2021-22 Lambda board
Margo Hu CO-President
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Undergrad: Brown University
Philly Neighborhood: West Philly
Favorite Philly Hangout: Clark Park Farmer’s Market
Favorite Study Spot: United by Blue
Best Food in Philly: E Mei
1L Summer: Abolitionist Law Center
Hobbies: drawing, learning Kpop dances, tossing frisbees in the park, caring for my plants
Email: mlhu@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Margo grew up in Pittsburgh, Tianjin, and the suburbs of Chicago. They attended Brown University where they majored in Cognitive Neuroscience and Visual Arts. After graduating, Margo worked as a client advocate at the Wilmington public defender’s office, and spearheaded the Delaware Campaign to End Debtor’s Prisons. At Penn, they are a Toll Public Interest Scholar, an Associate Editor at the Journal of Law and Social Change (JLASC), and volunteer with the Abolitionist Law Center (ALC). They are additionally involved with APALSA and PLIRP. Outside of law school, Margo enjoys anything to do with the arts and plants.
Tayler evan Daniels CO-PRESIDENT
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Pronouns: He/him/his
Undergrad: University of Oklahoma
Philly Neighborhood: West Philly
Favorite Philly Hangout: 3rd Floor of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: United by Blue
Hobbies: Theatre, Cooking, Baking, being a dog dad, unplanned naps
1L Summer: Diversity Scholar at Vinson & Elkins
Email: taylerd@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Tayler Evan Daniels is from Dallas, TX. He studied Drama & Stage Direction at the University of Oklahoma where he was awarded the Letzeiser Gold Medal. After graduating, Tayler worked as a public-school theatre teacher for 6-12th graders. He then worked at Deloitte for two years before coming to law school. At Penn Law, Tayler is a Levy Scholar who is interested in advocating and promoting the goals of LGBTQIA+ students of color both in the law school and the legal community at large. He currently serves as Co-President of Lambda, Vice President of Black Law Student Association, an Exec member of the Light Opera, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Law & Social Change, and is involved with the Trans Empowerment & Advocacy Project. To destress from Law School Tayler can be found pushing his culinary boundaries by accepting any baking challenge, perfecting his margarita recipe, or putting on plays with his dog Sam.
casey FLANAGAN VICE PRESIDENT
Hometown: York, ME
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Undergrad: NYU
Philly Neighborhood: Fishtown
Favorite Philly Hangout: Any of the city’s lovely parks!
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Bart’s Bagels (a liberal interpretation perhaps, but don’t you want a bagel with that coffee?!)
Hobbies: Reading, creative writing, and board/card games of any variety
1L Summer: DLA Piper
Email: chelsf@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Chelsea grew up in a small town in Southern Maine before moving to NYC to study Spanish and Latin American Literatures and Cultures at NYU. After undergrad, they spent four years working in case management at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration’s New York office and volunteering as an interpreter with La Coalición Mexicana in the Bronx. In addition to their law school classes and work on Lambda’s Social and Diversity & Inclusion Committees, Chelsea also does pro bono work through Penn Law’s International Human Rights Advocates (IHRA). When not doing law school things, Chelsea is likely immersed in a good book or TV show, organizing a competitive game night with friends, or spamming someone with cute photos of their two cats, Aslan and Bagheera. They also love finding some delicious vegetarian food and making good conversation with even better company.
SAMMY WONG Academic Director
Hometown: New York, NY
Pronouns: he/him/his
Undergrad: George Washington University
Philly Neighborhood: Center City
Favorite Philly Hangout: The dog park by the Schuylkill river (with my dog)
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Starbucks (I'm boring)
Hobbies: Biking, pole dancing, traveling (when COVID-safe)
1L Summer: Sierra Club
Tips for 1Ls: Start spontaneous dance parties during finals study sessions.
Email: sambwong@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Sammy is originally from New York and graduated from the George Washington University in 2013 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Dance. Before coming to Penn, Sammy spent seven years working for plaintiff's civil rights law firms, Allred, Maroko & Goldberg and The Bloom Firm, helping victims of sexual harassment and employment discrimination through litigation and media coverage. He is also a former professional contemporary dancer and competitive aerialist.
SHIRA HERELD Political Director
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Hometown: Cheshire, CT/Denver, CO
Undergrad: The George Washington University
Favorite Philly Hangout: Giovanni's Room
Hobbies: Hiking/camping, creative writing, theatre nonsense, walking my dog
1L Summer: Interned with the Immigration Detention Advocacy Project in Colorado
Tips for 1Ls: Take a break from everyone else's anxiety as much as possible - especially if it's an outdoor break!
Email: shereld@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Shira grew up in Connecticut and studied Political Science and Theatre at The George Washington University. Before law school, they spent a year developing arts programs for homeless individuals in D.C., then took a sharp left turn in their career. For the next four years, they led trails teams, building trails in national and state parks, then led a wilderness therapy adolescent boys' team. At Penn, Shira is a board member for Lambda and the Trans Empowerment and Advocacy project, a team member of the Youth Advocacy Project, and an Associate Editor for the Journal for Law and Social Change.
KELLY MCBRIDE Networking & Outreach Co-Director
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Undergrad: Biola University
Philly Neighborhood: Center City West
Favorite Philly Hangout: Kelly Drive (especially in the spring with the cherry blossoms!)
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Does Goldie’s Turkish Coffee shake count? It’s so good.
