Mason Perry
Hi everyone. I’m from West Haven, CT and I’m majoring in Communications with a minor in Consumer Psychology at Penn. I am the President of BIC Exec Board and I like to be with my friends and watch different shows as well as traveling. I also love to create content, snowboard, and workout. On campus I’m a videographer for the football team, Marketing and Outreach Manager of a student run diner, on the board of our Black Student League, involved in Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, and the Campus and Creative Editor of our student run publication Faces of Black Penn. I also work at REVOLT TV on their Digital Media & Marketing Team. My biggest hope this year for BIC is to successfully pull off this conference, give back to the community, and be happy.
President & Co-Founder
Rachel Blackwell
Hi! I'm from Silver Springs, Maryland, and I am majoring in Political Science at Penn. I am the Vice President of BIC Exec Board and I’m interested in the intersection of law and social justice from a professional standpoint, but some of my hobbies include looking at art, cooking, and going on walks in the city. On campus, I am the Co-founder and Vice President of Black Student Athletes and Penn, Vice President of Internal Affairs for Black Pre Law Association, member of the programming committee for the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal, and a D-league fellow for the Make-a-Play professional development program. This past summer I interned for the Washington, D.C. Attorney General. I would love to be able to foster an inclusive environment that showcases the diversity of Black students across the Ivy League. I’m hoping that other schools can be inspired by BIC and create similar nationwide coalitions of Black students.
Vice President & Co-Founder
Taussia Boadi
Hi everyone! I am a junior from Penn majoring in Sociology on the pre-med track from Westchester, NY. Within BIC, I serve as the VP of External Affairs and I’m really excited to use this platform to bring about tangible change for our respective school communities. My intellectual interests surround health disparities, especially as they apply to Black women, and how structural changes can combat them. Outside of those pursuits, I love grabbing brunch with friends, listening to music, and reading books in nature. On campus, I am the Co-Chair for UMOJA, New Member Education Chair for Alpha Iota Gamma, a member of the Finance Team for the Black Student League and a manager for the Varsity Mens’ Wrestling Team. I am also a Robeson Cooper Scholar, a GEARUP fellow, and a Health and Healthcare Fellow in Sociology.
VP of External Affairs & Co-Founder
Mar'Quon Frederick
Hi everyone, I'm from Chester, Virginia, and I am majoring in Government at Cornell. I am the VP of Internal Affairs of BIC Exec Board and an interesting fact about me is that I am the eldest of six children and have lived in places like Hawaii and Germany through my father's involvement in the military. I enjoy boxing, dancing, and watching movies. On campus, I am the External Relations Chair for Black Students United and am the Vice President for the Almighty Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. My biggest hope this year is to gain an internship in the White House for the summer. Additionally, I want to be ahead of schedule for graduation requirements.
VP of Internal Affairs
Jayla Rhodes
Hi everyone, I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, and I am majoring in Architecture at Penn. I am the Marketing Chair of BIC Exec Board and I'm interested broadly in visual art and the Black urban experience, and I feel like that bleeds into most of my habits and interests. I moved around a bit pretty young, but I love to talk about Atlanta and am a big Braves fan. I'm involved in a few organizations on campus, including Faces of Black Penn, a magazine to showcase some of our Black community; Monolith, a Black artists' collective looking to uplift Black artists from our nearby community; and am a Robeson Cooper Scholar, meaning I participate in a mentoring program looking to rethink Black Penn's engagement and interdisciplinary social justice initiatives. I'm currently a Professional Development Associate for the Netter Center, our center focused on community engagement, where I am part of a team of students who lead various workshops and research projects aimed at supporting student groups' professional development initiatives. My biggest hope this year is to meet more people this school year and to start BIC's legacy off strong.
Marketing Chair & Co-Founder
Satchel Williams
Hi everyone. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia, and I am majoring in Government at Dartmouth. I am the Conference Chair of BIC Exec Board. I’m an only child, I enjoy all things sports, but my favorite sport to play and watch by far is basketball. My favorite artists at the moment are Smino, Lianne La Havas and Snoh Alegrah. I used to play golf and tennis when I was younger and I love reading. (Favorite book i’ve read recently has been all about love) On campus I am a Dartmouth Black Student Advising and a Undergraudate Advisor (RA). I am also work at the Brookings Institute doing research and previously worked at the office of public engagement for the white house. My biggest hope this year is to get better at baking.
