make something like that. There used to be a student from Italy who asked for espresso with just a dab of steamed milk. That must be what they were. I just learned something new!
Who would you want to star in a movie about your life?
Angela Bassett. Great actress. I love her.
I sense an Oscar coming for that role.
I can see it too!
Mountain or beach vacation?
Definitely beach. I don’t like cold. At all.
If you could bring one television show back, what would it be?
This one is tough. I think I’d go with The Wonder Years. That was my favorite show as a kid.
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Interviewed by Noah Coco' ‘26