Tag: SMU Human Rights Council

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T.I. ATKINS ’17

Wedding

T.I. ATKINS ’17

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights, Religious Studies, and Spanish (2017)

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary: M.Div in Divinity (2022)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, T.I. was involved with the Human Rights Council (formerly known as the SMU Human Rights Program’s Student Leadership Initiative). He also served as Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX) Fraternity President, Spanish Club President, International Justice Mission Campus Chapter Founder and President, and Highland Park Presbyterian Church (HPPC) College Ministry Student Advisor. His SMU honors and awards include the SMU Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Public Service Fellowship and the Sheri Mooney Memorial Recognition Award.

Postbaccalaureate Career: Since graduating, T.I. has worked as an HPPC Ministry Intern and HPPC Missions Intern in Dallas, TX; RUF Campus Ministry Intern at Boston University; Christ The King Presbyterian Church Youth Pastor in Cambridge, MA; and Center Grace Church Youth Pastor in Beverly, MA. His academic honors include his involvement in the Partnership Program, Discipleship Initiative, Center for Pastor Theologians Fellowship, and Pierce Center for Discipleship Fellowship.

Updated May 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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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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PETER WETHERBEE ’21

PETER WETHERBEE ’21

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

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies: MA in International Affairs (2023)

SMU Accomplishments: At SMU, Peter was involved as a Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, Student Senator, President of the Student Giving Committee, Vice President of Programming for Program Council, Events Director for the Human Rights Council, Producer of 24 Hour Musical, Resident Assistant for Upper Division Housing and Morrison-McGinnis Commons, President of Amnesty International, and Research Assistant for the Office of the Provost. Peter’s SMU honors and awards include the “M” Award, Dedman College Scholars Program, Engaged Learning Fellowship, Richter Fellowship, SMU Board Fellows Program, and University Honors Program.

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduating, Peter began graduate school in Switzerland. He serves as Treasurer of both the Environmental Committee and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. He is also helping to organize Geneva Peace Week and a large international environmental peacebuilding conference in February 2022.

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

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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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