Derby (she/her) is a rising senior from the University of Connecticut Honors Program studying Sociology and Human Rights with minors in Africana Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Derby’s passion for international human rights stemmed from her upbringing in Ghana. Her particular areas of interest include educational equity, access to clean water, gun control, women’s rights, reproductive issues, immigration, and more. As a student at UConn, Derby serves as a Pack Ambassador, the President of Administration for the Student Union Board of Governors, and the President of the UConn chapter of Leading Women of Tomorrow, a bipartisan student-led organization centered on bridging the gender gap among public representatives. After graduating from UConn, she plans to obtain a Juris Doctor degree specializing in Human Rights and Public Policy to better advocate for marginalized populations within the US. She enjoys cooking, trying new foods, reading, and watching Marvel movies in her spare time.

My name is Aiman Hameed. I am a rising senior. I am studying political science honors and human rights. I am also pursuing a minor in middle eastern studies and women, gender and sexuality studies. I am currently writing a book featuring the lives of various Business Women from South Asia which will be published in August 2022. On campus, I am serving as a Research Assistant at the African Studies Institute and as the secretary at the Law Society. Next semester, I will be working at the Undergraduate Student Government and the Native American Cultural Program Center at Storrs. I grew up in Pakistan and fell in love with Human Rights watching my father, who was a pro bono lawyer in the remote village where I was born. Fun Fact: I can speak five languages!

Sophie (she/her) is a rising junior in the honors program studying Economics and Human Rights with a minor in both International Studies and Social Responsibility and Impact in Business. Sophie’s interest in and passion for human rights was cemented after she was in a life-threatening car accident during her sophomore year of college. She has since developed a specific interest in healthcare equality and does undergraduate research in comparative health care systems. A large portion of her education also maintains a focus on corporate social responsibility and the intersection of business and human rights. Sophie will be continuing her studies and developing her work in an international framework by spending the 2022-2023 academic year studying at Amsterdam University College doing an exchange year. On-campus and off-campus Sophie dedicates her time to activism and volunteering actively working to apply what she learns in the classroom to make the world a better place outside of it. She is a member of Model UN and Habitat for Humanity.  After graduation, Sophie plans on attending law school and hopes to work in a legal system such as business ethics in light of the significance of public policy, litigation, and systems when addressing the downfalls of our economic system as well as emphasizing its strengths.

My name is Emily Lucke, and I am a rising senior, a Political Science major, and Human Rights minor. I am also in the Special Program in Law, on the Fast-Track for a Masters in Public Administration, and hope to go on to receive a certificate in Non-Profit Management. Within Human Rights, my interests include immigrant, migrant worker, and refugee rights as well as Latin American and gender studies

Katie (she/her) is a rising junior studying Human Rights and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies. Through her education here at UConn, she has fostered and grown her passion for social justice and service, specifically surrounding education equity and reproductive health and justice. Katie is involved with Community Outreach, volunteering with the office’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program through which she acts as a mentor for children in local elementary schools. She is also passionate about awareness of reproductive health and justice at UConn and beyond, as shown with her current internship with Planned Parenthood Generation Action. In addition, she is a member the Youth Advisory Team for Human Rights close to home, a program that works to to develop learning opportunities for teachers and students who are interested in human rights education. This program has allowed Katie to explore her passion for human rights education, which she believes is a critical facet of human rights work. She was also accepted into the 4+1 Accelerated Master of Arts Program to work towards her Masters of Arts in Human Rights. Katie is spending the 2022 summer interning with The Education Project, which presents opportunities to further explore her personal human rights passion while serving a community that has been burdened greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to receiving the Wiktor Osiatyński scholarship from the Human Rights Institute, she was also recently named a 2021 New England Scholar.

