News

Taylor Rae Roman, HRSMA '25 reflects on her experience teaching at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a maximum security federal prison in Brooklyn, through Just Ideas - a program supported by ISHR. 

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is now accepting applications to the Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 programs.

Congratulations to Maia Borchardt, Human Rights Studies M.A. '25, for publishing the article "Can the 'human rights economy' rebalance power in our politics?" in Open Global Rights.

Banu Pekol, a 2020 Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability (AHDA) Fellow at Columbia University’s ISHR, was recently recognized on the global stage when she was named a finalist—and the sole woman in the top three—for the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to Adequate Housing. 

2010 Advocate Siarhei Antusevich accepted one of the most prestigious international trade union honors, the George Meany–Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award.

Congratulations to Haley Chung (CC'23) and Daisy Nunez Torres (CC'26), who have been selected for the 2026–2027 Fulbright U.S. Student Grants. Fulbright awards grants for students to conduct independent research, study, and teach in over 160 countries.

Monisha Gunaskera (CC'26), a Human Rights major, has been selected to participate in the New York City Urban Fellows Program. This program is a nine-month fellowship in which the fellow works at the mayoral office and city agencies and explores current urban issues affecting public policy.

On May 19, 2026, Sarayu Bethamcherla, human rights major graduate, delivered a speech during the Columbia College Class Day. Sarayu is the President of the Columbia College Student Council.

ISHR is excited to announce that the Human Rights Advocates Program's 2025-26 Annual Program Report is now available! 

HRSMA Alumna Ishita Petkar joins a panel of alumni at the 10th installment of GSAS SynThesis competition where they shared their experience and offered advice to current students.

ISHR is delighted to announce that Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ’07 Human Rights Studies M.A. received the GSAS Dean’s Award for Distinguished Achievement.  

ISHR wishes to congratulate 2023-24 Advocate Amisha Adhikari who graduated from Georgetown Law in May of 2026.