E-mail: alexandria.delong@asu.edu
Hometown: Yuma, Arizona

Biography

Alexandra has lived in the United States. She has traveled to Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, England, Scotland, Malaysia, and Thailand. She has worked in the United States.

Alexandra graduated with a B.A. from Arizona State University, with a major in Justice Studies and a minor in European History. She has worked for the Chandler Police Department.

Alexandria DeLong, Lexie for short, graduated from Arizona State University in three years with a degree in Justice Studies and a minor in European History. Since she attended college she has become captivated by issues such as human rights, justice, history as well as various social issues. Prior to graduation, she knew she wanted to go further in her education and that led her to look at graduate programs, after consideration and research, she felt that this program was well suited for the path she wants to go down. After completing this program, she hopes to either attend law school or begin her career within a field that relates to what she has learned throughout her education. She selected this program because of its emphasis on research within the social justice arena, the entire program sums up what she is most interested in researching.

E-mail: thefonzo1997@yahoo.com
Hometown: San Juan Capistrano, CA

Biography

Alonzo has lived in Canada and the U.S. He has traveled to Argentina, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. He has worked in Canada and the U.S. Alonzo speaks English and Spanish.

Alonzo graduated with an undergraduate major in History and a minor in Ethnic Studies. He is planning to do his thesis as a comparison between Capitalistic markets versus Civil markets. Alonzo has worked with L’Arche Daybreak, Neighborhood Ministries, Orange County’s Credit Union, Social Centric, Valley Interfaith Project and is currently working at the Tolleson Unified High School District.

Upon completion of his Social Justice and Human Rights degree he will have an abundance of options regarding career choices. He could remain in the Phoenix area or perhaps have the opportunity to move outside of the state, maybe outside of the country. This past summer, while traveling in South America, he was introduced to an exciting opportunity in Peru. While on this pilgrimage, he came across a Catholic organization that works with the poor. The group’s name is the Columbans and their mission is to live and fight along with the underprivileged, most of which are the native peoples. Another prospect, if he were to remain in Phoenix, is that he could continue to help mentor the next generation of young men and women at the alternative high school (James A. Green Continuing Education Academy in Tolleson, AZ), where he am currently employed. These are students that do not fit within the regular high school guidelines, due to the way they learn or their home environment. They service students with disabilities, pregnant or teenage mothers, gang-members attempting to change, and students behind on credits. He could also pursue a career with the abused and/or homeless, as he has some experience due to working in a low-income school district. Also, he will continue to be involved in the political activist arena with organizations that fight for equality like Valley Interfaith Project. Originally, he did not intend to continue his education, not immediately at least. He was actually looking forward to having more of a social life. To his advantage, he was led to a seemingly ideal master’s degree program. It behooved him to apply for and be accepted to this program; he felt as if it was tailored specifically for him. This is his calling. God has continually opened the door for him to work with and now study in the social justice and human rights field.

E-mail: anna.gotschall@hotmail.com
Hometown: Chippewa Falls, WI

Biography

Anna has lived in the U.S. She has traveled to El Salvador, Mexico, Holland, Belgium, France, and Spain. She has worked in the U.S.

Anna graduated from with an undergraduate major in Sociology and a minor in Religion. She has worked with Hennepin County Government Center Housing and Homeless Initiative, Minnesota Internship Center, CommonBond Communities, Police Athletic League Softball Co-coach, Lyngblomsten.

E-mail: ashleycassidy@cox.net
Hometown: Doylestown, PA

Biography

Ashley has lived in the U.S. She has traveled to India, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Costa Rica, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy, and the Bahamas. She has worked in India. Ashley speaks English and Spanish.

Ashley graduated with an undergraduate major in American Indian Studies and Justice Studies. She has chosen the NGO Management Track. Ashley has worked with The Emancipation Network, Florence Crittenton, The International Committee, The Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking, Amnesty International, Women for Women International, Arizona Right to Life, Invisible Children.

