2025-2026 Executive Board

Positions valid through April 2025. 

President, Derek Collins | [email protected]

Derek Omar Collins is President of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and a 2L Senator at the University of Virginia School of Law. During his 1L year, he served as a 1L Senator on the First-Year Council and as BLSA Historian. Before law school, Derek worked in the White House as a Policy Advisor at the National Economic Council, supporting the implementation of key economic initiatives, including the CHIPS and Science Act. He also worked for the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis in the U.S. House of Representatives, contributing to congressional investigations into pandemic-era economic and health policies.

Originally from Mississippi, Derek graduated summa cum laude from Western Kentucky University (WKU) with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Legal Studies. At WKU, he was named the Outstanding Senior in Political Science, earned recognition as a U.S.-UK Fulbright Summer Institute Scholar at the University of Bristol, and became a six-time national champion in speech and debate.

​Derek is committed to leveraging his experiences at the intersection of law, policy, and public service to drive equitable and inclusive change.

vice president, v. alana caesar | [email protected]

Vivian Alana Caesar, originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, is a J.D. candidate in the Class of 2027 at the University of Virginia School of Law. She serves as Vice President of the Black Law Students Association, Secretary of the Student Bar Association, and is on the Executive Board of the Women of Color Law Student Association. Alana is a 2024–25 Afro Scholar and a 2024–25 Fellow with the American Association of University Women.

She earned dual B.A. degrees in Government & Politics and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she served as Vice President of both the Student Government Association and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity.

Before law school, Alana built a strong foundation in political communications and advocacy. She served as Political Press Secretary at the Human Rights Campaign and held roles at Florida Watch, Florida For All, and Fireside Campaigns, where she led media strategies focused on racial equity and reproductive justice.

​Most recently, Alana served as a 2025 1L Fellow at Mintz Levin in Boston and as a Research Assistant to Professor John R. Martin, focusing on Congressional authority under the Elections Clause. Next summer, she’ll join Norton Rose Fulbright in New York. In her free time, Alana enjoys horticulture, reading biographies and historical fiction, thrifting, and listening to podcasts.

treasurer, stephney tucker | [email protected]

Stephney is a 2L who was raised in Norton, Massachusetts, and later moved to Danville, Virginia, where she lived through high school. She graduated from the University of Virginia with distinction in 2022. Before returning to Charlottesville for law school, she worked for two years as an in-house paralegal at a managed services company.

At the University of Virginia School of Law, Stephney serves as Treasurer of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and as a Law School Representative on the University of Virginia Student Council. She is also the Graduate Selections Director for the Raven Society and a BARBRI Representative.
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Stephney is interested in pursuing a career in corporate law. She is excited to serve the BLSA community and is committed to ensuring the organization has the resources to continue providing meaningful opportunities and support for its members.

secretary, makayla jones | secretary @uvablsa.org

Makayla Jones is a second-year law student from Atlanta, GA. She is interested in government investigations, white collar crime, and civil rights litigation. Makayla earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Howard University. Prior to law school, she worked at Deloitte Consulting in the Government & Public Services sector.
 
At UVA Law, Makayla serves as Secretary of the Black Law Students Association, is on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review, and is a member of the Student Bar Association’s Advocacy and Organizing Committee. She is also involved in the Virginia Innocence Project Clinic and works as a research assistant for Professor Charles Barzun.
 
During her 1L summer, Makayla was a Summer Associate at Mintz Levin LLP in Boston. She will join Freshfields LLP in Washington, D.C., as a Litigation Summer Associate next summer.
 
In her free time, Makayla enjoys spending time with friends, listening to R&B, and reading science fiction and fantasy novels.

education chair, asia porter | [email protected]

​Asia Porter is a J.D. Candidate in the Class 2027 at the University of Virginia School of Law. In addition to serving as Education Chair of the Black Law Students Association, Asia is also on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review, Articles Editor of the Virginia Journal of Law and Technology, a 2L Senator of Student Bar Association, and Vice President of Communications of Health Law Association.

She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022 where she served as President of the Alpha Omega chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Before law school, Asia worked at a public interest law firm in Nashville to help secure Medicaid benefits for beneficiaries across Tennessee. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in health care law.

Most recently, Asia worked as a 1L Summer Associate at McDermott Will & Schulte in Chicago in the Health Care & Life Sciences practice group. She will return to McDermott in Summer 2026.

community service chair, holly stephens | [email protected]

Holly Stephens is an aspiring public defender from Richmond, Virginia. She attended undergraduate at George Mason University, where she double-majored in government and criminology. As a UVA Law student she has been involved in the Innocence Project Pro Bono Clinic, LPS, PILA, Lambda, and—of course—BLSA!"

firm relations chair, christy bolin | [email protected]

Christy Bolin is from Gaffney, South Carolina. She previously worked at a community foundation for three years and has spent last summer working at a biglaw firm as an SEO Fellow and just completed a 1L summer associate stint with the same firm. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to pop culture podcasts and attending sporting events. 

membership chair, javori warren | [email protected]

JaVori Warren is a 2L at the University of Virginia School of Law. In 2020, she received her Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in both Studio Art and Government from UVA. During her undergraduate career, Warren was a community organizer and held numerous leadership positions, including President of the Black Student Alliance for two terms. Prior to law school, she worked as a Freeman Artist-in-Residence and as the Community Relations and Program Recruiting Assistant for the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership. At UVA Law, she serves as Membership Chair of the Black Law Students Association, is on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Law & Politics, and assists with 1L course instruction as a Legal Writing Fellow. Most recently, Warren interned at the Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Chief Staff Attorney. ​

social programming chair, indiyah mabry | [email protected]

Indiyah Mabry is a 2L from Woodbridge, Virginia and is passionate about commercial litigation. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she previously worked at a litigation boutique in DC on multimillion-dollar cases and served as a judicial intern for a federal judge during 1L summer. At UVA Law, she serves as Social Programming Chair for BLSA and is Article Editor on the Virginia Law & Business Review.

professional development chair, kaylee alvarado | [email protected]

Kaylee is originally from the Lower East Side of New York City. She earned her undergraduate degree from SUNY Plattsburgh and spent a few years working before heading to law school. During that time, she gained valuable experience as an in-house paralegal at Tiffany & Co./LVMH. The fashion and jewelry sector is something she has always been drawn to, and after completing her summer associate program at a big law firm, she now working as a legal intern at the jewelry company Mejuri.

Outside of academics and work, she is passionate about travel and has explored over 20 countries so far. Kaylee is also an avid reader—mystery and romance novels are her favorites—and she proudly owns more than 500 physical books (yes, she firmly team no Kindle)!

Kaylee is excited to serve as your Professional Development Chair and look forward to working with you all this year!

social action chair, jalen harrison | [email protected] 

Jalen Harrison is a 2L at the University of Virginia School of Law and serves as the Social Action Chair for the Black Law Student Association. He is a proud alumnus of Howard University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. At UVA Law, Jalen serves on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review and is a Law & Public Service Fellow. Following graduation, Jalen plans to pursue civil rights litigation. ​

Parlimentarian, Logan Ford

Logan Ford is a rising 2L from Charlotte, NC. Logan went to Howard University for undergrad before going to UVA. She is a Law & Public Service Fellow, and has a vested interest in public interest and community building.