A Nigerian-American student, Ifeanyi Ruth Umunna, has been elected Co-President of the student government at Harvard Law School for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The Harvard Law School (HLS) Student Government represents students, advocates for their welfare, and works to improve policies within the school.
Announcing her election on LinkedIn, Umunna said she was honoured to be chosen for the role. She will serve alongside her co-president, Tenzin Y.
Before joining Harvard, Umunna was a Gates Cambridge Scholar in 2024, where she earned a master’s degree in criminology at University of Cambridge. Her research focused on international criminal justice systems.
She developed an interest in this field during her time working as a congressional aide to Stephen Lynch in the United States.
Umunna completed her undergraduate studies at American University, graduating with top honours in Political Science. During her time there, she founded ZeEntry, a non-profit organisation aimed at helping people involved in the justice system gain access to technology.
She is also the daughter of Dehlia Umunna, a professor at Harvard Law School and the first Nigerian to hold such a position at the institution.
In addition, Umunna received the Chayes Fellowship from Harvard Law School, which will support her internship at the United Kingdom’s Public Defender Service in London during the summer of 2026.
Aside from her academic achievements, she has also been involved in community service, including volunteering with public defender offices and supporting outreach programmes for homeless people.
With her new role as student government co-president, Umunna is expected to represent student interests and contribute to leadership within the Harvard Law School community.
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