Several years ago, Ashley was struck by the fact that there are currently more slaves in the world today than at any other time in history. This interest soon became a passion, and when she began working in the field of anti-human trafficking, this passion grew into a way of life. Backed by her experience working with trafficking survivors and the relationships she has formed with them and other advocates, she is beginning the MA SJHR program with the ultimate goal of founding my own non-profit organization. Her mission is to create programs dedicated to self-sustainability, economic development and the empowerment of women and children overseas where there exists an even smaller resource base for trafficking survivors than there does in the U.S. The program she envisions will focus particularly on women in the India/ Nepal/Tibet and Southeast Asia regions as well as children in Western Africa, and will enable survivors to financially support themselves via education and economic development activities. In the MASJHR program, she is seeking a forum in which to research contributing factors of human trafficking in the aforementioned locales and what characterizes social service programs that are and are not successful in minimizing red-light districts. Ashley is eager to engage with like-minded people and learn from their interests and experiences, and ultimately gain the skills and professional confidence necessary to found and manage a successful non-profit.

E-mail: becksklgrl@yahoo.com
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Biography

Rebecca has lived in the U.S. She has traveled to Mexico. She has worked in the U.S.

Rebecca graduated with an undergraduate major in Political Science, and holds a Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do her thesis on justice after genocide for women. Rebecca has worked with Amnesty International, Free the Slaves, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, New Leaf, Sahuaro PATS (school PTO), Sahuaro Site Council, and Junior Achievement.

Rebecca first heard about the program when it was still a concept, and she was incredibly excited about the potential that this posed. During the time between that point and the establishment of the program, she had the opportunity to work with both Dr. Simmons and Dr. Mueller on projects related to the femicides in Ciudad Juarez, all while working on her MA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Arizona State University. It was towards the end of her first MA program that the SJHR program began accepting applications. She felt that there were additional skills that she needed to be able to work in the field and so took the opportunity to apply for a second MA program. During her time at Arizona State University, between both programs, she has also had the opportunity to work on the Border Justice series that has been held on campus in various capacities. She is interested in issues of gender-based violence and completed the capstone for her first MA on power and gender in post-genocide Rwanda. Once completing this program, she hopes to continue her education by eventually completing both a PhD and a JD with the final goal of teaching others. She selected this program because of the passion of the faculty towards ending injustices and their ability to enlighten others. There is no other program like it.

E-mail: brawson@asu.edu
Hometown: Point Pleasant, WV

Biography

Brooke has lived in the U.S. She has traveled to Mexico. She has worked in the U.S. Brooke speaks English and Spanish.

Brooke graduated with an undergraduate major in History and a minor in Philosophy. She has chosen the Research Track. Brooke has worked with AmeriCorps VISTA, The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation, Invisible Children, Oxfam America, and RESULTS.

Brooke chose the SJHR program at ASU, because she wanted to dive deeper into the multitude of issues that surround social justice at an institution that is dedicated to such interests. Through her recent service in AmeriCorps VISTA at West Virginia Wesleyan College, she helped support faculty, staff, students and community agencies who were working on issues such as poverty, sustainability, and economic development. Influenced by the work they accomplished, she wanted to continue studying the issues while developing her passion for social justice. ASU was a natural choice in the end because she became aware of its outstanding reputation within higher education through her work. Currently, her research interests vary from food policy to higher education; however, after completion of the program, she would like to enter a doctoral program and become a professor.

E-mail: cswallinger@gmail.com
Hometown: Mount Jackson, Virginia

Biography

Carrie has lived in Mongolia and the U.S. She has traveled to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Spain, China, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She has worked in Mongolia. Carrie speaks English, Mongolian and some Spanish.

Carrie graduated from Mary Washington College in Virginia with an undergraduate major in English and Political Science. She has chosen the NGO Management Track, and is planning to do her thesis on Slavery and Human Trafficking. Carrie has worked with the Peace Corps, The International Rescue Committee (Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking) The Conservation Fund and the New Dominion School for Girls. She currently volunteers with Puente Arizona, Copwatch and No More Deaths.

