Author: Lamisa Ali

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EMILY ZEINTEK ‘19

EMILY ZEINTEK ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BS in Biology; Minor in Human Rights (2019)

Texas Tech Health Science Center Medical School-El Paso: MD (2024) 

UT Health: MPH (2024)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Emily co-founded a health and human rights discussion group. She also volunteered with the Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation’s EAGLE Scholars Program. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Emily currently attends Texas Tech Health Science Center Medical School-El Paso, where she started a campus garden and serves as Co-Leader of the Student Wellness Organization. She is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso; works at clinics on weekends to educate patients in waiting rooms about common diseases; teaches on diabetes with EP HEAT, a local student-directed organization; and is co-writing an informative children’s book with classmates. Emily says, “I do local career days and LOVE that since I want to go into pediatrics!”

Updated January 2022

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HANAN ESAILI ‘15

HANAN ESLAILI ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Convergence Journalism; Minor in Human Rights (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Hanan served as Concerts Chair for Program Council and held multiple roles on both The Daily Campus and The Daily Update leadership teams. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Hanan worked as Editorial Assistant for D Magazine in 2015; Editorial Assistant for Praetorian Digital from 2016-2017; and Associate Digital Producer, MVT Content Lead, and HBOMax Promo Project Manager for HBO from 2018-2021. Currently, she is Program Manager of Media Creative Strategy at Facebook. She has been published in textbooks and HuffPost for her article, “Why Don’t Young People Vote?” Hanan has won over 15 honors in entertainment and marketing, including an Emmy nomination and Emmy Award. Beyond her work in the tech and entertainment industries, Hanan volunteers at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum as well as the Bowery Mission in New York City. She has also participated in her local ACLU chapter’s letter writing campaigns to advocate for better conditions at prisons and closing down Rikers Island.

Learn more about Hanan’s post-graduation journey through the following links:

Updated December 2021

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NYA WATSON ’16

NYA WATSON ’16

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BS in Sociology; Minor in Human Rights (2016)

Washington University in St. Louis: MSW in Domestic Social and Economic Development, Management (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Nya was involved with the SMU McNair Scholars Program and Alpha Phi Omicron. She served as a Social Impact Fellow, Research Assistant for the Department of Sociology, and Connect Mentor.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Nya worked as a Homeless Division Associate for the City of Dallas in 2017. She has also served as a Micro-Entreprise Intern for Justice Petersen in 2018, as a Community Reinvestment Initiatives Intern from 2018-2019 and Community Reinvestment Initiatives Analyst in 2019 for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. From 2019-2021, she worked as an Assistant Examiner for Consumer Affairs for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where she is now an Associate Examiner, Consumer Affairs. Her honors at Washington University in St. Louis include the Bettie Schroth Johnson Scholarship and Phi Alpha Honor Society.

Learn more about Nya’s post-graduation journey through the following link:

Updated January 2022

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ABIGAIL BUCK ’17

ABIGAIL BUCK ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, International Studies (2017)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Abby was involved with Alpha Chi Omega and worked as a Student Teacher for the SMU Preschool.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Abby worked as File Clerk for Crain, Caton, & James from 2016-2018 and Human Resources Assistant for SEARCH Homeless Services from 2018-2019. Since 2019, Abby has served at Good Reason Houston, an educational equity startup. As People Operations & Executive Assistant, she works at the district level to improve student outcomes and increase the number of high quality seats in Houston.

Updated January 2022

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TAYLOR KRAMER ’19

TAYLOR KRAMER ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, BS in Applied Physiology and Sports Management (2019)

University of Southern California: MPH in Biostatistics and Epidemiology (2021)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Taylor’s involvements included serving as President of Relay for Life and Assistant Director of Knights Volleyball Academy, a youth volleyball club in North Texas.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Taylor has volunteered with the Arthritis Foundation and American Cancer Society and served as a volleyball coach for both Saint Monicas Middle School, Dallas, TX and USA Volleyball’s North Texas region. She has also interned with the Cancer Control Center at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

Updated January 2022

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ANDREA NGUYEN ’19

ANDREA NGUYEN ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Anthropology, Markets & Culture; Minor in Human Rights (2019)

University of California at David: MS in Transportation, Technology and Policy (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: Andrea traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Latvia and Lithuania through the program’s Holocaust education trip focused on Eastern Europe. At SMU, she was heavily involved with the SMU Service House, led Kairos SMU Creative Journal as Co-Editor-in-Chief, and served as a trip developer with SMU Alternative Breaks. Andrea volunteered with the CONNECT Leadership Development Program as a peer mentor  and worked with the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity. Through her Hunt Institute Research, she led the Blockchain Impact Project team, exploring the impact of blockchain on start-ups and nonprofits. Meanwhile, Andrea deepened her passion for transportation equity through her research with the SMU Anthropology Department research, where she used GIS mapping to study multi-modal transportation models and their relationship to socioeconomic segregation.  

