About us
About CLJSS
Meet the team and learn about our mission.
Who we are
The CLJSS Mission
The CLJSS Mission
The Criminology, Law & Justice Student Society (CLJSS) supports students through community, professional development, and academic engagement. We create space for networking, speaker events, and student-led writing — including blog posts, career insights, and research-based pieces.
The Criminology, Law & Justice Student Society (CLJSS) supports students through community, professional development, and academic engagement. We create space for networking, speaker events, and student-led writing — including blog posts, career insights, and research-based pieces.
Mission & values
What we stand for
CLJSS is built on community, curiosity, and career readiness.
Career-ready
Workshops, panels, and resources to help you explore CLJ paths.
Community-first
A welcoming space to meet people, find mentors, and stay connected.
Student voices
Opportunities to write, present, and publish through our blog & journal.
Inclusive + collaborative
We partner with students, faculty, and campus orgs to build opportunities.
Mission & values
What we stand for
CLJSS is built on community, curiosity, and career readiness.
Career-ready
Workshops, panels, and resources to help you explore CLJ paths.
Community-first
A welcoming space to meet people, find mentors, and stay connected.
Student voices
Opportunities to write, present, and publish through our blog & journal.
Inclusive + collaborative
We partner with students, faculty, and campus orgs to build opportunities.
Mission & values
What we stand for
CLJSS is built on community, curiosity, and career readiness.
Career-ready
Workshops, panels, and resources to help you explore CLJ paths.
Community-first
A welcoming space to meet people, find mentors, and stay connected.
Student voices
Opportunities to write, present, and publish through our blog & journal.
Inclusive + collaborative
We partner with students, faculty, and campus orgs to build opportunities.
Team
Meet our Board
Zamira Gonzalez
President
Zamira serves CLJSS as President—building stronger connections between members and the CLJ department while ensuring events run smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Psychology at UIC in the Class of 2026. Zamira brings experience from customer service and volunteer roles, including work at an ID center. She plans to attend law school to become an immigration attorney and hopes to work at a law firm during her gap years. Outside of class, she enjoys concerts, movie theaters, and thrifting, and she hopes CLJSS continues to grow into a space where students find connection and opportunities.
Valeria Anaya
Vice President
Valeria serves CLJSS as Vice President—supporting the executive board, helping coordinate events, and strengthening opportunities for members to connect with faculty and campus resources. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (Class of 2027) and an Honors College student. Valeria brings experience from roles at Latham & Watkins and Heiderscheidt Law Group. Outside of class, she enjoys ballet, exploring Chicago coffee shops, and spending time with her two cats. Her goal is to help make CLJSS a welcoming, supportive space where students can learn, connect, and grow.
Nela Labuzek
Secretary
Nela serves CLJSS as Secretary—supporting the executive board by keeping meetings organized, tracking key updates, and helping communications run smoothly. She is a double major in Political Science (Law & Courts concentration) and Criminology, Law, & Justice at UIC, with a minor in Philosophy on a Pre-Law track. Outside of class, she works at a law firm, interns at ATL, volunteers at an animal shelter, and is fluent in Polish.
Reyna Cruz
Event Coordinator
Reyna serves CLJSS as Event Coordinator—planning and running engaging bi-weekly general body meetings, coordinating event logistics, and keeping the exec board on track so everything runs smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science at UIC (Law & Courts concentration), with a minor in Sociology. Outside of CLJSS, Reyna works as a Student Patrol Officer with the UIC Police Department and brings strong leadership experience from serving as President of La Raza Unida Club, captaining her varsity water polo team, and competing on varsity swim.
Iman Mirza
Co-Event Coordinator
Iman serves CLJSS as Co-Event Coordinator—helping plan and coordinate events that bring members together and connect students to opportunities across criminology, law, and justice. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Sociology) and is passionate about community involvement and mentorship. Iman brings valuable experience from customer-facing roles and is a volunteer. Outside of class, she enjoys trying new matcha drinks (strawberry matcha is her go-to) and speaks Urdu and Punjabi, with additional French and Arabic.
Hardi Soni
Treasurer
Hardi serves CLJSS as Treasurer—managing budgets, tracking expenses, and supporting fundraising so the org can keep running strong events and programming. She is a Political Science and Economics major at UIC and works as a Law Clerk at Adelman & Gettleman, where she helps organize case files, track deadlines, and support legal documents. Outside of CLJSS, she’s active in campus leadership and student organizations.
