MEET OUR TEAM

We are a student organization shedding light on issues involving mass incarceration and dismantling the carceral state.

Srinidhi Ramakrishna – Co-President

Srinidhi is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science with a minor in Survey Research & Data Analytics. She joined BARS because she was interested in having and spreading discussions on abolition, transformative justice, and change in the legal system with passionate people on and off campus. She is also a member of Penn Counterparts, Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative, Radical South Asian Collective and PennArts. Srinidhi loves biking around the city and teaching herself how to play a new instrument.

Shamari Harrington – Co-President

Shamari is a Senior from Windsor, CT in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She joined BARS after taking a Freshman Seminar on Race, Class, and Incarceration and reading The New Jim Crow. She continues to learn more about and contribute to the positive work that BARS does in the community. Outside of BARS, Shamari is a Public Affairs intern at Penn Medicine.

Gibson Thomas – Vice President

Gibson (Gibby) is originally from MT. Vernon, NY. She is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science with minors in Consumer Psychology and Africana Studies. Gibson joined BARS in her freshman year and hopes to be involved in abolishing the prison system. Gibson is also a member of the Varsity Women’s Tennis team and the Penn Reading Initiative.

Chinelo Okolo – Co-Director of Marketing

Chinelo is a Junior from Union, NJ majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. She joined BARS this year to further immerse herself in a community of strong, likeminded students who aim to shed light on the injustices present in the criminal justice system. Outside of BARS, Chinelo is on the WAVe African Dance Team, team-leader in Black Wharton Consulting and a member of Nigerians at Penn. Outside of school, Chinelo enjoys traveling, playing the piano, and lifting.

Ella Purcell – Co-Director of Marketing

Ella, originally from Washington DC, is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in French and Francophone Studies. She joined BARS to be more involved in the criminal justice reform conversation. Outside of BARS, Ella is a team-leader for Black Wharton Consulting and is a part of the Penn’s Black Pre-Law Association Board.

Khalid Moheildin – Publication Director

Khalid is a sophomore from Denver, CO majoring in Urban Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. He joined BARS his freshman year to learn more about and contribute to the prison and police abolition movement in Philadelphia.

Delaney Holder – Finance Chair

Delaney is a Junior from New Rochelle, NY who is concentrating in Business Economics and Public Policy in the Wharton School. She joined BARS freshman year in order to be a part of the anti-carceral learning and advocacy taking place on campus and in the Philadelphia community! Outside of BARS, Delaney is involved in The Wharton Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Group (WEDIG) as well as Penn’s Onda Latina Dance Troupe