Carrie chose the SJHR program because it seemed to fit very well with her interests in antislavery and trafficking issues as well as social movements. Prior to moving to Arizona she worked as a print reporter, a Peace Corps volunteer and a wilderness youth counselor. As a masters candidate she has been able to combine her interests in activism with her academic studies. Since beginning the program she has conducted research on health disparities amongst different ethnic populations in Phoenix, the effects of Heteronormative ideology on same-sex adoption and the ways in which the demands of global capitalism fuel slavery around the world.

E-mail: cedawes@asu.edu
Hometown: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada

Biography

Chelsey has lived in Canada. She has traveled to the U.S., El Salvador, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Peru. She has worked in Canada, El Salvador, and Bolivia.

Chelsey graduated with an undergraduate Non-Profit Management. She has chosen both the NGO Management and Research Tracks. Chelsey has worked with Bolivia Canadian Coalition Water Network; Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan; Change for Children Association; Smoke Free Program for Mount Royal College; Future Alumni Network and Association for Student Advancement Programs; Rotaract Calgary; Canadian Youth Climate Coalition; CHF (formerly the Canadian Hunger Foundation); Rural Youth Ambassador Council Alberta; Kids Curing Kids Foundation; Headshave Canada; Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids; Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre; Habitat for Humanity; Students for Change.

Chelsey recently moved from Canada to attend the MASJHR program. She chose this program because there are no programs like it in Canada with the dual focus of Human Rights and Social Justice. The past few years, she has been focusing on issues to do with Women’s Rights and Literacy in Afghanistan; as well as issues encompassing water as a human right. Once she completes the MASJHR program, she hopes to go back to Canada to do more water advocacy work, as well as return to Bolivia and other South American countries to help install more water filtration systems. Eventually, she hope to complete some field work in Afghanistan with the organization Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan addressing water issues and women’s rights.

E-mail: csanidad@gmail.com
Hometown: Morgan Hill, CA

Biography

Cristina has lived in the U.S., Guatemala, and Mexico. She has traveled to Spain, Italy, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Cristina speaks English and Spanish.

Cristina graduated with an undergraduate major in Comparative Ethnic Studies and Sociology. She has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do her thesis on workers rights in Arizona. Cristina has worked with Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice, Sacred Heart Community Services, Julian St Inn, Community Homeless Alliance Ministries, and Santa Clara Community Action Program.

Cristina’s research interests broadly include workers’ and immigrants’ rights, Mexican/ Mexican-American communities in the US, social inequality, stratification and homelessness. Based on her research and work at the Arizona Interfaith Alliance for Worker Justice, she hopes to publish ethnographies of low-wage workers in Arizona as well as a book on workers’ experiences with wage theft, and the strategies they use to secure justice. She hopes that her research and testimony on the issue of wage theft will create consciousness of the prevalence of this issue and its impact on families and the economy, and inform public policy regarding the DOL and state/federal labor laws so that marginalized populations ultimately benefit.

She is grateful to have found this unique program for the opportunity she will have to widen her understanding of various social issues and better understand the intersections between them, and receive training on how to conduct community-embedded research that validates the humanity of communities we study and encourages their empowerment and participation in the process.

E-mail: danielleahlberg@hotmail.com
Hometown: Eugene, OR

Biography

Danielle has lived in the U.K, Germany, Japan, and Guatemala. She has traveled to Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Japan, the U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain. She has worked in Japan. Danielle speaks English, Spanish and some Arabic.

Danielle graduated with an undergraduate major in Cross-Cultural Studies and Psychology, and holds an M.A. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Danielle has worked with Youth With a Mission, Dove International, World Changers Institute, and Teen Challenge.

Danielle is very interested in working for an organization whose focus is on child sex trafficking in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. She chose the MASJHR program because she believes that it will best equip her to serve in this field, but also train her in the dynamics of working long-term for an NGO.

E-mail: dkosumi@asu.edu
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Biography

Doruntine has lived in U.S., Italy, Kosovo, and Macedonia. She has traveled to Italy, Spain, Germany, Coratia, France, Montenegro, and Albania. She has worked in the U.S. and Italy. Doruntine speaks English, Italian and Albanian.

