Rochelle Ballantyne is a litigation associate that doubles as an expert-ranked chess player. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York with her mom and three younger siblings. Rochelle is best known for her appearance in the Emmy-nominated documentary Brooklyn Castle, which followed the success of an inner-city middle school chess team. Rochelle has represented her state and country competing in both national and international tournaments, working towards becoming one of the few Black female chess masters in the country. Beyond her accomplishments on the chessboard, Rochelle is also a passionate advocate for education. She graduated from Stanford University where she double majored in Political Science and African-American Studies; Teachers College, Columbia University with a master’s in Education policy; and New York University School of Law with a juris doctorate. Her academic journey was marked by a commitment to using her platform to effect positive change in her community and beyond. Rochelle has been actively involved in mentoring and coaching young chess players, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Additionally Rochelle is on the board of the Gift of Chess, an organization dedicated towards increasing chess opportunities for children of color and children of limited means. She believes in the transformative power of chess to teach critical thinking, discipline, and perseverance.