Simone Hunter-Hobson
​PRESIDENT

Simone Hunter – Hobson is a 2L from New York. Simone studied Journalism and Mass Communication at the George Washington University. Prior to Penn Law, she interned at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. This summer, Simone was a summer associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York. At Penn Law, she served as a BLSA 1L Representative. In her free time, Simone enjoys watching documentaries, spending time with loved ones, and trying new restaurants. 

Tayler Evan Daniels
​VICE PRESIDENT

​Tayler Evan Daniels is a 2L from Dallas, TX. He studied Drama & Stage Direction at the University of Oklahoma where he was awarded the Letzeiser Gold Medal. After graduating, Tayler worked as a public-school theatre teacher for 6-12th graders. He then worked at Deloitte for two years before coming to law school.  At Penn Law, Tayler is Co-President of Lambda, an Office of Inclusion and Engagement Student Advisory Board Member, an Exec member of the Light Opera, and involved with the Trans Empowerment & Advocacy Project. To destress from 1L Tayler can be found pushing his culinary boundaries by accepting any baking challenge, perfecting his margarita recipe, or putting on plays with his dog Sam.

Luis Abreu
​TREASURER 

Lou Abreu is a 2L from New York. Lou is a graduate of the State University of New York, where he majored in Criminal Justice. This summer, Lou was a summer associate at Kline & Specter. In addition to serving on the Penn Law BLSA Board, Lou serves as a mentor for Penn's Graduate School Mentoring Initiative. In his free time, he enjoys working out, reading, and traveling. 

Khalia Williams
​ ​SECRETARY

Khalia is a 2L from New York. She attended St. John’s University where she majored in Legal Studies and minored in International Studies and Philosophy. Prior to Penn Law, while in college she worked as a Legal Assistant at a personal injury law firm in Manhattan, NY. At Penn, she served as a 1L representative for PIPG and ESLS. In addition to serving on the BLSA Board this year, Khalia is the entertainment law events chair for ESLS and is involved in First Generation Professionals. This summer she worked as a summer associate for Fox Rothschild, LLP. In her free time, Khalia enjoys traveling, watching movies, reading and exploring NY. 

Paul Ilori
​FUNDRAISING CHAIR

Paul Ilori is a 2L from Monroeville, PA. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he majored in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Management and Technology. Prior to Penn Law Paul worked as an Electrical Test Engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding. This summer he was a research assistant for Professor R. Polk Wagner and legal intern at Voya Investment Management. At Penn Law, Paul is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law and Innovation and involved in Penn Law Boxing Club and Penn Law Bowling League. In his free time Paul enjoys rugby, soccer, and cooking.

Sydney Acquaye
ADMISSIONS CHAIR

Sydney Acquaye is a 2L and Master of Bioethics candidate from Woodbury, MN. She attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Sociology and minored in French. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a project manager at Epic, a healthcare software company. This summer, she worked as a summer law clerk at the University of Pennsylvania's Office of General Counsel. In addition to serving on the Penn Law BLSA Board, Sydney is an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law and Social Change and an Advocate with the Custody and Support Assistance Clinic (CASAC). In her free time, Sydney enjoys cooking, going on walks, and looking for new shows.
​

Chayla Sherrod
​ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONALISM
​CO-CHAIR

Chayla Sherrod is a rising 2L who was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Chayla attended Villanova University, where she graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science in 2018. Prior to law school, Chayla spent a year in Windhoek, Namibia as a Fulbright Scholar, conducting a study on communal conservation and environmental justice. Chayla had the privilege of working with the University of Namibia and the World Wildlife Fund of Namibia. During her time in abroad, she also volunteered as an environmental educator at a primary school where she taught earth science. At Penn Law, Chayla is the Professionalism & Academic Co-Chair for the Black Law Students Association, the Director of Cross Disciplinary Engagement for the Environmental Law Project and is a member of the Office of Equity & Inclusion Student Advisory Board. This summer Chayla worked for White & Case LLP as a Summer Associate in the New York City office. In her free time, she enjoys singing, cooking vegetarian meals, listening to podcasts, and spending time in nature. 

Chelsea Desreuisseaux
ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONALISM CO-CHAIR

Chelsea Desruisseaux is a 2L from Long Island, NY. She graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development. Prior to law school, Chelsea worked in the Legal Recruiting department at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and then joined the Innocence Project as a Case Analyst. This summer, she worked as a summer associate at Brown Rudnick LLP. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys doing karaoke, spending hours on YouTube, and writing poetry.

Lydia Anglin
SOCIAL CHAIR​

Lydia Anglin is a second-year JD/MBA candidate, Houston native, and the "Vibe Curator" aka social chair for BLSA. Before law school, Lydia graduated from Cornell University and worked at Goldman Sachs with prior experience in energy, financial services, and public policy. At Penn Law, Wharton, and within the broader Philadelphia community, Lydia is involved with the Student Advisory Board for Equity & Inclusion, Christian Legal Clinic, and serves as Founder and Executive Director of Her Own Home. After law school, Lydia is committed to working on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters with a lens on corporate social responsibility. On the weekends, you can find her brunching, thrifting, or island hopping.