Doruntine graduated with an undergraduate major in Political Science and a minor in Italian Studies. She has chosen the Research Track. She has worked with the U.S. State Department.

Doruntine graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science and worked in the Political Office of U.S. Embassy Rome in 2007 and 2008. She was drawn to the MASJHR program because it gives students the ability to gain knowledge of human rights from many perspectives and prepares students to pursue a career in human rights through many avenues. With the knowledge and research skills she hopes to gain in the program, she wishes to research minority rights in Kosovo and/or Italy. Upon graduation, she will be more apt to pursue a specialized career in international service, and better equipped to make wise and substantive contributions to the betterment of our society.

E-mail: elmille6@asu.edu
Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Biography

Elizabeth has lived in Tanzania, Albania, and the U.S. She has traveled to Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro, Denmark, Switzerland, Kenya, the U.K., Mexico, Jamaica, and Canada.

Elizabeth graduated with an undergraduate major in Sociology, with a concentration in Social Justice, and a minor in Communications and Media Studies. She has chosen the NGO Management Track, and is planning to do her thesis studying critical issues facing nonprofits and the skills necessary for future social justice organization leaders.

Elizabeth has worked with House of Ruth Domestic Violence Center, Baltimore, MD; Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Services, York, PA.

Elizabeth chose the MASJHR program because it was the only program she learned about that truly centered on a social justice framework. She was also drawn to the program for its international focus, and emphasis on action and activist learning. Her research interests include human trafficking, refugee rights, nonprofit management, the development of service learning programs in educational systems, and gender issues, among other things. Although her future plans are not set it stone, she is confident that the MASJHR program is successfully preparing her for many opportunities. She plans to go on for her Masters in Social Work and/or Ph.D., and eventually would like to start a nonprofit.

E-mail: fjmorrisjr@yahoo.com
Hometown: Glendale, AZ

Biography

Frank has lived in the U.S. He has traveled to Mexico. He has worked in the U.S. Frank speaks English and a little Spanish.

Frank graduated with an undergraduate major in Political Science and a minor in International Relations. He has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do his applied project addressing trafficking, labor, and women’s rights. Frank has worked with West Valley View, AFL-CIO, and Free the Slaves.

After working as a newspaper reporter for several years, Frank felt the need to return to school to pursue his passions and do “something more.” He happened to come across the MASJHR program, and it seemed like the perfect fit. Frank came into the program without a real focus, but is now very interested in both trafficking and labor issues as they overlap with the intersection of race, class, and gender. He has yet to figure out what it is exactly he would like to do upon completion of his degree, but he would like to do something that fills his heart – and his wallet.

E-mail: greenwise@aol.com
Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Biography

Karen has traveled to Japan and Germany.

Karen graduated with an undergraduate major in Psychology and a minor in Fine Art. She has chosen the NGO Management Track. Karen has worked with Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center and Eve’s Place.

For the past 2 years, Karen has worked and volunteered at a domestic violence shelter. Being witness to women and children traumatized, uncertain of what the future holds and unable to sustain emotional or financial stability, confirmed her decision to enroll in the SJHR program. Her goal is to become active in helping victims of domestic violence regain control of their lives and find stability through a non-profit organization that opens their arms to help women who want to be empowered but need strong support. Her goal is to take a leadership role in providing the resources needed for these women and families, many who leave shelters still uncertain of what their future holds or who to turn to for answers.

E-mail: knorberg@asu.edu
Hometown: Alexandria, VA

Biography

Katie has lived in the U.S., Germany, and Chile. She has traveled to the U.K., Scotland, Republic of Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Germany, and Chile. She has worked in the U.S. Katie speaks English, Spanish and a little French.

