Jean Edwards joined the faculty of Cumberland University in summer 2024 as an Adjunct Professor teaching intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyright) and business law. Jean is a patent attorney of almost 30 years experience, and is Managing Member of an intellectual property (IP) boutique law firm based in Gallatin, TN. Jean graduated from University of Miami Law School (Honors), and initially settled in the Washington D.C. area where she practiced IP law, starting out at law firms Sughrue Mion, Pepper Hamilton and Sonnenschein (now Dentons), before heading up IP departments at major law firms including Dickinson Wright and Akerman Senterfitt.

Jean has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Miami, FL, and a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in French (Honors) from Emporia State University, KS. After graduating from university, Jean was a mechanical engineer and Project Manager with Cordis Corporation (now part of Johnson and Johnson), Miami, FL, and then a Manufacturing Manager for Elexis Corporation, Miami, FL, a consumer electronics company. Jean joined the U.S. federal government for a number of years in the intelligence field, before starting her career as a patent attorney. Jean completed her Master’s (Dean’s List) from Harvard University (Ext.) in the History of Science Technology and Medicine, and recently completed a Certificate in International Security from Harvard. Jean is licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is a member of the TN, VA, DC, MD, and FL Bars.