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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

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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

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HOPE ANDERSON ’17

HOPE ANDERSON ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, History; BS in Sociology; Minor in Spanish (2017)

Southern Methodist University: MA in Design & Innovation (2022)

Duke Divinity School: M.Div in Divinity (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: Hope’s passion for human rights led her to intern with global nonprofits dedicated to anti-trafficking and refugee resettlement like the International Rescue Committee (IRC), as well as with local anti-poverty organizations like CitySquare. As an SMU Engaged Learning Fellow, Hope conducted research on forced migration in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile. Through the SMU Human Rights Program, she helped to organize and lead trips focused on civil rights history and criminal justice reform. Hope was recognized as a Maguire Public Service Fellow, a Dedman College Scholar, a Phi Beta Kappa member, and a recipient of the prestigious “M” Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Hope is a community advocate specializing in inclusive pedagogy, youth organizing, and human rights education. Following graduation, she learned alongside a new generation of social justice practitioners through the John Lewis Fellowship – a community that continues to fuel her social justice work. 

In her graduate work in human-centered design, Hope merged creativity with equity through her study of inclusive design. Working to unite designers and marginalized communities together in the design process, she has engaged issues ranging from environmental racism to LGBTQ youth homelessness. 

Hope worked as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the SMU Human Rights Program for five years, connecting the program’s changemakers to the Dallas community through community organizing, social impact projects, and field placements. Describing her gratitude to the SMU Human Rights Program, Hope shares: “I would not be where I am today without these people – my people.”

Today, Hope is a graduate student at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina, where she is pursuing ordination for priesthood in the Episcopal Church. At Duke, Hope explores issues of local socioeconomics and racial justice as a Thriving Communities Fellow. She continues to mentor young LGBTQ people and advocate for inclusive faith communities. Hope writes, “The SMU Human Rights Program shaped my commitment to uphold human dignity as both a priest and human rights practitioner.”

Updated May 2022

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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

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CLAIRE KRIZMAN ‘18

CLAIRE KRIZMAN ’18

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Psychology (2018)

University of Denver: MS in International Disaster Psychology (2020)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology: PsyD in Clinical Psychology (2025)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Claire was a member of SMU Amnesty International, Delta Delta Delta sorority, and served as VP of External Recruitment with SMU’s Panhellenic Council. She was recognized as a Hilltop Scholar and studied abroad in Prague and Copenhagen. In addition to doing grant writing for charter schools, she also worked as research assistant in SMU Psychology’s Positive Parenting Lab and presented this research on positive parenting to the academic community. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Through University of Denver’s M.A. in International Disaster Psychology, Claire studied clinical trauma psychology from a cross-cultural lens. She is now a student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology working toward her PsyD in clinical psychology and planning to specialize in international and human rights psychology. In addition to providing psychosocial support at a children’s home in Nepal, she has experience working with survivors of torture, refugees, and both child and adult domestic abuse survivors.

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

Updated January 2022

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JOSÉ MANUEL SANTOYO ‘16

JOSÉ MANUEL SANTOYO ’16

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Spanish (2016)

SMU Accomplishments: José served the campus community as a Hispanic American Senator in SMU Senate. He was involved with SMU’s chapters of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), College Hispanic American Students (CHAS), and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity. In the Dallas community, his grassroots activism included work with the North Texas Dream Team (NTDT). His advocacy work with the SMU Human Rights Program played a significant role in the creation of the Santos Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship. In recognition of his service to the university, José spoke at the SMU’s Commencement ceremony in December 2016. He later received the “M” Award, the university’s highest recognition.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, José continued to engage the Dallas community as the director of the YoSoyDMA Initiative through the Latino Center for Leadership Development. He also served as a steering committee member for 2018-2019 CFT’s Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy Inaugural Cohort. He was a development coordinator for After8toEducate, Dallas’ first all-encompassing program to support unsheltered high school youth in DISD. He now works as the Co-Founder and a managing member of Leo de Verzay, Champagne, U.S. José also does business development as an assistant underwriter for On the Road Lending, a nonprofit that helps individuals from low-income and marginalized communities to improve their credit. He shares that he is “forever grateful for everything I’ve experienced because of this program.”

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

Updated January 2022

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SAMANTHA MATTHEWS ‘12

SAMANTHA MATTHEWS ‘12

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights (2012)

Hunter College: MS in Early Childhood Education, Special Education (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Program, Samantha traveled globally with the program to Rwanda. At SMU, Samantha was involved with Best Buddies and served as the Community Service Chair for Chi Omega sorority. She connected with the Dallas community by volunteering as an after-school tutor and the director of a summer camp for refugee youth in Dallas’ Vickery Meadow neighborhood. She and Shireen Tavakoli ‘12 were the first SMU students to receive a B.A. in Human Rights. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Samantha moved to New York City after graduation, where, through her Teach For America (TFA) fellowship, she served as a lead teacher with SCO Family of Services and worked with Special Education Teacher Support Services at Harlem Village Academy. Upon her return to Dallas, Samantha gave back to her community as a volunteer and consultant with Save the Children, a member of the Lynn McBee for Dallas Mayor Campaign, a Board Member at Hearts Across Romania, and as a Board Member with the AT&T Performing Arts Center Auxiliary Board. She has impacted Dallas’ nonprofit community in her work as the Executive Director at Texas Legends Care, through which the NBA G League basketball team Texas Legends (affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks) helps disadvantaged children via educational and sports initiatives. Later, as an associate at Allyn Media, she focused on nonprofit development and public affairs campaigns. Most recently, she has worked directly with Afghan refugee families arriving at Fort Bliss as they resettle in the United States. Samantha shares that she is “forever grateful to be honored as one of the first to receive a Human Rights degree at SMU.”

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

Updated January 2022 

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JAEIDAH REED ‘19

JAEIDAH REED ‘19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Biological Sciences; Minors in Jewish Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Program, Jaeidah traveled globally on the program’s trips to Rwanda, Israel, and Palestine. At SMU, Jaeidah was involved with SMU Hillel, Association of Black Students, African Students Association, the Spanish Club, SMU Mustang Band, and Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. She was also active in campus social movements as the board chair for Black@SMU. In addition to her recognition as a President Obama Volunteer Service Award recipient and volunteer work with the Dallas Rape Crisis Center, Jaeidah also made her mark as a McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholar and an Engaged Learning Fellow, culminating in her research: “Contending Child Sexual Assault in the Southern Sector of Dallas.” 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Jaeidah moved to Washington DC where she continues her work in direct victim services. She works at both Georgetown University and the Polaris Project, a data-driven social justice organization fighting sex and labor trafficking. Jaeidah works on Polaris’ National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Updated January 2022 

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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