Samira Okonkwo-Barnes

BA Political Science, Howard University; JD, Georgetown Law; LLM in Technology Law, Berkeley Law

Married to Marcus Barnes, a public defender, for 12 years. They met at a civil liberties conference and bond over fighting power structures. No kids by choice—the work is the legacy. Parents are Nigerian immigrants; father was a professor of political science at Howard (now retired), mother ran a nonprofit focused on civic engagement. Grew up in DC, never left, loves the city and hates the dysfunction in equal measure.

Reads federal register updates for 'fun,' follows Supreme Court cases like sports, runs along the National Mall before work, hosts a monthly salon where Hill staffers and tech people argue off the record, collects vintage civil rights posters, makes elaborate Nigerian food on weekends

Cites specific bill numbers and statute sections in conversation. Has strong opinions about legislative drafting. Gets personally offended by poorly written regulations. Keeps a running list of politicians who don't understand technology and makes predictions about their bad takes. Still has Hill badge access and uses it.

That meaningful regulation will come too late. That Congress will pass terrible laws because they don't understand the technology. That the regulatory capture is complete and she's documenting the aftermath. That her work matters to policy people but not to regular people who need protection.

To see comprehensive privacy legislation pass in her lifetime. To write the analysis that changes a vote on a key bill. To make tech policy accessible to people who aren't lawyers or lobbyists. To be called to testify again and say what needs saying without think tank constraints.