Meghana Chaparala (she/her)
CO-president
I'm a senior majoring in Public Health with a minor in Biochemistry. I joined the Prison Birth Project as a freshman after taking WGS 220, a course focused on women's health and health inequities. That class inspired me to get involved with organizations on campus that work to address these important issues. Outside of PBP, I work as a medical assistant at an urgent care clinic, conduct research with the PRIMO team in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan Medicine, and work as a teaching assistant for PUBHLTH 394. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, finding new music to listen to, and baking.
Teryn Ferry (she/her)
Co-President
Hi! I am a junior double majoring in International Studies and Spanish on a pre-law track. I joined PBP during the fall of my freshman year after discovering the organization at Festifall. I wanted to join because of my interest in the criminal justice system and reform. I wanted to find a way to combine my interests in politics and advocacy with getting involved in my community. Lately, I have been interning at the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office! In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, crafting, and finding new shows to watch!
Solei Silva-Carin (she/her)
Director of Finance and COmmunications
Hello! I am a junior double majoring in Economics and Psychology with a minor in Religion on a pre-law track. I joined PBP during the fall of my freshman year after discovering the organization at Festifall. I immediately found myself wanting to join because of my interest in criminal law and prison reform. I am also the VP of Recruitment for my entrepreneurship fraternity Sigma Eta Pi. Outside of school I enjoy dancing, crafting with friends, and reading!
Varshini Kashyap (she/her)
CO-DIRECTOR OF PR & MARKETING
I am a senior studying Biomolecular Science with a minor in Human Anatomy & Physiology on the pre-med track. I joined PBP because of my passion for women’s health and social justice, and my time in PBP has been so meaningful. Through PBP, I have had the opportunity to research ways to advance equity within the prison system, write policy memos addressed to the Michigan State Legislature, and advocate for the rights and health of incarcerated women. Outside of PBP, I serve as the Director of the Insurance and Referral Counselors at the UMSRFC and as the Business Lead for Project MESA, an initiative focused on increasing access to cervical cancer screening in low-resource communities globally. I also work as a Patient Care Technician at Trinity Health Ann Arbor and as an undergraduate researcher in the DYNAMED Lab. In my free time, I love crocheting, going to Costco, trying new restaurants, and volunteering!
Maanya Dedhia (she/her)
Co-Director of PR & Marketing
Hi! I’m a sophomore majoring in BCN currently on the pre-PA track and I’ve been a part of PBP since freshman year! I joined because of my passion for the women’s healthcare system, health inequities, and how it interconnects with our justice system. I love being a part of PBP because it has shown me so many new perspectives of such an important cause. Outside of PBP, I work as a Medical Assistant at a local urgent care clinic, am a Member Wellness Chair for Mu Epsilon Delta, and am also Outreach Manager for MedAchieve. In my free time I love to spend time with my roommates, go to concerts, listen to music, and have picnics at the beach!
Katy Haag (she/her)
CO-director of research
Hi! I am a junior majoring in Biology Health and Society and minoring in Community Action and Social Change on the pre-med track. I joined PBP during the fall of my freshman year after meeting some members at Festifall. I wanted to join because of my interest in healthcare access and reform. Outside of PBP, I am involved in WORTH, a student org that focuses on women’s healthcare and advocacy as well as Beyond the Book a feminist book club on campus. This last summer I went on a study abroad trip to Copenhagen to learn about women’s health and reproductive health in another country and worked as a nursing assistant at my hometown hospital. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with my friends and my little sister, playing piano, and watching new tv shows!
Micaela Reed (she/her)
Co-Director of Research
Hi! I’m a junior majoring in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience, and minoring in Crime and Justice. I joined PBP the fall semester of my freshman year after speaking with some members at FestiFall. By educating myself on the many intersections of the carceral system I have gained a better understanding on the importance of research within it. Lately, I’ve been working as a research assistant at the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study at Michigan Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy taking walks at the Arb, hanging out with friends, and trying new foods!
Ella-Sophia Hawley (she/her)
co-Director of Member Education
Hi! I’m a junior majoring in biomolecular sciences and I’ve been in PBP since freshman year! I joined because I’m passionate about women’s healthcare and educating others on the importance of speaking up for those who can’t, oftentimes including incarcerated individuals. What I’ve been up to lately is shadowing at a breast oncology clinic in Texas, researching genomic changes in Caribbean cricket populations with the Knowles Lab, and joining the UofM Undergrad Research Journal editorial team. For fun, I love to work at ‘found’ in Kerrytown, hang out with my friends, find concerts to go to, and try new restaurants!
Maddie Stevenson (she/her)
co-Director of Member education
Hi! I am a sophomore majoring in Movement Science with a Political Science minor. I joined PBP during the fall of my freshman year after discovering the organization at Festifall and joining the Member Education committee. I was inspired to join PBP because of my interest in how the politics of the U.S. justice system affect the health of incarcerated individuals. PBP has been an amazing way for me to learn about and teach fellow club members about different facets of the U.S. justice system. Outside of PBP, I am an Undergraduate Researcher in the Exercise Oncology lab, I am on the Club Alpine Ski Team, and I am a ski coach. In my free time, I love hanging out with friends, skiing, and cooking with my sister!
Priya Andra (she/her)
co-Director of Community outreach & Activism
I am a junior majoring in Biology, Health, and Society on the pre-med track. I joined PBP in my freshman year because I was interested in better understanding what healthcare and support looks like within the carceral system. I love being a part of this organization and learning from each other about such an important cause. Outside of PBP, I’m involved in a couple other student orgs, work on research, and volunteer through the hospital. In my free time, I’m usually watching movies or getting food with my friends.
Nascha Martinez (she/her)
co-Director of Community outreach & Activism
I am a sophomore studying Political Science and Spanish on the pre-law track! I joined Prison Birth Project after festifall because I have always had an interest in women’s rights and reproductive health in the incarceration setting. I have loved being a part of PBP to get hands-on experience in developing policy and grant recommendations, as well as researching the areas of growth in our federally funded prisons. Outside of PBP, I am an intern at Crane Consulting, campus ambassador for The Women’s Network, tragically avid pickleball player, and part-time writer. In my free time I love to spend time with my friends (shoutout especially my roommates), reading books people tell me to read, coloring sometimes inside the lines, and anything outdoors.