Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)

Angela Denise Dales was a single mother in the second semester of her long-awaited pursuit of a law degree when she was killed, a former co-worker said.

Dales, 33, left her administrative job at the Appalachian School of Law to become a student there in the fall.

She was among three people killed Wednesday afternoon in a shooting rampage at the school. The school’s dean, L. Anthony Sutin, 42, and professor Thomas F. Blackwell, 41, also were killed.

Dales’ 8-year-old daughter, Rebecca, has been with her grandparents in Vansant since the shooting, family friends said.

Dales worked for the law school for three years as an admissions counselor in the office of student services, said financial aid director Chris Clifton.

“She was a bright, intelligent person,” he said. “She was also funny, and she was excellent at her job.”

Dales recruited Brandon Short, who later became her classmate in the fall as a first-year law student. Short was impressed with Dales’ concern for his plans, he said.

“She called me constantly to make sure I still had my hopes up for law school,” Short said. “She was a big motivator.”

Clifton said Dales always wanted to pursue a law degree. She served as a tour guide for prospective students of the law school, and friends said the job increased her enthusiasm to attend the school.

“One of her greatest joys was telling students on the phone that they had made it through the admissions process and had been accepted,” professor Stewart Harris said at a candlelight vigil for the victims last night.

Lisa Belcher, a friend and stylist at Hair-4-U beauty salon, which Dales frequented, said, “She was really excited about getting into law school.”

Appalachian School of Law Shootings

Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)