Current Members C'23
Hannah Adeniyi
Co-President
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
School: The College
Major: Psychology | Minor: Chemistry & Anthropology
Extracurricular Involvements: The Inspiration, CHOP Center for Autism researcher, Onyx Co-president
What does Onyx mean to you?: For me Onyx is comfort. On a campus where I have to don different hats depending on the setting, Onyx is a place where I can really be me. I can interact with people who understand my experience and even add more value to it. I can express my freely. That comfort is something I don’t want to take for granted.
Yendi Guindo
Co-President
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: The College
Major: Anthropology | Minor: Chinese
Extracurricular Involvements: Spectrum, CAMRA Mellon Fellowship, Penn Immigrant Rights
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is an organization that enables me to give back to the community around me while being with other excelling Black Penn students.
Marissa Kesse
Vice President
Hometown: Long Island, NY
School of Nursing
Major: Nursing
Extracurricular Involvements: 2023 Class Board - Nursing Chair | Penn Model Congress - Deputy Programs Director & Program Outreach Director | Minorities in Nursing - Vice President | Penn Black Student League - Programming Chair
Africana Peer Mentor | Penn Ghana - President |
Penn Alumni Staff
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx highlights excellence at Penn and fosters a community of campus scholars. I’ve found the members bring a new meaning to providing mentorship to the greater Black Penn & Penn community!
Calil Morris
Community Service Chair
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: The College
Major: Health & Societies
Extracurricular Involvements: Onyx Senior Honor Society: Community Service Chair, HSOC Student Advisory Board, MAPS (outgoing Community Service Chair), Mentor/Tutor Philadelphia Public High Schools, Africana Peer Mentor, Independent Research: Gun Violence and its Intersections with Race and Public Health
Sydney Nixon
Alumni Relations
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: The College
Major: Political Communications
Extracurricular Involvements: International Affairs Association (Intercol), SNF Paideia Fellows, Shea Collective
What does Onyx mean to you?: A space to foster a Black community that can extend on past graduation
Mina Arnold
Membership Chair
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
School: Nursing
Major: Nursing | Minor: Global Health
Extracurricular Involvements: Sphinx Honor Society | Ase Academy (Internal Relations Chair) | New Spirit at Penn Gospel Choir (Co-Parliamentarian) | West Philadelphia Tutoring Project (Tutor) | Peer Mentor for the School of Nursing | Penn Residential Services Assistant | Minorities in Nursing (Member) | Big Brother Big Sister at Penn (Former Mentor)
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx represents Black excellence to me, and is a community in which Black senior students on campus can come together to celebrate one another’s accomplishments.
Justin Acheampong
Hometown: Spotswood, NJ
School: The College
Major: Psychology Major | Minor: Sociology
Extracurricular Involvements: President of Carriage Senior Society, CAPS Advisory Board (CAPSAB), Reach-A-Peer Helpline (RAPLine), Student Committee on Undergraduate Education (SCUE), Member of Psi Chi Honors Society, Co-State Director of the Every Voice Coalition's Pennsylvania Chapter, Intern for Dr. Krystal Strong in the MOVE Activist Archive Project
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx offers a space for me to meet and have good times with other Black students at Penn in my year, as well as escape the pressures of Penn as a PWI.
Delaney Holder
Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
School: Wharton
Major: Concentrations: Business Economics & Public Policy; Social Impact & Responsibility
Minors: Law & Society; Africana Studies
Extracurricular Involvements: The Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. | The Wharton Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Group | Beyond Arrests: Rethinking Systematic Oppression | University-Wide Committees: Committee on Diversity and Equity; Social Responsibility Advisory Committee | The Black Wharton Undergraduate Association
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is such a historic representation of our culture's excellence on this campus. It is a special place where we can celebrate each other and grow together.
Evonna Moody
Hometown: Hinesville, GA
School: The College
Major: Political Science and Philosophy
Extracurricular Involvements: Social Planning and Events Committee (SPEC) | Beyond Arrests: Rethinking Systematic Oppression (BARS) | Black Pre-Law Association (BPLA)
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx, to me, means reintroducing myself to familiar faces in aim of building community.
