Chandrika Narne is a first-year student in the ILR School at Cornell, majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations. She is passionate about labor and employment law, education policy, and criminal justice reform—especially the ways these systems intersect and impact people’s lives. She joined CUPI because she wanted to work directly with individuals affected by incarceration and help support their journey toward parole, rehabilitation, and dignity. She is excited to be part of a community that’s committed to justice and impact.

Allison Wong is a government major in the College of Arts & Sciences with minors in law & society and inequality studies. She joined CUPI to pursue her passion for criminal justice and has gained incredible insight working alongside both applicants and her teammates. Outside of CUPI, Allison serves as editor in chief elect of the Cornell Undergraduate International Law Review, managing editor of the Cornell International Affairs Review, staff writer for the Cornell Undergraduate Law & Society Review, and researcher for the Spero Justice Center. She is currently interning for the American Bar Association and has previously interned for Onondaga County District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick, Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, and the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. In her free time, you can find Allison going for runs around Cornell's campus, spending time with friends and family, or getting lost in a good book. 

Alysha Adusei is from Massachusetts who is majoring in Government and College Scholar. In addition to her role in CUPI, she serves as Co-Director of Publicity for the Pan-African Student Association, a part of the Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity, and is involved in showcasing stories from individuals within marginalized communities through her podcast, Our Natural Hair Club. She joined CUPI to advocate for and help incarcerated individuals seeking another chance into society. Furthermore, to help address the injustices within the criminal justice system through learning about them and finding ways to dismantle them. In her free time, Alysha loves video editing, watching shows, and making fashion mood boards.

America Casanova is triple majoring in American Studies, Government, and Honors English, with a minor in Latino/a Studies. She is deeply interested in justice, healing, and the ways we can reimagine systems that have historically caused harm. Her interest in CUPI and criminal justice comes from a place of personal commitment — as a Mexican immigrant exposed to the challenges her community faced, she cares about centering the voices of those directly impacted, and she wants to be part of work that moves us toward collective liberation. 

Outside of school, she loves journaling, being nostalgic (especially on the slope), and finding new music to soundtrack my life. She is also someone who values slowness, tight bonds, and holding space for vulnerability — in myself and others.

Taeyoung Kim is from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, pursuing a major in Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is passionate about criminal justice and has experience as a legal intern in both criminal defense and immigration law. When she's not running to find the nearest spot with a working espresso machine on campus, she can be found napping, listening to podcasts, and pretending to lock in with friends in group study rooms.

Alexa Phan is from the Bay Area, California, majoring in Government and Economics. Alexa was inspired to join CUPI and learn about the criminal justice system after reading Bryan Stevenson’s novel, Just Mercy, in high school. Through CUPI, she hopes to advocate for prison reform and connect with people from all walks of life. On campus, she is also a Meinig Family Scholar. Outside of academics, she loves swimming, trying new foods, and playing music with friends and family.

Olivia Pham is majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations with a minor in International Relations. She is passionate about international human rights law and the intersection of justice, advocacy, and systemic change. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, boxing, and making flower bouquets. On campus, she is involved in the Cornell Policy Group, CIAR, and SEC. Olivia was drawn to CUPI because of her commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and challenging structures that deny people second chances. Her interest in criminal justice stems from her dedication to advancing human rights both domestically and globally.

Aitan Avgar is from Ithaca, New York and is majoring in History. His other academic interests include environmental studies and Spanish. On campus, he is involved in the People's Organizing Collective Cornell (POCC) and the Cornell Media Guild. In his free time he enjoys finding new music to listen, running, and being in nature with friends.

Aryan Batada is from Atlanta, Georgia studying Industrial & Labor Relations that is  interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice reform. He has seen how detrimental the criminal justice system can be to communities and CUPI allows him to play a small part in fighting the system. Outside of CUPI, he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing table tennis, and going bowling.

Evan Draga is from Cleveland, OH studying Government and Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. On campus, he is a brother of Phi Alpha Delta Undergraduate Law Fraternity, and is a member of Cornell Political Union and Cornell Business Review. Evan joined CUPI to advocate for incarcerated individuals in a flawed system while learning from more educated members. He is also interested in playing guitar, reading, and watching nice sunsets. 

Melina Kohilakis is from Westchester, NY, majoring in Global Development with a minor in Information Science. She is passionate about criminal justice reform, sustainable development, and environmental policy. On campus, Melina is a member of the Cornell Consulting Group, Big Red Ambassadors, the Cornell Women's Club Lacrosse Team, and serves as the General Manager of The Cornellian Yearbook. Outside of her academic and extracurricular commitments, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops, cheering on the New York Rangers, and going for runs.

