Tag: nonprofits

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SANDRA OSTAD ’16

SANDRA OSTAD ’16

Educational Background: University of Missouri: BA in International Studies, Women and Gender Studies (2013)

Southern Methodist University: MLS in Human Rights and Global Studies (2016)

SMU Accomplishments: Through the SMU Human Rights Fellowship, Sandra served as the Immigration Outreach Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Through this role, Sandra facilitated their citizenship education curriculum, assisted with development campaigns, created a volunteer training structure, and wrote a successful grant proposal for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency which allowed IRC’s Dallas office to significantly expand its citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since 2016, Sandra has worked on the development team at CitySquare, a nonprofit addressing issues of poverty in North Texas. As CitySquare’s current Development Director, she oversees their community engagement program, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and third party events.

Updated January 2022

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ABIGAIL BUCK ’17

ABIGAIL BUCK ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, International Studies (2017)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Abby was involved with Alpha Chi Omega and worked as a Student Teacher for the SMU Preschool.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, Abby worked as File Clerk for Crain, Caton, & James from 2016-2018 and Human Resources Assistant for SEARCH Homeless Services from 2018-2019. Since 2019, Abby has served at Good Reason Houston, an educational equity startup. As People Operations & Executive Assistant, she works at the district level to improve student outcomes and increase the number of high quality seats in Houston.

Updated January 2022

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ANDREA NGUYEN ’19

ANDREA NGUYEN ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Anthropology, Markets & Culture; Minor in Human Rights (2019)

University of California at David: MS in Transportation, Technology and Policy (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: Andrea traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Latvia and Lithuania through the program’s Holocaust education trip focused on Eastern Europe. At SMU, she was heavily involved with the SMU Service House, led Kairos SMU Creative Journal as Co-Editor-in-Chief, and served as a trip developer with SMU Alternative Breaks. Andrea volunteered with the CONNECT Leadership Development Program as a peer mentor  and worked with the Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity. Through her Hunt Institute Research, she led the Blockchain Impact Project team, exploring the impact of blockchain on start-ups and nonprofits. Meanwhile, Andrea deepened her passion for transportation equity through her research with the SMU Anthropology Department research, where she used GIS mapping to study multi-modal transportation models and their relationship to socioeconomic segregation.  

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Andrea worked with the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, was selected as a Fellow with March for Science, and interned for the Alliance for Automotive Innovators. Today, Andrea is advancing her commitment to transportation equity and environmental justice through her graduate studies in Transportation, Technology, and Policy at UC Davis. 

Updated January 2022

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KAREN TRAN ’15

KAREN TRAN ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Anthropology, Journalism; Minor in Human Rights (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Karen was heavily involved in both academic work and service during her undergraduate career. This Rotunda scholar was also selected for the McNair Scholars Program, a fellowship that allowed her to conduct independent research.  She was also active in her living-learning community, the SMU Service House, as well as Circle K International and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Karen worked in both nonprofit and business organizations as she leveraged data analytics for social impact. She has worked with design-thinking firm New Sector Alliance/MENTOR Illinois, engaged in data analysis and consulting for Brandtrust, and supported innovative companies like BuildCentral as they fuse tech with design and data. Today she works as Associate Product Manager at Strongarm Technologies. 

Updated January 2022

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ASIA RODGERS ’15

ASIA RODGERS ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Asia traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Costa Rica. She engaged the Dallas community by volunteering with anti-trafficking organizations Mosaic Family Services and New Friends New Life. Asia worked to organize the SMU Women’s Symposium through her leadership in SMU Core, the student organization that brings this symposium to life each year. Through the SMU Engaged Learning Fellowship, she founded Art Healing, a program that used art to build the confidence of formerly trafficked or incarcerated women. Through Art Healing, she provided access to art classes and events where these women are able to showcase their creative work.

Through her anti-trafficking initiative, she was selected to attend the eighth annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting in 2015. She also served as a campus representative for CGI U, connecting more SMU students to this opportunity. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Asia deepened her relationship with Dallas’ nonprofit community. She has worked for more than eight different nonprofits helping them with fundraising strategies, campaign planning, donor engagement, and team building workshops. Her work in the nonprofit/philanthropy sector has included roles with the Texas Women’s Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas. Today, Asia continues to fuse her passion for community engagement and data-driven analytics through Asia Rodgers Consulting, her consulting business for nonprofits. 

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

Updated January 2022

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SAM GARZA ’21

SAM GARZA ’21

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; Minor in International Studies (2021)

SMU Accomplishments: During her undergraduate career, Sam was involved in Alternative Breaks as well as  College Hispanic American Students (CHAS). As a McNair Scholar, she designed an independent research project on gender equity. Sam connected with the Dallas community as a volunteer with Bridges to Life and as a program teacher at Heart House, an after-school program for refugee children. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Sam works as a Junior Recruiter at UT Health East Texas, while completing her graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling at UT Tyler. 

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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MAYRA HUERTA ‘16

MAYRA HUERTA ’16

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

SMU Accomplishments: Mayra was active in the Dallas community during her undergraduate years. She interned with the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, while working as an immigration paralegal with the Workers Defense Project. She graduated cum laude from the university. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Mayra has worked for over five years with the Workers Defense Project, a statewide membership organization fighting for better working conditions for Texans. Mayra has led key initiatives as Legal Manager for WPD and today as WPD’s  Austin Campaign Manager. In addition to her work for low-income and immigrant Texans, Mayra has been active in her local community through executive leadership with the Austin Young Active Labor Leaders and has served as a Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Committee member. Mayra continues to advance her education and organizing skills as a graduate of the Ruth Ellinger Labor Leaders School with Texas AFL-CIO, a member of the Transform Finance Cohort, and a Resident with the Windcall Institute for community organizers. 

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

Updated January 2022

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LISA MASSEY ’09

LISA MASSEY ’09

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

Marylhurst University: MBA in Nonprofit / Public / Organizational Management (year?)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Lisa was the president of the Religious Studies Club. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following her undergraduate experience, Lisa used her graduate coursework in business to further explore nonprofit leadership. Today, Lisa works as the Director of Administration at Long Way Home, a grassroots Guatemalan nonprofit focused on green building, education and employment.

Updated January 2022

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JESSICA PIRES-JANCOSE ‘18

JESSICA PIRES-JANCOSE ’18

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; BS in Health and Society (2018)  

SMU Accomplishments: Jessica left their mark on campus through both academics and activism. Jessica was a President’s Scholar, SMU Public Service Fellow, and a Clinton Global Initiative Fellow.  Through their Engaged Learning Fellowship, they conducted international research on “The Role and Nature of Women’s Movements in Peru.” Jessica also worked to address menstrual access at SMU through the Hope Project, a donation drive for menstrual products, and by creating the “Menstruation Celebration,” a campus-wide event to spark conversation on menstruation equity at SMU. For their service to the university, Jessica was a recipient of the prestigious “M” Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Jessica was selected as a SMU Human Rights Postbaccalaureate Fellow and worked to mentor students on their paths to activism. They also were selected for the John Lewis Fellowship with Humanity in Action. Today, Jessica is Avow’s Dallas Outreach & Organizing Manager; they are also a trained abortion doula. Through their work and adovacy, Jessica fights for abortion access as they collaborate with marginalized communities to demand reproductive justice. 

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

Updated January 2022