Conference Director
Maya Darville
Hi everyone! I am from Atlanta, Georgia. I am a junior at Barnard College pursuing a combined major in Africana and American Studies with a minor in Anthropology. I’m also on the pre-law track! Within BIC, I serve as the Service Chair, and I’m looking forward to creating events that serve Black communities and create vital conversations about our identities. Outside of these goals, I enjoy reading, swimming, and trying new foods with friends! Previously, I worked in Barnard’s Office of Community Engagement and Inclusion, where I founded a college mentorship program for Black young women. Currently, I’m a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, and the President of Barnard’s Organization of Soul and Solidarity (BOSS), which is Barnard’s sole organization for Black students and Black life on campus. Through the Black Ivy Coalition, I hope to promote ideals of service, communal care, and inclusion across the Ivy League.
Service Chair
Aliyah Davenport
Hi everyone, I am from Bronx, New York and am majoring in Political Science and Concentration in African American Studies at Columbia. I am Panamanian-American and grew up in the Bronx, New York. In the future, I aspire to go into criminal justice law as well as work/create with nonprofits centered on disability representation. My favorite things to do are going to the gym, dancing, reading and watching the sunset.On campus, I am the Publicity Chair of the Caribbean Student Association and a member of the Academic Success Program at Columbia University. I am a Public Policy and Economics Alum with The Fund for American Studies. I am a Public Policy and Economics Alum with The Fund for American Studies as well as a Board Member for the Freedom Rider Training Institute, centered on the Freedom Riders historical preservation and civil discourse between public officials and the community. By the end of the school year, I aspire to target the major issue of Columbia's gentrification of Harlem. I wish to consolidate support and apprehension of the gravity of the issue as well as work with organizations to target gentrification in local communities.
Secretary
Blake Berry
Hi everyone! I'm from Chicago, Illinois, and I am majoring in Applied Economics and Management at Cornell. I am interested in combining my passion for creative industries like film, fashion, and music with business management. Eventually, I hope to open a production studio that produces films written and directed by underrepresented people. In my free time, I enjoy going out with friends, trying new restaurants, and listening to music. On Campus, I am a part of Cornell's Meinig National Scholar Program, a group of 2% of the universities undergraduate population who demonstrate outstanding leadership. As a Meinig scholar, I volunteer at various events on campus and attend meetings with my mentor, the President of Cornell University. I am the former President of On the Money Magazine, a financial education magazine distributed to 20,000 young adults across Chicago. Additionally, I am former Chief Financial Officer of the Junior Economic Club of Chicago, a membership-based nonprofit that exposes high school students around the world to careers in business. My biggest hope this year is to have earned a good GPA.
Finance Chair
Malik Figaro
Hey! I am a sophomore at Yale University. I am really excited to serve as Alumni Chair this year for the BIC; I've always sought to directly contribute to the betterment of the black community, especially in predominantly white spaces. I really enjoy getting to meet all of the incredible students with diverse talents in the BIC-- it's super inspiring! Outside of school, I love painting, making Spotify playlists, and exploring the many great places to eat in NYC. I am also involved in the Spring Fling Committee, Yale Layer Arts Curator, and Yale Daily News Editorial Board. I am also interested in Outreach, Graphic Design, Journalism. I hope to grow the BIC's alumni network to its fullest potential!
Alumni Chair
Maya Zamor
Hi! I’m a Junior at Cornell University. I joined the Black Ivy Coalition to meet and learn from my peers at other Ivy League universities. I love sunsets, bubble tea, and getting dinner with friends! On campus I am the Marketing Lead on my project team, Combat Robotics at Cornell. I’m a CU IMAGE Diversity Ambassador and a Meinig Scholar. This is my second year as an RA at Cornell. This past summer I was a Mechanical Intern at Lilker Associates in Manhattan, NY. My biggest hope this year for BIC is to have a great turnout at our first BIC Conference!
Finance Board
Elijah Harris
Hi! I am a first-year at Brown University planning to study public health and economics. At home, I have one younger sister and two dogs. I am very passionate about community health, and climate and racial justice. I love spending time outdoors, playing tennis, and cooking/baking. Creating community is another passion of mine which is why I am so excited to be involved with the BIC. On Campus I am the Undergraduate Council of Students First-Year Representative, a member of the Model UN travel team, and looking to join the intramural tennis team. I am on the Amitim College Cohort of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement and I am Emergency Medical Technician trained. I was also a teacher at my local synagogue for three years in high school. I was also a coach at my gymnastics training facility. My biggest hope this year for BIC is to implement new sustainable initiatives as first-year representative.
Finance Board
Jaden Sharp
Hello, I'm a first-year at Princeton in the Class of 2026 studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. I’m also from Chicago. My favorite genres of music are R&B, Jazz, and Classical. In my free time, I practice piano, read, and attend my friends’ extracurricular shows/events. On campus, I am a writer for the Prospect section of the Daily Princetonian and the President of the HighSteppers. On BIC, I serve as one of the two Election Board members.
Election Board
Justin McLeod
Aloha. I’m currently a sophomore attending Cornell. My hobbies are dancing, cooking, and listening to music. I joined Black Ivy Coalition in order to help bring Black ivy league students together to share experiences, advice, and opportunities with one another. I hope that we as an organization can help other Black student academically, professionally, and/or socially. On campus I’m involved in African Dance Repertoire and Breakfree. I am also Currently interning at the Institute of Advanced Medicine at Mount Sinai. My biggest hope this year is to stay on top of my work and becoming more involved on campus.
Election Board
Samuel Mumford
Hi everyone, I'm from Baltimore, Maryland, and I am majoring in Finance at Penn. I am on the Finance Board of BIC Exec Board and I like to watch anime and sports. On campus I am the Penn President and Vice-Polemarch of Delta Eta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. I am also worked as a Summer Analyst at Crestview Partners in 2022 Summer and Upcoming Summer Analyst at Morgan Stanley in 2023. I hope be able to execute an amazing BILB-Con while making sure my chapter is active and thriving.
Finance Board
Chris Mesfin
Hi everyone, I'm from Columbia, Missouri, and I am majoring in Environmental Science and Policy at Harvard. I am Finance Board of BIC Exec Board and I'm interested in Environmental Law and almost anything government related. I love going outside and going on hikes. On campus I’m involved in Mock Trial, Harvard University Band, the Institute of Politics, Harvard Clean Energy Group. My biggest hope this year for BIC is to get connected with the new community I've moved into!
Finance Board
Daphne Matthews
Hi everyone, I'm from Yukon, Oklahoma, and I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior and concentrating in Business Management at Columbia. I enjoy spending time with friends, traveling, fashion, and trying new foods. I love meeting new people so feel free to reach out! I am on the finance committee for Project Sunshine, a health educator for Students for Health Education, a member of Columbia Women in Medicine Society, and apart of the track and field team at Columbia University. I am very much interested in focusing on the process I take this year to ensure that I accomplish both my personal goals and the goals set out for the organizations/ groups I am a member of. By the end of the school year, I additionally hope to have developed my leadership skills by being someone who serves as not only a source of encouragement to others but also someone who is known to seek innovation and progression.
Finance Board
Olivia Taylor
Hi! I’m from South Windsor, Connecticut. I am a freshman at Princeton majoring in Molecular Biology. I want to use science to attempt to ease the suffering of others. My goal is to become a genetic researcher and study the ways in which genetics can be potentially used to treat cancers and terminal diseases. In addition to STEM, I also enjoy participating in the arts and being active. I danced ballet for 13 years, and also enjoy baking and watching movies in my pastime. On campus, I am involved in CU Nova: Christian group, eXpressions Dance Company: contemporary dance, BSU and PCC: Black Student Union and Princeton Caribbean Connection. I am a volunteer for the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation which was founded by Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green. She is working to raise funding to transfer the research she did using laser powered nano-particles to do human trials. I work as a graphic designer for the organization's instagram page. By the end of the school year, I hope to become acclimated to the academic and social cultures at Princeton. I also hope to become proficient at coding. I am taking a computer science class this semester because I wanted to challenge myself, and because it will also be a helpful skill to develop as a genetic researcher.
Finance Board
Momodou Jaata
Hi everyone. I am a first generation immigrant from The Gambia. I came to America at a young age and went to High School in New York City. I want to pursue a career that allows me to enforce environmental justice globally in order to protect and develop African countries. I am also involved in the Sadie Alexander Association, where we work to create resources for first generation low income students pursuing an Economics degree at Dartmouth. I also love to play pickup basketball. By the end of the school year, I want to have had the Dartmouth Chapter of the BIC established so that students on campus can start building those relationships.
Finance Board