Why I Chose Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy – and How It’s Going

After working for several years in international affairs and human rights, I knew the Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy (HRHP) concentration— now known as Human Rights, Gender, and Equity (HRGE)—was exactly where I belonged. Before SIPA, I spent over five years in human rights and public service. As Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator at Amnesty International USA, I led national organizing initiatives and strengthened programs that empowered activists to fight for justice worldwide. Earlier, I founded SheFFA, a nonprofit dedicated to ending female genital mutilation, and later served as an appointed advisor to the New York City Mayor’s Office task force on Female Genital Mutilation. My time as a Legislative Fellow in Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s office and as a Political Fellow at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh through the Charles B. Rangel Fellowship further deepened my interest in the intersection between human rights and diplomacy.

I came to SIPA not to change careers but to expand my capacity to make an impact. The HRHP concentration bridges my advocacy background with the policy tools needed to operate effectively in multilateral and diplomatic spaces. Courses such as International Human Rights Law, Children’s Rights Advocacy, Migration and Human Development, and Rethinking Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy have enabled me to connect academic theory with the realities I observed in the field. We explore complex questions—Who enforces rights? How do politics shape humanitarian priorities?—and learn to think critically about designing equitable solutions that work in practice.

What surprised me most after arriving at SIPA was its global community. With students from more than a hundred countries, every classroom debate is enriched by firsthand perspectives on migration, governance, and justice. HRHP students, in particular, bring a deep passion and purpose; the conversations often extend beyond the classroom into collaborative projects and events focused on gender equity, humanitarian response, and inclusion.

For anyone considering HRGE, know that it’s more than a concentration—it’s a community of practitioners committed to creating a fairer, more just world.