Tag: higher education

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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

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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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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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MELANIE PRUITT ‘09

MELANIE PRUITT ’09

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

SMU Accomplishments: Melanie is proud to have been among the first group of students to minor in Human Rights. She was recognized for both her academic achievements and her service to the university; she won the Dedman College Pascal Covici Jr. Prize for Best Essay in American Studies, 2008/2009 and won the Dorothy Amaan Award for Service to the University. She graduated summa cumm laude, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society, and won a research grant to study young adult literature and LGBTQ teens. In 2009, through a partnership with both the Women’s Center and the SMU Human Rights program, she organized a week-long event marking the 40-year anniversary of Stonewall Riots. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: For over eight years, Melanie has worked as the Capstone Coordinator at the Richland Collegiate High School on the Richland campus of Dallas College. Over the course of three semesters, beginning in the spring of students’ junior year, she teaches high school students how to research and write at a grad school level. She continues to leverage her human rights degree as she connects students studying issues like human trafficking, refugees, or anti-Semitism to the SMU Human Rights Program for futher study. At the Richland campus, Melanie has been recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Award for Associate Faculty at Richland, 2013-2014 and the Phi Theta Kappa Outstanding Chapter Advisor for the state of Texas, 2020-2021.

Updated January 2022