Category: Profiles

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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

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HUNTER KOLON ’20

HUNTER KOLON ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Political Science (2020)

University of California, Berkeley School of Law: Juris Doctorate (2024)

SMU Accomplishments: Hunter traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Poland. Additionally, she completed an internship with SMU-in-Prague and conducted independent research in Bilbao, Spain through SIT Abroad: Policy, Law & Regional Autonomy in Europe. She served as the Vice President of SMU Mock Trial and Vice President of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She was a U.S. Department of State Summer Intern, Consulate General of Mexico Public Policy Intern; and an Office of George W. Bush Semester Intern. A graduate of the University Honors Program, Hunter was a John G. Tower Scholar, a  Hunt Leadership Scholar, a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society, and was selected as SMU Outstanding Senior Woman, Class of 2020. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Pursuing her career in human rights advocacy, Hunter received the Berkeley Law Merit-Based Scholarship. She is Associate Editor of Berkeley Technology Law Journal and is involved with Women in Tech Law. She is currently working on a Digital Rights Project with the ACLU of Northern California. 

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

Updated January 2022

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AMANDA STEINKE ’15

AMANDA STEINKE ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; BS in Environmental Engineering (2015) 

Relay Graduate School of Education: MAT in Teaching (2018) 

SMU Accomplishments: Amanda was involved in Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity, as well as campus organizations like Lyle Engineering in the City. As an SMU Human Rights Fellow, she facilitated a 1200-square foot aquaponics project at St. Philip’s School and Community Center in south Dallas, an area identified as a food desert.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Amanda has advanced her passion for STEM education as an elementary-school science teacher. She also explores instructional strategies to close the achievement gap between English proficient students and English language learners. Today, Amanda is a fifth-grade science teacher with Houston KIPP Public Schools.  

Updated January 2022

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SAM GARZA ’21

SAM GARZA ’21

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; Minor in International Studies (2021)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Sam was involved in Alternative Breaks as well as  College Hispanic American Students (CHAS). As a McNair Scholar, she designed an independent research project on gender equity. Sam connected with the Dallas community as a volunteer with Bridges to Life and as a program teacher at Heart House, an after-school program for refugee children. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Sam works as a Junior Recruiter at UT Health East Texas, while completing her graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling at UT Tyler. 

Updated January 2022

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MICHELLE ANDERSON ’15

MICHELLE ANDERSON ’15

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

Trinity College Dublin: M.Phil in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (2016)

University of Cape Town: PhD in Media Studies and Historical Studies (2020)

SMU Accomplishments: Michelle traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Rwanda and Costa Rica. She conducted research in Central America as an Engaged Learning Fellow and was the Director of Communications for the SMU Human Rights Council. Michelle was also an executive leader in her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega and she interned with Human Rights Watch.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Michelle received her PhD in 2020 for a thesis examining the role of media in South Africa’s transitional justice process. Her related work appears in journals such as the Oxford International Journal of Transitional Justice, the Journal of Perpetrator Research, and Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies. Her recent professional roles include serving as a Political Disorder Researcher with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project on their USA, UK, and Afghanistan teams. While in South Africa, she also volunteered as a yoga instructor in maximum security prisons as part of a restorative justice program. She is now a researcher at the USC Program on Global Health and Human Rights.

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

Updated January 2022

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JOHN KALKANLI ‘16

JOHN KALKANI ’16

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in International Studies, Markets & Culture; Minor in Human Rights (2016)

Southern Methodist University: MLS in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Human Rights and Social Justice, Global Studies (2018)

University of Texas at Dallas: MA in Humanities/Humanistic Studies (2022); Certificate in Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies (2022)

University of Texas at Dallas: Teaching Certificate in Social Studies (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: In college, John was involved in SMU’s chapter of Amnesty International, as well as with Alternative Breaks, a service-based organization through which students volunteer locally and nationally. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Upon graduation, John completed an internship at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, where he worked as a Student Lecturer Intern & Archivist, where he continues to work as a docent.  John is also a docent at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. He volunteers by teaching conversational English to university students in Istanbul as a way of giving back to his home city. 

John advocates extensively with various disability rights organizations. He serves on the board of the Dallas Chapter National Federation of the Blind, America’s largest civil rights organization for the visually impaired. He advocates for the rights of blind Americans by lobbying each year in Washington DC to secure equal opportunities for his community. He also serves on the board of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) – Dallas Chapter as Chair of the Advocacy Committee (AC).

John is working towards a teaching certification to become a Social Studies teacher in grades 7-12. Additionally, he is training to work as a braille transcriber through the Library of Congress. John writes that, “Accessible education is the key to success.”

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

Updated January 2022

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MAYRA HUERTA ‘16

MAYRA HUERTA ’16

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, International Studies (2016)

SMU Accomplishments: Mayra was active in the Dallas community during her undergraduate years. She interned with the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, while working as an immigration paralegal with the Workers Defense Project. She graduated cum laude from the university. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Mayra has worked for over five years with the Workers Defense Project, a statewide membership organization fighting for better working conditions for Texans. Mayra has led key initiatives as Legal Manager for WPD and today as WPD’s  Austin Campaign Manager. In addition to her work for low-income and immigrant Texans, Mayra has been active in her local community through executive leadership with the Austin Young Active Labor Leaders and has served as a Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Committee member. Mayra continues to advance her education and organizing skills as a graduate of the Ruth Ellinger Labor Leaders School with Texas AFL-CIO, a member of the Transform Finance Cohort, and a Resident with the Windcall Institute for community organizers. 

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

Updated January 2022

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LISA MASSEY ’09

LISA MASSEY ’09

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Religious Studies; Minor in Human Rights (2009)

Marylhurst University: MBA in Nonprofit / Public / Organizational Management (year?)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Lisa was the president of the Religious Studies Club. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following her undergraduate experience, Lisa used her graduate coursework in business to further explore nonprofit leadership. Today, Lisa works as the Director of Administration at Long Way Home, a grassroots Guatemalan nonprofit focused on green building, education and employment.

Updated January 2022