Graduate News

HRSMA Graduate News is a hub dedicated to celebrating the success and meaningful impact of ISHR students, faculty, and alumni - both on Columbia's campus and beyond. Here we feature student and alumni profiles, faculty news, student awards and recognitions, as well as stories and reflections, all of which highlight the remarkable people who make up ISHR's vibrant community.

Read our interview with Skylar (Sky) Lingo, Human Rights Studies M.A. ‘24.
 

ISHR is proud to announce that Leyla Bilalova, Human Rights Studies M.A. ‘26, was awarded the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis International Fellowship for her superior academic accomplishments.

ISHR students, faculty, and deputy director attended the Human Rights Education Forum: Unleashing Human Rights, held in Budapest from December 8-11th.

M.A. Human Rights Studies graduate, Johanna Wassong, shares her experience in the program and the work she is currently doing.

Volunteer opportunities for Summer 2026 are now open!

ISHR is pleased to announce the 2026 Human Rights Essay Contest. The contest aims to encourage and acknowledge students who have written exceptional academic papers that address issues related to human rights.

Past participants and hosts from ISHR’s Student Volunteer Program (SVP) spoke to current students about their experiences in mid November.

On Thursday, October 30th, the Institute for the Study of Human Rights hosted a conversation with H.E. Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in Geneva.

On Friday, October 10, 2025, ISHR hosted a training titled "Community Engagement for Human Rights Practitioners."

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR) is inviting faculty to submit proposals for the Human Rights Research Award.

Uni Valdivieso Wooldridge, a Master’s Student in Human Rights Studies at ISHR, is one of three students participating in ISHR’s Student Volunteer Program (SVP) this summer.

Ariella Kissin, who is pursuing the MA in Human Rights Studies, is one of three students participating in ISHR’s Student Volunteer Program (SVP) this summer.