Category: Profiles

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T.I. ATKINS ’17

Wedding

T.I. ATKINS ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Religious Studies, and Spanish (2017)

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary: M.Div in Divinity (2022)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, T.I. was involved with the Human Rights Council (formerly known as the SMU Human Rights Program’s Student Leadership Initiative). He also served as Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) Fraternity President, Spanish Club President, International Justice Mission Campus Chapter Founder and President, and Highland Park Presbyterian Church (HPPC) College Ministry Student Advisor. His SMU honors and awards include the SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Public Service Fellowship and the Sheri Mooney Memorial Recognition Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, T.I. has worked as an HPPC Ministry Intern and HPPC Missions Intern in Dallas, TX; RUF Campus Ministry Intern at Boston University; Christ The King Presbyterian Church Youth Pastor in Cambridge, MA; and Center Grace Church Youth Pastor in Beverly, MA. His academic honors include his involvement in the Partnership Program, Discipleship Initiative, Center for Pastor Theologians Fellowship, and Pierce Center for Discipleship Fellowship.

Updated May 2022

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KIM BELL ANDREWS ’11

KIM BELL ANDREWS

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in English, Creative Writing specialization; Minor in Human Rights (2011)

Florida Coastal School of Law (JD 2015)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Kim was active in the Association of Black Students and also participated in student programming with the SMU Human Rights Program. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: At Florida Coastal School of Law, Kim was a member of the FCSL’s Moot Court team that ranked number one in the country during her tenure. Kim interned at the Office of the Public Defender, 4th Judicial Circuit in Jacksonville, Florida and also completed an internship at the Office of the State Attorney, 7th Judicial Circuit in St. Augustine, Florida.She continues her human rights advocacy today as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney in the District of Columbia. 

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

Updated January 2022 

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RACHEL MUMAW ‘19

RACHEL MUMAW ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, BS in Biology (2019).

Perkins School of Theology: Master of Divinity (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Rachel worked as a Social and Clinical Neuroscience Lab Research Assistant from 2017-2018, and she held leadership positions with the Wesley House from 2016-2018 and MHPS Commons Council from 2016-2017. Her SMU honors and awards include the 2018-2019 SMU Human Rights Fellowship, 2018-2019 Engaged Learning Fellowship, 2018-2019 Caswell Leadership Program, 2018 Clinton Global Initiative University, 2018 Robert L. Mayer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 2018 Cooper McElvaney Peace and Justice Fellowship, 2017-2018 SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Public Service Fellowship (through which she interned with the Resource Center’s GenderBrave program), and 2017-2018 Hamilton Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Rachel began pursuing her MDiv at the Perkins School of Theology, where she won the 2021 William K. McElvaney Preaching Award. In 2021, Rachel published a dystopian novel, Jericho (barnesandnoble.com/w/jericho-rachel-mumaw/1139374351).

Updated May 2022

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ARIANA HUDSON ’16

ARIANA HUDSON ’16

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Communications Studies; Minor in Spanish (2016)

Johns Hopkins University: MS in Education (2022)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Ariana was involved with Alternative Breaks and Delta Delta Delta. She also conducted research on corporal punishment with SMU Psychology, served as a Resident Advisor and TFA Campaign Coordinator, studied and interned abroad in London, and participated in the Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Her SMU awards and honors include Honors Distinction in Communications, the Texas A&M Communicating Diversity Conference, Provost Scholarship, Hilltop Scholars Program, Choctaw Nation Scholarship, Communications Advisory Board Scholarship, Stan Levenson Communications Scholarship, Farrell London Study Abroad Scholarship, PRSSA, SMU Multicultural Academic Achievement Award, and Friendliest Hilltop Scholar Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Ariana was a Teach For America (TFA) Corps Member, serving KIPP New Orleans as a special education teacher from 2016-2017 and lead teacher from 2017-2018. For TFA in Atlanta, GA, Ariana was a School Operations Manager in 2018 and Corps Member Advisor in 2019. For KIPP Texas Public Schools, she has worked as lead 8th grade ELA teacher since 2019; Literacy Department Chair, Anti-Racism Committee Co-Chair, and Teacher Career Pathways Advisory Board Member since 2020; and Grade Level Chair and Relay Resident Advisor since 2021. Ariana has also been a Leadership Development Specialist for TFA in Houston since 2021. Her honors and awards include KIPP: Prime Inquiry Award, KIPP: Prime Excellence in Teaching Nominee, and KIPP: New Orleans Rookie of the Year Nominee.

