The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) is excited to announce the official launch of our Refugee Leadership Program, with the selection of two inaugural Fellows.
A.R.* fled Iran as a teenager with her family when her father was targeted by the government as a political opponent. Based on the East Coast, A.R. is currently finishing a master’s program in Near Eastern Studies and will start law school this fall. “CGRS’s Refugee Leaders Fellowship has been a career-defining moment for me, and it has solidified my decision to pursue a career in immigration and refugee law,” A.R. says. “For a long time, I had debated whether I wanted to pursue my education as a researcher or attend a J.D. program to practice on the ground, and this fellowship opportunity was the exact experience I needed to fully commit to law and its practice. I am beyond grateful for the experience and excited to work closely with the litigation team at CGRS.”
P.Z.* was forced to leave their Central Asian country where they faced persecution by the government for their human rights activism, which included preparing pro se materials for women and children forced to represent themselves in family court proceedings, and documenting violations of LGBTQ rights. P.Z. currently lives on the West Coast, where they continue their advocacy while enrolled in a graduate program. “I am excited to develop my skills in project management, fundraising, and advocacy,” P.Z. says. “I will focus on developing a culturally sensitive and language-accessible toolkit for newcomers to get easier access to crucial services as well as simplify navigation through the U.S. asylum system. I will also contribute to the country conditions reports on LGBTQIA+ human rights violations in Central Asia.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome our new Fellows,” Professor Karen Musalo, founding director of CGRS says. “A.R. and P.Z. bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, along with a spirit of creativity and compassion as advocates. We’re grateful to the hundreds of impressive and inspiring people with lived experience who expressed interest in the Fellowship. We hope to grow our work in this area and encourage other organizations to undertake similar programs.”
Thie Refugee Leadership Program is designed to center the expertise of people who have experienced forced displacement, while supporting their continued leadership in the refugee rights field through professional development and networking opportunities.
*Initials used to protect Fellows’ privacy