Meet Imelme Umana: First Black Woman President Of the Harvard Law Review

It’s Black History Month in the U.S. and there’s no better way to kick-start the month with the remarkable news, the appointment of Nigerian Imelme Umana as the first black woman president of the Harvard Law Review. The Harvard Law Review is considered the most prestigious law review in the U.S.

Umana, has been likened to former U.S. President Barack Obama who was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review in 1990.

Imelme graduated from Harvard College in 2014, as an undergraduate she was most interested in the intersection between government and African American studies, hoping to explore how stereotypes of black women are reproduced and reinforced in American Political discourse.

Prior to her new position, Imelme served as chair of the Community Action Committee (CAC), a body that helps impact the political process by taking action in their community. In 2013, she worked in Washington D.C as an investigative intern for the public defender’s office, and also served as the president of the Institute of Politics as an undergraduate.

“Congratulations to ImeIme Umana, the 131st President of the Harvard Law Review”. Harvard Law Review

Imelme’s who is now a PhD candidate will serve as the 131^st president of the Harvard Law Review. The outgoing president of the Law Review, Michael L. Zuckerman wrote, “Imelme is one of the most brilliant, thoughtful, and caring people I’ve ever met, and the Law Review is in phenomenally good hands”.

Congrats to Imelme Umana, HLS '18, on her selection as President of the Harvard Law Review. 1st black woman to serve as President. #Herstory pic.twitter.com/liqu40K4Va

— Harvard BLSA (@HarvardBLSA) January 30, 2017

Zuckerman further wrote, “Imelme’s election as the Law Review’s first female black president is historic. For a field in which women and people of colour have for too much of our past been marginalized or underrepresented, her election is an important and encouraging step toward a richer and more inclusive legal conversation”.

Umana’s duty as president would be to manage over 90 student editors and permanent staff members who constitute the Law Review and correspond with writers, as well as topmost faculty members.

There were 12 candidates this year, of which eight were women. The candidates must answer questions from a number of editors, scribble rejoinders to posed questions, and partake in mock editorial activities.