For any inquiries, please email upennblsa@gmail.com

Folasade K. Famakinwa
​President

Folasade K. Famakinwa grew up on Long Island, New York and attended Cornell University, where she majored in Human Development. Sade also received her Masters in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to attending Penn Law, she worked as a paralegal, a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs, and a consultant for minority and women owned businesses. Sade was also an SEO fellow and split her 1L summer working at Aluko & Oyebode (a Nigerian corporate law firm) and as a judicial intern at the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Sade is a 2L and is also involved in the Democracy Law Project, National Lawyers Guild, and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law and Social Change. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, going to the beach, and listening to music.  

Germaine Grant
​​Social Chair

Germaine Grant is a 2L and grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He attended the Oakwood University, a Historically Black College University in Huntsville, AL, where he received his Bachelors in Healthcare Administration. Prior to law school, Germaine was an English Teacher in South Korea. Germaine split his 1L summer as a summer associate at Nishimura & Asahi in Tokyo, Japan and as a summer associate at Bermeo&Bermeo in Quito, Ecuador. Germaine also serves as the 2L CSR (Council of Student Representatives) rep., the law school representative on GAPSA (Graduate and Professional Student Assembly), and as a representative on Penn Law’s Orientation Team. In his free time, Germaine enjoys playing pickup basketball, watching Anime, and brunching. 

Olivia Bethea
​Pan-Africa Co-Chair

Olivia Bethea is a 2L from Columbia, MD. Olivia Bethea started her academic career at the University of Maryland, College Park in the Honors College. She studied Government & Politics and French Language & Literature. As an undergraduate, she also received a David L. Boren award to study French and Wolof in Dakar, Senegal. After graduation, she began a career in international development working for the United States Agency for International Development. This past summer, she worked worked in-house supporting TE Connectivity, a large technology company. In her free time, you can catch Olivia reading a good book, going for a run, or belting a Beyoncé tune with her whole heart.

Lauren Davis
​Advocacy Chair

Lauren Davis is a 2L from Ambler, PA. She is a graduate of Drexel University, where she majored in International Area Studies: Justice & Human Rights and minored in Political Science. After graduating from Drexel, she worked at the Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. During her 1L summer, Lauren is interning at Philadelphia Legal Assistance - Medical Legal Community Partnership.  At Penn Law, she is involved in WILA (Walk-In Legal Assistance Clinic), NLG (National Lawyer’s Guild), and is an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law and Social Change. Lauren is also 1 of 5 students of the Class of 2021 selected as a Penn Law Toll Public Interest Scholar! Lauren is pursuing a career in direct legal services focusing on public benefits work. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, the performing arts, reading novels, cooking, and yoga.

​​1L Representative

Information to Come!

Justin Pendleton
​Vice President

Justin Pendleton is a 2L from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended the University of Alabama, where he received his BS in Psychology and BA in International Relations. Justin then pursued a Master of Science in International Development and then a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy. Justin was a UK Fulbright Scholar and an International Development Research Assistant. At Penn Law, he is also a member of Boxing Club, Lambda, a Perry World House Grad Associate, a Morris Fellow mentor, and an Associate Editor on the Journal of Law and Social Change. This summer, Justin was an International Human Rights Fellow interning at PASSOP (People Against Suffering Oppression and Poverty) in Cape Town, South Africa. He worked in the Asylum and Refugee space processing applications and appeals. Justin spends his free time on fitness activities (gym, trail running, hiking, kayaking, etc.), cinema, and policy discussions.

Alexis Désiré
Professional Development Co-Chair

Alexis Désiré is a 2L from Wichita Falls, TX and received her Bachelors of Arts in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to attending Penn Law, Alexis worked as a magazine editor. For her 1L summer, she was selected as the 1L Scholar at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the Houston office. Alexis serves Co-President and founder of Penn Law Texas Club, the client services director of Penn Law Immigrant Rights Project, a member of Lambda, and as an Associate Editor on the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Alexis also enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, watching tv, and spending time with her dog. She also believes that Pride & Prejudice is the greatest movie of all time! 

Gerald Kimani
​​Admissions Chair

Gerald Kimani is a 2L from Nairobi, Kenya. He attended North Carolina State University where he majored in Electrical Engineering. Prior to attending law school, Gerald worked as an instrument engineer at Lyondellbasell in Houston, TX.  As a Wharton MBA student, Gerald is also involved in the Wharton Africa Student Association. During the summer, Gerald was enrolled in classes in keeping with the schedule for the three-year JD/Wharton MBA curriculum. In his free time, Gerald enjoys playing board games, card games, and dominoes. His fun fact is that he loves people!

Tamryn Holley
​​Sadie Alexander Conference Chair

Tamryn Holley is a 2L from Baltimore, Maryland. She attended the Howard University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in both English and Political Science. Prior to law school, Tamryn was a paralegal in both New York and Washington, DC law firms. She spent her 1L summer as a summer associate at McGuireWoods LLP in Baltimore. Tamryn is also involved in the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and GSMI. In her free time, Tamryn enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, and spoken word poetry. 

 

Johnathan Sargent
Treasurer & Fundraising Chair

Johnathan Sargent is a 2L from Flint, Michigan. John attended undergraduate the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and History. Prior to attending law school, John spent two years as a Congressional staffer in Washington, DC. This summer, he was a legal intern at Charter Communications. At Penn Law, John is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Business Law and a Morris Fellow mentor. In his free time, he enjoys running, watching anime, and avoiding any law school related work.

Demisse Selassie
​​Professional Development Co-Chair

Demisse Selassie is a 2L from Prince George’s County, Maryland! He attended undergraduate at Pepperdine University and majored in Political Science. Prior to attending law school, he worked at Deloitte Consulting in Washington, DC. This summer, Dem was a summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, DC. In his free time, he enjoys pick up basketball, following politics, and reading books on history. A fun fact about Dem is that while he was a White House intern, he found himself on the White House outdoor basketball court with President Obama, WNBA and NBA players shooting around! 

Fatou Waggeh
​Pan-Africa Co-Chair

Fatou Waggeh is a 3L and grew up in New York City. She attended New York University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in African Political Development and Colonial History. Prior to attending Penn Law, Fatou worked as a corporate paralegal at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz LLP and as a civic organizer at African Communities Together. She spent her 2L summer as a summer associate at Shearman & Sterling LLP. Fatou is also involved in the Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA), American Constitution Society (ACS), and she has attended and led Penn BLSA trips to Ghana and South Africa as well as leading an International Programming to Gambia this summer. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spoken word poetry, watching documentaries, and running. 

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Charlene Minatee 
Alumni Relations Chair

Charlene Minatee is a 2L from Planfield, NJ. She attended the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where she received a B.A. in Business Administration as well as her MBA in Business Management. Prior to law school, Charlene held various positions in procurement, contract management, and government contracting. She was also an SEO Fellow and spent her 1L summer as a summer associate at Ballard Spahr LLP. In her spare time, Charlene enjoys visiting rooftop bars and farmer markets, cooking, and traveling.

1L Representative

Information to Come!