2023-2024 Executive Team

Shile is a 2L student in the English Common Law program. Shile is interested in commercial litigation and international human rights.

Hilena is a third-year law student at the University of Ottawa. Before starting law school, she attended the University of Waterloo to obtain an undergraduate degree. Hilena hopes to pursue a legal career in tech and business.

Hilena joined BLSA because she is passionate about seeing an increase in the representation of Black students in the legal field. While in law school, Hilena works at Level Justice where she facilitates LEVEL’s Black Youth Justice Program, where she provides education on criminal justice and mentorship for Black youth. She hopes to facilitate a relationship between BLSA and Level Justice.

As Co-President, Hilena hopes to help the executive team with creating events that promote a sense of community for Black law students and to encourage the younger generation of Black students to consider a career in the legal field.

During her free time, Hilena enjoys exploring different workout classes and trying new food.

Giselle Alexander is a third-year student in the English Common Law program. She completed an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Public Management from the Lang School of Business at the University of Guelph. Giselle has a strong interest in family law, advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution. In her free time, she attends book club meetings, rollerblades, and is a regular customer at specialty donut shops (recommendations are welcome!).

As Vice-President, Academic Affairs, Giselle hopes to provide academic support to our membership and host events that will broaden the academic horizons of attendees. She joined the Black Law Students' Association to connect with the Black legal community in Ottawa. Giselle hopes to foster a supportive culture for prospective and current Black law students at the University of Ottawa.

My name is Terrel and I am a 2L common law student. I joined the BLSA because I wanted to be more involved in my community. I wanted to work together with other black students to significantly improve the stressful law school experience for black students. I was also inspired by the previous exec team and their passion to support black students which led me to want to join BLSA.

Since joining this organization I have met with lots of amazing people with the same drive passion and determination as me. Together we will continue to push BLSA forward and slowly improve this program into one that can continue to support UOttawa students.

Sapphira Thompson-Bled (she/her) is from Brampton, ON., Canada and is a third-year JD student in the English Common Law Program.

Sapphira completed an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Studies and Modern Languages at UOttawa and a Master of Global Affairs at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

In Ottawa, she took advantage of volunteering on Parliament Hill and eventually working at the Senate. While at Munk, Sapphira was involved with the Policy Elections and Representation Lab as a researcher, the Global Risk Observatory as an editor, the Munk School Black Students Association as a co-founder and Director of External, and the Master of Global Affairs Students Association as Director of Activities and President.

Sapphira is passionate about responding to the needs of and injustices in Black communities and is working to pursue a career related to law, security, or diplomacy. Sapphira wants to work towards encouraging more Black students to apply and attend law school.

Makayla Francois earned her Honours Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a diploma in Community and Justice Services at the University of Guelph-Humber.

Her interests in law and policy sparked during the first year of her undergrad, and she is now a 2L student in the English Common Law program at the University of Ottawa.

Makayla joined the BLSA to provide academic and other support to Black law students and to foster a community of connection and inclusion that she believes is important in ensuring the success of Black law students.

Makayla is currently interested in immigration and criminal law, and she has interests in learning about the impacts of AI in the legal field. Beyond law and policy, Makayla enjoys reading, cooking, and dancing.

My name is Dana Nicole, and I am a 1L student in the Common Law Program.

I am from Toronto and completed my undergraduate degree at uOttawa, studying Conflict and Human Rights.

I joined BLSA because I am passionate about black representation within the legal community.

As VP Social for BLSA, I hope to plan social events that will cultivate a greater sense of community amongst our students and ultimately create a safe space for Black students while studying law at uOttawa.

I have a background in immigration and labour policy design with Employment and Social Development Canada, so I am interested in Employment and Immigration law to delve further into these areas from a legal perspective.

Keren Kayembe is a 1L student in the English Common Law (JD) program at the University of Ottawa. This year, Keren is the 1L Common Law representative for BLSA and is excited to provide opportunities for 1Ls to connect with one another and get involved in the representation of Black students on campus.

She completed an Honours Double Major in Political Science and Criminal Justice at Brescia University College, an affiliate to Western University in London ON. During her time at the university, Keren was heavily involved in student-led clubs, notably in the Black Students’ Association, where she was part of the first year council in her first year, the Brescia representative in her second, and the VP Events in her third, where she had planned a number of successful events during her time.

Keren is primarily interested in pursuing a career in family law, international law, and immigration law, seeking to find an intersection between the three. However, she is keeping an open mind, and is excited to see what other areas of law that peek her interest during her time in law school. In her spare time, she enjoys reading fiction books, playing the piano, theatre, and singing.

Tell us why you should be our interim Vice President of Communications.

presidents.blsaottawa@gmail.com

Tell us why you should be our interim Vice President of Francophone.

presidents.blsaottawa@gmail.com

Tell us why you should be our interim French 1L Representative

presidents.blsaottawa@gmail.com

Tell us why you should be our interim Moot Coordinator

presidents.blsaottawa@gmail.com