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Andrea worked with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, was selected as a Fellow with March for Science, and interned for the Alliance for Automotive Innovators. Today, Andrea is advancing her commitment to transportation equity and environmental justice through her graduate studies in Transportation, Technology, and Policy at UC Davis. 

Updated January 2022

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KAREN TRAN ’15

KAREN TRAN ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Anthropology, Journalism; Minor in Human Rights (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Karen was heavily involved in both academic work and service during her undergraduate career. This Rotunda scholar was also selected for the McNair Scholars Program, a fellowship that allowed her to conduct independent research.  She was also active in her living-learning community, the SMU Service House, as well as Circle K International and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Karen worked in both nonprofit and business organizations as she leveraged data analytics for social impact. She has worked with design-thinking firm New Sector Alliance/MENTOR Illinois, engaged in data analysis and consulting for Brandtrust, and supported innovative companies like BuildCentral as they fuse tech with design and data. Today she works as Associate Product Manager at Strongarm Technologies. 

Updated January 2022

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SOPHIE ARKUSINSKI ‘20

SOPHIE ARKUSINSKI ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, BS in Mathematics (2020)

Columbia University, Columbia School of Law: Juris Doctorate (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: Sophie traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program on the Poland Holocaust Education Trip. She also volunteered with the service-organization SMU Alternative Breaks, was a site leader for SMU’s annual MLK Day of service, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa (PBK). Sophie graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors in the liberal arts.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following her service with the Education Equity Program of AmeriCorps Vista, Sophie is currently pursuing her law degree at Columbia University, as she works to support and strengthen efforts to defend civil liberties within the context of technological innovation. She remains particularly interested in privacy issues, such as curbing the illegal and unnecessary surveillance of lawful and peaceful protesters by police and government forces. Sophie shares: “I can’t stress enough how much SMU’s Human Rights Program gave me the tools and direction with which to focus and follow my passion for advocacy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without y’all.”

Learn more about Sophie’s post-graduation journey through the following link:

Updated January 2022

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ASIA RODGERS ’15

ASIA RODGERS ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Asia traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Costa Rica. She engaged the Dallas community by volunteering with anti-trafficking organizations Mosaic Family Services and New Friends New Life. Asia worked to organize the SMU Women’s Symposium through her leadership in SMU Core, the student organization that brings this symposium to life each year. Through the SMU Engaged Learning Fellowship, she founded Art Healing, a program that used art to build the confidence of formerly trafficked or incarcerated women. Through Art Healing, she provided access to art classes and events where these women are able to showcase their creative work.

Through her anti-trafficking initiative, she was selected to attend the eighth annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting in 2015. She also served as a campus representative for CGI U, connecting more SMU students to this opportunity. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Asia deepened her relationship with Dallas’ nonprofit community. She has worked for more than eight different nonprofits helping them with fundraising strategies, campaign planning, donor engagement, and team building workshops. Her work in the nonprofit/philanthropy sector has included roles with the Texas Women’s Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas. Today, Asia continues to fuse her passion for community engagement and data-driven analytics through Asia Rodgers Consulting, her consulting business for nonprofits. 

Learn more about Asia’s post-graduation journey through the following link:

Updated January 2022

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CHEYENNE MURRAY ‘19

CHEYENNE MURRAY ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, History, Sociology (2019)

Southern Methodist University: MLS in Liberal Studies, Human Rights and Social Justice concentration (2021)

SMU Accomplishments: As a student with a triple-major and a passion for leadership, Cheyenne pursued academic excellence and opportunities to give back to her campus community. At SMU, she was a Hunt Leadership Scholar, a member of the University Honors Program, a McNair Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society, as well as Alpha Kappa Delta, a honors society for Sociology students, Cheyenne worked as a Rotunda Scholars Peer Counselor, Sociology Department Research Intern, and a History Department Ambassador. She was also Vice President of the Feminist Equality Movement; for her service to the university, Cheyenne received the prestigious “M” Award. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Cheyenne worked for two years as a graduate assistant through SMU College Access for Educational Talent Search, a federally-funded TRIO program helping low-income, first-generation high school students to understand the college application and admissions process. She currently serves as the Program Lead for Inclusive Excellence Communities for Dallas College (Richland campus), where she provides extra support and resources to underrepresented students, particularly for students who identify as BIPOC/LGBTQ+.

Updated January 2022