Katie graduated with an undergraduate major in Religious Studies and Spanish. She has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do his/her thesis critiquing the abolitionist agenda of NGOs working in modern slavery through the perspective of historical anti-slavery movements. Katie has worked with Catholic Diocese of Arlington; Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; Madison House (UVA) Migrant Workers Tutoring Program; Catholic Student Association (UVA); Holy Cross Associates (Phoenix); Central Arizona Shelter Services; André House; and Free the Slaves.

Katie chose the MASJHR program as opposed to any other program she encountered because she believes it had the best chance of actually delivering on what it set out to be for its students, mostly due to its earnest and inter-disciplinary approach. Through the course of the program, her studies have focused on the issues of houselessness, social capital and social learning/development, labor, and slavery, particularly as it exists within the United States. She might eventually go to law school, but, for the time being, she hopes to work either for a non-profit or the government regarding labor and human trafficking.

E-mail: layal.rabat@asu.edu
Hometown:

Biography

Layal has lived in the U.S. and Syria. She has traveled to Syria, Mexico, and France. She has worked in the U.S. Layal speaks English, Arabic, Spanish, and a bit of Armenian.

Layal graduated with an undergraduate major in Psychology. She has worked with Amnesty International, Free the slaves, Nijel.org, Techsoup.org, and Spectrum.

Layal’s goals, after she completes her degree, are to learn how to best utilize technology to benefit human rights. She wants to help organizations increase their networks to include wider audiences, and help them learn how to rely on technology in order to maximize their efficiency and minimize their costs. She hopes to someday serve as a free-lance consultant helping organizations achieve these goals. This way, she will not be geographically tethered and can go where she is needed.

The reason that Layal selected the MASJHR program is because she is very passionate about social justice, because most of the world is not fair, and because most of the population on the planet does not have the basic rights that they need. Everyone deserves the dignity and respect that human rights offer, no matter what they have done or where they are from. She wants to be a part of a worldwide change for the better by spending her life doing her small part in it. She not only feels as though she is going to school, I feel as if I have dedicated my life to social justice as nuns and priests dedicate their lives to their deity. She is not sure where this will all lead, but she feels called to follow this discipline.

Layal’s research interests are to focus on technology, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, refugee rights, immigration rights, and modern day slavery. That list goes on, and it may sound unfocused, but she is leaving her options open because she wants to be where she is needed, not the place where my ego feels it is advantageous for me to be. She is definitely a multi-disciplinarian through and through, and she thinks that this program has really embraced that in her, and has allowed her to thrive and do what she does best.

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Biography

Clark has lived in the U.S., Japan, and Ecuador. He has traveled to Canada, Mexico, Beliz, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, the U.K., Italy, France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Tanzania, Kenya, Japan, and South Korea. He has worked in the U.S., Japan, and Ecuador. Clark speaks English, Japanese, and Spanish.

Clark graduated with an undergraduate major in Economics and a minor in Philosophy. He has chosen the NGO Management Track.

Clark’s current field of interest is working with marginalized youth in urban areas. However, as one begins to delve into one area of social injustice, one can find that lines quickly blur, and one can end up confronting numerous other issues that all tie together. As he still haves much to learn, he currently does not have a clear career line, but he sees himself working in the NGO sector. His attraction to the MASJHR program was immediate and that was further cemented upon attending a lecture given by Dr. William Simmons and meeting some of the students already enrolled in the program. There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm surrounding this program, and Clark feels fortunate to have this opportunity to study with others who share the same drive to change systems that promote suffering.

E-mail: marquette.bycura@asu.edu
Hometown: Tempe, AZ

Biography

Marquette has lived in the U.S. and Germany. She has traveled to Ireland, the U.K., Belgium, France, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Mexico, and Canada. She has worked in Germany. Marquette speaks English and German.

Marquette graduated with an undergraduate major in Political Science and a minor in German. She has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do his/her thesis human rights law. Marquette has worked with National Council of Churches, Tempe First United Methodist Church, Diversity Dialogues, Tempe Sister Cities, and Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission.

