The Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC) is pleased to announce its summer 2026 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. The 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 Human Rights and Environmental Justice in Edéa Cameroon Internship, in collaboration with the African Studies Center (ASC); the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) to support the DHRC Museum of Memory and Human Rights Fellowship, Santiago, Chile; the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics to support the Ian Fishback Fellowship.
DHRC wishes all 2026 outstanding fellows a productive and insightful summer as they learn and explore interdisciplinary career possibilities within human rights through their research and internship experiences!
2026 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.
Elizabeth Foley, Rising senior at Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, with a focus on international economics and human rights
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.
Lara Areiqat, Rising junior majoring in International 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.
Alexa Sohn, Rising junior double majoring in International Studies and Political Science, with a concentration in International, Norms, Security, and Cooperation; Comparative and World Politics
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.
Camille Ingram, Pursuing a Master's of Public Health
Mahek Verma, Rising junior double majoring in Economics and Political Science
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.
Sofia Sarafa, Rising senior double majoring in International Studies and Political Science
Lauren King, Rising junior majoring in Political Science on a pre-law track with a concentration in Human Rights and Public Policy
Human Rights and Environmental Justice in Edéa Cameroon Internship
Awarded to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in human rights, sustainable development, and women’s empowerment at the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF) in Edéa, Cameroon. Administered by the Program in International and Comparative Studies and African Studies Center (ASC) in collaboration with the Donia Human Rights Center.
Chelsea Hyppolite, Rising Senior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.
Kristina Moreno, Rising Senior majoring in International Studies with a concentration in International, Norms, Security, and Cooperation
Ogochukwu Ononiwu, Pursuing a Master's in Environment and Sustainability
Kinsey Weisenberger, Majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Sustainable Development, and minoring in Quantitative Methods of Social Sciences & Economics
DHRC Museum of Memory and Human Rights Fellowship, Santiago, Chile
Awarded to U-M undergraduate or graduate students to intern with the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago, Chile. Administered by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) in collaboration with the Donia Human Rights Center.
Jainyn Boyd, Rising senior double majoring in International Studies and Spanish
Enrieth Martínez Palacios, Third year doctoral student in History and Women's and Gender Studies
Ian Fishback Fellowship
Awarded to U-M LSA undergraduate students majoring in the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).
Yeonkyoung No, Graduated undergraduate student who majored in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, with a minor in Law, Justice and Social Change.