My name is Rebekah Wesler and I am a rising senior majoring in Honors political science and minoring in human rights and Spanish. I am from Woodstock, CT and hope to attend law school after graduation. I am interested in practicing international law. On campus I serve as the President of the Transfer Student Association which seeks to represent and create a community for transfer and campus-change students. I am also the inventory chair for the Swap Shop, a clothing reuse initiative whose goal is to provide a permanent space for quality, affordable, second-hand clothing on campus and engage the community in more sustainable fashion practices. Outside of school I love to travel and go on hikes with my dogs.

Shannon Collins is a rising senior pursuing majors in Human Rights and Environmental Studies. After taking her first human rights class, Assessment for Human Rights and Sustainability, she could picture a future of combining her passions for protecting the environment and people across the globe. On campus, Shannon is involved in EcoHusky, The Swap, and the UConn Marching Band. In her free time she enjoys music, tending to her plants, and being with her friends. She is thrilled at the opportunity to work with an organization like the Business and Human Rights Resource Center that strives to eradicate abuse and make the world a better place.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Eversource Energy Chair in Business Ethics.

Derby (she/her) is a rising senior from the University of Connecticut Honors Program studying Sociology and Human Rights with minors in Africana Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Derby’s passion for international human rights stemmed from her upbringing in Ghana and the inhuman violations she has witnessed throughout her life. Some of her particular areas of interest include educational equity, access to clean water, gun control, women’s rights, and reproductive issues, immigration, and more. As a student at UConn, Derby serves as a Pack Ambassador, the President of the Student Union Board of Governors, and the President of the UConn chapter of Leading Women of Tomorrow, a bipartisan student-led organization centered on bridging the gender gap among public representatives. After graduating from UConn, she plans to obtain a Juris Doctor degree specializing in Human Rights and Public Policy to better advocate for marginalized populations.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Open Society Foundation Award.

Sophie (she/her) is a rising junior in the honors program studying Economics and Human Rights with a minor in both International Studies and Social Responsibility and Impact in Business. Sophie’s interest in and passion for human rights was cemented after she was in a life-threatening car accident during her sophomore year of college. She has since developed a specific interest in healthcare equality and does undergraduate research in comparative health care systems. A large portion of her education also maintains a focus on corporate social responsibility and the intersection of business and human rights. Sophie will be continuing her studies and developing her work in an international framework by spending the 2022-2023 academic year studying at Amsterdam University College doing an exchange year. On-campus and off-campus Sophie dedicates her time to activism and volunteering actively working to apply what she learns in the classroom to make the world a better place outside of it. She is a member of Model UN and Habitat for Humanity. Her work with Habitat at UConn will aid her in her work with Production Elements and the USGA as a Sustainability Manager this summer. After graduation, Sophie plans on attending law school and hopes to work in a legal system such as business ethics in light of the significance of public policy, litigation, and systems when addressing the downfalls of our economic system as well as emphasizing its strengths.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Open Society Foundation Award.

Beck Marcotte (he/him) is a graduating senior with a double major in Human Rights and Sociology. He spent two years as a Resident Assistant in traditional undergraduate housing as one of three Resident Assistants in the Gender Inclusive Housing community, where he was passionate about advocating for the unique needs of LGBT+ residents in the face of challenges often related to the marginalization of queer people. Beck was nominated in 2022 for two awards from UConn’s Department of Residential Life: Excellence in Community Building and Unsung Hero. Due to personal and professional experiences with food insecurity, housing insecurity, and inequities in education, Beck is interested in pursuing multiple career paths that serve individuals and families with similar experiences. After becoming a first-generation graduate, he aspires to work with non-governmental organizations to provide direct service to vulnerable populations, and is currently considering pursuing a Masters in Social Work. Beck has been inspired by experiences with implementing the Residential Learning Model (RLM) for traditional housing residents, and serving as a recurrent guest lecturer for the Early College Experience (ECE) Introduction to Human Rights (HRTS 1007) on LGBT+ activism during the AIDS crisis presented to senior students at his former high school. These experiences have reaffirmed his plans to enter a teaching certification program, UConn’s own Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates (TCPCG). Beck is excited to be an intern with Access Community Action Agency, a state and federal designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that supports low-income individuals and families by creating comprehensive plans that address a wide range of needs that have gone unmet due to the limitations of poverty. He is especially grateful for the opportunity to learn more about ACAA’s trauma-informed approach to human rights fieldwork.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Open Society Foundation Award.

