Aarushi Arya

Aarushi Arya is a student at Santa Clara University studying Political Science and Economics. Working with indigent clients in public defense in her hometown has taught her about the state of the court systems and how even in her city, a pioneer for criminal justice reform, defendants are subject to discrimination and unequal treatment. Her work in public defense showed her how expansive the hold of racism and class-based discrimination is on our institutions, and how the punitive court system exacerbates existing disparities by further harming vulnerable communities. She wants to go to law school and work in public interest law as an attorney, building on her past experiences in her community to support marginalized populations.