Juliana Poroye

Juliana Poroye is from Queens, New York. She received her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Political Science with a minor in political theory, from Hunter College. Juliana is passionate about defending marginalized communities’ access to education and combating the pipeline to the juvenile criminal system.

During her time at Hunter College, Juliana tutored foster care and court-involved youth with the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, mentored freshman and sophomore students of color at an education Non-Profit (‘Let’s Get Ready’) which helps low-income students get to and through college and interned for Judge Ruth Pickholz at the New York State Supreme Court. Juliana’s honors thesis, titled, “A Theory of the American Public School as a Site for Black Intellectual Emancipation” won the Edgar Dawson prize, awarded for the best thesis in the political science department, at Hunter College.

After graduation, she worked in the Juvenile Delinquency Unit of a family court, where she was a New York City Urban Fellow. In August 2022, Juliana graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master’s in the Social Sciences with a concentration in sociology, and a certificate in Education and Society. She wrote a master’s thesis titled “Closing the Academic Achievement Gap: One Raised Hand at a Time”.

Juliana aspires to impact education reform nationally. At the law school, she is a member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and the Mock Trial team. In all that she does, Juliana strives to advocate for ways to help individuals from underserved backgrounds feel welcome at education institutions throughout the country and at Penn Carey Law, in honor of Dr. Alexander’s legacy.