Katie (she/her) is a rising junior studying Human Rights and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies. Through her education here at UConn, she has fostered and grown her passion for social justice and service, specifically surrounding education equity and reproductive health and justice. Katie is involved with Community Outreach, volunteering with the office’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program through which she acts as a mentor for children in local elementary schools. She is also passionate about awareness of reproductive health and justice at UConn and beyond, as shown with her current internship with Planned Parenthood Generation Action. In addition, she is a member the Youth Advisory Team for Human Rights close to home, a program that works to to develop learning opportunities for teachers and students who are interested in human rights education. This program has allowed Katie to explore her passion for human rights education, which she believes is a critical facet of human rights work. She was also accepted into the 4+1 Accelerated Master of Arts Program to work towards her Masters of Arts in Human Rights. Katie is spending the 2022 summer interning with The Education Project, which presents opportunities to further explore her personal human rights passion while serving a community that has been burdened greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to receiving the Wiktor Osiatyński scholarship from the Human Rights Institute, she was also recently named a 2021 New England Scholar.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Open Society Foundation Award.

Grace is a rising senior double majoring in Human Rights and Political Science. She is also starting the Human Rights 4+1 Program in the Fall, in hopes of going on to earn her Master's Degree in Human Rights after her Undergraduate career. She comes from many generations of human rights activists, engaging in activism alongside her mother and grandmother, both UConn alumni themselves, since her youth. Grace has special interests in human rights laws & treaties, refugee rights, women’s rights, indigenous rights and decolonization, and genocide studies. This summer she is interning with the Summer Learning Program at the Hartford branch of IRIS - Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services. Grace is extremely excited for the opportunity, and eager to work hands-on with refugees in the community.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Sanford J. Plepler `52 Fellowship award. 

Ayane (she/her) is a rising senior double majoring in History and Economics, with a minor in Human Rights. Her involvement at UConn includes being the Communications Chair of the Honors Student Leadership Board-Stamford, vice-president of the History Club, and intern at the Center of Career Development. Ayane has also served as a Peer Allies Through Honors (PATH) mentor last Fall to assist a student with the transition to UConn and the Honors Program. She enjoys studying romantic languages, rewatching Friends, and reading in her spare time. She will be working as an Employment Services Intern with the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) this summer.

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Sanford J. Plepler `52 Fellowship award. 

Natasha is a rising senior studying human rights and political science. She firmly believes that regardless of race, sex, gender, religious beliefs, and political ideology, everyone should live their lives without fear and have access to basic and equal rights.  Having a family background in Ecuador and Puerto Rico, she is very familiar with discrimination and struggles with equal quality of life which fuel her passion for studying human rights. On-campus, she is an active member of Empowering Women in law, which is a student-led club that acts as a resource and community for women pursuing a career in the legal field. Within this club, she has been a part of the Fundraising Committee and the Internal Affairs Committee to improve the inner workings of the club. She is also a Resident Assistant where she acts as a role model for her residents, fosters and develops relationships among 40+ students, and facilitates engagement among the community with many planned programs and activities. Additionally, she has been a part of Huskython for two years and has been made captain this past year where she oversees team fundraising to raise as much money for Connecticut Children’s Hospitals as possible. Finally, while in her Approaches to Human Rights Advocacy course, she was able to work in collaboration with a Scholars at Risk representative to create an advocacy campaign for the support and release of two international scholars who were wrongfully imprisoned. After graduation, Natasha plans to attend law school, work in human rights law and continue to advocate for equality within the legal and justice system. She is very excited to be the first UConn intern at the ADL, as it is their first year participating in this placement program and can’t wait to get hands-on experience with the ADL’s Center on Extremism!

This placement was made possible through generous support of the Open Society Foundation Award.