Tag: Class of 2015

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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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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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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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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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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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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