November 2023 – Skyla Park
BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); minor, Asian Studies ‘25
Hometown: La Canada, CA
Affiliations: Nam Center for Korean Studies Research Fellow, Sigma Iota Rho Treasurer, Asian American Association Finance Chair, Liberty in North Korea Research Co-Chair, Michigan Journal of Asian Studies Associate Editor, The Women's Network Co-VP of DEI, Michigan Pre-Law Society, Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative, International Institute Office Assistant
“This past summer I studied human trafficking in Stockholm through a CGIS program before spending the rest of my summer interning at the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) in Copenhagen through the support of the Donia Human Rights Center. My primary responsibilities involved the 2022 Livelihoods Projects and participating member centers in Uganda, Lebanon, Palestine, India, and Nepal. I examined narrative reports, financial reports, bank statements, and other communications between the centers and the IRCT Secretariat to first conduct an internal review to be included in a larger application to the Danish government for further funding and additionally produced a paper for the Torture Journal analyzing the data submitted by the 5 participating centers. One of my highlights was being able to re-initiate contact with a member center in South Korea, the Gwangju Trauma Center, and conducting a meeting with their staff members. My experience at the IRCT has undoubtedly influenced my interest in human rights, and in focusing my Nam Center Research Fellowship project on mechanisms towards legal recourse and rehabilitation for former KCIA torture victims in Korea, I look forward to merging my interests in human rights, torture, and Korean studies.”
Future plans: “After graduating, I hope to spend the next few years in research or at an NGO/NPO on the way to pursuing a legal career long-term.”