Marquette is a passionate person. This manifests itself through an intense interest in just about anything. She has played just about every sport, various musical instruments and she loves acting, dancing and singing. Academically, she is equally scattered. There are precious few topics she would not be incredibly enthused to delve into. However, there is one constant. More than anything, she has always wanted to study law. Law school is my eventual destination. She is here because she still has a passion to learn about so much more and she sees law school as her final destination, thus a Masters had to precede law school. Moreover, she wanted to work toward a Masters degree in something that would pertain to the type of law she would like to practice, and human rights law fascinates her. Therefore, she would like her research and thesis to center upon human rights law. Although this masters program may open up new realms of study and therefore cause her interests to splinter ever further, it is her hope that this masters program will focus and direct her passions into a manner in which they can culminate in a vocation.

E-mail: kemccar1@asu.edu
Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Biography

Kelly has lived in the U.S. and Argentina. She has traveled to Costa Rica, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, the U.K., France, and Argentina.. She has worked in Argentina. Kelly speaks English, Spanish and Koranic Arabic.

Kelly graduated from Elon University with undergraduate majors in International Studies and Spanish and minors in Latin American Studies and Spanish. She has chosen the NGO Management Track, and is planning to do her applied project working with art as a tool for human rights advocacy. Kelly has worked with Las Otras Hermanas, Amnesty International, Project Pericles, Population Action International, Habitat for Humanity International - Zambia, Barack Obama Presidential Campaign in Alamance County (North Carolina), Fairness Alamance, and Infinity Ballet Theater.

As an undergraduate student at Elon University, Kelly completed an undergraduate thesis, entitled “(re)Imaging Argentina: The role of art, collective memory, and democracy in the post-dictatorship.” To complete this project, she spent two and a half years studying the role of art in post-conflict societies, spending six months of this time in Argentina working with artists and experts in the field. Kelly chose to join the MASJHR program to continue to study the vital importance of artists in post-conflict societies, drawn to it because of its interdisciplinary nature. Through the program, she also hopes to learn more about working on the ground with populations who have experienced human rights abuses. Upon completion of the program, she hopes to start her own non-profit with the goal of supporting political artists in countries that have experienced political abuse, civil war and/or genocide. However, her passions are not limited to political art. As the daughter of two teachers, she is passionate about education issues. Kelly is also extremely interested in women’s reproductive rights. She enjoys working with advocacy organizations in the U.S. that educate our citizens about important issues abroad (particularly issues surrounding women’s rights, fair trade, and education).

Hometown: Yreka, CA

Biography

Nic has lived in the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Guatemala. He has traveled to Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, England, Holland. S/He has worked in Mexico and Guatemala. Nic speaks English and Spanish.

Nic graduated with an undergraduate major in Anthropology and a minor in Latin American Studies. He has chosen the Research Track. Nic has worked with the Peace Corps and CONANP Mexico.

Nic chose the MASJHR Program in hopes that it would lead him on a career path with organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. He has always admired the work of the watch dog organizations that shed light on the issues that are often left in the shadows by the US mass media.

E-mail: philipkuol@hotmail.com
Hometown: Bor Town in Sudan

Biography

Kuol has lived in Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia and the U.S. He has traveled to Canada and Kenya. He has worked in Kenya. Kuol speaks English, Dinka, Kiswhahili, and Arabic.

Kuol graduated with an undergraduate major in psychology. He has worked with the IRC and Catholic Community Services.

Kuol has volunteered as community organizer for many years in refugee camps in Africa until 2001, when he had an opportunity to come to USA, where he went to college and earned his undergraduate degree in 2006 from University of Utah. Kuol majored in Psychology because he wanted to fight injustices face by disabled populations in our society especially in the third-world countries. With that in mind, he sees MASJHR program as way forward to prepare himself to be able to advocate for the rights of the individuals who are affected in society. His goal is to work for NGOS in third-world countries especially in Africa. Kuol would like to finish this program by May of 2011 and starting working in the field by August of 2011

E-mail: rema-therese.beydoun@asu.edu
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Biography

Rema speaks English and is learning Arabic.

Rema graduated from ASU West with an undergraduate major in History. She has chosen the NGO Management Track. Rema has worked with Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees.

