Meredith W. Barnette was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Meredith College in 1995 and a Juris Doctor degree from Campbell University in 2005, where she served as Vice President of Delta Theta Phi fraternity and was a book award winner.  Ms. Barnette is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).  Ms. Barnette also had experience as an immigration paralegal prior to attending law school.