Hobbies: Kickboxing, traveling, running, hiking, poetry writing, cooking.
1L Summer: Department of Justice, Civil Division, National Courts Section
Tip for 1Ls: Keep up with your hobbies (even if it’s just one of them!)
Email: mcbkelly@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Kelly grew up in Orange County, CA and attended Biola University where she majored in English (Creative Writing) and minored in Art. After college, she worked as the HR Manager and CAO of an intellectual property law firm in Los Angeles and received a certificate in HR Management from UCLA. At Penn, she is involved with First Generation Professionals and the West Coast Law Students Association and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of International Law.
REBECCA BEALE PRO-BONO DIRECTOR
Hometown: Palatine, IL
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Undergrad: College of William & Mary
Philly Neighborhood: University City
Favorite Philly Hangout: Rittenhouse Square
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Starbucks
Hobbies: Gardening, farmers markets, couture fashion, wine tasting, board games
1L Summer: Equal Rights Advocates
Tips for 1Ls: Remember, YOU ARE ENOUGH!
Email: rsbeale@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Rebecca, originally from the Chicago suburbs, double majored in Government and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies at the College of William & Mary. Alongside her JD, she is pursuing a Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies. Beyond her role in Lambda, she is a civil procedure TA and a member of First-Generation Professionals. What’s more, Rebecca is currently in the process of developing a support program through which Penn students involved in Title IX proceedings can access law students for advice and counsel. Outside of school, Rebecca can be found honing her craft-cocktail-making skills, binge-watching The Office, and admiring her large plant collection.
ROBERT WATSON NETWORKING AND OUTREACH CO-Director
MARCIA FOTI Admissions & RECRUITMENT Director
Hometown: Greenwich, CT
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Undergrad: Stanford University
Favorite Philly Hangout: Schuylkill River Trail
Best Food in Philly: Thanal Indian Tavern
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Good Karma
Hobbies: running & hiking with my pup, caring for my plant collection, watching too much TV
1L Summer: King & Spalding, D.C. and Research Assistant for Professor Allison Hoffman
Tips for 1Ls: Do what works best for you and ignore the noise. You’ll hear a lot of people say you “have” to do X, but there are many paths to success, and nothing is absolutely necessary. Also, no matter how busy you are, find time for the things and the people that you love.
Email: mfoti@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Marcia grew up in Connecticut and studied Political Science at Stanford. After graduating, Marcia worked in reimbursement and health policy at a medical device company. In addition to her involvement with Lambda, Marcia is Co-President of Democracy Law Project and serves as an Associate Editor for the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. When not in class, Marcia enjoys spending as much time as possible outside with her rescue dog, Beckett.
NASTIA GORODILEVA ADVOCACY DIRECTOR
Hometown: Khabarovsk, Russia
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Undergrad: Brown University
Philly Neighborhood: University City
Hobbies: Cooking for friends, music, plantparenting
1L summer: Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Practice, Research Assistant for Professor Dorothy Roberts
Tips for 1Ls: Find a sweet balance between trusting yourself and asking for help. Law school is its own world I was clueless about so I asked everything from what to wear, to what is a clerkship. At the same time, you got yourself this far so take care of yourself, listen to your needs, and build communities that uplift you!
Email: ngorodil@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Nastia is a first generation immigrant from Russia via London and has been in the U.S. for almost 10 years. After undergrad they worked in the sexual assault field in NYC specializing in LGBTQIA+ needs and restorative justice. At Penn they are a Toll Public Interest Scholar pursuing criminal and family defense and juvenile justice work. This year in addition to Lambda, they are excited to be on the board of the Youth Advocacy Project and join the Journal of Law and Social Change, as well as working with Professor Dorothy Roberts and externing at the Federal Defenders.
TREVOR KIRBY Alumni Director
Hometown: Ventura, California
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Undergrad: Kenyon College
Favorite Philly Hangout: Cira Green
Best Food in Philly: Ambrosia Ristorante
Hobbies: Baking, jogs around the Schuykill River
Email: kirbytr@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Trevor was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from Kenyon College with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Classics. Afterwards, he served with Teach for America in Eastern North Carolina, teaching sixth and eighth grade English and History. Following TFA, Trevor worked as a paralegal for the general litigation and government enforcement practice group of Ropes & Gray in Washington, D.C. At Penn Law, Trevor hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how the law underpins political and economic outcomes and can be used to the benefit of society.
RAYMOND LIANG PROFESSIONALISM Director
Hometown: Elmont, NY
Pronouns: He/him/his
Undergrad: University of Rochester
Philly Neighborhood: Rittenhouse
Favorite Philly Hangout: Schuylkill River Trail
Favorite Coffee Shop by the Law School: Not sure - I don't drink coffee (I know, I'm weird)
Hobbies: Tennis, singing (particularly in the shower), acting/theater, cooking, hiking, and spending time with my Yorkie Terrier.
1L Summer: Troutman Pepper (Philadelphia, PA)
Tips for 1Ls: Trust yourself and what got you here. And more importantly -- this above all: to thine own self be true (courtesy of Shakespeare).
Email: rcliang@pennlaw.upenn.edu
Ray grew up on Long Island, NY and majored in Political Science at the University of Rochester. Prior to law school he worked in Real Estate valuation at a commercial bank and received his MBA from NYU Stern. At Penn Ray is involved with APALSA and is an Associate Editor for the Asian Law Review.