Rema-Therese Beydoun graduated from the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU) in December 2008, with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She became interested in human rights during her sophomore year in college, prompting her to join Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees (COAR) as a volunteer. Rema went on to work on democracy and human rights issues at the U.S. Department of State after graduating from ASU. Upon returning to the Phoenix area, Rema became the Program Director of COAR to serve the refugee community in Arizona. As a student in the Social Justice and Human Rights program, Rema hopes to focus her thesis work on human rights, democracy and rule of law in developing countries, particularly in the Middle East.

E-mail: naser.sam@gmail.com
Hometown: Scottsdale/San Fransico bay Area, CA

Biography

Sam has lived in the U.S. He has traveled to Palestine (West Bank), Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel. He has worked in the U.S., and the West Bank. Sam speaks English and Arabic.

Sam graduated with an undergraduate major in Journalism and a minor in Arabic.

Sam selected this program because political concerns continually intrude into his life, and he believes they demand a moral response. His goals for this program are to develop his interest in social justice, further investigate social inequities around the world, and arrive in a position inside the bounds of discourse where he can speak out critically against human rights violations wherever they occur. As an American citizen, he feel a particular responsibility for the crimes committed by the country to which he pays his taxes.

E-mail: semere.kesete@gmail.com
Hometown: Eritrea

Biography

Semere has lived in the U.S., Eritrea, and Sweden. He has traveled to Ethiopia, Sudan, Norway, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He has worked in Eritrea and Sweden. Semere speaks English, Tigrigna, Amharic and Swedish.

Semere graduated with an undergraduate major in law.

Using the knowledge he will acquire from the MASJHR program, Semere has a long-term plan of working in Social Justice and Human Rights related issues with specific focus on developing countries. In doing this, he looks forward to doing more research based on the application of law (especially international law) on preventing conflicts and preserving of Social Justice and Human Rights. He found the MASJHR, and believes is the appropriate program to lead him toward these goals.

E-mail: Stephen.marotta@asu.edu
Hometown: Boston, MA

Biography

Stephen has lived in the U.S. He has traveled to Italy, France, Switzerland, and Canada. He has worked in the U.S. Stephen speaks English and a little Spanish.

Stephen graduated with an undergraduate major in Sociology and a minor in Audio Engineering. He has chosen both the NGO Management and Research Tracks.

Stephen is interested in the social aspects of many issues, particularly sociopolitical issues such as environmental and resource sustainability, economic justice and socioeconomics, urban poverty, and globalization. Issues from today on into the future will be vastly interdisciplinary, and he would like to contribute to the sociological research and solutions aspects of these issues. Stephen’s career plans include the possibilities of government, research—in either a public, private, or non-governmental setting—or even law school. Writing is another of Stephen’s passion, and he would enjoy a career in such a field as journalism, magazine writing, or blogging. As far as why he chose to study Social Justice and Human Rights, he feels as though he will be able to explore the myriad social issues that interest him and nail down an area of expertise through the applied project or thesis. His senior thesis was on the topic of neoliberalism (free-market capitalism and globalization) and how it related socially to issues such as international development, finance, and the environment. He also did a case study on socioeconomic issues in Mumbai, India, particularly the effects of neoliberal socio-politics. It is possible that he may continue to study neoliberalism’s social side effects in this program.

E-mail: enovak@asu.edu
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Biography

Ted has lived in Dominica and Costa Rica. He has traveled to many countries in the West Indies, Western Europe, Central and South America. He has worked in Dominica, Costa Rica and Mexico. Ted speaks English and Spanish.

Ted graduated with an undergraduate major in History, and holds another degree in Latin American Studies. He has chosen the Research Track and is planning to do his thesis on the migration of Dominicans during the Trujillato. Ted has worked with the Peace Corps, Arizona Democratic Party, and the Esperanza Orphanage in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Ted Novak is in his third semester in the SJHR MA program. He will complete his coursework at the end of Spring, 2010. He chose to pursue this degree because he is a believer in the great value of an interdisciplinary course of study that is both community-embedded and academically-oriented. His principal interests are in ethnic studies, war crimes and international migration. His oriented track will be one of research; as of now, he is contemplating writing his thesis on issues having to do with the Trujillato in the Dominican Republic and how it affected settlement patterns. Ted hopes to go on to get his Ph.D. and eventually teach at the college level. Currently, Ted teaches junior high Language Arts at St. Francis Xavier School in Phoenix.