Kennedy Young is a Public Policy major with minors in Law & Society, Demography, and Inequality Studies. She is deeply interested in racial justice, equity, and advocacy work. She became interested in CUPI and criminal justice reform after witnessing the school-to-prison pipeline and other systemic injustices in my own community. Seeing the long-term damage that retributive punishment has caused inspired her to be part of efforts that imagine something better. Outside of academics, she enjoy roller skating and listening to music (mostly R&B).

Eva Lifsec is from New York City, majoring in Global Development in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences with minors in Law & Society and International Relations. Her interest in criminal justice reform began with reading Bryan Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy, and has only grown from there. In her free time, Eva enjoys hanging with friends, reading, and lying out in the sun.

Hilary Weisenfeld, is from New York City and is a junior at Cornell. She is studying Urban and Regional studies in the college of Architecture, Art and Planning as well as doing a business minor. Hilary Joined CUPI because of her interest in the criminal justice system and wanted to help enact change within this subject. She also also is a part of PDOW, Professional development of Women. In her free time she likes to play sports and hang out with her friends.

Michelle Yi is currently majoring in Human Development. In my free time, she likes to collect figures, play video games, and draw! She became interested in criminal justice, specifically the abolitionist movement, after taking GOVT3121 here at Cornell. It was through this class that she learned about CUPI, and she greatly admired this organization and the students in it for the work that they were doing in working with applicants all over the state.

Keira He is from Long Island studying mechanical engineering. Her interest in CUPI grew out of a meaningful experience as an advocate in her local county's Peer Diversion Court, a restorative justice program for adolescents charged with a crime. As an interdisciplinary thinker, Keira is passionate about creating positive change by connecting with people on a personal level and learning from the authentic stories of those directly impacted by the criminal justice system. 

Ian Palansky is a Government and History major from Rockville, Maryland. He joined CUPI because of his interests in criminal defense and general advocacy, and because he wants to make people's lives better however he can. He is also a member of the Cornell ACLU's Criminal Justice Committee and PREP. He has a passion for history, international relations, and his cats. He also loves to hike, watch the Ravens, and talk about politics. 

 Reuben Williams is in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Government. Some of his favorite hobbies include going to the gym, reading, and swimming whenever he gets the chance. What initially drew him to CUPI was the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Rueben believes CUPI is an organization that advocates for those who are most vulnerable in society, and that is something truly powerful. That CUPI is a rare space where members' efforts directly impact others in such a tangible way, and that’s what makes being part of CUPIC so special.

Madeleine Tierney is from New York City majoring in Government and minoring in Classical Civilization. She is passionate about international relations and comparative political studies. Her interest in criminal justice reform stems from a desire to apply the various political theories she learned about in her coursework to the real world. In her free time, she loves reading fiction novels, going on walks, and meeting new people. 

Maya Allen is a Human Development major, with minors in Business and Law and Society. She is from NYC, and is passionate about criminal justice reform. Outside of CUPI, she is in Art Beyond Cornell, Cornell Marketing Club, PAD, SWIB, and MiXed at Cornell. She also loves baking and painting!

Jonathan Lam is in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations hailing from Queens, New York City, double minoring in International relations and migration students. On campus, Jonathan is a Cornell National Meinig Scholar, a part of Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity and is involved with activism work including Cornell ACLU, Cornell Anti-Detention Alliance, Amnesty International USA and the ACLU of New York. Since joining CUPI, he has helped two individuals receive parole and is currently working with immigration lawyers on supporting detained immigrants, who were formally convicted. Jonathan hopes to attend law school and become an international human rights and immigration lawyer explore the intersection between the immigration system and criminal justice.

Abhishek Gurubaskaran is in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations hailing from New Jersey currently pursuing minors in History, Law and Society, and Business. On campus he competes as part of the Cornell Speech Team and a research assistant in the Department of Economics. Outside class, he plays drums in a rock band and dances on the Bollywood fusion dance team Sitara. He joined CUPI because of his passion for public service and interest in fighting injustice within the legal system.

Miradyn Feist is a sophomore majoring in Environment & Sustainability and Government. She is passionate about public interest advocacy, in particular focusing on the impacts of environmental justice in the United States. She joined CUPI to learn from a community of dedicated peers and help ensure parole applicants are given a meaningful second chance. Outside of CUPI, Miradyn works at the Cornell Store, is a contributor to Cornell’s Thread Fashion Magazine, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving and thrifting.

Olivia LaBonte is a Government major from Massachusetts. She joined CUPI because of her interest in combating inequities within the criminal justice system and her passion for public service. On campus, Olivia is also the Assistant Center Director at Cornell Policy Group’s Foreign Center, an intake volunteer for Cornell Law School's Tenants Advocacy Program, and a cohort member in the Compassionate Release Project. After graduation, she aspires to attend law school. In her free time, she enjoys reading, thrifting, creating art, and spending time with friends and family (including her cats Harry and Reggie).

