Akia S. Callum serves as the Chair for the Northeast Black Law Student Association for the 57th term. Supporting 5 subregions, across 8 states and over 1,000 of the most sought after Black law students and legal professions across the country. She is a highly experienced and accomplished professional with expertise in brand architecture, community organizing, political strategy, results-based facilitation, and social justice advocacy. With over a decade of experience, she has a proven track record of success in moving from systems change to systems transformation –– locally, statewide, and nationally. Her guiding principle, as she often asserts, is that "Titles and positions may get you into rooms, but who you are as a person is what keeps you there." This philosophy has been the cornerstone of her leadership journey. No stranger to leadership, Ms. Callum has served in several leadership positions, including as a Senior Advisor to Assemblyman Brian-Christopher A. Cunningham of the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York. Additionally, as the John P. Burke Professor at Post University, she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of leaders. She brings a wealth of experience and understanding to the classroom, and her passion for community, advocacy, and social justice is evident in all that she does. Presently, as the Deputy Director at Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership, Ms. Callum spearheads the implementation of a comprehensive and inclusive community engagement strategy that prioritizes building strong relationships. A proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants and a Brooklyn native –– Akia believes relationship-building is key. Ms. Callum has a deep commitment to community advocacy and social justice, stemming from her early work in the New York City Council. In 2015, she founded the Black Student Union at Post University and subsequently held various leadership positions within the NAACP at the state and national levels. In recognition of her remarkable dedication, Akia was honored with the NAACP Region II Youth Organizer of the Year award in 2019. Throughout her tenure in the organization, she has served as the President of the Connecticut State Conference NAACP Youth & College Division, Chair of National Initiatives and Development for the NAACP National Youth Works Committee, and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Connecticut Black Caucus in 2021. In that same year, Akia was named the inaugural recipient of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award by former Connecticut Secretary of State, Denise Merril. Ms. Callum's extensive experience in community organizing and her commitment to a collective impact approach has been instrumental in supporting community-identified needs and interests to dismantle systems of oppression. Her investment in this approach has been highly effective in implementing positive change and bringing people together to achieve common goals. Recognizing her exceptional contributions, Akia was honored as part of the inaugural Connecticut Afro-Latino 30 under 30 class and named ‘Women of Inspiration’ by Post University and the WNBA Connecticut Sun in 2023. A proud lifelong learner, Akia was selected as one of 20 inaugural Yale Law School 'Access to Law' fellows in 2020. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Studies, and a Master of Education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction from Post University. She is a Juris Doctorate Candidate at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Law. Her commitment to service is evident in her appointed roles as the 64th UConn School of Law Student Bar Association (SBA) Parliamentarian and the 56th Northeast Black Law Student Association (NEBLSA) Director of Communications