Alumni Spotlight: Tifani Silveria ’10

If the axiom, “you reap what you sow” is true, Woodcrest Christian alumni Tifani (Oaks) Silveria is in the harvest. After many years of education and hard work, Tifani has recently landed a career as a Judicial Staff Attorney with a district judge in the Sixth Judicial District of Idaho. Here she conducts legal research, provides the district judge with briefings for upcoming hearings, and assists in managing court procedural requirements for the criminal docket and civil litigation cases. Tifani is bearing many fruits with this career, but looks back to her foundational roots at Woodcrest Christian, her years of growth while studying at universities, and what it’s like now to clearly see God’s faithfulness in every step.

Tifani graduated from Woodcrest Christian in 2010 after attending as a “lifer” (anyone who attended from kindergarten to twelfth grade). While at Woodcrest Christian, Tifani performed on the drama team, competed in mock trial, and was team captain for her volleyball team. She shares that it was extracurriculars like these that developed qualities in her such as leadership, grit, and an ability to think critically that would prepare her for the future. “I remember rigorous citation assignments from my junior high English teachers and my high school AP English teachers,”  Tifani recalls, “which helped me develop an attention to detail that has been critical for practicing law.”

Attending the Summit Leadership Conference in Colorado during her junior year was a life-changing event for Tifani. Summit’s purpose is to “engage youth with today’s top worldview thinkers and apologists as they dive into the topics of life, identity, leadership, and other relevant issues.” “This opportunity opened up my mind, and I began to think broadly about politics, faith, and culture beyond the walls of Woodcrest Christian,” she says. “Both the conference and my time at Woodcrest Christian inspired me with a vision for politics and cultural engagement that carried into my present work.”

After graduating from Woodcrest Christian, Tifani attended UC Davis, and received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy with an emphasis in ethics and a Minor in Professional Writing. College expanded upon Tifani’s foundation from Woodcrest Christian, and she grew in critical thinking skills—understanding the “why” behind different philosophical frameworks. It was in her final year of college that Tifani had another significant moment. “I knew God’s Word but it was not rooted in my heart. With the support of my Christian friends and mentors, I rededicated my life to Christ in my senior year of college,” she shares.

Before graduating from UC Davis in 2014, Tifani completed the LSAT honoring an agreement she made with her parents. She shares, “I made a deal with my parents that if I majored in Philosophy, I would take the LSAT before I graduated.” After graduation, Tifani took a recruiter job where she came across a controversial court case, and was convicted by the inconsistencies of the law and lack of logical reasoning. “This moment in my life, as well as giving my life wholly to Christ was the motivation I needed to pursue law as a full-time career, and to defend what I knew to be true and right.”

Tifani next applied to Regent University School of Law. As a Christian University, Tifani saw the law taught with purpose, and she was surrounded with many Christian mentors. While studying here, Tifani was elected to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Regent University Law Review and took on the leadership position of Vice President of the Christian Legal Society. She expanded her influence by publishing her work on women’s health and abortion, and presented this pro-life article to the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates. Additionally, Tifani wrote an article on telemedicine abortion and COVID-19, exploring the status of women’s reproductive rights amid the pandemic and examining various state laws permitting medical personnel to prescribe abortion pills telemedically. Her writing considered how crisis pregnancy centers might be able to utilize telemedicine to reach expectant mothers adversely impacted by new state-specific restrictions.

Most recently, Tifani has graduated from Regent University, moved to Idaho with her husband, and is practicing as a Judicial Staff Attorney for an Idaho District Judge. She is learning the nuances of the local law, and looks forward to eventually practicing civil litigation. With a bird’s eye view, Tifani shares that her Woodcrest Christian roots thoroughly prepared her for her current work, in both her ability to think, and her foundational faith and character. In college, and now career, Tifani recognizes that Woodcrest Christian was and will be an anchor of truth and excellence.

Connect with Tifani on Linkedin:

Influential Books:

 “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; and “The Weight of Glory” by C.S. Lewis.

Life Quote:

“Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith.” – Elisabeth Elliot.

Life verse:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.