Oyinade Adebayo

Oyinade Adebayo is a third-year law student at Howard University School of Law. She plans to pursue a career in labor and employment law upon graduation. Oyinade currently serves as a Senior Staff Editor on the Howard University Human & Civil Rights Law Review. Additionally, she serves as a Henry Ramsey Dean’s Fellow for first-year law students at the law school. Her interest in mentoring and building up youth fuels her passion for education equality and juvenile justice reform.

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson is a third-year law student at Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is an Atlanta native who looks forward to practicing defense, civil rights, and human rights litigation because she wants to contribute her bit toward making the world a more equitable and habitable place for all. Marian’s project highlights some sentencing disparities for racialized groups by focusing on law makers’ refusal to decriminalize marijuana use and possession at the federal level.

Nija Bastfield

Nija A. Bastfield is a fourth-year evening law student from The University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law. Her experience as a Law Clerk at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, along with her experience at the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., and the New York County District Attorney’s Office, helped to clarify her interest in criminal law. After graduation, Nija seeks to become an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Nija’s Fellowship project focuses on providing digital litigation assistance for marginalized communities.

Mikel Brown II

Mikel Brown II is a third-year law student at Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. Mikel was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and is a first-generation law student. Before law school, Mikel attended Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He has always had a passion for defending others and making a positive social impact. At PVAMU, Mikel grew his passion for advocacy when he participated in part two of the PV 19 March and Protest of 1992. The 2008 protest was in response to the Waller County Commissioners Court’s decision to provide only one polling location for the over 12,000 residents, who were primarily African American. Mikel has credited great teachers, his mother, and a single opportunity from TMSL with his journey to getting to law school, an accomplishment he understands not many people with his background get to achieve. He has had his own negative experiences with the justice system early in his life, which is reflected in his mission to dismantle the pipeline-to-prison and increase the number of African Americans in law.

Antavis L.J. Chavis

L. J. Chavis is a third-year law student from the Southern University Law Center. His experience as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill sparked his interest in Public Policy and Legislative Affairs. Additionally, his experience as a fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and law clerk with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Louisiana House of Representatives helped shape his passion for public service and advocacy for communities of color. Additionally, while clerking with the Maryland Public Defender’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, L. J. furthered his passion for advocacy. After graduation, L. J. plans to return to D.C. area to pursue his legal career.

Dominique Douglas

Dominique Lashuan Douglas is a third-year law student from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Her experience at both the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate and with the North Carolina Senate has provided ample opportunities to develop her administrative, problem-solving, and legal analytical skills.

Aquilla Gardner

Aquilla Gardner is a J.D. candidate at the Howard University School of Law. Her experience as a summer associate at Mayer Brown LLP and K&L Gates LLP, along with her previous work experience in technology and business have helped to shape her interest in transactional law. After graduation, Aquilla is planning to work in big law in the District of Columbia.

Kristina Hall

Kristina M. Hall is a third-year law student at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Her previous experience as a paralegal at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and internship for United States District Judge George C. Hanks, Jr., helped clarify her interest in civil litigation. Kristina served as a summer associate for Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, where she shadowed attorneys as they prepared an argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. After graduation, Kristina’s goal is to clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Kristina’s fellowship project focuses on creating opportunities for law students of color to obtain a federal clerkship and increase the number of people of color in the federal judiciary.

Brianna Joaseus

Brianna A. Joaseus is a third-year law student at the Southern University Law Center. Brianna’s experience serving as a Victim Witness Coordinator at the Office of the State Attorney’s 15th Judicial Circuit, being a Real Estate Broker Sales Associate at Coldwell Banker, and working as a Legal Graduate Underwriting Intern at First American Title has solidified her interest in commercial real estate law and litigation.

Joanne Louis

Joanne Louis is a third-year law student at Howard University School of Law. Joanne graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship and Finance from Babson College, and in 2016 she became the owner of Writing Stylist LLC, a writing consulting company. Through her business, she has helped many black founders start and grow their businesses. After graduation, Joanne will join the Investment Funds and Private Equity practice at Sidley LLP in Boston, MA.

Nicolle Londono

Nicolle Londoño is a third-year law student at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law (FAMU). Currently, Nicolle serves as the Vice President of the Hispanic American Law Students Association and Secretary for the Marshall Bell Society. Prior to attending law school, Nicolle obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a pre-law concentration while working as a litigation paralegal in varied practice areas. Nicolle lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband and child.

Alexus McNeal

Alexus McNeal is a third-year law student at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. Alexus’ Associate of Science in cosmetology degree from the Dudley Beauty College, her Bachelor of Science degree from Clark Atlanta University, and her future law degree will make her a three-time HBCU attendee and graduate. Maintaining a cosmetology business that caters to women throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area has led her to intern with WomensLaw.Org, which provides legal information and resources to victims of domestic violence and others needing assistance with civil and family law matters. Alexus has also served as a Student-Attorney in the Community Development Legal Clinic, working with D.C. business owners in transactional matters. Her distinctive education and training have helped her forge her own path that mixes business and law with benevolence.