Teja Lebaka
Public Relations Chair
Teja serves CLJSS as Public Relations Chair—leading communications and branding, promoting events, and strengthening student engagement across platforms. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science student at UIC (Concentration: International Politics), with a minor in Italian & Italian American Studies. Alongside CLJSS, Teja is an intern with the Social Justice Initiative and works as a Language Learning Assistant/Peer Tutor for Italian students. Outside of class, she enjoys books, swimming, travel, perfume, and architecture.
Amruta Sunil Menon
Volunteer Coordinator
Amruta serves CLJSS as Volunteer Coordinator—creating and coordinating volunteer events for students and helping members get involved in service opportunities throughout the semester. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Psychology) and has experience as a STEAM Lead with STEAM & Dream Liberation Labs and as a Cortico Student Fellow through The Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. Amruta hopes to become a defense lawyer. Outside of class, her go-to drink order is a caramel macchiato.
Team
Meet our Board
Zamira Gonzalez
President
Zamira serves CLJSS as President—building stronger connections between members and the CLJ department while ensuring events run smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Psychology at UIC in the Class of 2026. Zamira brings experience from customer service and volunteer roles, including work at an ID center. She plans to attend law school to become an immigration attorney and hopes to work at a law firm during her gap years. Outside of class, she enjoys concerts, movie theaters, and thrifting, and she hopes CLJSS continues to grow into a space where students find connection and opportunities.
Valeria Anaya
Vice President
Valeria serves CLJSS as Vice President—supporting the executive board, helping coordinate events, and strengthening opportunities for members to connect with faculty and campus resources. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (Class of 2027) and an Honors College student. Valeria brings experience from roles at Latham & Watkins and Heiderscheidt Law Group. Outside of class, she enjoys ballet, exploring Chicago coffee shops, and spending time with her two cats. Her goal is to help make CLJSS a welcoming, supportive space where students can learn, connect, and grow.
Nela Labuzek
Secretary
Nela serves CLJSS as Secretary—supporting the executive board by keeping meetings organized, tracking key updates, and helping communications run smoothly. She is a double major in Political Science (Law & Courts concentration) and Criminology, Law, & Justice at UIC, with a minor in Philosophy on a Pre-Law track. Outside of class, she works at a law firm, interns at ATL, volunteers at an animal shelter, and is fluent in Polish.
Reyna Cruz
Event Coordinator
Reyna serves CLJSS as Event Coordinator—planning and running engaging bi-weekly general body meetings, coordinating event logistics, and keeping the exec board on track so everything runs smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science at UIC (Law & Courts concentration), with a minor in Sociology. Outside of CLJSS, Reyna works as a Student Patrol Officer with the UIC Police Department and brings strong leadership experience from serving as President of La Raza Unida Club, captaining her varsity water polo team, and competing on varsity swim.
Iman Mirza
Co-Event Coordinator
Iman serves CLJSS as Co-Event Coordinator—helping plan and coordinate events that bring members together and connect students to opportunities across criminology, law, and justice. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Sociology) and is passionate about community involvement and mentorship. Iman brings valuable experience from customer-facing roles and is a volunteer. Outside of class, she enjoys trying new matcha drinks (strawberry matcha is her go-to) and speaks Urdu and Punjabi, with additional French and Arabic.
Hardi Soni
Treasurer
Hardi serves CLJSS as Treasurer—managing budgets, tracking expenses, and supporting fundraising so the org can keep running strong events and programming. She is a Political Science and Economics major at UIC and works as a Law Clerk at Adelman & Gettleman, where she helps organize case files, track deadlines, and support legal documents. Outside of CLJSS, she’s active in campus leadership and student organizations.
Teja Lebaka
Public Relations Chair
Teja serves CLJSS as Public Relations Chair—leading communications and branding, promoting events, and strengthening student engagement across platforms. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science student at UIC (Concentration: International Politics), with a minor in Italian & Italian American Studies. Alongside CLJSS, Teja is an intern with the Social Justice Initiative and works as a Language Learning Assistant/Peer Tutor for Italian students. Outside of class, she enjoys books, swimming, travel, perfume, and architecture.
