OFFICERS
Vanessa KeverengePresident |
Krystal DillonChief of Staff |
Vanessa Keverenge is a current 2L from Winter Haven, FL. She attended Mount Holyoke College and graduated in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre and International Relations. As an undergraduate, Vanessa served as Student Government President and she interned at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and The Gambia. After graduating, she worked as a Community Organizer and Regional Director of a political organization, Organize Florida in Orlando. Vanessa has worked on many campaigns and is most proud of her work on the passage of voting rights restoration for ex-felons and gaining $30 million in affordable housing funds in Florida.
At Duke Law, Vanessa is involved in Womxn of Color Collective, Tricky Dick, and is a Policy Director of the Innocence Project. Vanessa spent her 1L summer as a research assistant on a human rights project and attending the Leiden Institute from her apartment in Durham. To relax, Vanessa enjoys kayaking and gator spotting at Florida natural springs, game nights with friends, and painting.
As BLSA President, Vanessa strives to build and facilitate community, health, and wellness within the Black, law, and Durham communities amidst this pandemic.
|
Krystal Dillon is a 2L from Queens, NY. She graduated from CUNY Queens College with a B.A. in English in 2017. In May 2019, she received her Master’s Degree in English from Rutgers University, where she served as a teaching instructor. After graduation she worked for the New York City Housing Authority. Krystal is spending her summer working as a summer associate at Blank Rome LLP in New York City. After law school, Krystal hopes return to New York to practice. In addition to BLSA, Krystal is a member of the Moot Court Board. In her free time, Krystal enjoys playing with her puppy, watching reality TV, and spending time with friends and family. Last year, Krystal served as a 1L Rep for BLSA and aims to continue facilitating connections between BLSA and the larger Duke law community. |
| Vanessa’s Contact Info: Email: vanessa.keverenge@duke.edu |
Krystal’s Contact Info: Email: krystal.dillon@duke.edu |
Jessica LamourInternal Vice President |
Harriet DadzieExternal Vice President |
|
At Emory University, Jessica served as the President and Founder of House of Peace, Vice President and Chaplain of Voices of Inner Strength, Secretary of the Black Pre-Law Society, Haitian Representative of Emory’s Diversity and Equity Committee, and Treasurer of Brothers and Sisters in Christ. After graduation, Jessica continued her community work with the Haitian American Nurse Association of Miami, Florida. Jessica is spending her summer working as Summer Associate and 1L LCLD Scholar at Hunton Andrews Kurth and Santander Bank in Miami. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys practicing professional acting, creating dance routines, playing basketball, and watching Survivor. As Internal Vice President, Jessica strives to continue BLSA’ legacy of mentorship, empowerment, and excellence throughout the Duke Law community.  |
Harriet Dadzie is a 2L JD/LLM in International & Comparative Law from Greenbelt, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland – College Park with a B.S. in Finance and minor in Law & Society. At the University of Maryland, she was involved in Alpha Phi Omega, University Student Judiciary, and more. After graduation, she worked as a Risk and Compliance Consultant in northern Virginia and as an SEO Law Fellow in Kirkland & Ellis’ Washington D.C. office. Harriet is spending her summer working as a 1L Summer Associate at Kirkland & Ellis. In her spare time, Harriet likes to watch anime, travel, and try out new restaurants and cafes. As External Vice President, Harriet aims to connect BLSA members with a variety of professional paths. In addition to BLSA, she is involved in the International Law Society, Womxn of Color Collective, and a 2021-22 LEAD Fellow.
|
| Jessica’s Contact Info: Email: jessica.lamour@duke.edu |
Harriet’s Contact Info: Email: harriet.dadzie@duke.edu |
P.J. AustinDirector of Programming |
Sade’ HarperDirector of Finance |
P.J. Austin is a 2L from Lakewood, CA. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a B.A. in political science with an emphasis in political theory. At UCSB, P.J. completed the political science department’s senior thesis honors program, and studied abroad at Oxford University in England for a summer. After graduation, P.J. worked as a legal assistant for Greben & Associates, an environmental law firm in Santa Barbara. P.J. is spending his summer working as judicial intern for the Honorable Mary Ellen Coster Williams of the United States Court of Federal Appeals in Washington, D.C. and as a research assistant for the Honorable Carolyn Kuhl of the Los Angeles Superior Court. In his spare time, P.J. likes to listen to music, explore new places, and eat out. As Program Coordinator, P.J. strives to plan insightful and entertaining events.
|
Sadé is a 2L from Atlanta, Ga. She graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Economics.
At Spelman College, she was a part of many extracurriculars including studying abroad to Dakar, Senegal and Budapest Hungary. Sadé is spending her summer working as research assistant at the Death Penalty Information Center and a student attorney for Duke Civil Justice Clinic. In her spare time, Sadé likes to do travel, watch YouTube, learn new things, and hang out with friends. She used to love reading but law school is enough at the moment. As Treasurer, Sadé aims to be a resource for BLSA’s community and help create a space where we can thrive.
|
| P.J.’s Contact Info: Email: p.j.austin@duke.edu |
Sade’s Contact Info: Email: sade.harper@duke.edu |
Jordan FasonDirector of Academic Affairs |
Michael FaikesDirector of Communications & Webmaster |
 Jordan Fason is a 2L from Atlanta, Georgia. She is a 2020 graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. in Human Development and Minor in Social Inequality. She is passionate about the role of human behavior in the field of law and investigating how life experiences and identity affect the law’s creation, interpretation, and enforcement. From her time at Cornell, she is most proud of her volunteer work mentoring students with developmental disabilities, children with autism, and incarcerated youth. The summer before starting at Duke Law, she worked as a Ron Brown Pre-Law Fellow at Latham & Watkins in D.C. Jordan spent her 1L summer working in-house at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. At Duke Law, in addition to BLSA, Jordan is a member of Outlaw and the Womxn of Color Collective. She also serves as the 2L DBA Representative on the Student Career & Professional Development Committee. Jordan always makes sure to set aside time for the things she loves including thrift shopping, cooking, binge watching tv shows, and writing spoken word poetry. She is always down to visit an art or history museum, beat an escape room or play board games with new friends- especially Taboo! As the BLSA Director of Academic Affairs, her focus is on accessibility and engagement. She aspires to ensure that Black students have access to the information, resources, and support they need to not just survive, but thrive academically at Duke Law.
|
Michael Faikes is a 2L from Irmo, SC. He graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Computational Thinking. At the College of Charleston, Michael served as Student Body President and graduated from the Honors College. After graduation, Michael worked for the Atlanta Braves as an Account Executive on the Group & Hospitality Sales team. Michael also was selected to be an SEO Law Fellow at Goodwin in Boston before starting at Duke Law. Michael is spending his 1L summer as a Summer Associate at Goodwin in Boston. In his spare time, Michael likes to watch the New York Mets, find new music, and watch cooking videos on YouTube. As Director of Communications, Michael hopes to show the world all the awesome things being done by BLSA members at Duke Law.
|
| Jordan’s Contact Info: Email: jordan.fason@duke.edu |
Michael’s Contact Info: Email: michael.faikes@duke.edu |
Brianna WatkinsBlack Graduate and Professional Students Association (BGPSA) Liason |
|
| Brianna’s Contact Info: Email: brianna.watkins@duke.edu |
Jessica Lamour is a 2L from Miami, Florida. She graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in American Politics.