Jacqueline Farnsworth is from New York City majoring in Public Policy. Her passion for criminal justice was sparked when she visited Sing Sing Correctional Facility with the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice – an experience in which she connected with incarcerated individuals at a human level. She left the visit wanting to make a tangible impact on those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, and joined CUPI as a way to achieve this. Outside of CUPI, Jacqueline is part of the Cornell Compassionate Release Project, volunteers as a tutor, and is a writer and editor for Hopelessly Yellow Cornell. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, the guitar, and spending time with friends, family, and her dogs, Cazzie and Nipsey.

Jaiden Fisher-Dayn is studying public policy with minors in Inequality Studies and Crimes Prisons Education & Justice. He has now been in CUPI for 4 semesters. On campus, he also works with the Compassionate Release Project, does research for the Cornell Prison Education Program, and is an Education Analyst for the Cornell Policy Group. He is also an avid basketball player and helps lead the Cornell Club Basketball team. Jaiden is passionate about advocating for those affected by the injustices in the carceral system. He has interests in criminal justice, law, human rights, and education. In his free time, you will almost certainly find him playing or watching basketball. 

Alex Riva is from New York City and is majoring in Plant Science. Her interest in CUPI arose from her past experience leading a conference on advocacy and inequality in the criminal justice system, working with formerly incarcerated individuals and organizations like PEN America and Broadway Advocacy Coalition. Outside of CUPI, she is also a part of the Model UN team and the club PREP. She is currently on the pre-med track and hopes to become a gastroenterologist. In her free time she likes to read, go for runs, cook, and try new coffee shops!

Grace Zahm studies Government and Classics, with a minor in Environment & Sustainability. She's interested in achieving justice through these pathways, which is what motivated her to work with CUPI.  Her other interests include radio DJ'ing, print media, ceramic arts, and dance! 

Kelly Li is junior in ILR from New York City. In her free time, she likes to travel, spend time with family and friends, and try out new restaurants. She joined CUPI to make a positive impact on the criminal justice system and advocate for those marginalized by its effects. Outside of CUPI, she is also involved in the Cornell Knight Institute Writing Center and Pulseguard. 

Zacharie Henningsen is from Worcester VT, who's lived in six different states. He's majoring in Classical Civilization with minors in Crime, Prisons, Education, and Justice as well as Law & Society. On campus, Zacharie serves as VP of DEI for the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta, is an RA, and works at the North Campus Service Center. Zacharie's involvement with CUPI stems from his passion for equity within the criminal legal system, and criminal justice reform. In his free time, Zacharie plays music, writes, and collects vinyl records. 

Angel Flores Rodriguez is from Pismo Beach, California, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Statistics and Policy Analysis, and minoring in Migration Studies. Outside of CUPI, Angel stays engaged in campus life. He’s a proud member of the Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble, Pi Lambda Sigma (Cornell’s premier government society), La Asociación Latina, and the Cornell Anti-Detention Alliance. He also volunteers with the Varna Volunteer Fire Company and is currently training to become both a firefighter and EMT. Driven by a deep-seated passion for immigration issues, Angel found a natural fit with CUPI, drawn to its exploration of the intersection between criminal justice and immigration policy.  When he’s not in Ithaca, you can most likely find him back home riding ATVs through the dunes with his closest friends.

Olivia D'Ambrosio is from Newburyport, Massachusetts studying Government in the College of Arts and Sciences. On campus, she is involved as a Research Assistant for the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law, a mentor for ENGin, and is a part of the NY State Policy Advocacy Clinic. Her passion for prison reform was ignited during an internship in Mental Health Litigation, where she observed firsthand the urgent need for systemic change. In her free time, Olivia enjoys hanging out with friends, working out, traveling, and exploring Ithaca.

Elizabeth Lara is in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, majoring in Government and American Studies and minoring in Law and Society and Latino Studies. In addition to her role at CUPI, she serves as a student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of The Wardrobe and the Cornell Latino Pre-Law Association. Elizabeth joined CUPI after witnessing how the justice system tends to deprive people of fair trials, especially those from minority backgrounds. Joining CUPI would allow her to have hands-on experience in impacting her community and provide a second chance at life. 

Akoya Alton is in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations pursuing minors in moral psychology and inequality studies! On campus, I'm a Laidlaw Scholar and a Tradition Fellow, and she is involved in Cornell Votes, Hopelessly Yellow, and CUDAA! In her spare time, she loves to make jewelry and take her cat on walks. She is involved in CUPI because she believes in collaborative action, equality and inclusion, and community empowerment. 

 Meadow Barr is a Government major with minors in Inequality Studies and Law & Society. She is from Upstate New York, and has three sisters, three dogs, and the cutest cat. She has been passionate about criminal justice reform and advocacy ever since she took a criminal justice course in high school. She is especially interested in the intersection of law, policy, and inequality. She joined the CUPI because she wanted to build real, meaningful connections with incarcerated individuals and support them as they work toward achieving parole. For Meadow, being part of CUPI has been such a rewarding and impactful experience!