Amruta Sunil Menon
Volunteer Coordinator
Amruta serves CLJSS as Volunteer Coordinator—creating and coordinating volunteer events for students and helping members get involved in service opportunities throughout the semester. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Psychology) and has experience as a STEAM Lead with STEAM & Dream Liberation Labs and as a Cortico Student Fellow through The Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. Amruta hopes to become a defense lawyer. Outside of class, her go-to drink order is a caramel macchiato.
Team
Meet our Board
Zamira Gonzalez
President
Zamira serves CLJSS as President—building stronger connections between members and the CLJ department while ensuring events run smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Psychology at UIC in the Class of 2026. Zamira brings experience from customer service and volunteer roles, including work at an ID center. She plans to attend law school to become an immigration attorney and hopes to work at a law firm during her gap years. Outside of class, she enjoys concerts, movie theaters, and thrifting, and she hopes CLJSS continues to grow into a space where students find connection and opportunities.
Valeria Anaya
Vice President
Valeria serves CLJSS as Vice President—supporting the executive board, helping coordinate events, and strengthening opportunities for members to connect with faculty and campus resources. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (Class of 2027) and an Honors College student. Valeria brings experience from roles at Latham & Watkins and Heiderscheidt Law Group. Outside of class, she enjoys ballet, exploring Chicago coffee shops, and spending time with her two cats. Her goal is to help make CLJSS a welcoming, supportive space where students can learn, connect, and grow.
Nela Labuzek
Secretary
Nela serves CLJSS as Secretary—supporting the executive board by keeping meetings organized, tracking key updates, and helping communications run smoothly. She is a double major in Political Science (Law & Courts concentration) and Criminology, Law, & Justice at UIC, with a minor in Philosophy on a Pre-Law track. Outside of class, she works at a law firm, interns at ATL, volunteers at an animal shelter, and is fluent in Polish.
Reyna Cruz
Event Coordinator
Reyna serves CLJSS as Event Coordinator—planning and running engaging bi-weekly general body meetings, coordinating event logistics, and keeping the exec board on track so everything runs smoothly. She is a double major in Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science at UIC (Law & Courts concentration), with a minor in Sociology. Outside of CLJSS, Reyna works as a Student Patrol Officer with the UIC Police Department and brings strong leadership experience from serving as President of La Raza Unida Club, captaining her varsity water polo team, and competing on varsity swim.
Iman Mirza
Co-Event Coordinator
Iman serves CLJSS as Co-Event Coordinator—helping plan and coordinate events that bring members together and connect students to opportunities across criminology, law, and justice. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Sociology) and is passionate about community involvement and mentorship. Iman brings valuable experience from customer-facing roles and is a volunteer. Outside of class, she enjoys trying new matcha drinks (strawberry matcha is her go-to) and speaks Urdu and Punjabi, with additional French and Arabic.
Hardi Soni
Treasurer
Hardi serves CLJSS as Treasurer—managing budgets, tracking expenses, and supporting fundraising so the org can keep running strong events and programming. She is a Political Science and Economics major at UIC and works as a Law Clerk at Adelman & Gettleman, where she helps organize case files, track deadlines, and support legal documents. Outside of CLJSS, she’s active in campus leadership and student organizations.
Teja Lebaka
Public Relations Chair
Teja serves CLJSS as Public Relations Chair—leading communications and branding, promoting events, and strengthening student engagement across platforms. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice and Political Science student at UIC (Concentration: International Politics), with a minor in Italian & Italian American Studies. Alongside CLJSS, Teja is an intern with the Social Justice Initiative and works as a Language Learning Assistant/Peer Tutor for Italian students. Outside of class, she enjoys books, swimming, travel, perfume, and architecture.
Amruta Sunil Menon
Volunteer Coordinator
Amruta serves CLJSS as Volunteer Coordinator—creating and coordinating volunteer events for students and helping members get involved in service opportunities throughout the semester. She is a Criminology, Law & Justice major at UIC (with a minor in Psychology) and has experience as a STEAM Lead with STEAM & Dream Liberation Labs and as a Cortico Student Fellow through The Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship. Amruta hopes to become a defense lawyer. Outside of class, her go-to drink order is a caramel macchiato.