Our team members are among the best public speakers Harvard has to offer.
Ashley Adirika
Miami, FL
Ashley is a first-year intending to concentrate in Government with a potential secondary in
Sociology. Ashley is passionate about using stories and numbers to empower marginalized
communities through policy. In high school, Ashley was heavily involved in debate and advocacy work. She is excited to build upon her public speaking skills as a member of the HMTA community.
Outside of Mock Trial, Ashley is involved with the Black Students Association and Nigerian
Students Association. In her free time, Ashley loves to write, spend time with those she loves,
and binge-watch “How to Get Away With Murder.”
Dari Almonte
Rockland County, NY
Dari is a freshman in Thayer studying Psychology with a secondary in Human Evolutionary Biology. This is her first year doing mock trial and she’s excited for the upcoming season.Outside of Mock Trial, Dari is hoping to get involved with Expressions Dance Troupe, Dominican Students Association, and Meditation Club.
If she’s not studying in the Harvard Law School Library, you’ll likely find Dari dancing around the Yard with her roommate or finding the best pho restaurants in Boston.
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Jessica Alexander
Clifton, NJ
Jessica is a junior in Kirkland studying Psychology. An All-American, Jessica is a captain of HMTA for the 2022-2023 season.
Outside of Mock Trial, Jessica chairs the Fellows and Study Groups Program at the Institute of Politics, volunteers at the Phillips Brooks House Association, and is president of the Black Pre-Law Association.
In the three hours she has left after practice, you can find her watching The Devil's Advocate for the 15th time while perfecting sliced fruit for her fruit tart recipe (it's harder than you think).
Cara Chang
New York, NY
Cara is a junior in Leverett majoring in History with a minor in Government. She is also a staff writer for The Harvard Crimson covering central administration at the University and managing the paper's social media and newsletters. An aspiring litigator, Cara loves talking about anything and everything politics or law. When not studying, writing, or organizing, Cara can be found dancing offbeat to BTS with friends, rereading Narnia for the zillionth time, or golfing with her parents.
President of the program for the 2022-2023 season, Cara is grateful for the challenge and laughter she’s found through HMTA.
Cayla Coleburn
Franklin Lakes, NJ
Cayla is a sophomore in Kirkland House. She plans on concentrating in History with a secondary in Government and a citation in Spanish before heading to law school. Cayla is so excited to be a part of the HMTA community, serve as one of this year's Seminars Directors, and spend the next three years learning from her teammates.
When not competing or hanging out with the team, Cayla likes to read, do logic puzzles, listen to musicals, and watch basketball.
Kejsi Demaj
Boston, MA
Kejsi is a second-year student in Quincy House intending to study Government with a focus on the Balkans and a citation in French. In addition to Mock Trial, Kejsi is actively involved with Harvard Women in Law, Harvard Political Review and Harvard Albanians Students Association. In her free time, Kejsi enjoys going to the gym, practicing her French, and listening to music (she has the BEST music taste). Kejsi is beyond excited to compete with HMTA for the next three years!
Anthony Fletcher
San Antonio, TX
Anthony is a sophomore in Eliot House concentrating in Economics with a secondary in Computer Science. He joined the mock trial team as a sophomore and is excited to compete with the team. Outside of Mock Trial, Anthony is on the Crimson Business Board and the Rugby team.
Outside of schoolwork, Anthony can be found either explaining why country music is the best genre of music or explaining why Texas needs to build a bullet train.
Patris Haxhiaj
Chicago, IL
Patris is a sophomore living in Cabot House, planning to concentrate in Government or Social Studies. After competing in Mock Trial throughout high school, Patris decided to continue competing in college. He is grateful for the amazing people he has met and the challenges that he has faced as a competitor with HMTA. Patris is this year's Director of Tryouts, Mentorship and Training and can't wait to work with all the amazing people of HMTA.
Outside of Mock Trial, Patris is involved with the Harvard Albanian Student Association and the Harvard College Consulting Group. In his free time, Patris enjoys playing basketball, reading, spending time with family, and playing the guitar.
Simone Hogan-Murphy
New York, NY
Simone is a junior in Mather House and concentrating in Social Studies. Unlike Travis, she did not attend the HMTA High School Seminars Program, but she is so excited to continue with Mock Trial in college! Simone is a president emerita of the program.
Outside of Mock Trial, Simone is involved with the Resource Efficiency Program and is always happy to talk about environmental issues (particularly as it relates to Harvard’s sustainability programs). She loves to hike, read, and spend time with friends and family. Her 9 a.m. class necessitates caffeine; ask her for caffeine recommendations beyond your usual coffee.
