Brenda Urueta
Year Graduated: 
2018

Master of Human Rights Graduate Student, Philanthropy Associate, Social Impact Intern

Multiple

Job description

As a Master of Human Rights student entering my second and final year of graduate school, I am concentrating in human rights and development. Thus far in graduate school, I have participated in two research teams that submitted reports to the United Nations. This summer, I completed an internship with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's affiliate, Lever For Change, as a Social Impact Intern. In this role, I created a catalog of published articles written by foundation staff and competition participants, read project proposals, copy-edited, and completed other tasks as assigned. In the fall 2021 semester, I will be continuing my internship with Lever For Change and also work as a Philanthropy Associate for Access Philanthropy.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose International Studies and Spanish in part because of my heritage and also because I wanted to work internationally in the future. Initially planning on pursuing my degree in Environmental Resources Engineering, I met Professor Rosamel Benavides-Garb and changed my mind. The prospect of studying abroad and gaining practical skills in international political economy, arts, and language made it more attractive as time went on.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

Through the program, I learned how to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently. This became immensely useful when I became a community organizer serving Latinx communities. The interdisciplinary nature of both the Spanish and International Studies programs prepared me to be a well-rounded citizen, professional, and scholar.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

I enjoyed the professors the most. They were engaging and supportive and went above and beyond to support us throughout our endeavors.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

You will not regret being in the program, especially if you are aiming to work internationally. Lean on your professors and they will support you however they can.

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