Leadership Board

Aquila Maliyekkal, Executive Vice President

Aquila Maliyekkal ’24 is from Bakersfield, California. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 2020, where he studied politics, journalism, and history. Before law school, Aquila worked as a law clerk at a criminal defense firm and was a Dan Lavoie Fellow with the Mercatus Center. He spent his 1L summer interning for the Honorable Timothy J. Kelly of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Outside of the Federalist Society, Aquila is Director of Coaching for the Extramural Moot Court Team, Assistant Executive Editor of the Journal of Law and Politics, and a member of Law Christian Fellowship. 

Ben Buell, Vice President for Speakers

Ben Buell ’24 is from Richmond, Virginia. He graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia in 2019, where he studied history and national security policy. Ben spent his 1L summer in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Outside of the Federalist Society, he is a member of the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review, competes on the Mock Trial Team, serves as the Director of Training for the Extramural Moot Court Board, and is a fellow in the Program in Law and Public Service. Following graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Ryan D. Nelson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Honorable James Wesley Hendrix of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Christian Adams, Vice President for Communications

Christian Adams ’24 is from Canton, Georgia and graduated summa cum laude with Honors from the University of Georgia in 2021 with a degree in Accounting. Before law school, he interned at Frazier & Deeter, LLC as a Tax Litigation Intern. Christian worked as a Summer Associate at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP for his 1L summer. He will spend his 2L summer at King & Spalding LLP in Atlanta. He is an Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review, serves as Executive Vice President of Southeastern Wahoos, and is involved in the Rod & Gun Club on Grounds. In his free time, Christian enjoys fly fishing, hiking, and competing in triathlon races, such as the Ironman 70.3.

Candace Cravey, Vice President for Special Events

Candace Cravey ’24 is from Houston, Texas. Candace graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2019. Before law school, she worked as a Staff Assistant for Senator Marsha Blackburn. During Spring 2022, she was an intern for Judge Andrew S. Oldham of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She spent her 1L summer as a Summer Associate in the Houston office of Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP. At UVA, she is an Assistant Executive Editor of the Journal of Law and Politics and a Legal Writing Fellow. She is also a member of Lone Star Lawyers and Law Christian Fellowship. 

Rajan Vasisht, Vice President for Faculty Relations

Rajan Vasisht ’24 graduated from The George Washington University in 2019 with majors in Political Science and Economics.  During college, he interned at the Federalist Society national headquarters, the Supreme Court Curator’s Office, and the House of Representatives.  Before coming to law school, he worked as the Aide to Chambers for Justice Clarence Thomas at the Supreme Court.  During his 1L summer, he worked as a legal intern at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.  He is currently an Assistant Executive Editor for the Journal of Law and Politics.

Shannon Bader, Vice President for Finances

Shannon Bader ’24 is from the Bronx, New York.  She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 2016 where she majored in Accounting and Political Science. Before law school she worked for Ernst & Young and PKF O’Connor Davies in New York doing financial services work.  She also earned a master’s degree in International Economics from Fordham University in 2020.  Shannon spent her 1L summer as a judicial intern for the Honorable Chad F. Kenney on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Editorial Board for the Virginia Law Review and a member of Virginia Law Women. After graduation, she will clerk for the Honorable Daniel A. Bress of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Tom Harrigan, Vice President for Membership

Tom Harrigan ’23 is from Clear Lake, Texas, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2016 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Prior to law school, Tom worked in oilfield operations for five years. Tom spent his 1L summer with the Houston, Texas, office of Kirkland & Ellis. Outside of the Federalist Society, he is involved with the Virginia Rod and Gun Club, Lone Star Lawyers, and the Virginia Journal of International Law.

Nikolai Morse, Vice President for Professional Development

Nikolai Morse ’24 is from Sleepy Hollow, Illinois. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2015, where he studied Finance and Economics. Before law school, he worked in Chicago as an investment banking analyst for Bank of America Merrill Lynch and then as a private equity associate for a family office. Nikolai spent his 1L summer as a judicial intern for the Honorable M. Hannah Lauck of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Outside of the Federalist Society, Nikolai is the Managing Editor of Virginia Law Weekly, a Submissions Review Editor for the Virginia Journal of International Law, Director of Programming for Common Law Grounds, and competes on the Extramural Moot Court Board .