Brooke Jones
Easton, CT
Brooke is a first-year student planning to concentrate in Government with a potential citation in Spanish. Outside of Mock Trial, Brooke is a staff writer for the Harvard Political Review and a member of the collaborations team of the Harvard Votes Challenge.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, long-distance running, and talking about current events. Brooke is so excited to join the HMTA community for the next four years!
Sherry Liu
Las Vegas, NV
Sherry is a junior studying Economics with a secondary in Computer Science. In high school, she was heavily involved in speech & debate but is incredibly excited to join the mock trial team at Harvard!
Other than Mock Trial, Sherry is passionate about sustainability, intersectionality, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Braedon McCrae Price
Bowling Green, KY
Braedon is a junior in Lowell, concentrating in either Government or Economics while pursuing a secondary in Environmental Science and Public Policy. In high school, Braedon was extremely involved in speech competitions, Varsity soccer, FFA, and community service. He’s beyond excited to be joining the HMTA community this year and can’t wait to bring his passion for public speaking and agricultural advocacy to Harvard.
Outside of Mock Trial, Braedon loves working as an Associate in the Harvard College Consulting Group and is a member of the amazing Harvard College Faith and Action community.
Chris Mesfin
Columbia, MO
Chris is a First Year living in Thayer hall with an intended concentration in Environmental Science and Public Policy with a potential secondary in Mind, Brain, and Behavior. Chris is passionate about Environmental Policy and is a member of the Council for Student Sustainability Leaders on campus. In high school, Chris was a Policy Debater and is excited to be doing Mock Trial now in college!
With any spare time that he has, you can find Chris watching badly rated movies or TV shows, hanging out time with friends, or spending copious amounts of time on Tik Tok.
Anant Rajan
Atlanta, GA
Anant is a junior in Leverett house concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology with a secondary in History of Art and Architecture. He plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon and be a real life expert witness. On campus, Anant writes for the Crimson Editorial Board and is a tenor in The Harvard Lowkeys, but you can probably find him working in the lab or in the neurosurgical ICU. When he’s not doing mock or pre-med, he loves doing accents and impressions, health policy work, and drinking staggering amounts of coffee.
Ivana Ron
Temecula, CA
Ivana is a sophomore in Dunster House planning to concentrate in Government or Social Studies. After competing in her high school Mock Trial team, Ivana was super excited to continue her Mock Trial career in college. She is so grateful for the amazing people she’s met and can’t wait to continue competing with HMTA and serve as one of this year’s Social Chairs! In her free time, Ivana loves to hang out with friends, spend time with family, listen to music, explore Boston, bullet journal, and add to her growing collection of sunglasses.
Daniel Salgado-Alvarez
Des Plaines, IL
Daniel is a junior in Leverett concentrating in Sociology and East Asian Studies. Additionally, Daniel intends to pursue a citation in Korean.
Outside of Mock Trial, Daniel volunteers at Harvard’s Small Claims Advisory Council and at the Institute of Politics. Daniel can also be seen reading mystery novels, playing video games, listening to an eclectic collection of K-POP songs, exploring Boston, and bullet journaling.
Tejas Vadali
Chicago, IL
Tejas is a sophomore in Mather House studying the Classics. Never having done mock trial before joining HMTA, Tejas loves the action and emotion of the courtroom, especially when it gets so quiet you could hear a pin drop! On campus, Tejas is involved in the South Asian Association, SCAS, HULC, and interns at Harvard Law School’s Legal Services Center. Aside from mock, Tejas loves the outdoors, reading, watching and playing sports, traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with his two puppies Fred and Lola.
Audrey Vanderslice
New York, NY
Audrey is a junior in Winthrop House, concentrating in Economics with a secondary in Computer Science and a citation in Mandarin. Audrey competed in mock trial throughout high school and couldn't stop when she got to college—especially after seeing how awesome everyone in HMTA is. Audrey is a 2022-2023 season captain.
When she is not doing mock trial, she's working on a case in the Harvard College Consulting Group or helping to staff a Model UN Committee.
Jacob Winter
Swartz Creek, MI
Jacob is a junior in Leverett House. He concentrates in economics with a secondary in government and plans to attend law school. He joined HMTA as a first-year, after competing for three years in his high school mock trial program, and co-captained the B-Team during his sophomore year.
Beyond HMTA, Jacob is a research assistant in the Department of Economics, a course assistant for Ec10, a writer for the Harvard Undergraduate Law Review, and a member of the senior staff of Harvard Model United Nations. He enjoys playing the piano, which he quickly learned is a common skill at Harvard.