Nigerian-American Ifeanyi Umunna Elected Harvard Law Student Government Co-President

Nigerian-American law student Ifeanyi Ruth Umunna has been elected Co-President of the student government at Harvard Law School for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The student government represents the interests of the law school community, advocating for student welfare, policy improvements, and inclusive governance.

Umunna announced her election on LinkedIn, expressing appreciation to her peers and reaffirming her commitment to leadership. She will serve alongside her co-president, Tenzin Y.

Before enrolling at Harvard, Umunna was a Gates Cambridge Scholar at the University of Cambridge, where she earned an MPhil in Criminology in 2024. Her research focused on international criminal justice systems, an area of interest shaped during her time working as a congressional aide to U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch.

Umunna completed her undergraduate studies at American University, graduating summa cum laude in Political Science. During that period, she founded ZeEntry, a nonprofit initiative aimed at bridging the technology gap for justice-involved individuals.

She is the daughter of Dehlia Umunna, a Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and Faculty Director of its Criminal Justice Institute. Dehlia Umunna is recognized as the first Nigerian professor at the institution.

In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Ifeanyi Umunna has received the Chayes Fellowship, which will support her participation in a Summer 2026 internship with the UK’s Public Defender Service.

Her experience spans public service and community engagement, including work with public defenders’ offices and outreach initiatives supporting vulnerable populations in Washington, D.C.