{"id":4517,"date":"2026-04-27T18:07:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T22:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/?page_id=4517"},"modified":"2026-05-02T19:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T23:27:14","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Harvard Black Law Students Association (HBLSA) has existed since 1967. When Bishop C. Holifield was a student at Harvard Law School in 1967 at the apex of the civil rights movement, the fledgling organization he had founded\u2014HBLSA\u2014had just two members: himself and co-founder Reginald E. Gilliam. Nearly 60 years later, BLSA has a membership of around 150 students. Below is the <strong><em>incomplete, yet ongoing<\/em><\/strong> history of president from 1967 to the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>2026 &#8211; 2027<\/td><td>Landon Coles &#8217;27<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2025 &#8211; 2026<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2025\/12\/18\/hls-black-enrollment-2028\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2025\/12\/18\/hls-black-enrollment-2028\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bianca Williams-Alonzo &#8217;26<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2024 &#8211; 2025<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/destined-for-a-legal-career-sean-wynn-has-a-passion-for-helping-others\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/destined-for-a-legal-career-sean-wynn-has-a-passion-for-helping-others\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sean Wynn &#8217;25<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2023 &#8211; 2024<\/td><td>Ariel Talbert &#8217;24<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2022 &#8211; 2023<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/04\/08\/1091569073\/judge-jacksons-journey-to-the-supreme-court-has-been-a-personal-moment-for-many\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2022\/04\/08\/1091569073\/judge-jacksons-journey-to-the-supreme-court-has-been-a-personal-moment-for-many\">Dara J. Ferguson &#8217;23<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2021 &#8211; 2022<\/td><td>Mariah K. Watson &#8217;22<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2020 &#8211; 2021<\/td><td>Chinelo Okonkwo &#8217;21<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2019 &#8211; 2020<\/td><td>Malikah Williams &#8217;20<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2018 &#8211; 2019<\/td><td>Lauren Williams &#8217;19<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2017 &#8211; 2018<\/td><td>Jazzmin Carr &#8217;18<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2016 &#8211; 2017<\/td><td>Kristin Turner &#8217;17<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2015 &#8211; 2016<\/td><td>Leland Shelton &#8217;16<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2014 &#8211; 2015<\/td><td>McKenzie Morris &#8217;15<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2013 &#8211; 2014<\/td><td>Everson Ladson &#8217;14<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2012 &#8211; 2013<\/td><td>Patrick Ragen &#8217;13<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2011 &#8211; 2012<\/td><td>Whitney (Fogle) Lewis &#8217;12<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2010 &#8211; 2011<\/td><td>Shaylyn Cochran &#8217;11<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2009 &#8211; 2010<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/hls-mock-trial-team-wins-first-place-at-black-law-students-associations-northeast-regional-conference\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/hls-mock-trial-team-wins-first-place-at-black-law-students-associations-northeast-regional-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dominique Winters &#8217;10<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2008 &#8211; 2009<\/td><td>Bridgette Hylton &#8217;09<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2007 &#8211; 2008<\/td><td>Kelley Nduom &#8217;08<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2006 &#8211; 2007<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/hlsa-members-are-keeping-connected\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/hlsa-members-are-keeping-connected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John Mathews II &#8217;07<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2005 &#8211; 2006<\/td><td>Delisle Warden &#8217;06 and Mandy Price &#8217;06<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2004 &#8211; 2005<\/td><td>Kenitra Fewell &#8217;05<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2003 &#8211; 2004<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2003\/12\/3\/most-hls-black-students-female-black\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2003\/12\/3\/most-hls-black-students-female-black\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yohannes Tsehai<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2002 &#8211; 2003<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2002\/4\/16\/law-students-faculty-protest-racial-incidents\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/2002\/4\/16\/law-students-faculty-protest-racial-incidents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inez S. Canada &#8217;03<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2000 &#8211; 2001<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/generation-apart-common-goal\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/generation-apart-common-goal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Staci Patterson &#8217;01<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1996 &#8211; 1997<\/td><td>April Savoy &#8217;97<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1995 &#8211; 1996<\/td><td>Patience Singleton &#8217;96<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1994 &#8211; 1995<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1994\/9\/22\/blsa-to-include-non-blacks-presponding-to\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1994\/9\/22\/blsa-to-include-non-blacks-presponding-to\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert James &#8217;95<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1993 &#8211; 1994<\/td><td>Linda Dunn &#8217;94<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1992 &#8211; 1993<\/td><td>Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. &#8217;94<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1991 &#8211; 1992<\/td><td>Charisse Carney-Nunes &#8217;92<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1990 &#8211; 1991<\/td><td>Julie Ferguson (Queen) &#8217;91<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1989 &#8211; 1990<\/td><td>Tynia Richard &#8217;90<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1988 &#8211; 1989<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1988\/5\/12\/black-law-students-end-deans-office\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1988\/5\/12\/black-law-students-end-deans-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert Wilkins &#8217;89<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1987 &#8211; 1988<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/justice-for-all-4\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/justice-for-all-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Verna Williams &#8217;88<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1986 &#8211; 1987<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1986\/11\/05\/movies\/soul-man-called-racist-by-black-law-students.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1986\/11\/05\/movies\/soul-man-called-racist-by-black-law-students.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Millicent Hodge &#8217;87<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1982 &#8211; 1983<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1982\/11\/1\/in-the-minority-pat-least-on\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1982\/11\/1\/in-the-minority-pat-least-on\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Muhammad I. Kenyatta &#8217;84<\/a>*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1980 &#8211; 1981<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/02\/24\/us\/harvard-law-review-s-ethnic-screening-criticized.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1981\/02\/24\/us\/harvard-law-review-s-ethnic-screening-criticized.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Penny F. Marshall &#8217;81<\/a> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1979 &#8211; 1980<\/td><td>Earl T. Richardson<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1978 &#8211; 1979<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2025\/03\/05\/sylvester-turner-texas-congress-dies\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/rollcall.com\/2025\/03\/05\/sylvester-turner-texas-congress-dies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sylvester Turner &#8217;80<\/a>*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1976 &#8211; 1977<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1977\/2\/28\/harvard-chapter-hosts-meeting-of-black\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thecrimson.com\/article\/1977\/2\/28\/harvard-chapter-hosts-meeting-of-black\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Theodore R. Laster &#8217;77<\/a>*<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1975 &#8211; 1976<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/groups\/taxation\/about\/awards-initiatives\/loretta-argrett-fellowship\/bio\/#:~:text=While%20she%20was%20at%20Harvard,the%20Law%20School%20faculty%20committees.\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/groups\/taxation\/about\/awards-initiatives\/loretta-argrett-fellowship\/bio\/#:~:text=While%20she%20was%20at%20Harvard,the%20Law%20School%20faculty%20committees.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Loretta Argrett &#8217;76<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1967 &#8211; 1968<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/siblings-struggle\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/today\/siblings-struggle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bishop Holifield &#8217;69<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/obituaries\/reginald-e-gilliam-jr-lawyer-and-lobbyist\/2012\/03\/30\/gIQAS5zxlS_story.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/obituaries\/reginald-e-gilliam-jr-lawyer-and-lobbyist\/2012\/03\/30\/gIQAS5zxlS_story.html\">Reginald E. Gilliam, Jr.<\/a>*<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*Deceased<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Harvard Black Law Students Association (HBLSA) has existed since 1967. When Bishop C. Holifield was a student at Harvard [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2561,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4517","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/PgJEXh-1aR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2561"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4517\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/blsa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}