Celeste Barry

Celeste Barry graduated from Whitman College where she studied Philosophy and Political Theory with a focus on challenging structural injustices within the U.S. criminal legal system. Celeste went on to work at The Sentencing Project in Washington, DC, supporting the non-profit’s mission to end mass incarceration and promote the full inclusion of justice-impacted individuals in society. At The Sentencing Project, she co-authored reports on racial disparities at different stages of the U.S. justice system and co-authored a national census of individuals serving life sentences. Celeste’s core interests across this work included interrogating the social, economic, and political disenfranchisement of those impacted by the criminal legal system. She aims to continue examining how felony disenfranchisement laws threaten marginalized communities and undermine democratic institutions. In partnership with the Ash Center, Celeste will expand upon these interests and investigate additional challenges to U.S. elections and democratic governance, with a focus on strengthening access, equity, and participation.