Staff

Zharia Hall is a Psychology major with double minors in Neuroscience and Law & Society. Her goal is to become an attorney and a strong advocate for others, using her background to support individuals navigating the legal system. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new restaurants, binging new shows, and embracing new and thrilling experiences. She is so grateful for the opportunity to serve the students at the University of Maryland.

Chiamaka Iheoma is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in Criminology & Criminal Justice with a minor in Law & Society and Public Leadership. As the Chair for the Political Power Project, she has a passion for educating students on campus about real-world impactful topics and encouraging people to be more politically knowledgeable. Chiamaka is the Corresponding and Recording Secretary for her sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. as well as the founder of a student organization on campus called Reentry Redefined whose mission is to lower recidivism rates in PG and Montgomery County.

Morgan Muse is a Senior Psychology & Criminal Justice/Criminology double major and General Business Minor. She is a member of the Kappa Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves as the Treasurer and Physical & Mental Health Chair. She plans to pursue a career in law post-graduation. She loves working at SLAO because of the close bond amongst those that work here and also being able to help the UMD community.

Mahi Pandya is pursuing a dual degree in Government & Politics and Economics and a minor in Spanish. She enjoys working at SLAO because it gives her the opportunity to elevate student voices in processes where they often go unheard. Outside of the office, she is involved in Maryland Mock Trial, ACLU UMD, and PAD.

James Parks is a senior Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major. He is involved in the Student Conduct Review Coalition and is also a graduate of the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars program. After undergrad, he plans on going straight through to law school. He has been a part of SLAO since spring 2024, and loves seeing the positive impact the office can have on students.  

Hisham Shami is a fourth year Public Policy and Finance Dual Degree student who is hopefully headed to law school. Next year, he hopes to teach English in France, and eventually do diplomacy work with the State Department. He also really likes eating at Subway.

Isabella "Bella" Socha Soares is a senior double major in Government & Politics and Criminology & Criminal Justice, with a minor in Portuguese Language, Literature, and Culture. She enjoys working at the Student Legal Aid Office because every day brings a different opportunity to help clients understand their rights within the OCRSM, Rights & Responsibilities, Student Conduct, and Academic Integrity processes. In addition to working as a student advocate, Bella is a research assistant, teaching assistant, and is actively involved in student organizations on campus. She hopes to become the first person in her family to earn a JD and pursue a career in law.

Rachel Stecklow is a senior, Government and Politics major and wants to attend law school post-graduation. She has been working in the Student Legal Aid office since Spring 2024. On campus, she is also a TA in the GVPT department and holds an executive position in Phi Alpha Delta.

Audra Zumwalt is a senior Criminology and Criminal Justice major with an MLAW minor. Working at SLAO has been an amazing experience for her that has allowed her to work with students in a meaningful and impactful way. She is pursuing paralegal work post grad with aspirations for law school, and the interpersonal and professional skills she has learned in this job will set her up for success in her future.