Megan Pownall Wyss | Cobb Circuit, Post 5

Candidate Statement

One of my favorite quotes, from the late President Jimmy Carter, captures my mentality about service to our profession and beyond—“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

Over the past six years, I’ve dedicated my time outside of practice to service to the Bar, serving in leadership roles within the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division and the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section for the past four years, including being elected as secretary of the Family Law Section for the 2026-27 Bar Year. My experience as a leader within the State Bar, and the relationships I’ve had the privilege to build, make me an ideal candidate for the Board of Governors. I am not only familiar with the functioning of the State Bar and the Board of Governors, but I am connected with its staff and lawyers across the state. This knowledge and interconnectedness are necessary to effectively lobby and advocate for the goals and objectives of the Cobb County legal community.

As a member of the Board of Governors, I can promise that I will show up and stand up for the Cobb County legal community. I have already proven over the past six years that I show up for my section members and committee members. Those experiences prove that I will actively participate in the governance of our profession and serve with all I can for as long as I can. I would be honored if you would elect me to represent Cobb County on the Board of Governors.

Education

• Purdue University, May 2010
• Villanova University School of Law, May 2013

Personal/Family

• I currently reside in Marietta, Georgia, with my husband, Adam, our daughter, Felicity, and the best dog in the world, Duey.
• Along with my passion for law, I also have a passion for history and family genealogy. My family’s claim to fame is having an ancestor who served in George Washington’s Life Guards.
• My dedication to servant leadership has guided me through my time at Purdue, Villanova and beyond. I continue to give back outside of my professional life as a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated to education and historic preservation. I had the privilege of being named the “Most Outstanding Junior” by my DAR chapter in 2018.

Professional Background, Bar Activities, Civic Activities

• I am a partner with the boutique family law firm of Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery, LLC.
• I have been honored to serve in leadership positions within the State Bar of Georgia for more than five years. I have served on the Family Law Section Executive Committee for four years, beginning as a Young Lawyers Division (YLD) representative and continuing on as the chair of sponsorships for the Family Law Institute. I will also serve as secretary of the Family Law Section for the 2026-27 Bar year.
• I served as the chair of the YLD Family Law Committee in 2021-22 where we focused on increasing membership and connecting with new judges across the state. I moved on to the YLD Board of Directors in 2022, where I served for three consecutive years.
• I am the recipient of the 2022-23 YLD Joe Dent Hospitality Award and the 2023-24 Award of Excellence for Dedication to the YLD. I am also a 2020 graduate of the YLD Leadership Academy.
• I authored “Young Lawyers and the Stay-At-Home Parent Conundrum” which was the cover article for the March 2023 issue of The YLD Review. I have had the privilege to present for several organizations, including the State Bar of Georgia, The Charles Weltner Inn of Court and the Atlanta Bar Association.
• I was listed as a Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, Family Law in 2024, and a Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2022 and 2023, and a Georgia Super Lawyer in 2025.

Main Issues Facing the State Bar/Position

• The Aging Nature of the Bar: With many lawyers reaching retirement age, the State Bar has an entire demographic that needs special attention and consideration. We have made great strides in creating the Senior Lawyers Division. The State Bar should continue to focus on developing the programming and resources for such an important endeavor.
• Involvement: Attorney involvement continues to be one of the biggest issues facing the State Bar. My position is that we should focus on the interconnection between Section involvement and involvement of the State Bar as a whole, as well as focusing on bridging the gap between YLD and “Big Bar” involvement.
• Mental Health: Attorney and legal professionals’ mental health continues to be a struggle for our profession and the State Bar. While we have amazing programs in place for attorneys, the Bar should focus more resources on awareness of these programs and how we can encourage utilization.