Tag: Class of 2020

Categories
Profiles

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

Categories
Profiles

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

Categories
Profiles

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

Categories
Profiles

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

Categories
Profiles

TANNAH OPPLIGER ’20

TANNAH OPPLIGER ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Public Policy; Minor in Advertising (2020) 

University of Southern California: MPP in Public Policy (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: Tannah’s academic achievements at SMU include her selection as a Hunt Leadership Scholar, Dedman College Scholar, Mustang Scholar, and Phi Beta Kappa Honoree. Through her research on college access and immigrant youth, she also served as a Cooper-McElvaney Peace and Justice Fellow, SMU Engaged Learning Fellow, and Undergraduate Research Assistant. She was the Executive Director of the SMU Human Rights Council from 2019 – 2020. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Fueled by her research interests in education, juvenile interactions with legal systems, and the prison industrial complex, Tannah went on to pursue a master’s in public policy at USC. She aspires to craft equitable public policies through collaboration with marginalized communities. 

Updated January 2022

Categories
Profiles

ANNA RAMIREZ ’20

ANNA RAMIREZ ’20

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

University of Denver: MA in International Disaster Psychology (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Anna was a member of the University Honors Program, a Dedman College Scholar, and also served as a student leader on the SMU Human Rights Council (HRC). She volunteered with refugee children as an after-school tutor with Heart House, interned with the World Affairs Council, and spent over three years with the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC) as a volunteer advocate. She also received the Santos Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship through the SMU Human Rights Program. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Anna worked as a legal advocate with DARCC, where helped survivors navigate legal systems and seek justice. Today, she is completing her master’s in International Disaster Psychology as she interweaves her passions for trauma-informed care with human rights advocacy. 

Updated January 2022

Categories
Profiles

CAROL SALE ‘20

CAROL SALE ’20

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; BS in Health & Society, Biology (2020)

University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine: MD/MPH in Public Health (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: As a President’s Scholar, Carol was heavily involved in both service and research at SMU. She served as project leader for Special Olympics through Mustang Heroes and as a mentor with SMU Best Buddies, which helps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities become friends with other students at our school or in the community. As an SMU Maguire Public Service Fellow, she engaged in public health research in São Paulo, Brazil. She also conducted research as an SMU Engaged Learning Fellow and Hamilton Undergraduate Research Scholar. She earned distinction in Health & Society. She traveled globally with SMU Human Rights to Israel & Palestine. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Carol went on to work as a AmeriCorps National Health Corps Patient Navigator in Jacksonville, FL. Following her AmeriCorp Service, she worked as a client navigator for both the Miami Med Re-Entry Program and the University of Miami Human Rights Clinic. She is also involved as a Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Trainee with the Miami Mailman Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. Today, Carol is a MD/MPH candidate at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. 

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

Updated January 2022

Categories
Profiles

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