Category: Profiles

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CLAIRE KRIZMAN ‘18

CLAIRE KRIZMAN ’18

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Psychology (2018)

University of Denver: MS in International Disaster Psychology (2020)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: PsyD in Clinical Psychology (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Claire was a member of SMU Amnesty International, Delta Delta Delta sorority, and served as VP of External Recruitment with SMU’s Panhellenic Council. She was recognized as a Hilltop Scholar and studied abroad in Prague and Copenhagen. In addition to doing grant writing for charter schools, she also worked as research assistant in SMU Psychology’s Positive Parenting Lab and presented this research on positive parenting to the academic community. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Through University of Denver’s M.A. in International Disaster Psychology, Claire studied clinical trauma psychology from a cross-cultural lens. She is now a student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology working toward her PsyD in clinical psychology and planning to specialize in international and human rights psychology. In addition to providing psychosocial support at a children’s home in Nepal, she has experience working with survivors of torture, refugees, and both child and adult domestic abuse survivors.

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

Updated January 2022

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JOSÉ MANUEL SANTOYO ‘16

JOSÉ MANUEL SANTOYO ’16

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

SMU Accomplishments: José served the campus community as a Hispanic American Senator in SMU Senate. He was involved with SMU’s chapters of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), College Hispanic American Students (CHAS), and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity. In the Dallas community, his grassroots activism included work with the North Texas Dream Team (NTDT). His advocacy work with the SMU Human Rights Program played a significant role in the creation of the Santos Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship. In recognition of his service to the university, José spoke at the SMU’s Commencement ceremony in December 2016. He later received the “M” Award, the university’s highest recognition.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, José continued to engage the Dallas community as the director of the YoSoyDMA Initiative through the Latino Center for Leadership Development. He also served as a steering committee member for 2018-2019 CFT’s Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Inaugural Cohort. He was a development coordinator for After8toEducate, Dallas’ first all-encompassing program to support unsheltered high school youth in DISD. He now works as the Co-Founder and a managing member of Leo de Verzay, Champagne, U.S. José also does business development as an assistant underwriter for On the Road Lending, a nonprofit that helps individuals from low-income and marginalized communities to improve their credit. He shares that he is “forever grateful for everything I’ve experienced because of this program.”

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

Updated January 2022

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SAMANTHA MATTHEWS ‘12

SAMANTHA MATTHEWS ‘12

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights (2012)

Hunter College: MS in Early Childhood Education, Special Education (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Program, Samantha traveled globally with the program to Rwanda. At SMU, Samantha was involved with Best Buddies and served as the Community Service Chair for Chi Omega sorority. She connected with the Dallas community by volunteering as an after-school tutor and the director of a summer camp for refugee youth in Dallas’ Vickery Meadow neighborhood. She and Shireen Tavakoli ‘12 were the first SMU students to receive a B.A. in Human Rights. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Samantha moved to New York City after graduation, where, through her Teach For America (TFA) fellowship, she served as a lead teacher with SCO Family of Services and worked with Special Education Teacher Support Services at Harlem Village Academy. Upon her return to Dallas, Samantha gave back to her community as a volunteer and consultant with Save the Children, a member of the Lynn McBee for Dallas Mayor Campaign, a Board Member at Hearts Across Romania, and as a Board Member with the AT&T Performing Arts Center Auxiliary Board. She has impacted Dallas’ nonprofit community in her work as the Executive Director at Texas Legends Care, through which the NBA G League basketball team Texas Legends (affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks) helps disadvantaged children via educational and sports initiatives. Later, as an associate at Allyn Media, she focused on nonprofit development and public affairs campaigns. Most recently, she has worked directly with Afghan refugee families arriving at Fort Bliss as they resettle in the United States. Samantha shares that she is “forever grateful to be honored as one of the first to receive a Human Rights degree at SMU.”

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

Updated January 2022 

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JAEIDAH REED ‘19

JAEIDAH REED ‘19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Biological Sciences; Minors in Jewish Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Program, Jaeidah traveled globally on the program’s trips to Rwanda, Israel, and Palestine. At SMU, Jaeidah was involved with SMU Hillel, Association of Black Students, African Students Association, the Spanish Club, SMU Mustang Band, and Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. She was also active in campus social movements as the board chair for Black@SMU. In addition to her recognition as a President Obama Volunteer Service Award recipient and volunteer work with the Dallas Rape Crisis Center, Jaeidah also made her mark as a McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholar and an Engaged Learning Fellow, culminating in her research: “Contending Child Sexual Assault in the Southern Sector of Dallas.” 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Jaeidah moved to Washington DC where she continues her work in direct victim services. She works at both Georgetown University and the Polaris Project, a data-driven social justice organization fighting sex and labor trafficking. Jaeidah works on Polaris’ National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Updated January 2022 

