The Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC) is pleased to announce its summer 2025 fellowship recipients, who will participate in internships and research with human rights based organizations. These fellowships will provide students with an experiential learning opportunity that allows them to see how human rights work looks in practice.
This year DHRC is awarding the DHRC Social Change Initiative Fellowship, DHRC Syria Justice and Accountability Centre Fellowship, the DHRC Student-Initiated Summer Internship Fellowship, to support students working at leading non-governmental organizations abroad and in the United States that address a range of human rights issues. DHRC continues to partner with the U-M President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights (PACLSHR) for the Fair Labor Association Fellowship; the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) to support the International Human Rights Fellowship; and the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics to support the Ian Fishback Fellowship.
DHRC wishes all 2025 outstanding fellows a productive and insightful summer as they learn and explore interdisciplinary career possibilities within human rights through their research and internship experiences!
2025 DHRC fellowship recipients are:
DHRC Social Change Initiative Fellowship
Awarded to U-M LSA undergraduate students, recent graduates, or graduate students to intern with the Social Change Initiative in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Edra Timmerman, Junior at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, with a focus area in Economic Development and Environmental Cooperation.
Syria Justice and Accountability Centre Fellowship
Awarded to LSA undergraduate students to intern with the SJAC in Washington, D.C., and including executive director Mohammad Al Abdallah.
Yara Debes, Rising senior double majoring in International Studies, focusing on Security, Norms, and Cooperation and Middle Eastern and North African Studies.
DHRC Student-Initiated Summer Internship Fellowship
Awarded to U-M LSA undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in human rights to work with an international human rights institution or organization identified by the student.
Shriya Pamani, Rising senior pursuing a degree in Economics and International Studies, with a minor in Business.
DHRC/PACLSHR/Fair Labor Association Fellowship
Awarded to U-M undergraduate or graduate students to intern with the Fair Labor Association in Washington, D.C. Administered by the U-M President’s Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights (PACLSHR) in collaboration with the Donia Human Rights Center.
Lily Liang, Rising junior at the University of Michigan, double majoring in economics and statistics.
Sienna Drew, Rising senior at the University of Michigan, double majoring in International Studies and Spanish, with a Business minor through the Ross School of Business.
International Human Rights Fellowship
Awarded to outstanding LSA undergraduate students for a research and service internship at Perseus Strategies in Washington, DC, and its managing director, the renowned international human rights lawyer, Jared Genser. Administered by the Program in International and Comparative Studies in collaboration with the Donia Human Rights Center.
Ellen Drejza, Rising senior double majoring in History and International Studies with a sub-plan in International Security, Norms, and Cooperation.
Rachel Zaidan, Rising senior studying International Studies, Sociology, and Writing.
Ian Fishback Fellowship
Awarded to U-M LSA undergraduate students in majoring in the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).
Meiting Xu, Rising senior majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, with a minor in Law, Justice and Social Change.
