At one point last year, the Connecticut Bar Association was put on the spot for not having enough people of color in leadership roles. One undeniable point of criticism was that the 9,000-member bar organization had never had a nonwhite president.

That's about to change. The CBA's nominating committee recently announced that Karen DeMeola, an assistant dean of students at the University of Connecticut School of Law who identifies as biracial, has been chosen to serve as vice president. Along with four other new nominees, DeMeola will begin her first term as a CBA officer on July 1.

In the laddered leadership structure of the CBA, current President-elect William Clendenen will move to the president position, Vice-President Monte Frank will become president-elect and President Mark Dubois will become immediate past president. DeMeola's time at the helm will come in 2017.