American Constitution Society Announces 2025 Next Generation Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Rodriguez, media@acslaw.org

Washington, DC – The American Constitution Society (ACS) has selected 31 future progressive legal professionals as 2025 Next Generation Leaders.

Launched in 2007, the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program recognizes and supports law school students who have shown exceptional leadership in their work with their ACS student chapters. The program offers various opportunities that empower the students to develop their leadership skills and make a long-lasting impact in their communities.

“I’m excited to introduce this year’s class of Next Generation Leaders, who represent the future of the progressive legal movement at a time when we need them more than ever to join us in the fight for the rule of law and our democracy,” said Zinelle October, ACS Interim President. “These student leaders have worked tirelessly across the country to meet this moment. They are working to strengthen their local progressive legal networks; connecting students with thought leaders, changemakers, and state and federal court judges; educating their community about priority and urgent topics; and inspiring their fellow students to proactively engage in protecting our democracy and upholding the Constitution. I look forward to watching this impressive class enter and grow within our profession and join the more than 400 NGL Alumni making meaningful contributions across the country.”

NGL applicants are selected through a competitive application process. The selection committee looks for students who demonstrate strong legal skills, a commitment to public service, and a track record of leadership and community engagement. Every year, a select number of law students are chosen as NGLs, and one NGL is appointed to serve a two-year term as a student member of ACS’s Board of Directors.

NGLs are an integral part of the ACS network, with many contributing to the strength of the network as lawyer chapter leaders, mentors, and thought leaders through media and legal analysis. These leaders are also contributing to positive progressive legal change in their communities and around the country as lawyers, judges, policymakers, academics, advocates, and elected officials.

The 2025 Next Generation Leaders, in alphabetical order, are:

Hart Ayoob, NYU School of Law ‘26

Alexander Bacon, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law ‘26

Aislinn Bailie, University of Wisconsin Law School ’26

Akanksha Balekai, University of Illinois College of Law ‘26

Sophia Caldwell, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law ‘25

Rosajunely Cartagena Ruiz, Mercer University School of Law ‘25

Varun Cidambi, Notre Dame Law School, ‘26

Robert Dohrman, The University of Chicago Law School, ‘26

Nicholas Glover, Vermont Law School, ‘25

Kaisa Goodman, Stanford Law School ‘26

Daniel Green, UCLA School of Law ‘26

Nikki Hernandez, University of Denver Sturm College of Law ‘26

Alfredo Jimenez, California Western School of Law ‘25

George Knight Pond, III, Rutgers Law School–Newark ‘25

Elizabeth K “Betsy” Knox, University of Michigan Law School ‘26

Savannah Larson, Alexander Blewett III School of Law ‘26

Jen Lee, Stanford Law School ‘26

Gaige McMillian, Cornell Law School, ‘26

Ellie Metni, The University of Texas School of Law ‘26

Amaya G. Reyes Rodríguez, University of Puerto Rico School of Law, ‘25

Toni Rodriguez, Stetson University College of Law, ‘25

Kelly Scrivner, University of Virginia School of Law ’26

Casey Semple, University of Cincinnati College of Law ‘26

Ruchika Sharma, American University Washington College of Law ‘26

Alli Swann, The University of Alabama School of Law ‘25

Carson Turner, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School ‘25

Alison Uecker, University of Nebraska College of Law ‘25

Nicholle Vandy, Indiana University Maurer School of Law ‘26

Michael Weinrib, University of Wisconsin Law School ‘26

Samson Widerman, Emory University School of Law ‘25

Tyler Ziel, Wayne State University Law School ‘26

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AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
The American Constitution Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan legal organization. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, advocates, and many others, our mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities. For more information, visit us at www.acslaw.org.