Staff
Student Staff | Professional Staff | Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
JURIST is a public service project powered by more than 100 law students at 60+ law schools across six continents working under the guidance of professional staff and academic leadership based in Pittsburgh and Boston.
JURIST’s North American staff in the United States and Canada are law students at:
JURIST’s South American staff in Peru are law students at:
JURIST’s European staff are law students at:
JURIST’s African staff are law students at:
JURIST’s South Asian staff are law students at:
JURIST’s Australasian staff are law students at:
JURIST’s Chinese staff are law students at:
Student Leadership Team
JURIST’s Student Leadership Team is composed of experienced student staffers who take leading roles in managing and writing JURIST.
Global Chief of Staff
JURIST’s
Global Chief of Staff is
Edgar Odongo.
Managing Editors
JURIST’s News Managing Editor is JP Leskovich (he/him). JP is a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US) and has been on JURIST’s staff for two years. JP has contributed to JURIST’s News, Dispatches, and Commentary content and previously served as JURIST’s US Bureau Chief. JP is passionate about democracy and human rights and hopes to pursue a career in public interest law.
JURIST’s Deputy News Managing Editor is Derren Chan. Derren is a third-year student at the University of Hong Kong (HK).
JURIST’s Managing Editor for Long Form Content is James Joseph (he/him). James has just completed his Master’s in politics and international law from Keele University School of Law in the UK and has been a staff correspondent for JURIST for two years. James also provides secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hazara in the UK Parliament and will start his PhD in the fall.
JURIST’s
Dispatches Managing Editor is
Mashal Asim
Senior News Editors
Sonja Rzepski is a Senior News Editor for JURIST. Sonja is a 3L at Vermont Law and Graduate School
Ashley Wong is a Senior News Editor for JURIST. Ashley is a second-year student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law (HK).
Senior Editors for Long Form Content
Sharon Basch is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST.
Tarazi Mohammed Sheikh is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Tarazi is a final-year BRAC University (Bangladesh) law student. She serves the International Law Students Association (ILSA) as a Student Director. Tarazi has a keen enthusiasm for exploring and engaging with public international law and human rights issues and is actively striving to make impactful contributions in these fields. She has also garnered recognition on national and international stages for her performance in debates, legal research, writing, and journalism. Tarazi is committed to making a lasting impact on the future of international legal education in South Asia and globally.
Pitasanna Shanmugathas is a Senior Editor for Long Form Content at JURIST. Pitasanna is a 3L at Vermont Law & Graduate School and a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
Bureau Chiefs
JURIST’s Africa (East) Bureau Chief is Natasha Kahungi. She is a third-year student at the University of Nairobi School of Law (KE).
JURIST’s Australia/New Zealand Bureau Chief is Sophia Richards. She is a fourth-year student at the University of Newcastle Law School (AU). Sophia joined JURIST in October 2022 as a News writer before becoming an editor and Bureau Chief. She has a passion for Constitutional Law, Rule of Law advocacy, and judicial independence.
JURIST’s Mainland China Bureau Chief is Nolan Zhu. Nolan is an LLM student at Northwestern Pritzker Law School (US). His professional forte lies in compliance, focusing on national security, economic sanctions, export control and human rights. Previously, he served as legal counsel for a top e-commerce company in China and practiced as a lawyer in Beijing. He has a passion for cross-issues within international politics, compliance and business.
JURIST’s Europe Bureau Chief is Ciara Dinneny. She is a trainee at the Law Society of Ireland.
JURIST’s Hong Kong Bureau Chief is Derren Chan. Derren is a third-year student at the University of Hong Kong (HK).
JURIST’s Deputy Hong Kong Bureau Chief is Ashley Wong. Ashley is a second-year student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law (HK).
JURIST’s South Asia Bureau Chief is Vedant Jha (he/him). Vedant is a second-year law student at the National Law University, Delhi (IN). He joined the JURIST family in December 2022 as part of the India internship program. He is passionate about constitutional law and criminal justice reform and also has a knack for mooting. He is committed to aiding underprivileged children in their learning process for qualifying law entrance tests. In his professional career, he aspires to be involved in policymaking and litigation.
