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Profiles

KIM BELL ANDREWS ’11

KIM BELL ANDREWS

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in English, Creative Writing specialization; Minor in Human Rights (2011)

Florida Coastal School of Law (JD 2015)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Kim was active in the Association of Black Students and also participated in student programming with the SMU Human Rights Program. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: At Florida Coastal School of Law, Kim was a member of the FCSL’s Moot Court team that ranked number one in the country during her tenure. Kim interned at the Office of the Public Defender, 4th Judicial Circuit in Jacksonville, Florida and also completed an internship at the Office of the State Attorney, 7th Judicial Circuit in St. Augustine, Florida.She continues her human rights advocacy today as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney in the District of Columbia. 

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

Updated January 2022 

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MORA NAMDAR ’08

MORA NAMDAR ’08

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Political Science, International Studies; Minors in Human Rights, Philosophy, and Fine Arts (2008)

American University Washington College of Law: JD (2011)

American University School of International Service: MA in International Affairs (2011)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Mora served as President of Amnesty International, SMU Student Senate’s Organizations Committee Chair, and Alpha Chi Omega. She was one of the first graduates of the SMU Human Rights Program and also authored and passed Student Senate’s first legislation to urge SMU’s administration to offer a human rights major.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Before returning to private practice, Mora was appointed by the President of the United States to perform the duties of the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. Prior to taking that role, Mora served as the Vice President of Legal, Compliance, and Risk at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State working on a variety of global issues. Mora worked closely with the White House National Security Council and other interagency counterparts to create and implement effective policy supporting US national security and international human rights interests. Previously, Mora worked for Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), a Fortune 500 company, reporting directly to the V.P of Government Affairs and for the Voice of America advising on National Security and Policy.

Mora has worked with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and has extensive experience in domestic and international issues. She has successfully represented clients which include individuals, corporations, political candidates, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. Mora is licensed to practice law in Texas and Washington D.C. and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the American University’s National Security Law Brief. She has been published in the Hill, the National Interest, 1945, and other publications. 

Mora currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council. She has worked on human rights issues for many years and was invited to speak about human rights during the United Nations General Assembly by the U.S. State Department in New York City in 2018. Mora founded BAM Beauty Bar, which enables giving back to hundreds of charity organizations and worthy causes in North Texas. She was named by Modern Luxury Magazine as a “Dynamic Women” in 2018 and “Power Player” in 2021.

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

Updated January 2022

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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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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

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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

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NIICOLE A. VENO ‘09

NICOLE A. VENO ’09

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

Quinnipiac University School of Law: Juris Doctor (2012)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Nicole was involved with the Ballroom Dance Team, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and Mock Trial. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Motivated by her experience in the SMU Human Rights Program, Nicole interned with a public defender’s office, working on a high-profile death penalty case in Connecticut. Following this experience, Nicole went to law school where she served as the Associate Editor of the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal. 

She currently represents plaintiffs in complex litigation as an Associate Attorney at Kirby McInerney LLP in New York City.  Additionally, she represents individuals in litigation against large corporations, including in whistleblower, employment, and antitrust matters.

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