Amari Roberts

Amari Roberts is a third-year law student from Florida A&M University College of Law. Amari’s passion for law developed as she watched her mother zealously advocate for her clients every day in the justice system. As a Georgia native, Amari’s experience at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office motivated her to take on the challenge of rectifying capital punishment in the state of Georgia. She hopes to keep being an inspiration for future law students. Amari’s Fellowship project is the McCleskey Act, a bill proposal that focuses on eliminating Georgia’s death penalty system’s discriminatory intent requirement and that would instead require only proving that a law has discriminatory impact.

Lauren Skarupsky

Lauren Skarupsky is a third-year law student at Southern University Law Center. Over the past two years, Lauren has gained legal experience in various fields including, but not limited to oil and gas law, property law, sports law, and criminal law. Lauren has strong interest in the following areas of law: corporate law, real estate/property law, and succession planning.

Edrius Stagg

Edrius Stagg is a fourth-year law student at Southern University Law Center. He serves as the Managing Editor for the Southern University Law Review and has held many other leadership roles while in law school. Edrius spent his previous two summers at Reed Smith, LLP as a Summer Associate. Edrius’ Fellowship project focuses on reducing racial bias within the jury selection process. A special thank you to Edrius’ mentor, Jacqueline Hall (Jacquie), Director of Operations Quality Assurance & Program Management at LexisNexis®. Without Jacquie’s help, this project would not have been possible.

Talia Thomas

Talia Thomas is a third-year law student at the Howard University School of Law. Talia had the pleasure of honing her legal skills interning at Yale Law School in its Challenging Mass Incarceration Clinic, by providing criminal defense and re-entry services to recently released persons. Her experience at Yale greatly influenced her decision to join the inaugural Capital Habeas Pipeline Program at HUSL where she worked alongside federal defenders on various habeas claims. Talia’s project focuses on the racial disparities apparent within our capital punishment system.

Zuri Ward

Zuri Ward is a third-year, evening student at North Carolina Central University School of Law. At present, Zuri is a Legal Specialist in the Intellectual Property Center of Excellence at Elevance Health (formerly Anthem Inc.). Because of her interest in Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law, Zuri has served in the law school’s Trademark Clinic and on the Executive Board of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Zuri is making the most of her legal education by coupling IP and Entertainment Law with Technology Law through her work as a Research Assistant in the Technology Law and Policy Center and her coursework in the Tech Law Certificate Program at North Carolina Central University School of Law. In addition to her studies, Zuri’s project, Umbrella, focuses on addressing systemic racism and increasing access to the law by educating entrepreneurs and creators about their intellectual property rights and how they can protect their work.

Songo Wawa

Songo A.R. Wawa is a third-year law student from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. Her experience at the Maryland Office of Public Defenders, Government Services Administration, and AmeriCorps strengthened her commitment to public service and advocacy for marginalized communities. After graduation, Songo is committed to continuing her work in public service as an attorney.

Steve Carroll

VP Customer Insights, Global Product, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Elizabeth Christman

Senior Director of Product Management, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

David A. Collins

Director, Product Management,
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Meredith Crews

Senior Vice President, Finance, Knowable

Dave DiCicco

Senior Director of Product Management, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

L. Delaine Frazier, Esq.

Client Manager, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Jacqueline C. Hall

Director, Operations — Quality Assurance & Program Management, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Jamie Holden

Director of Enablement LexisNexis® North America, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Margaret Unger Huffman, Esq.

Senior Product Manager II, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Brian Kennedy

Director, Government Content, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Afsoon Khatibloo-McClellan

Director, Global Associations, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Erika Lehman

Senior Director, Large Law, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Amber McKinney

Managing Editor, Law360®

Natasha Newberry

Director & Senior Corporate Counsel, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Rhea Ramsey

Regional Manager, Large Markets: Large Law & Law Schools, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Teal Taylor

Relationship Manager, Nexis Solutions, LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Rachel Travers

Vice President, Law360®

Serena Wellen

Senior Director, Product Management,
LexisNexis® Legal & Professional

Ronda Moore

Ronda Moore is the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer and Head of Global Talent Development for LexisNexis® Legal & Professional. She also serves as a LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship Committee Member.

Adonica Black

Adonica Black is the Director of Global Talent Development and Inclusion for LexisNexis® Legal & Professional. She also serves as the LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship Program Director and as a Committee Member.

Tina DeBose

Tina DeBose serves as the LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network Liaison to the LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Board and Software Engineering Manager at LexisNexis® Legal & Professional.

Roderick Brown

Roderick Brown is Director and Senior Corporate Counsel at LexisNexis® Legal & Professional. He also serves as a LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship Committee Member.

Nigel Roberts

Nigel Roberts is the VP Global Associations and VP & Secretary of the LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation.

Gretchen Bakhshai

Gretchen Bakhshai is the Senior Vice President of Global Client Service and Support at Knowable, a subsidiary of LexisNexis® Legal & Professional. She also serves as a LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship Committee Member.

Hannah Hardin

Hannah Hardin is a Director of Human Resources for LexisNexis® Legal & Professional. She has dedicated much of her career to creating inclusive work environments where everyone can feel valued and supported. She also serves as a LexisNexis® African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis® Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship Committee Member.