Noni McKee

Noni Ellison McKee, JD, MBA Global General Counsel & Secretary, CARE Adjunct Faculty, Tulane University – Paralegal Studies Program Noni Ellison McKee is the Global General Counsel and Secretary of CARE, where she serves on the organization’s Global Leadership Team and oversees CARE’s worldwide legal, governance, and compliance functions. She brings more than two decades of executive legal experience across multinational corporations, public companies, and global nonprofit organizations.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Noni’s passion for the law began early. In high school, she served as a Teen Court Juror and attended Girls State at Louisiana State University, experiences that sparked her interest in civic engagement and justice. That commitment deepened during her undergraduate years at Howard University in Washington, DC, where she also interned for United States Senator John Breaux. Later, at the University of Chicago, she taught Street Law to local high school students and participated in the University of Chicago Law School’s Mandel Legal Aid Clinic under the supervision of Randolph Stone. While at Chicago Law, she also studied under United States Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and President Barack Obama, both of whom shaped her understanding of law as a tool for public service and societal impact. 

Before joining CARE, Noni served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Tractor Supply Company, a Fortune 300 company. She previously held executive legal roles at Carestream Dental, W.W. Grainger, Scripps Networks, and Turner Broadcasting, including a long term assignment in Hong Kong supporting the Asia-Pacific region. Her early legal career included advising clients on cross-border mergers and acquisitions and international capital markets transactions. Noni’s love for teaching has been a constant throughout her career. She has taught in multiple academic settings, most recently serving as an adjunct professor in the Department of Sociology at Howard University, where she co-taught Police, Law, and Society with her husband, Attorney Randy G. McKee. 

She is passionate about equipping future legal professionals with the practical skills, ethical grounding, and critical thinking necessary to thrive in today’s complex legal environment. Beyond her professional work, Noni has held significant civic leadership roles, including Board Chair of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, Vice Chair of the MARTA Board, and board service with Goodwill of North Georgia and the Atlanta Speech School. She is a Trustee of Berklee College of Music and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, the Rotary Club, and the Executive Leadership Council. Noni earned her B.A. magna cum laude from Howard University and her J.D./MBA from the University of Chicago, where she also completed a certification in Health Administration and Policy. She has been recognized by The Legal 500 GC Powerlist, named one of the nation’s Top Corporate Counsel Women by Women Inc., honored by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta as a Woman of Achievement, and received the State Bar of Georgia’s Justice Benjamin Award for her leadership and contributions to the legal profession and community.

What inspired you to work in the legal field?
“I’ve always been fascinated by how law shapes everyday life. Over time, I realized I loved helping organizations navigate complex issues with clarity and integrity. Teaching allows me to share that passion with the next generation of legal professionals.”

What’s one surprising thing about you outside of work?
“I’m a huge fan of beautifully crafted handbags — I consider them wearable art. I also love matcha and am always searching for the perfect cup.”

If you weren’t teaching or practicing law, what would you be doing?
“I’d probably be traveling the world full time, exploring new cultures, and finding the best spa, Pilates and yoga experiences. I love seeing how people live, lead, and create in different places.”