JURIST’s UK Bureau Chief is Aimee Woodmass (she/her). Aimee is currently a third-year law student at Newcastle University (GB) and has been on the staff at JURIST since September 2022. This year she is continuing her role as a News writer and UK Bureau Chief. In the future, Aimee hopes to pursue her interests in family law and employment law.
JURIST’s US Bureau Chief is JP Leskovich (he/him). JP is a second-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US) and has been on JURIST’s staff for one year. JP has contributed to JURIST’s News, Dispatches, and Commentary content. As a Pennsylvania Correspondent during the 2022 US midterm elections, he reported on voting rights issues and testified to the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee about election reform. JP is passionate about democracy and human rights and hopes to pursue a career in public interest law.
Chiefs of Staff
JURIST’s Deputy Africa Chief of Staff is Lana Osei. Holding an LLB degree from the prestigious Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), she serves as the executive secretary to the Centre for African Diplomacy and Global Engagement (Afroglobals) in Accra, Ghana. Beyond these pursuits, Lana is a thought leader, fuelled by a desire to shape the future through insightful writing. For Lana, writing is not merely a skill, but a “manifesto to her future self,” a powerful tool to envision a better world and advocate for the actions needed to achieve it. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Lana takes the helm with humility and the distinct privilege of leading a team that shares her values. She is committed to empowering her colleagues, fostering collaboration, and amplifying their voices to bring about positive change across the African continent.
JURIST’s Canada Chief of Staff is Mélanie Cantin (she/her). Mélanie is a third-year law student at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (CA) and has been with JURIST since February 2022. She has been on the Dispatches team from the start and ascended to the Chief Correspondent for Canada position in July 2022. She has also made contributions to JURIST’s Explainer and Interview content. Mélanie is passionate about criminal, constitutional, and family law.
JURIST’s Europe Chief of Staff (Interim) is Nova Kruijning. Nova is a graduate of Maastricht University in The Netherlands, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in European & International law. After completing her undergraduate degree, she pursued the post-graduate Diploma of Law in the UK. She has a keen interest in international law and global affairs, and after completing her Masters’ degree in 2025, would like to work in the field of international law alongside continuing to pursue her interest in legal journalism.
JURIST’s Hong Kong Chief of Staff is Jingwen Liu. Jingwen is a PhD student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law (HK).
JURIST’s South Asia Chief of Staff is Ananya Upadhya (she/her). Ananya is a fourth-year law student of B.A. LL.B. (Honours) at the National Law University, Delhi (IN). She has a keen interest in constitutional law, tech law, legal history, feminism and legal journalism, and hopes to build a career as an academic. Outside of law, she is also interested in quizzing, modern history and exploring cuisines.
JURIST’s UK Chief of Staff is Elisabeth Driscoll. Elisabeth (Libs) is a second-year LLB student at the University of Bristol (GB). After joining the staff in December 2022, she became the UK Chief of Staff in May. She is passionate about a variety of legal sectors, particularly human rights law and the politics of lawmaking and enforcement. After her 2025 graduation, Libs would like to continue to pursue her interest in legal journalism alongside qualifying as a barrister.
JURIST’s US Chief of Staff is Elizabeth Haigh (she/her). Elizabeth is currently a second-year student at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Law (US) and has been working with JURIST for a year. She has worked with JURIST primarily as a News Associate Editor and has done a select few Features pieces as well. Elizabeth’s main goal is to work in criminal law in order to address deficiencies and enact change within the American criminal legal system.
JURIST’s Chief of Staff for Correspondents is Aynsley Genga. She is a third-year student at the University of Nairobi School of Law (KE).
JURIST’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Correspondents is Vedika Chawla (she/her). Vedika is currently a third-year student at National Law University, Delhi (IN) and has been a member of the JURIST staff for about a year. She started off on the News team and soon shifted to Dispatches before becoming the Deputy Chief of Staff for Correspondents. Vedika takes interest in a wide range of subjects including criminal law, intellectual property and dispute resolution, and plans to explore various areas of law as a student.
