Brenda Cachay Gutiérrez is a JD Candidate at Yale Law School. She is interested in public interest law, especially as it relates to immigration and criminal justice reform. Brenda graduated from Yale College in 2021 where she studied Global Affairs and was a member of the Multidisciplinary Academic Program in Human Rights Studies. At Yale, she was awarded the Senior Capstone Prize for Excellence in Global Affairs for a collaborative memorandum commissioned by the Department of State, analyzing the impact of sanctions on humanitarian assistance.

From 2021 to 2024, Brenda served as a Post-Conviction Litigation Paralegal at the Innocence Project, where she advocated for 30+ incarcerated individuals across the United States—helping overturn nine wrongful convictions and halt one execution date. Her proudest career achievements are the moments where her clients reunited with their loved ones after decades of unjust imprisonment. In the past year, Brenda has also participated in the Harris for President campaign, volunteered at the southern border, and joined the Legalization Project to mobilize legal resources for undocumented populations. She will use her law degree to continue uplifting marginalized groups.

Brenda was born in Lima, Perú, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her immigrant experience—enriched by the strength of her community—has profoundly shaped her professional trajectory. In her free time, Brenda is an avid runner, reader, and caffeine enthusiast.