Commencement Speaker
Speaker Don Scott
Virginia House of Delegates
As the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in its 405-year history, Speaker Scott has made his mark running a tight ship. He is known for being efficient and fair to his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He has proudly served the people of Portsmouth since 2020 and was elected by his colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to serve as Democratic Leader in 2022. Upon taking back the majority, he became Speaker and remains dedicated to growing the Democratic majority. As Speaker of the House of Delegates he is Chair of the Rules Committee, and he serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates; Virginia Grown and Opportunity Board; Commemorative Commission to Honor the Contributions of the Women of Virginia; Virginia State Crime Commission; and Commission on Electric Utility Regulation.
During his short tenure, and meteoric rise, he has been a champion for reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, and uplifting all working families. Speaker Scott understands the importance of building up communities through access to life’s essentials – world-class education, high-quality healthcare, and family-supporting jobs.
Speaker Scott spent his early years splitting his time between Houston, TX and a small town called Jasper. Too city for the country, and too country for the city – he has a unique perspective and appreciation for both. Raised by a single mother and the oldest of six children, he also knows what it’s like to grow up with limited resources. Speaker Scott developed a work ethic that would drive him to excel at school early in life. This led him to Texas A&M University, where he was part of the Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. fraternity and graduated with a degree in agriculture. Upon graduation he attended Officer Candidate School and proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Navy before earning his law degree from Louisiana State University.
He eventually made his way to Portsmouth, Virginia in 2005. At KRA Corporation, a workforce development company, he quickly climbed the ladder and helped others see in themselves all the potential he saw in them. In 2015, he stepped out on his own to start a law firm and quickly built a reputation as being a strategic trial lawyer who was willing to take on any challenge in the courtroom. He now works at Breit Biniazan P.C. where he is the only Black partner and serves his clients as a personal injury attorney.
In the community, Speaker Scott is a member of many boards and commissions and has spent his time outside the courtroom giving back. He is a member of the Portsmouth Bar Association, the Old Dominion Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He is also the former Chair of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority and former President of the Southeastern Employment and Training Association. He is also a member of the Eureka Club and holds lifetime memberships in the NAACP, V.F.W., Post #993 and American Legion Post #190.
Speaker Scott is married to Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott, who practices dentistry in Norfolk. They are the proud parents of a teenage daughter.