Georgetown University Law Center
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Executive Board
2023-24
Arianna Chen
PRESIDENT
Hometown: Wayne, NJ
Previous School(s): Fordham University, B.A. in Political Science, English, Gender & Sexuality Studies
About: Arianna is a 2L at Georgetown Law passionate about the intersection of civil rights law and educational justice. During her time at Fordham University, Arianna taught at Title I schools across New York City, conducted community-based policy work for the Obama Foundation and other government entities, and served as a fierce student activist for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in higher education. As the daughter of Hong Kong and Indonesian immigrants, Arianna wants to empower communities that have built her up throughout her young professional career. Outside of APALSA, you can find Arianna around campus as a Legal Writing Law Fellow, extern at the Department of Justice, Staff Editor for Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy, research assistant for Prof. Brown, and RISE Fellow. In her free time, Arianna enjoys doing New Yorker crossword puzzles, hosting dinner parties, and gardening.
Erika Sloan
EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
Hometown: Houston, TX
Previous School(s): Minerva University, B.S. in Global Governance and Economic Development
About: Erika is a 2L at Georgetown Law. As an undergraduate, Erika lived in seven different cities around the world as part of her program—San Francisco, California; Seoul, South Korea, Hyderabad, India, Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; London, England; Taipei, Taiwan—and completed her capstone on systems change at the United Nations. Before entering law school, Erika was living in Seoul, working as a business consultant and partnerships manager. In addition to serving on APALSA’s e-board, she is a Global Law School, a Legal Practice Law Fellow, an Appellate Advocacy Team member, and the treasurer of KALSA. This past summer, Erika worked at the UN World Food Programme in Rome. When she isn't hyping herself in third person to impress strangers, she likes complaining about plot lines in TV shows, wandering around open-world games, and occasionally touching grass to impress her friends.
Marlee Sonico
INTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
Hometown: Richmond, CA
Previous School(s): University of California Santa Cruz, B.A. in Legal Studies and Politics (Concentration in Political Theory)
About: Marlee is a 2L at Georgetown Law. Before law school, they worked in operations and voter protection for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic National Committee. Marlee is interested in campaign finance and regulatory law. They spent their 1L summer working as a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholar and Summer Associate at an AmLaw 100 law firm. In addition to their role as Internal Vice President in APALSA, Marlee is a RISE Fellow and Peer Mentor, extern at the Federal Election Commission, and Staff Editor for the Georgetown Journal on Modern Critical Race Perspectives. Marlee loves plants, makeup, singing, and dogs (especially their dog, Brussel).
Anya Chew
SECRETARY
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Previous School(s): The Ohio State University, B.A. in Political Science and International Studies
About: Anya is a 2L at Georgetown Law. Originally from the Midwest, she graduated from the Ohio State University with dual degrees in Political Science and International Studies. Prior to law school, Anya worked in education as a private tutor and Model United Nations instructor. She is a RISE Fellow, a Student Attorney in the Racial Equity in Education Law (REEL) & Policy Clinic, conducts research for Prof. Kathleen Claussen, is a member of the First Generation Student Union, and a former Human Rights Institute Associate. In her free time, Anya loves watching documentaries, hiking, vintage shopping, and trying new restaurants.
Bre de Vera
TREASURER
Hometown: Fremont, CA
Previous School(s): University of Southern California, B.A. in Journalism and English Literature
About: Bre is a 3L at Georgetown Law and currently serves as APALSA's treasurer (again!) and the Diversity and Development Managing Editor of the Georgetown Law Technology Review. While at Georgetown, she has worked at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, National Public Radio (NPR), and the Knight First Amendment Institute. She has also served as a research assistant for Professors Julie Cohen and Eun Hee Han, as well as for the Georgetown Law Journal's Annual Review of Criminal Procedure. After graduating she hopes to become a First Amendment lawyer, advocating for press freedoms and civil liberties. When she's not reading for class you can find her cafe hopping, thrifting, and buying more plants than she needs.
Julie Tolmie
PRO BONO CHAIR
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Previous School(s): University of Washington, B.A. in Environmental Studies
About: Julie is a 3L at Georgetown Law. Before law school, she worked at the Climate Impacts Group, an organization that helps local, state, and tribal governments prepare for the effects of climate change. Her interest in the environment led her to Georgetown, where she is also a member of the Environmental Law Society and Women's Legal Alliance. Julie has been a summer law clerk for Sierra Club and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and an academic term law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division. She spends her free time swimming, reading, grabbing dinner with friends, and searching for good tea (both bubble and regular) in DC.