Community Engagement Coordinator
JURIST’s Community Engagement Coordinator is Naveera Perera. Naveera is an LLB (Hons) graduate from the University of London, currently writing for her bar exams in Sri Lanka. She has been with JURIST for almost a year, starting as a Correspondent and then becoming a Senior Correspondent. She aspires to one day become a lawyer or researcher in the fields of Human Rights, Criminal law or International law, hoping to actively work on helping individuals be treated fairly under the legal system.
Correspondents
JURIST Staff Correspondents file exclusive first-hand reports from locations around the world.
Afghanistan
JURIST has a number of law student correspondents filing regularly from Afghanistan. Due to security concerns under the Taliban government we cannot reveal their names or their law school affiliations.
Belarus
Ulyana Belaya is a student at the European Humanities University (LT).
Katsiaryna Vasilionak is a law student at the European Humanities University (LT).
Canada
Mélanie Cantin is a 2L at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.
European Union
Oksana Bidnenko is a student at Riga Graduate School of Law (LV).
Jacky-Long Mouthuy is a student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Mykyta Vorobiov is a political science student at Bard College, Berlin.
Ghana
Lana Osei is a recent graduate of the GIMPA (Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration) Faculty of Law.
India
Soumyabrata Chakraborty is a student at Gujarat National Law University.
Vedika Chawla is a second-year student at Jindal Global Law School.
Nakul Rai Khurana is a second-year student at Jindal Global Law School.
Apoorv Vats is a second-year student at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.
Samar Veer is a third-year student at National Law University, Delhi.
Iran
Sharareh Abdolhoseinzadeh is a law student and a PhD in Political Sociology in Tehran.
Israel
Sharon Basch is a 2L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Yael Iosilevich is a student at Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law.
Mayan Lawent is a student at Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law.
Kazakhstan
Aidana Tastanova is a 4th year law student attending the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (RU).
Kenya
Senior Correspondent Aynsley Genga is a 2023 graduate of the University of Nairobi School of Law.
Griffins Ogada is a student at the University of Nairobi School of Law.
Kosovo
Ernesa Shala is a JURIST staff correspondent in Kosovo and a recent graduate of the University of Pristina Faculty of Law.
Myanmar
JURIST has a number of law student correspondents filing regularly from Myanmar. Due to security concerns during the military coup, we cannot reveal their names or their law school affiliations.
Nepal
Jony Mainaly
Pakistan
Chief Correspondent Rabia Shuja holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from Griffith College, Dublin.
Peroozi Asif Durrani is a law student following the University of London LLB external degree program at the Institute for Legal Studies (TILS).
Abu Bakar Khan is a final year law student at University Law College, University of the Punjab.
Izhar Ahmed Khan is a 2022 LL.B. graduate of the Pakistan College of Law (University of London International Program).
Mashal Asim Khan is an LLB student in the University of London External Programme at The Institute of Legal Studies (TILS).
Peru
Samanta Berenice Chavez Quispe is a law student in the Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Políticas, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco.
Sri Lanka
Senior Correspondent Naveera Peerera is a graduate of the University of London External Programme at CfPS Law School.
Türkiye
Hasan Yacı is a senior law student at Galatasaray University Law School in Istanbul.
Uganda
Lawrence Alado is a third-year student at the Makerere University School of Law (UG).
Ukraine
Senior Correspondent Justin Esiobu is an LLM student at Ukrainian Catholic University.
United States
Justin Lindsay is a 3L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Uzbekistan
Farzona Kayumova is a law student at Tashkent State University of Law.
Associate Editors
JURIST’s Associate Editors are experienced anchors, editors, researchers and technical specialists.
Loice Adwera is a second-year student at Strathmore Law School (KE).
Sharon Basch is a 2L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Sean Beeghly is a 2L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Alexis Boddy is a second-year student at City University London (GB).
Sarah Ferguson is a 2L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Malaika Grafe is a third-year student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Sean Nolan is a 2L at Southwestern Law School (US).
Jonnette Oakes is a 2L at Washburn University School of Law (US).
