Family Legacy

Judge Jeffrey Burdette, ’86, studied history at Cumberland College and earned his Juris Doctor in 1989. He retired from the bench in March 2021 as Chief Regional Circuit Judge of the 23 counties of Kentucky's Cumberland Region after 30 years in public service. He also teaches at Cumberlands as an adjunct professor, something he considers “an honor” as he feels “a kindred connection to these students, knowing my experiences are so like theirs.”

Jeffrey's son, Thomas, ’21, graduated this May with a bachelor’s in accounting and business. He fell in love with the campus on his first visit and is proud to be a second-generation Cumberlands alumnus. His sister, Zoe, ’23, is studying elementary education at Cumberlands.