ISHR is delighted to announce that two undergraduate human rights students were selected for the 2026 Truman Scholarship. Ananya Bhatia, and Justin Kiel, along with 53 other scholars, were chosen from over 780 applicants for their “outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence.”
"I am so grateful to study Human Rights at Columbia with professors who always connect class content to the world's current issues and debates. Especially through the department's classes on asylum law and immigration policy, I developed a deeper understanding of the practical mechanisms needed for change. That knowledge definitely gave me the foundation I needed when preparing my application." - Ananya Bhatia
“The combination of international politics and American law in my human rights studies has provided me with great opportunities to think about human rights in my local government work and I'm sure it will serve as a solid foundation for law school.” - Justin Kiel
The Truman Scholarship is a prestigious award that recognizes the next generation of public service leaders. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
