2018 International Human Rights Fellow

Skylar Gleason, BA International Studies; BA Political Science; Honors; minor, Law, Justice, and Social Change; minor, Spanish, Language, Literature, and Culture ‘19
Perseus Strategies, LLC
Washington, D.C.

The eight weeks that I spent with Perseus Strategies in Washington, D.C. represent one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. This experience has left me more certain than ever that I want to enter the field of international human rights law.

I worked on a variety of different projects during my time at the firm. Initially, I performed mainly logistical work that included cross checking registered data with original documents and subsequently analyzing the checked data in Excel. I also worked extensively on editing and marking citations. Once the logistical projects were out of the way, I transitioned to more writing and research projects. I enjoyed these projects thoroughly and the opportunity they gave me to contribute to the firm’s publications. They also allowed me to adapt and improve my writing style.

Beyond improving my general skills, I also gained a great deal of knowledge about the real-life application of international human rights law. As someone who has studied the field of international law from a distance for years, a lot of the material I knew going into the internship was negative. International law can be vague and difficult to enforce. It was refreshing to work with someone like Jared Genser who has had so much success working through international legal systems and diplomatic channels to create real, positive change in the lives of people suffering from horrendous human rights abuses. I was able to attend various meetings with him, and it was inspiring to witness the unique and strategic approaches he developed for each one based on his extensive experience. He is truly an expert in his field. However, despite his impressive background, he was still receptive to feedback and ensured that I knew my work was appreciated and an important part of the process.

Overall, I am extremely grateful that I was granted this opportunity. I have financed my college education out of pocket and, especially with law school on the horizon, an experience like this would not have been possible for me without the fellowship. I classify my time with Perseus Strategies as a defining moment of my undergraduate career–if not my life overall–and I know that the skills, experience, and connections I gained while there will continue to help and impact me long after my graduation.