Current Members C'23
Hannah Adeniyi
Co-President
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Hometown: Baltimore, MD
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School: The College
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Major: Psychology | Minor: Chemistry & Anthropology
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Extracurricular Involvements: The Inspiration, CHOP Center for Autism researcher, Onyx Co-president
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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.
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Yendi Guindo
Co-President
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Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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School: The College
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Major: Anthropology | Minor: Chinese
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Extracurricular Involvements: Spectrum, CAMRA Mellon Fellowship, Penn Immigrant Rights
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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.
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Marissa Kesse
Vice President
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Hometown: Long Island, NY
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School of Nursing
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Major: Nursing
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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
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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!
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Calil Morris
Community Service Chair
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Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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School: The College
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Major: Health & Societies
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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
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Sydney Nixon
Alumni Relations
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Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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School: The College
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Major: Political Communications ​
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Extracurricular Involvements: International Affairs Association (Intercol), SNF Paideia Fellows, Shea Collective
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What does Onyx mean to you?: A space to foster a Black community that can extend on past graduation
Mina Arnold
Membership Chair
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Hometown: San Francisco, CA
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School: Nursing
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Major: Nursing | Minor: Global Health
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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)
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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.
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Justin Acheampong
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Hometown: Spotswood, NJ
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School: The College
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Major: Psychology Major | Minor: Sociology
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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
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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.
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Delaney Holder
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Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
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School: Wharton
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Major: Concentrations: Business Economics & Public Policy; Social Impact & Responsibility
Minors: Law & Society; Africana Studies
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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
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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.
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Evonna Moody
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Hometown: Hinesville, GA
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School: The College
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Major: Political Science and Philosophy
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Extracurricular Involvements: Social Planning and Events Committee (SPEC) | Beyond Arrests: Rethinking Systematic Oppression (BARS) | Black Pre-Law Association (BPLA)
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What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx, to me, means reintroducing myself to familiar faces in aim of building community.
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Jennifer Salako
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Hometown: Brentwood, CA
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School: The College
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Major: Health & Societies
Minors: Chemistry, Hispanic Studies
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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
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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.
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Joel Olujide
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Hometown: Columbia, MD
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School: Wharton
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Major: Concentration in Management & Finance
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Extracurricular Involvements: Class Board 2023 EVP |
Sphinx Senior Society | WAVe | Undergraduate Assembly
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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.
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Kathryn Lord
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Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
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School: Wharton
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Major: Business Analytics &
BEPP (Business Economics & Public Policy)
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Extracurricular Involvements: Wharton Council, Caribbean American Student Association (CASA), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
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Nicole Harrington
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Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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School: The College
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Major: Neuroscience
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Extracurricular Involvements: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. President; Coalition for Christian Outreach Co-lead; Student Researcher at Perelman/Center for Health Behavior Research
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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.
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Sebleh Alfa
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Hometown: Philadelphia
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School: The College
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Major: Pyschology
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Extracurricular Involvements: Monolith: Black Visual Arts Collective, CAPS Advisory Board, Faces of Black Penn, Penn Ethiopian & Eritrean Student Association
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What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx means joining a network of Black students that influence change and strengthen relationships through community involvement.
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Sasha Mills
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Hometown: Potomac, MD
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School: The College
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Major: Biology
(Concentration: Ecology and Evolution)/ Minor: Psychology
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Extracurricular Involvements: Captain of the Rugby Team, Research Fellow, RA at Lauder!
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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.
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Marcus Ramirez
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Hometown: Woodhaven, NY
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School: The College
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Major: Criminology
Minor: Psychology
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Extracurricular Involvements: Carriage Senior Society, Stimulus Children’s Theatre, Black Student League, Faces of Black Penn
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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
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Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
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School: The College
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Major: Cognitive Science
Minors: Sociology and Modern Middle Eastern Studies
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Extracurricular Involvements: Fenjan Magazine, P1P Mentor, WQHS Radio, Jazz and Grooves, St. Elmo Club of Philadelphia
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What does Onyx mean to you?: a community of encouraging excellence and long-term connection among Black seniors
Joy Okpoko
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Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
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School: Wharton
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Major: Management
Specialization: Organizational Effectiveness
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Extracurricular Involvements: Black Wharton Undergraduate Association, Monolith: Black Visual Arts Collective, Nigerians at Penn, W. E. B. DuBois Residential Staff
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What does Onyx mean to you?: Onyx, to me, means sharing perspectives, resources, and affirmations with my community.
Christina Sauveur
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Hometown: Stamford, CT
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School: Nursing
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Major:
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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
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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
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Hometown: Queens, NY
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School: Wharton
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Major: Finance and Actuarial Science
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Extracurricular Involvements: Black Wharton, Nigerians at Penn, Club Basketball, Successful Transition, and Empowerment Program (STEP)
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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.
