Tag: Human Rights Council

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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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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