Ruth Anne French-Hodson

Ruth Anne grew up on her family’s fifth generation farm in south-central Kansas. She graduated with a political science degree with honors and highest distinction from the University of Kansas and then traveled across the pond to get both her masters and doctorate in Politics at the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. In 2012, Ruth Anne received her law degree from Yale Law School. After clerking in federal district and appellate courts, Ruth Anne moved back to Kansas to work as an attorney on complex litigation and appeals. She currently represents consumers, landowners, farmers, and other plaintiffs to ensure their voices are represented in large class actions as a partner at Sharp Law in Prairie Village, Kansas. Ruth Anne is also firmly committed to providing pro bono services in a wide range of areas from voting rights to representing individuals fighting wrongful criminal convictions to assisting parents facing abuse and neglect allegations. She is also focused on building and highlighting sustainable initiatives in the Midwest, most notably through her service on the boards of The Land Institute and BikeWalkKC. Finally, she is actively involved in the Rhodes community through serving on selection committees and as a Class Leader. She lives in Kansas City, Kansas, with her husband, son, and two dogs.