Black Law Students Association

Hello and welcome to the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Cleveland State University College of Law! We are a premier student affinity organization on campus, and we offer several events, projects, and opportunities throughout the year, such as our annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet every spring. During our Banquet, we celebrate our achievements, honor our alumni, and empower the next generation. Our focus is to promote Umoja (unity) within our organization; encourage Kujichagulia (selfdetermination) within our students; and foster Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and Ujamaa (cooperative economics) with the Alumni, SBA, and fellow student and community organizations through Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith) with the Nia (purpose) of having a successful, productive year. We would like to invite you to be a part of the work we are doing and the strength we are building. As it stands, BLSA is not guaranteed sufficient funding through the school, so we plan to reach out to the Cleveland community to support us throughout the year so we can accomplish our goals of bettering the lives of black law students and bolstering the legal community in Cleveland. Your donation will help BLSA to maintain our presence in the community and preserve our future. If you would like to donate to BLSA, please make checks payable to CSU College of Law – 2121 Euclid Avenue, LB 138, Cleveland, Ohio, 44115. Remember to include the name of the project “BLSA Fundraiser” in the memo field. We thank you for your financial donation to BLSA to help us achieve our goals and stay vibrant in the community.

Aireus Johnson – President – 3L 

My name is Aireus, and I am a third-year student here at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Miami University. I am interested in general litigation and estate planning. This past summer and school year, I worked as a law clerk for DiCello Levitt. Currently, I work as a summer law clerk at Reliability First Corporation. Outside of law school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, watching Cleveland sports, and learning new activities. I look forward to a year of achievement and new highs for my hometown BLSA chapter! A fun fact about me is that I enjoy placing puzzles together.

Isura Adedokun – Vice President – 2L 

My name is Isura, and I am a second-year student here at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned a bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy, and economics from The King’s College. Currently, I am interested in intellectual property, government relations/contracting, and any role in the federal judicial branch. This summer, I am working with Mastercard on the global trademark team. Before law school, I worked as a paralegal at Berry, Appleman, and Leiden. Lastly, I love singing, so I am down for karaoke any time. 

Ray Singletary, Jr. – Treasurer – 3LE 

My name is Ray, and I am a third-year, part-time evening student here at Cleveland State University College of Law. I am a 32-year-old Akron native interested in transactional and corporate law. I currently work in public relations as the special events coordinator at Cleveland Water. This past summer, I worked and took courses to fulfill the business requirements for my JD/MBA program. I am also a member of the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial team for CSU College of Law, and I am an Eagle Scout.

Toni Kolawole – Corresponding Secretary – 3L 

My name is Toni, and I am a third-year student here at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned a bachelor’s degree in public safety management from Cleveland State University. I am interested in criminal law (particularly post-conviction work), cybersecurity, public interest law, and intellectual property. Last summer, I worked as a law clerk under the Chief Prosecuting Attorney for the Cleveland Metroparks as well as a Diversity in Leadership fellow for the Law & Leadership Institute. This summer, I work as a law clerk for Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP. A fun fact about me is that I started a podcast called Justice Uncovered; in it, I speak with people who have been involved in the criminal justice system (specifically corrections).

Ellenia Matthews – Parliamentarian – 3LE 

Hi family! My name is Ellenia; my peers, some professors, and administrators call me Momma Matt. I am a native Clevelander, and I am a non-traditional student currently enrolled as a 3LE in the part-time evening program at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration from Myers University. I am interested in criminal defense, entertainment law, employment law, estate planning, and mergers and acquisitions. Ultimately, I want to become a judge. This summer, I work as a law clerk for the City of Cleveland Magistrate Department. In addition to serving as BLSA’s Parliamentarian, I serve as the Secretary for the Student Bar Association (SBA). A fun thing about me is that my favorite sport is ice hockey.

Selah Ingram – Historian – 2L 

My name is Selah, I am a Cleveland native, and I am a second-year student at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned a bachelor’s degree in integrated health studies and business management from Kent State University. I am interested in corporate law, contract law, and tax law. Currently, I work in the contracts division at Playaway Products. Outside of school, I am interested in photography, baking, and anything art related. Funny enough, one day, I want to own a funeral home. 

Reece Barnett – Recording Secretary – 2L 

My name is Reece, and I am a second-year student at Cleveland State University College of Law. I earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Otterbein University. I am interested in sports and entertainment law, and currently, I work as a legal intern in the Office of General Counsel at Kent State University. In addition to serving as BLSA’s Recording Secretary, I serve as the Entertainment and Sports Law Association’s (“ELSA”) Treasurer. A fun fact about me is that I can play five instruments, and I taught myself how to play the guitar.