Ecclesiaste Desir (he/him)
​PRESIDENT

Ecclesiaste Desir is a 2L from Brooklyn, New York. Ecclesiaste studied Political Science at Howard University. Prior to Penn Law, he worked in executive search for two years. This summer, Ecclesiaste was a summer associate at Greenberg Traurig in New York. At Penn Law, he is also involved in the Entrepreneurship Club, the Law Review, and the Morris Fellow Program. In his free time, Ecclesiaste enjoys watching movies, reading books, and pumping iron. 

Piper Casey (she/her)
​VICE PRESIDENT

Piper Casey is a 2L from Dover, Delaware. She earned her Political Science degree from Spelman College in three years.  At Penn Law, Piper is also serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Law and Social Change and serves on the Council of Student Representatives' Committee for Student Life & Wellness. This summer, Piper was a summer associate in New York at Ropes & Gray where she was seconded at the National Football League. To destress from school, Piper listens to music, plays tennis, and eats good food. 

Yaried Hailu (he/him)
​TREASURER 

Yaried Hailu is a 2L from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.  He is a graduate of Temple University, where he majored in Political Science. Before matriculating to Penn Law, he worked for AmeriCorps Vista and as a paralegal at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. This summer, Yaried was a judicial intern to Judge David Stawbridge. In addition to serving on the Penn Law BLSA Board, Yaried serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Constitutional Law. In his free time, he enjoys watching Netflix, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. 

Erin Bussey (she/her)
​ ​SECRETARY

Erin is a 2L from New York. She attended  the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree in  History with a minor in French and Francophone studies. At Penn Law, Erin also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Change. This summer she worked as a summer associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and worked as a legal intern at MetLife. In her free time, Erin enjoys reading, watching TV, and traveling.

Di'Vennci Lucas (he/him)
​FUNDRAISING CHAIR

Di'Vennci Lucas is a 2L from Athens, Georgia. He attended Stanford University where he earned his B.A.H. in African & African American Studies. Prior to Penn Law, Di'Vennci worked on Facebook's Law Enforcement Response Team for four years as a legal analyst. This summer he was a summer law clerk at Console Mattiacci Law where he worked on plaintiff-side labor and employment law matters.  At Penn Law, Di'Vennci currently serves an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Change, the Social Co-Chir of Lambda, and as the Community Legal Services Hotline Co-Director for the Penn Housing Rights Project. In his free time Di'Vennci enjoys air fryer cooking, singing, and digital photography.

Shanelle Jones (she/her)
ADMISSIONS CHAIR

Shanelle Jones is a 2L from Hartford, Connecticut. She attended the University of Connecticut, where she majored in Political Science and Human Rights. This summer, she was a 1L LCLD Scholar and Summer Associate at Littler Mendelson. In addition to serving on the Penn Law BLSA Board, Shanelle is an Associate Editor on the Journal of Constitutional Law, works as a Westlaw Student Representative, and serves as a fellow to Penn Law's Equity & Inclusion and Morris Programming. In her free time, Shanelle enjoys baking, traveling, Game of Thrones, and Fantasy & True Crime Podcasts.
​

Rheem Brooks (she/her)
​ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONALISM
​CO-CHAIR

Rheem Brooks is a rising 2L who calls Manassas, Virginia home. She graduated with a degree in Developmentl Studies (sociology and human geography) from Brown University in 2016. Prior to law school, Rheem worked at the Federal Defenders of New York, Southern District for five years as a paralegal.  At Penn Law, Rheem also serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Law and Innovation, and as a Youth Advocacy Project Case Chair.This summer Rheem worked for Morgan Lewis as a Summer Associate in the Philadelphia office. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, and watching reality TV shows.

Keith Matier (he/him)
ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONALISM
​ CO-CHAIR

Keith Matier is a 2L from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in Philosophy in 2018. Prior to law school, Keith served as a 2018 Teach For America Corps Member in Atlanta, Georgia. At Penn Law, Keith is also involved with the Youth Education Project and is a First Generation Professionals Fellow.  This summer, he worked as a Summer Associate at Robinson Bradshaw in Charlotte, North Carolina. In his free time, Keith likes to  read, play basketball, spend time with family, try new restaurants, and volunteer for the Morehouse Debate Team. 

Alexis Flowers (she/her)
SOCIAL CHAIR​

Our Social Chair, Alexis Flowers, is a 2L from Montclair, New Jersey. Before law school, Alexis graduated from the University of Michigan and worked as a legal intern at McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC. At Penn Law, besides BLSA, Alexis is involved in the Penn Law Business Association, the Penn Housing Rights Project, and the Entertainment and Sports Law Society.   This summer, Alexis worked as a legal intern at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In her free time, Alexis enjoys trying out new restaurants, watching documentaries, and creating playlists. 