Jennifer Salako
Hometown: Brentwood, CA
School: The College
Major: Health & Societies
Minors: Chemistry, Hispanic Studies
Extracurricular Involvements: The Glorious Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Intercultural Greek Council, Nigerians At Penn, WAVe, Johnson Scholars, University Wide Committee for Campus & Community Life
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is a space meant to celebrate the many amazing achievements of myself and my peers, despite the challenges we face in and outside of the classroom. It is a reaffirmation of our shared belief that our identity does not limit us, but rather motivates us to push beyond expectations and strive for excellence.
Joel Olujide
Hometown: Columbia, MD
School: Wharton
Major: Concentration in Management & Finance
Extracurricular Involvements: Class Board 2023 EVP |
Sphinx Senior Society | WAVe | Undergraduate Assembly
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is a great community with like-minded people on a campus that could at times feel isolating. It’s provided me with a much-needed opportunity to be in a welcoming community.
Kathryn Lord
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
School: Wharton
Major: Business Analytics &
BEPP (Business Economics & Public Policy)
Extracurricular Involvements: Wharton Council, Caribbean American Student Association (CASA), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Nicole Harrington
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: The College
Major: Neuroscience
Extracurricular Involvements: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. President; Coalition for Christian Outreach Co-lead; Student Researcher at Perelman/Center for Health Behavior Research
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is the pinnacle of Black scholarship, leadership, and excellence at Penn. It is the final hurrah for us as examples of what Black Penn has to offer, creating space for seniors to finally socialize while giving back to the communities that poured into us.
Sebleh Alfa
Hometown: Philadelphia
School: The College
Major: Pyschology
Extracurricular Involvements: Monolith: Black Visual Arts Collective, CAPS Advisory Board, Faces of Black Penn, Penn Ethiopian & Eritrean Student Association
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx means joining a network of Black students that influence change and strengthen relationships through community involvement.
Sasha Mills
Hometown: Potomac, MD
School: The College
Major: Biology
(Concentration: Ecology and Evolution)/ Minor: Psychology
Extracurricular Involvements: Captain of the Rugby Team, Research Fellow, RA at Lauder!
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is a place and space where I can truly be myself unapologetically amongst a community filled with the most intelligent, compassionate, and hilarious people I know.
Marcus Ramirez
Hometown: Woodhaven, NY
School: The College
Major: Criminology
Minor: Psychology
Extracurricular Involvements: Carriage Senior Society, Stimulus Children’s Theatre, Black Student League, Faces of Black Penn
What does Onyx mean to you?: To me, Onyx means having a community where you can earnestly support each other through hardships and celebrate triumphs. It means having a place where you are validated and seen.
Razan Osman
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: The College
Major: Cognitive Science
Minors: Sociology and Modern Middle Eastern Studies
Extracurricular Involvements: Fenjan Magazine, P1P Mentor, WQHS Radio, Jazz and Grooves, St. Elmo Club of Philadelphia
What does Onyx mean to you?: a community of encouraging excellence and long-term connection among Black seniors
Joy Okpoko
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
School: Wharton
Major: Management
Specialization: Organizational Effectiveness
Extracurricular Involvements: Black Wharton Undergraduate Association, Monolith: Black Visual Arts Collective, Nigerians at Penn, W. E. B. DuBois Residential Staff
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx, to me, means sharing perspectives, resources, and affirmations with my community.
Christina Sauveur
Hometown: Stamford, CT
School: Nursing
Major:
Extracurricular Involvements: Caribbean American Student Association - VP External, West African Vibe - Board Historian/Videographer, CAPs Advisory Board, Young Caribbean Professional Network - Student Board Member, Sigma Theta Tau Xi Chapter, Netter Center volunteer, Service Link Volunteer
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx is a welcoming space of like-minded individuals all striving toward the same goal. It shows me the true meaning of black excellence and shows me just how far people that look like me can go.
Tiffany Chyke-Okpuzor
Hometown: Queens, NY
School: Wharton
Major: Finance and Actuarial Science
Extracurricular Involvements: Black Wharton, Nigerians at Penn, Club Basketball, Successful Transition, and Empowerment Program (STEP)
What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx means a community of people that look like me joining together to create strong relationships and give back to the broader Black Philadelphia community through service.