E-mail: vquinone@asu.edu
Hometown: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Biography

Vinita has lived in Costa Rica and Honduras. She has traveled to Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. She has worked in Honduras. Vinita speaks English and Spanish.

Vinita graduated with an undergraduate major in Sociology and a minor in African American Studies. She has chosen both the NGO Management and Research Tracks. Vinita has worked with Tucson Boys and Girls Club, Tucson Child and Family Resources, Friendly Pines Summer Camp, Escalante Community Center (City of Tempe), City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation, Roosevelt School District (PHX), Peace Corps, Anytown Arizona, and Southwest Behavioral Health Services.

As a native of a Caribbean island, Vinita grew up in a place that many consider “paradise.” We had sandy beaches, a beautiful landscape, and an “ideal” climate. Reality to its residents tells a more sobering tale. As a youth growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, she was exposed to some of the harsh realities of life. There was and continue to be high levels of crime, drugs, violence, and poverty. Despite these conditions, she was fortunate enough to benefit from individuals who took action and worked to generate change. These individuals were vocal about injustice. They actively served by implementing programs that enhanced education and created opportunities. She was impacted, inspired, and transformed. Ultimately, contributions were made to her personal identity and future aspirations.

Currently, she is employed in the field of Community Youth Development. She is exultant about the work she does and will continue within this field. She will one day, establish effective sustainable programs that will support youth-based agencies. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree. This will ultimately refine her knowledge and permit for the dissemination of research-based programs and studies to a wider audience. The MASJHR program will help her do just that. This program is a unique academic approach to Social Justice. It provides a national perspective that explores themes on a transnational level. It allows the participants to explore and experience Social Justice and Human Rights in a unique fashion. In addition, MASJHR appeals to Vinita’s desire for intellectual growth, global awareness, social activism, and community involvement. It is her hope that her studies and work within the Social Justice field will one day permit her the honor of giving to the global community the opportunities that were granted to her in the Virgin Islands.

Hometown: Tempe, AZ

Biography

Kyle has lived in the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China. He has traveled to England, France, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Canada. He has worked in the People’s Republic of China. Kyle speaks English and some Mandarin Chinese.

Kyle graduated with an undergraduate major in Philosophy and a minor in Mathematics and Religious Studies. He has chosen the Research Track, and is planning to do his thesis focusing on asset theory and vulnerability to modern slavery.

Although issues of fundamental rights and moral imperatives have always been central to his set of interests, after living on the Chinese mainland, Kyle felt compelled to pursue focused research in economic, social, cultural and political rights. Specifically, he desired to study issues of economic rights (rights to food, basic health care, employment standards), the universal right to higher education, the right to free speech, rhetoric of political protest, the role of the internet in alleviating human rights issues, and active methods of peaceful resistance and revolution pique my interest. Arizona State University’s MA SJHR program was a logical fit as it not only allowed him to delve into his particular interests, but also allowed him to do so while working closely with a diverse, accomplished faculty. The program has not disappointed in either regard. During his tenure in the MA program, he was able to assist in the research of two professors, while working very closely with three others. And, in his own research, he examined the differences between US and Chinese higher education practices and the global standards stipulated by human rights law, noted hegemonic practices in U.S. human rights policy through a detailed comparison to David Schneiderman’s “investment rules regime,” and, in his thesis, demonstrated how a lack or surplus of particular assets increases an individual’s vulnerability to enslavement. Upon completion of the MA, he plans to take some time off to write and volunteer (working part-time to pay the bills, of course) before pursuing a Ph.D. in a degree focusing on some combination of human rights, political philosophy and economics.