Edwin Michel is a pre-law sophomore studying Government and Philosophy at Cornell, with a particular interest in political theory. He is an avid music listener with an extensive record collection, a devoted Brooklyn Nets fan, and is interested in art and literature. On campus, he is Vice-President of Startup Consulting at Cornell, a staff writer for the Undergraduate International Law Review at Cornell, and an active researcher for Professor Chloe Ahmann's upcoming work on ecofascism. Edwin joined CUPI because he wants to see the criminal justice system improved and aims to contribute to the fight against social injustice.

Darius Tyler is from Maryland in the College of Arts & Sciences, where he is pursuing a double major in Government and Philosophy with minors in China & Asia Pacific Studies and Africana Studies. Darius joined CUPI because of his passion for social justice, human rights, and a desire to create systemic change. In the Cornell community, Darius serves on the executive boards of the Translator Interpreter Program and SoulAAn Nation and is also a member of the Cornell Undergraduate Student Leadership Council. 

Nila Dev is a freshman from Dallas, Texas studying Industrial and Labor Relations with minors in International Relations and Business. Outside of CUPI, she is involved in Shimtah (traditional drumming club) and PREP (prison reform club). She became passionate about parole advocacy through her experience as a teen court attorney, where she saw firsthand the importance of second chances and restorative justice. In her free time, Nila likes to learn languages, travel, cook, and draw! 

Natalie Guo comes from Manhattan, New York! As a first year, she is currently study Government on the pre-law track in the College of Arts & Sciences. She loves window shopping, going to the gym, and testing out a new recipe -- usually in that order! As someone who firmly believes in the transformative capacity grassroots initiatives hold, CUPI has become an outlet for her to meet passionate like-minded people who strive to challenge worldviews and have the privilege to be a part of something larger than themshelves. 

Cereese Qusba is from New York City studying Government and Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. On campus, she is an editor for The Cornell Daily Sun, a Tradition Fellow, and a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity (PAD). She joined CUPI to deepen her understanding of the criminal justice system and to explore how CUPI’s work can help advance a more rehabilitative approach to justice.

Alexandra Gardi is from NYC studying Human Development, with minors in Business and Policy Analysis and Management. Outside of CUPI, she is involved with PsiChi, Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, Dean's Undergraduate Council of Human Ecology, and the Developmental Moral Psychology research lab. Alexandra's interest in CUPI stems from her interest in the intersection between the criminal justice system, law, and psychology. In her free time she loves to go on walks with her two dogs, hang out with friends, and try new foods!

Nafisi Tian is from Guilford, Connecticut, studying Government in the College of Arts and Sciences, with (hopefully) minors in China and Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) and Crime, Prisons, Education, and Justice (CPEJ). Her passion for criminal justice reform is rooted in personal experience and a growing awareness of systemic inequities in the legal system, shaped by media and Cornell coursework. She joined CUPI to take part in the organization’s hands-on reform initiatives in New York State prisons. After graduation, Nafisi plans to attend law school and pursue a career in the legal field. In her free time, she enjoys binge-watching low-rated reality shows, reading, and listening to music.

Mayah Chen is from Wellesley, Massachusetts studying Human Development in the College of Human Ecology. She hopes to minor in Fine Arts. She is interested in intersections between psychology, social justice, and history. It was in her 10th grade world history class that she realized her interest in understanding injustices in American society. Outside of academics, she loves to draw and paint, spend time outdoors, rock climb, and talk with her friends. 

 Celena Bradley a sophomore majoring in ILR at Cornell. She has always been interested in how systems of power and justice shape our everyday lives, which led her to get involved with CUPI and explore the criminal justice system more deeply. Outside of academics, she loves going on nature walks, cooking, and reading. She is also always down to talk about true crime documentaries!

 Lucy Fisher is a freshman studying Industrial and Labor Relations. She is very interested in criminal justice, prison reform, and constitutional law. She initially became interested in criminal justice after completing a project her senior year about how incarceration impacts individuals' and communities' overall socioeconomic outcomes. Her hobbies include cooking, baking, running, tennis, and listening to podcasts.

Nash Wickremeratne is a Las Vegas native pursuing a B.S. in Public Policy. She aspires to attend law school and plans to focus on constitutional law, civil rights advocacy, and government relations. Her passion for criminal justice was sparked after learning about the unique challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in the prison system from an incarcerated pen pal. Outside of CUPI, Nash is actively involved with the Cornell Democrats, serves as a Research Fellow at the Center on Global Democracy, and is a member of the Pre-Law Fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. In her free time, she enjoys playing (& watching) sports, cooking, working out, and going to concerts.