Updated January 2022

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AUDREY NGO ’20

AUDREY NGO ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, French, BS in Health and Society (2020)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Audrey was involved with Student Senate, Debate, Alternative Breaks, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, and the Multicultural Greek Council. Her honors and awards include the SMU McNair Scholars Program and A. Kenneth Pye Outstanding Greek Leader Award. Through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Audrey studied the immigrant diaspora and impact of colonization in immigrant communities in Paris, France in June 2018.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Audrey has served in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) in Amiens from 2020-2021 and Paris from 2021-2022. 

Updated January 2022

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MORA NAMDAR ’08

MORA NAMDAR ’08

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Political Science, International Studies; Minors in Human Rights, Philosophy, and Fine Arts (2008)

American University Washington College of Law: JD (2011)

American University School of International Service: MA in International Affairs (2011)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Mora served as President of Amnesty International, SMU Student Senate’s Organizations Committee Chair, and Alpha Chi Omega. She was one of the first graduates of the SMU Human Rights Program and also authored and passed Student Senate’s first legislation to urge SMU’s administration to offer a human rights major.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Before returning to private practice, Mora was appointed by the President of the United States to perform the duties of the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Prior to taking that role, Mora served as the Vice President of Legal, Compliance, and Risk at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State working on a variety of global issues. Mora worked closely with the White House National Security Council and other interagency counterparts to create and implement effective policy supporting US national security and international human rights interests. Previously, Mora worked for Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), a Fortune 500 company, reporting directly to the V.P of Government Affairs and for the Voice of America advising on National Security and Policy.

Mora has worked with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and has extensive experience in domestic and international issues. She has successfully represented clients which include individuals, corporations, political candidates, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. Mora is licensed to practice law in Texas and Washington D.C. and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the American University’s National Security Law Brief. She has been published in the Hill, the National Interest, 1945, and other publications. 

Mora currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council. She has worked on human rights issues for many years and was invited to speak about human rights during the United Nations General Assembly by the U.S. State Department in New York City in 2018. Mora founded BAM Beauty Bar, which enables giving back to hundreds of charity organizations and worthy causes in North Texas. She was named by Modern Luxury Magazine as a “Dynamic Women” in 2018 and “Power Player” in 2021.

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

Updated January 2022

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MADELEINE CHARD ’15

MADELEINE CHARD ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights (2015)

Boston University School of Law: JD (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Madeleine was involved with the Human Rights Council (formerly known as the SMU Human Rights Program’s Student Leadership Initiative) and Hilltop Scholars Program.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Madeleine worked as Legal Secretary for Coffin Renner LLP from 2018-2020. She is currently pursuing a JD at Boston University School of Law.

Updated January 2022

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SANDRA OSTAD ’16

SANDRA OSTAD ’16

Educational Background: University of Missouri: BA in International Studies, Women and Gender Studies (2013)

Southern Methodist University: MLS in Human Rights and Global Studies (2016)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Fellowship, Sandra served as the Immigration Outreach Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Through this role, Sandra facilitated their citizenship education curriculum, assisted with development campaigns, created a volunteer training structure, and wrote a successful grant proposal for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency which allowed IRC’s Dallas office to significantly expand its citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since 2016, Sandra has worked on the development team at CitySquare, a nonprofit addressing issues of poverty in North Texas. As CitySquare’s current Development Director, she oversees their community engagement program, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and third party events.

Updated January 2022

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MARIE JOUNG ’20

MARIE JOUNG ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BS in Biological Sciences (2020)

UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine: DO in Medicine (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Fellowship, Marie founded The Period Project SMU—an initiative advocating for menstrual product access in schools, starting with SMU. This project led to many opportunities for Marie to present her research and support other schools through The Period Project SMU’s academic menstrual equity toolkit. Through the SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Public Service Fellowship, Marie assisted with a study evaluating the interpretation and application of the NIH’s diversity statement in awarding training grants. For her work around gender equity, Marie won the Ann Early Award and Emmie V. Baine Legacy Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Marie has continued working as a research assistant in ethics at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She has also continued working on The Period Project SMU, specifically around our research about the impact of menstruation on academic success. In 2021, Marie presented The Period Project SMU’s study at the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics conference and received the Top Undergraduate Paper Award. Currently, she attends medical school at UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth.

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

Updated January 2022

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HAYLEY WAGNER ’14

HAYLEY WAGNER ’14

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Anthropology, and French (2014) 

New York University: MA in Africana Studies (2017)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Hayley’s involvements included Amnesty International and the University Honors Program. Within the SMU Human Rights Program, Hayley served as a student-leader on the Human Rights Council (formerly known as the Student Leadership Initiative), specifically for research trips to Rwanda and Uganda in 2013.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Hayley moved to NYC to pursue graduate school in Africana Studies. During her tenure at NYU, she was active in the Queer Graduate Student Group. Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor of African-American History and Comparative Ethnic Studies at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

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

Updated January 2022