Bryn Andrew Singers is a third-year student at the University of Waikato Faculty of Law (NZ).
Joshua Villanueva is a 2L at UC Law San Francisco (US).
Caitlin Williams is a 2L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Assistant Editors
JURIST’s Assistant Editors are new anchors, editors, researchers and technical specialists.
Harkirt Singh Anand is a second-year student at Jindal Global Law School (IN).
Millie Billingham is a first-year student at Newcastle University (GB).
Gijs de Bra is a 2L at Cornell Law School School (US).
Bekim Bruka is a recent graduate of Columbia University (US).
Kennedy Danagher is a first-year student at the University of Limerick School of Law (IE).
Polina Dvornikova is a third-year student at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (UA).
Hannah Fang is a first-year student at the University of Hong Kong (HK).
Cooper Feiner is a 1L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Srishti Gaur is a first-year student at National Law University, Delhi (IN).
Aabshar Ghassi is a 1L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Ojjaswini Gupta is a third-year student at National Law University, Sonipat (IN).
Rahel Helmhart is a third-year student at the University of Groningen Faculty of Law (NE).
Chi Wai Hu is a fifth-year student at the University of Hong Kong (HK).
Mahjabeen Khan is a 2L at Vermont Law & Graduate School (US).
Yevheniia Khoroshun is a first-year student at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University School of Law (UA).
Jiahang Li is a third-year student at the Beijing Institute of Technology (CN).
Tyler Li is a 1L at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (CA).
Sheila Macharia is a third-year student at the University of Nairobi School of Law (KE).
Kate Marley is a second-year student at Newcastle University (GB).
Christopher Mwai is a third-year student at University of Embu School of Law (KE).
Yuqi Nie is an LLM student at NYU Law School (US).
Nwe Mon Mon Oo is a student at Chulalongkorn University (TH).
Jabes Ojwang is a second-year student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (KE).
Shashank Pandey is a second-year student at The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (IN).
Gabrielle Pasternak is a 1L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Matteo Piccioli is a first-year student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Daniela Pulido is a third-year student at the Facultad de Derecho PUCP (PE).
Qurrat Ul Ain Rehman is an LLM student at Brunel University Law School (GB).
Ruby Richards is a third-year student at Newcastle University (GB).
María Paz Rodríguez Galiano is a fifth-year student at the Facultad de Derecho PUCP (PE).
Tiffany Rojas is a second-year student at the Facultad de Derecho PUCP (PE).
Chris Rufo is a 2L at New England Law | Boston (US).
Anam Sadaf is a second-year student at National Law University, Odisha (IN).
Merle Sandhop is a third-year student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Miu Satake is a second-year student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Ritisha Sinha is a third-year student at National Law University, Delhi (IN).
Prakhya Tamraparni is a second-year student at National Law University, Delhi (IN).
Helena Tian is a final-year student at Nankai University (CN).
Fiona Tsamny is a 2L at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (CA).
Mitsue Valencia is a fourth-year student at the Facultad de Derecho PUCP (PE).
Viënna van der Beek is a student at Maastricht University Faculty of Law (NL).
Jeffrey Wang is a 1L at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law (CA).
Emanuel Xhindi is a third-year student at the University of Tirana Faculty of Law (AL).
Madeline Yingling is a 1L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (US).
Professional Staff
Jaclyn Belczyk is JURIST’s Executive Editor and a Professor of Practice at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US. Jaclyn is a 2008 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, from which she holds a JD and a Certificate in Latin American Studies. She also holds a BA in Anthropology and Philosophy and a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh.
Ingrid Burke Friedman is JURIST’s Editorial Director. A 2011 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, she served as Managing Editor during her 3L year. After graduation, she moved into full-time journalism for several years, and then served with the US Department of State as a Consular Officer. She now divides her time between JURIST and a research fellowship at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian & Eurasian Studies.
William Hibbitts is JURIST’s Deputy Editorial Director. He graduated from Bates College Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude in 2021 with a degree in politics and sociology. William began volunteering for JURIST in 2014 and joined the professional staff in 2023.
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief