“I wanted to join a cohort of people looking to fight for justice. I did it!”
Class of 2026
Grad Portraits
Meet the advocates, organizers, defenders, and changemakers of the Class of 2026.
Ayah Ahmed
“I want to use my CUNY Law degree to support community-driven solutions that redistribute wealth, power, and opportunity, and to help build a more just economy for historically marginalized communities.”
Erika Michelle Alfaro
Jonathan Alleyne
“Keep your dreams intact. Don’t fear failure.”
Rasheeda I. Allison
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to help the less informed and underserved communities.”
Tamira Brunson
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to protect my communities against imperialistic regimes.”
Jennifer Dolores Cardoza
“With my CUNY Law degree, I would like to serve as a role model to children who were dealt a bad hand in life—to remind them to be resilient and resolute, and to help them overcome their adversities.”
Chelsea Teresa Carrero
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to make a meaningful impact in housing policy.”
Jessica Chu
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to put bad cops behind bars!”
Colleen Chung
“My ultimate goal is to use my CUNY Law degree to do justly, love mercifully, and walk humbly with my God and the people he has called me to represent (Micah 6:8).”
Nicole Cordero
“I would like to use my CUNY Law degree to become a defense attorney for those who are constantly persecuted and pillaged by punitive systems in the United States. I look forward to getting through the much dreaded (lol) bar exam so I can get to that next step of being a fully accomplished attorney.”
Andrew Daniel
“With my CUNY Law degree, I aspire to transform the NYS and Federal Court System from framework of fear to a haven of hope.”
Nicoletta Daskaloudi
Quinn DeCicco
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to make the law accessible for communities where it matters the most.”
Joseph Álvarez Dilán
“With my CUNY Law degree I plan on continuing my advocacy for the protection and expansion of reproductive freedom for marginalized communities.”
Lucía Estrada
“I want to use my CUNY Law degree to become a civil rights attorney focusing on combatting police misconduct.”
Olympia Fulcher
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to make a positive difference in the lives of New Yorkers.”
Trevor Godbolt
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to defend my community.”
Jonathan Guadian
“I want to use the privilege of my CUNY Law degree to do all I can to put an end to mass incarceration and fight for liberation for all people from all systems of oppression.”
Fiona Christopher Hellerman
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to be the change I want to be in the world by helping to rebuild the bridge between the public and the legal system. It’s time we take the reins of history and become the force for all the good we can make, together!”
Beowulf Heralall
“I’m going to use my CUNY Law degree to stand with people the system is built to overlook and fight hard for their freedom. I will show up prepared, hold the system accountable, and make sure my clients are treated as human beings, not numbers!”
Paniz Karimpour
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to work as a public defender providing representation to those targeted by the system.”
Cierra King
“You’re living every dream you’ve ever had!”
Deja Laplanche
“I pursued law in honor of my mother, who gave up her dream of becoming a lawyer to raise our family. I hope to use my law degree to help others.”
Tresela A. Liea
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to practice Impact and Appellate Litigation, fighting for rights that have been abandoned or destroyed.”
Jayden Lopez
Ann Mammen
Alice Maule
Madeline McNamee
Zoe Mollner
“My dream is to do transactional law and legislative policy & advocacy work supporting worker cooperatives and the solidarity economy.”
Catherine Murcek
Genesis Orea
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to change the system one client at a time, and hopefully create a fairer and more humane justice system overall.”
Josiah Ramesar
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to topple the institutions.”
Syed Mujtaba Haider Rizwi
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to keep immigrant families together.”
Max E. Romero
“I want to use my CUNY Law degree to defend and advocate for the communities that raised me.”
Brenda Ruiz
“I will use my CUNY Law degree for the people who are suppressed and oppressed.”
Dechen Sangpo
“I want to use my CUNY Law degree to serve the entertainment industry, make my family proud, and bring glory to God!”
Breana J. Sena
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to meld public interest law with liberation theologies to transform the heart and mind of the world for good.”
F. Romall Smalls
“I want to help people who come from a similar background as myself to better navigate the American legal system. I feel called to serve as a support system to members of my community. And I believe that we all deserve to live freely and work towards our dreams in this life.”
Sandrine M. Sugi
“All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away.”
Victoria Vena
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to make landlords cry.”
Jules Weingarden
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to show little black girls that they can be anything they put their mind to!”
Akua Williams
Catherine Mei Williams
Keisha Wilson
Omar Wiqas
“I will use my CUNY Law degree to join fearless lawyers who are fighting to dismantle systems of oppression and injustice and give voice to underrepresented communities.”
Elmira Amirkhan Zozzaro
View All Class of 2026 Portraits
Browse all Class of 2026 portrait quotes in a standard gallery layout.