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Victor Liu
TRAILBLAZERS CHAIR
Hometown: Wuhan, China
Previous School(s): University of Virginia, B.A. in Foreign Affairs; M.P.P
About: Victor was born and raised in China. He studied foreign affairs and public policy at University of Virginia. Prior to law school, he worked as a policy analyst, which fueled his interest in antitrust, data privacy, and trade law. Victor is a Technology Law and Policy Scholar. Last summer, he interned at the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Section of New Jersey Office of Attorney General. Other than APALSA, he is working for Georgetown Journal of International Law and Harrison Institute’s Policy Clinic. In his free time, he enjoys exploring Washington DC on his bicycle, watching soccer and Formula 1, and learning about random things.
Sophia Li
PROFESSIONAL CHAIR
(PUBLIC SECTOR)
Hometown: Beijing and Great Falls, VA
Previous School(s): University of California - Los Angeles, B.A. in Economics and Political Science
About: Sophia is a 2L at Georgetown Law. She grew up in Beijing and Great Falls, Virginia before moving to the west coast to study Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, Sophia worked as a staff research associate at the UCLA Social Justice Research Partnership and a research assistant for Dr. Martha J. Bailey. In addition to her role in APALSA, Sophia is a research assistant for Professor Hillary Sale and a member of the Corporate and Financial Law Organization. During her 1L summer, Sophia interned at the Office of the Public Defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church and conducted research for professors Irving Gornstein and Rima Sirota. Outside of law school, she loves jigsaw puzzles, reading, and listening to country music!
Summer Oh
SOCIAL CO-CHAIR
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Previous School(s): Columbia University, B.A. in Human Rights
About: Summer is a local to the DMV area. She studied Human Rights at Columbia University, where she was a board member of Columbia's Asian American Association and North Korea English Exchange. During her 1L summer, she interned with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and worked as a research assistant for the Georgetown Law Journal's Annual Review of Criminal Procedure. At Georgetown, Summer is a staff editor of the American Criminal Law Review and an extern for the Department of Justice. In her free time, Summer loves karaoke, competitive board games, and going on hikes with her family dogs.
Emil Zhang
ACADEMIC CO-CHAIR
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Previous School(s): Emory University, B.A. in Economics and Philosophy
About: Emil is a 2L at Georgetown and formerly the section 2 delegate for APALSA last year. They studied Economics and Philosophy, Politics, and Law during undergraduate and had a research interest in intersectionality. Besides APALSA, they are involved in OutLaw and Antitrust & Competition Law Association (journal TBD). This summer, they worked for the MD Attorney General in civil litigation. Outside of law school, they like touching grass, frisbee, and game nights.
Nikola Hew
MENTORSHIP CHAIR
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Previous School(s): The University of Texas at Austin, B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
About: Nikola was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to coming to Georgetown, she was at the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated with a BS in BME. Influenced by her STEM background, Nikola has a strong interest in IP and technology transactional law and hopes to return to Texas to practice. In addition to serving as APALSA's Mentorship Chair, she is also President of Georgetown's Texas Club and enjoys playing softball and volleyball with her fellow law students.
Jason Liang
ACADEMIC CO-CHAIR
Hometown: Taiwan and Fullerton, CA
Previous School(s): Minerva University, B.S. in Computational Sciences
About: Jason is a 2L at Georgetown Law. He is interested in the intersection between technology and the law. In addition to serving on APALSA's e-board, he also participates in Georgetown's Law Fellow Program and the ADR division of the Barristers’ Council. Beyond his interests and involvements in school, he enjoys sleeping, eating food of all sorts, except anything that is too spicy (some amount of pepper is allowed), and some form of exercise that would allow him to eat more.
Binzhou Yan
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS CHAIR
Hometown: Xinjiang, China
Previous School(s): American University, B.A.
About: Binzhou was born in China, grew up in Virginia, and came to DC. for higher education. Prior to law school, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University, where his passion for understanding ethnic group tensions and the international orders were reflected. This summer, Binzhou had the opportunity to serve as a Law Clerk at the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, gaining experience in correctional litigation and federal court claims. Binzhou is passionate about serving the legal needs of the local community. In law school, Binzhou was also involved in Georgetown Law Indoor Soccer and RISE program. A fun fact about him: he was once a stage performer at the Xinjiang Grand Theater in China!