Karima is a recent UC Berkeley graduate with a degree in Legal Studies and minors in Disability Studies and Public Policy. She is passionate about issues like solitary confinement, recidivism, and the "special education-to-prison" pipeline. As a CRDJ fellow, she will continue researching these topics and exploring how intersecting identities affect experiences within the criminal justice system. Inspired by her brother, Mohammed, who is disabled, Karima aims to become an attorney focused on addressing injustices at the intersection of disability and the criminal justice system. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym and watching true-crime documentaries.

Hope Sparks (she/her) is a Postgraduate Fellow with the Center for Racial and Disability Justice. She was drawn to CRDJ for a variety of reasons, including the interdisciplinary nature of the center, the people, and the research and resources it produces. There is a lot of work to be done on racial and disability justice, and Hope is excited to contribute to that work. Her work focuses on guardianship and guardianship alternatives, and she believes there are many opportunities to improve both guardianship policy and the accessibility of information related to it. Hope's older sister has Down syndrome, so this work is deeply personal to her. Outside of work, she has two bunnies and a cat, and loves podcasts and learning how to crochet. Hope received her Ph.D. in Disability Studies (defended August 2025), her M.S. in Psychological Sciences (2021), and her B.A. in Psychology (2019).

Kyanda is a passionate advocate for marginalized communities. With a background in sociology and psychology from the University of Albany, she has honed her advocacy through research and hands-on roles, including serving as a youth program coordinator and education advocate for students with disabilities. Kyanda aims to attend law school and as a future practicing attorney, she hopes to specialize in work focused on the intersection of disability, health, and race. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going to local parks and beaches. This year, Kyanda hopes to further develop her research skills and knowledge of disability justice during her time at CRDJ. She will focus on projects related to ableism and discrimination in healthcare and the criminalization of disability.

Ellie Liew (she/they) was drawn to CRDJ for multiple reasons, but especially because of the explicitly intersectional approach the center takes to racial and disability justice. This approach is not just taken in how the center understands racial and disability justice, but also by committing to addressing a diversity of causes and social issues through intersectional and interdisciplinary work. She is eager to take part in contributing to such intentional and important work. Ellie will be working on knowledge mobilization, and any other projects she can help with. She will be primarily working on the Nexus Framework project, and potentially putting together some exciting work on disabled futures and Afro-futurism. In her free time, Ellie can be found cuddling with her cat, having a cup of tea, and probably crafting. B.A. Sociology (Hamline University, May 2024); M.A. Social Sciences (University of Chicago, Aug. 2026)

Samantha Santoro (she/they) is from Toronto, Canada. Samantha received an Honours Specialist in English Literature from the University of Toronto and worked in the areas of racial and disability justice before law school. They are active in the areas of labor rights, immigrant justice, anti-racism, children’s rights, and prison abolition. They are currently involved in initiatives, such as the Parole Advocacy Project, Solitary Confinement Project, Suspension Representation Project, Taxi Worker Defense Collective, and Immigrant Rights Project. She hopes to pursue work at the intersection of criminal law and immigration law, youth defense work, and abolitionist work everywhere.

Brenda (she/her) is a senior at Stanford studying International Relations and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, with a minor in human rights. She is passionate about international human rights, education equity, and racial justice in a global context. At Stanford, she is a tour guide, a peer counselor at the Sexual Health Peer Resource Center, and a research assistant for the Higher Education and Diversity (HEIDIVE) Lab. Brenda has previously interned at the Justice League UK, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace. She aims to attend law school and work in criminal defense or public interest law. As a CRDJ intern, Brenda will further develop her research skills and expand her knowledge of international mental health non-profits, civil commitment, and homelessness.

Mary Yoon (she/her) is a rising second-year student at Stanford University, where she is pursuing a dual degree in International Relations and Economics. A lifelong resident of Chicago, she brings a strong background in nonprofit work, having collaborated with organizations that serve the city’s diverse communities. These experiences have motivated her dedication to evidence-based policymaking and community-centered advocacy. Mary aspires to pursue a career in law, with particular interests in immigration policy and immigration law. This summer, she is looking forward to contributing to research and policy initiatives at Northwestern Law School’s Center for Racial and Disability Justice, where she is exploring the role of law as a tool for advancing equity within the context of education.

Madeline (she/her) is entering her senior year at John Hancock College Prep. Over her four years in highschool, she has been drawn to law and has developed a passion for the subject. As part of CPS's CTE law program, she has expanded her knowledge on all types of law. Over the summer at CRDJ, she is contributing to data entry and other projects. She hopes to gain new insight on racial and disability justice and hopes that she can make an impact on her community.

Elajah Dixon (she/her) is currently in her final year of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science, Criminology, and Law Studies, with a minor in Mental Health Applications. She was drawn to CRDJ because of its clear mission and the intentionality behind its work. She found it powerful to see that real research and action are being done, not just in the name of justice, but specifically for communities that are too often overlooked. This summer, she's been focused on a project centered around Know Your Rights education and research on involuntary hospitalization. Through this work and beyond, she hopes to continue being a voice for those who are often silenced or ignored.

Roya Esfahani (she/her) just graduated high school from Jones College Prep and will be attending the University of Oregon in the fall. This summer, she is contributing to CRDJ's data entry.

Bree Chang (she/her) is an undergraduate at Stanford University on the pre-law track, studying philosophy and literature. With a passion for using policy as a tool for social change, she has worked with organizations committed to leveraging legal analyses to support marginalized communities. At CRDJ, Bree is researching the narratives of wrongful conviction and disability in the media, as well as discrimination in healthcare at the intersection of race and disability. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue public interest law, using legal advocacy to advance a broad range of substantive justice issues.

Lauren Kim (she/her) is an undergraduate at Stanford University studying Computer Science and Political Science at the intersection of AI, ethics, and policy. With both a technical and research background, she is committed to building responsible systems and addressing challenges like algorithmic bias through human-centered design and proactive policy. At the Center for Racial and Disability Justice (CRDJ), Lauren contributes to research on how narratives of the criminalization of disability are portrayed in media and is helping drive forward the forthcoming Disability AI Report and AI Sector Analysis Brief. Her work is deeply personal, shaped by her father’s experience with disability and the belief that data carries history. She hopes to pursue a career in tech law, advocating for accountability, access, and justice across every level of system design.

Kat Scala (she/her) is currently a senior at American University in Washington, DC. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government. She has always been passionate about housing justice and is excited to continue working on this critical issue with CRDJ this summer. She is happy to be joining the team!

Harshitha Ezhilarasan (she/her) is a student at Adlai E. Stevenson High School with a passion for civil rights law, public speaking, and community involvement. As a CRDJ fellow, she’s excited to explore how youth advocacy can shape policies that better reflect the needs of both the racial and disabled communities. At CRDJ she works alongside her mentor in writing a Crisis Response and Reproductive Equity Policy Brief. This summer and fall, she’ll be volunteering with the City of Chicago Law Department and starting a capstone project through the Supreme Court and My Hometown Program, led by the Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. When not preparing for her FBLA competitions or debating in congressional debate, she enjoys (often unsuccessfully) training her parakeets.