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DOMINIQUE EARLAND ’17

DOMINIQUE EARLAND ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, BS in Biological Sciences; Minor in Biomedical Anthropology (2017)

University of Minnesota Medical School: MD/PhD (2027)

SMU Accomplishments: Dominique led a variety of social justice events and workshops as a student leader on the Human Rights Council and was also active in Alternative Breaks, organizing the organization’s first service trip to Selma, AL. In response to Dallas’s high maternal mortality rates, Dominique pursued the SMU Human Rights Fellowship and used this opportunity to create a Maternal Child Health Toolkit designed for women of color who are most impacted by health care disparities. In recognition of her outstanding service to the university, Dominique received the prestigious “M” Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Dominique is now an MD/PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is an active leader for racial equity on campus and is a leading advocate in the Minneapolis chapter of White Coats for Black Lives. Following the murder of George Floyd, she and her fellow organizers led sit-ins at the State Capitol and at the county’s medical examiner’s office. In June 2020, Dominique was featured in The New York Times for her activism as a street medic for  wounded protesters. Today, she continues her passion for global health through her epidemiology work. As a researcher and advocate, she seeks opportunities to better partner with global communities in their fight for public health access. Dominique has received the Minnesota Medical Association Medical Student Leadership Award, the MSTP Leadership in Diversity Fellowship, the Mary A. McEvoy Award for Public Service and Leadership, and is a Member of Student National Medical Association. 

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

Updated January 2022

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GREG GUGGENMOS ’19

GREG GUGGENMOS ’19

Educational Background:
Southern Methodist University: BS in Statistical Science, Minor in Human Rights; MS in Applied Statistics (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: Greg 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, he was an Engaged Learning Fellow and a Resident Assistant. Through the SMU Human Rights Fellowship, Greg launched his own nonprofit, the Community Bail Fund of North Texas, which provided grants to indigent defendants awaiting trial in the Dallas County justice system and drew from best practices of organizations in other cities such as the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund (which Greg visited as part of a Richter Fellowship). In recognition of his service to the university, Greg received the prestigious “M” Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Greg continued to engage his passion for criminal justice reform as a Statistical Consultant with the Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center at SMU Dedman School of Law. Through his research on AI and pre-trial detention, he was selected as a Landecker Democracy Fellow with Humanity in Action.

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

Updated January 2022

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SANAA GHANIM ’20, ’23

SANAA GHANIM ’20, ’23 

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, English; Minor in Arabic (2020)

SMU Dedman School of Law: Juris Doctorate (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: As an undergraduate student, Sanaa served as Dedman Senator in the SMU Student Senate and held leadership roles in multiple student organizations including the Human Rights Council, Muslim Student Association, the Feminist Equality Movement, and Amnesty International. Through the SMU Human Rights Fellowship, Sanaa she pursued an applied research project to measure, analyze, and critique the role of education in shaping perceptions of the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In recognition of her service to the university, she received the prestigious “M” Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Through the Sumners Foundation Scholarship, Sanaa won a full-tuition scholarship to SMU Dedman School of Law. During her law school experience, she has worked as a Summer Associate at Thompson & Knight’s Dallas office, volunteered in the VanSickle Family Law Clinic, been active in the Muslim Law Student Association, and served as a Student Representative to the SMU Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee.

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

Updated January 2022

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JENNIFER TORRES ‘16, ‘19

JENNIFER TORRES ‘16, ‘19

Educational Background:
Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Public Policy (2016); MA in Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: Within the SMU Human Rights Program, Jenny served as a Student Leadership Initiative: Costa Rica Research in Action member. At SMU, she was also involved with the Women and LGBT Center, Sigma Lambda Gamma, Multicultural Greek Council, and College Hispanic American Students. Her honors include the SMU McNair Scholars Program, SMU Engaged Learning Fellowship, and SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Public Service Fellowship. For her leadership across campus, Jenny received the Emmie V. Baine Legacy Award and A. Kenneth Pye Outstanding Greek Leader Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Jenny worked as Program Specialist for SMU College Access Programs from 2016-2021. She started a new position in 2021 as Program Associate of the Texas College Access Network (TxCAN) within the Communities Foundation of Texas’s Educate Texas initiative. Jenny says she is “So happy to be continuing my work in college access on a system’s level across the state.” She also volunteers as a translator for the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas (HRI). In 2019, she won the Friends of UB & UBMS Award. 

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

Updated December 2021