Karla Talley
​ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR

Karla Talley is a 2L from Bowie, MD. She attended Lafayette College, where she double-majored in Government & Law and English. Prior to law school, Karla worked as a housing law legal assistant at the Legal Aid Society of D.C. This summer, she worked as a legal intern at the Abolitionist Law Center. At Penn Law, Karla is a Toll Public Interest Scholar. She served as BLSA's 1L representative and is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Change. In her free time, Karla enjoys creative writing, yoga, and binge-watching great tv.

​Nimo Ali
ADVOCACY ​CO-CHAIR

Nimo Ali is a 2L from Minneapolis, MN. Nimo attended Carleton College, where she majored in Sociology and Anthropology. Prior to attending Penn Law, Nimo was a SEO Law Fellow at Shearman & Sterling, LLC. She also worked in education in Philadelphia and New York and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. This summer, she worked at Street Democracy, a community-lawyering non-profit in Detroit, MI, and as a research assistant for Professors Kermit Roosevelt and Dorothy Roberts. At Penn Law, Nimo is a board member of Penn’s Law Students for Democratic Society, an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law and Social Change, and teaching assistant for Professor Kermit Roosevelt’s spring Constitutional Law class. In her free time, Nimo enjoys running, writing, basketball, reading, and cooking dinner for loved ones.
​

Karis Stephen
SADIE CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR

Karis Stephen is a 2L from Tyler, TX. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English and Cinema & Media Studies and minored in Music. Before attending law school, Karis was a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Malaysia. This summer, Karis worked as a law clerk at Console Mattiacci Law, a plaintiff-side employment law firm located in Philadelphia. In addition, Karis worked as a Research Assistant to Professor Cary Coglianese on an upcoming book project on regulation and inequality. At Penn Law, Karis is an Associate Editor of The Regulatory Review, an Associate Editor of the Journal of Law and Social Change, an Education and Advocacy Chair of If/When/How, and a VP of Penn Law for Philly. In her free time, Karis is a professional singer and songwriter. ​

Taylor Ross
​SADIE CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR

Taylor Ross is a 2L from Houston, TX. She attended Brown University, where she triple concentrated in Public Policy, Education Studies, and Africana Studies. Prior to attending Penn Law, she was a middle school English teacher and an Urban Fellow at the New York City Law Department’s Family Court Division of Juvenile Delinquency. This summer, Taylor was a 1L Diversity Fellow at Weil, Gotshal, & Manges LLP and a legal intern at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. At Penn Law, she is an Associate Editor on The Regulatory Review, a Co-Director of Equity and Inclusion for the First Generation Professionals, and a Case Chair for the Youth Advocacy Project. Taylor is also pursuing a joint degree in Education Policy at Penn’s Graduate School of Education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.  

​

Gaelle Pierre-Louis
PAN-AFRICA CO-CHAIR

Gaelle Pierre-Louis is a rising 2L from Williamstown, New Jersey. Gaelle attended Georgetown University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and Harvard University, where she received a Master's in Education. Prior to attending Penn Law, she worked as an Admissions Officer at Georgetown University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing piano, and exploring Philadelphia.

Bryan Wilson
ALUMNI RELATIONS CHAIR

Bryan Wilson is a 2L from Zionsville, Indiana. He attended Arizona State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Psychology. Prior to law school, he worked as the Chief Bailiff of the Marion County Circuit Court in Indianapolis. At Penn Law, he is involved in the Penn Law Boxing Club, and is a competitor on the school’s mock trial team. In his free time, he enjoys boxing, baking, and watching movies.

Josie Little
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR & DOCUMENTARIAN

Josie Little is a 2L from Tampa, FL. Josie is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where she obtained a master’s degree in chemistry, and Smith College, where she majored in chemistry. Prior to Penn Law, she worked as a technology transfer intern for the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This summer, Josie was a summer associate at Fish & Richardson in Boston. At Penn Law, she is an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law & Innovation. Josie’s hobbies include reading science fiction, watching reality tv, completing jigsaw puzzles, and baking the occasional pie.
​

Emily Laurore
FREDERICK DOUGLASS MOOT COURT CHAIR

Emily Laurore is a 2L from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Emily is a graduate of Spelman College, where she majored in Political Science. This summer, she worked as a Knowledge & Innovation Intern at Simpson, Thacher, and Bartlett. In addition to serving on the Penn Law BLSA Board, she is also involved in the Penn Law Women’s Association. In her free time Emily enjoys eating, binge-watching shows on Netflix, and spending time with her mini goldendoodle. ​