Ty Parks (he/him)
​ADVOCACY CO-CHAIR

Ty Parks is a 2L from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Columbia   where he majored in History. This summer, he worked at the Public Interest Law Center. At Penn Law, Ty serves as an Associate Editor on Journal of Law and Social Change, a Community Liaison for Walk In Legal Assistance Project, and as an Intake and Communications Coordinator for the Criminal Record Expungement Project. Ty enjoys running, watching movies and TV, and hanging out with friends. 

​Devontae Torriente (he/him)
ADVOCACY ​CO-CHAIR

Devontae is a 2L who is originally from New York City and now calls Philadelphia home. He is a 2018 graduate of American University where he earned his B.A. in Justice and Law and minored in African American and African Diaspora Studies. Before coming to Penn, Devontae worked for a several years in community organizing, electoral politics, and policy advocacy. This past summer, Devontae was a Legal Intern at the Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC) in Washington, D.C., where he supported CAC’s Supreme Court and appellate litigation efforts. At Penn Law, Devontae is a Toll Public Interest Scholar and serves as an Associate Editor for The Regulatory Review and the Journal of Law and Social Change. He is also on the board of the Democracy Law Project, a Criminal Law TA, and an inaugural Equity & Inclusion Fellow. In his free time, Devontae enjoys biking, vegan food, listening to podcasts, and following pop culture.
​

Melany Amarikwa (she/her)
SADIE CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR

Melany is a 2L from Los Angeles, California. She graduated from UC Berkeley. At Penn Law, she is also involved in LALSA, the Journal of Law and Innovation, the Journal of Constitutional Law, the Internet, Tech, and Society Collective, and Penn Law Antitrust Association. This summer, Melany worked at the Brennan Center for Justice. In her free time, Melany likes to cook and paint.

Fatima Ibrahiem (she/her)
​​SADIE CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR

Fatima is a 2L who calls both Colorado and Sudan home. She attended Regis University where she earned her B.A. in History and B.A.S. in Political Economy. This summer, Fatima interned with NYU School of Law's State Energy & Environmental Impact Center. At Penn Law, she is also a General Board Member on the Environmental Law Project, an Associate Editor on the Journal of Business Law, and a participant in Muslim Law School Association. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating & playing board games.

​

Frank Deese
PAN-AFRICA CO-CHAIR

Frank Deese is a 2L from Charlotte, North Carolina. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University and his M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. In addition to grad school, Frank traveled and worked before coming to Penn Law. On campus, Frank is also involved in the Penn Law Dodgeball team. This summer, Frank worked as a Summer Associate at Jones Day in Chicago. When not at school, Frank enjoys shopping at Trader Joe's and "get[ting] to the money". 

Hayley Smith
​ALUMNI RELATIONS CHAIR

Hayley Smith is a 2L from Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University--Edwardsville where she studied Political Science and Philosophy.  Prior to law school, she worked as a substitute teacher. Hayley is also involved in the Law Review as an Associate Editor and serves as a TA for Ferzan's Criminal Law class. This summer, she worked at Simpson Thacher as a Summer Associate. In her free time, Hayley  enjoys dancing, reading, and watching kdramas. 

Jessie Levin (she/her)
​COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR & DOCUMENTARIAN

Jessie is a 2L from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She graduated from Pomona College with her degree in Public Policy Analysis and a concentration in Science, Technology, and Society Studies. Prior to Penn Law, she was a 2019 TFA Corps Member in Idaho and also worked in trademark consulting. This summer, Jessie was a Summer Associate at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor in Wilmington, Delaware. She also was a Research Assistant for Professor David Abrams. At Penn Law, she is an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law & Innovation and the Co-Director of Impact Litigation for the Environmental Law Project. Jessie's hobbies include rock climbing, biking, and skiing.
​

Joshua Sims (he/him)
​MOOT COURT CHAIR

Joshua Sims is a 2L from Camden, New Jersey. He earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Labor Relations from Cornell University.  This past summer, he interned at Kline and Specter.  When not at Penn Law, Joshua enjoys studying the Bible and writing music. 

---

---

Chisom Nwakama (she/her)
Pan-Africa Co-Chair 

Chisom is a 2L from Marshall, Minnesota. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Creighton University. This summer, she worked at Merck & Co. as an Intellectual Property Group (Patent) Intern. Besides BLSA, Chisom is also involved in the Penn Law Tennis Club, the STEM club, the Health Law and Policy Project. She serves as Associate Editors for the Journal of Constitutional Law and the Journal of Law and Innovation. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and reading.

Angel Reed (she/they)
Community Service Chair

Angel Reed is a 2L who calls Philadelphia home. Angel earned her B.A. in African American Studies and Sociology from Georgetown University. Besides BLSA, Angel is involved in Lamda, the Arc Justice Clinic, the Equity and Inclusion Fellows Program and is a Sadie Scholar. This summer, Angel worked as a research assistant to Professor Cary Coglianese from the Penn Program on Regulation. When not at the law school, Angel likes to ​travel, spend time with friends, try new foods, play board games, go to the movies, and swim.