Adrian L. Del Valle — an FSU alumnus (B.S. International Affairs ’20) — was recently named one of Latino Leaders Magazine’s 2024 “Latino Lawyers to Keep on the Watch,” an honor recognizing Latino lawyers with exceptional records of achievement, top-tier client representation, and deep community engagement.
Del Valle was one of only ten attorneys selected nationally, chosen from nominations submitted by lawyers across the country.
“To be included among so many respected practitioners across the country is both encouraging and a reminder of the responsibility we each bear to lift as we climb,” he said.
Del Valle currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil and Environmental Law Division within the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General. He is part of a team representing Kentucky in constitutional litigation matters in state and federal courts.
When reflecting on his time at Florida State University, Del Valle said, “Attending Florida State University was one of the most formative decisions of my early academic life. FSU offered rigorous academic preparation and a community that values leadership, diversity, and civic engagement. Those values helped shape the kind of lawyer I aspired to become — grounded in principle, guided by faith, committed to service, and unafraid to tackle complex challenges on behalf of others.”
As a student at FSU, Del Valle was actively involved in academic and service organizations that helped shape his legal and civic identity. He was a member of Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor society for the social sciences, and the Hispanic Honor Society, where he found a strong support network.
“My experience in Pi Gamma Mu was both intellectually enriching and personally grounding. It offered a space to engage deeply with the questions that shape public life — justice, governance, and the role of service in a free society,” Del Valle said.
He was also involved in the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, where he explored constitutional interpretation, limited government, and the separation of powers, themes that continue to inform his legal work today.
Outside the classroom, Del Valle volunteered with Grace Mission Episcopal Church, tutoring elementary school students from underserved communities. While enrolled in FSU’s LDR 2162: Leadership in Groups and Communities, he used that platform to help young students see education as a tool for growth and opportunity.
FSU’s location in the state capital gave him valuable insight into the workings of law and public policy. Combined with the global perspective of his international affairs degree, these experiences laid the foundation for his interest in state government and administrative law.
Del Valle graduated cum laude in 2020, concentrating in political science. He credits faculty mentors like Mark Schlakman, J.D., and Amanda Driscoll, Ph.D., whose encouragement and support helped guide his academic and professional journey.
“Perhaps most importantly, the mentorship I received from faculty and peers at FSU encouraged me to pursue ambitious goals while remaining connected to the communities I represent,” Del Valle said. “In hindsight, choosing FSU wasn’t just about selecting a university — it was about choosing an institution that saw the law not merely as an academic pursuit, but as a vehicle for principled leadership and meaningful impact.”
When asked what advice he would give to current FSU students, Del Valle said, “Pursue excellence, stay grounded in your principles, and never underestimate the value of integrity.”
For more information on the International Affairs program at Florida State, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/internationalaffairs.