Douglas Maggs, Member Engagement Chair

Douglas Maggs ’23 is from Arlington, Virginia. He graduated from Harvard College in 2017. Before law school, Douglas earned a master’s degree in Classical Art & Archaeology in 2018 from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He also worked as an economic analyst at Criterion Economics in Washington, D.C. Douglas spent his 1L summer as an intern for Judge Carl Nichols of the District Court for the District of Columbia and his 2L summer at Jones Day in Washington, D.C. At UVA, he is a member of the Virginia Journal of International Law, the Moot Court and Mock Trial teams, and the Law Christian Fellowship. In his free time, Douglas enjoys hiking, canoeing, and working on and restoring classic cars. After graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Allison H. Eid of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Virginia Perry Johns, Clerkships Chair

Virginia Perry Johns ’23 is from Knoxville, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020 where she studied History and Political Science. She served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Trevor N. McFadden of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia during her 1L summer and worked in Alston & Bird’s Atlanta office during her 2L summer. Outside of the Federalist Society, Virginia serves on the managing board of the Journal of Law & Politics and on the leadership board of the Law Christian Fellowship. Following graduation, she will be clerking for the Honorable Timothy C. Batten, Sr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Elijah Coryell, Organizational Outreach Chair

Elijah Coryell ’23 is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Grove City College, where he was student body president. Prior to law school, Elijah worked for a Pittsburgh-based business consultancy coordinating partnerships and selling advisory services. Outside of the Federalist Society, Elijah is a member of Law Christian Fellowship and the Virginia Journal of Criminal Law. He spent his 1L summer interning for the Honorable David J. Porter of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and his 2L summer at Jones Day in Pittsburgh.  Beyond law school, Elijah enjoys the outdoors, strategy board games, and discovering the best local bites with his wife.

Brooke Schafer, Mentorship Chair

Brooke Schafer ’23 is from Chebanse, Illinois. She graduated with distinction from Purdue University with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics and Plant Genetics, Breeding, and Biotechnology. Outside of the Federalist Society, Brooke is the Managing Editor of the Virginia Tax Review and a member of Lone Star Lawyers. Over her 1L summer, Brooke interned for the Honorable Eleni Roumel of the United States Court of Federal Claims. She spent her 2L summer as a Summer Associate for Kirkland & Ellis in their Dallas office.

Ryan Kurtiak, Graphic Design Chair

Ryan Kurtiak ’23 is from Greensboro, North Carolina and graduated from University of North Carolina in 2019 with degrees in Contemporary European Study and Political Science. Before law school, he worked at Walt Disney World as a member of the opening team for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Ryan worked as a research assistant for Professor Aditya Bamzai his 1L summer. For his 2L summer, Ryan worked as a Summer Associate for Kilpatrick Townsend in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Virginia Journal of International Law, the Extramural Moot Court team, and the Law Christian Fellowship.

Audrey Payne, Alumni Relations Chair

Audrey Payne ’24 grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated summa cum laude as a Chancellor’s Scholar and Honors Laureate from Texas Christian University in 2021. She is spending her 1L summer as a Summer Associate with Vinson & Elkins LLP in Dallas, Texas. At UVA, she is a member of the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and serves as a UVA Law Ambassador. After graduation, she will clerk for the Honorable Andrew Oldham of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

Jake Rinear, Symposium Chair

Jake Rinear ’24 grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating magna cum laude in 2020.  For one year before law school, Jake worked at a law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina.  At UVA, Jake is a member of the Editorial Board of the Virginia Law Review and a competitor on the Extramural Moot Court team.  Jake spent his 1L summer as an intern for the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  After graduation, he will clerk for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Elizabeth Erickson, Women’s Outreach Chair

Elizabeth Erickson ’24, originally from Fargo, North Dakota, graduated with highest honors as a University Scholar from The Catholic University of America in 2020. Before law school, she interned with the United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the North Dakota Attorney General. She spent her 1L summer as an extern with the Federal Public Defenders in Fargo, ND. She is a member of the Virginia Journal of Law and Social Policy, St. Thomas More Society, and Advocates for Life. 

Ethan Treacy, James Madison Constitutional Chair

Ethan Treacy ’23 is from Quincy, Florida, and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012.  Before law school, Ethan worked as a licensed insurance agent in Austin, Texas, and served four years as an officer in the Marine Corps, including three years deployed to Japan.  Ethan spent his 1L summer interning for district court judges in Texas and Washington, D.C., and spent his 2L summer at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.  Ethan is an Articles Editor for the Virginia Law Review, a member of the Virginia Law Veterans, and a finalist in the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition.