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Alumni ProfilesGSAS catches up with some of the school’s alumniShahram HashemiHuman Rights Studies M.A., 2007What are you doing now?I am currently the Executive Director ofStudent World Assembly, a grassrootsinternational student organization dedicatedto promoting democratic values,human rights, and youth leadership.I am also on the Board of Directors ofAmnesty International USA and haveserved as its Treasurer since 2008.Why did you choose yourdegree program andColumbia?I had been actively involved in humanrights and political activism since Icame to the U.S. from Iran over tenyears ago, and I founded a chapterof Amnesty International at my undergraduatecollege. I heard about ahuman rights program at Columbiathrough a mentor and was attracted tothe program because of the university’sreputation and the program’s combinationof flexibility and focus. My degreewas specialized in economic development,but I was able to take a broadrange of courses from other schoolswithin the university and expose myselfto many facets of human rights anddevelopment issues.What was your research focus?My thesis was a socio-political examinationof Iranian history told throughthe prism of three generations of myfamily. By providing narratives withina broader context of Iranian politics,economics, and society, I shed lighton some of Iran’s history and currentnational challenges.What did you most and leastenjoy about your time as astudent at the Graduate School?In the Human Rights Studies program,and among other graduate students,there was a breadth of knowledge fromdifferent fields and areas of researchwhich made classes stimulating. Itwas much more interesting in class todiscuss refugee issues in Sudan whena student had lived there for a few yearsworking for a humanitarian agency andcould bring his experiences to bear onthe conversation. The professors werealso very supportive.What I liked least was the confusionand red tape surrounding courseregistration and the lack of fundingavailable to international master’sstudents.What career paths have you takensince graduation?After graduation, I began my workas Executive Director at the StudentWorld Assembly (SWA). I met thefounder at one of their meetings inNew York City a few months prior,and his vision of establishing the firstinternational organization for studentsbuilt around activism and leadershipresonated with me. As a young personin Iran, it would have been enormouslyhelpful to connect with other youngpeople in order to communicate andbe more effective.At Amnesty International, I found asignificant amount of space for students,and I ran for the Board in mylast year at Columbia.How have you applied yourdegree work to your career developmentand job?Before I attended the Human RightsStudies program, I abstractly understoodhuman rights and economicdevelopment. I didn’t know theirmany legal and normative componentsand the questions surrounding theirimplementation. I was able to develop akeener sense of these issues, andLink back to contents page32 Superscript
I’ve applied it to my work to developmore effective ways to advocate forhuman rights. The program also gaveme the language to frame many humanrights issues, which is critical when Iam applying for grants.What is the most satisfying andchallenging aspect of your currentjob?It has been enormously rewarding towork with students and see how effectivethey can be in bringing about socialchange. Students at SWA have establishedchapters all over the world, evenin countries where the government isopposed to any form of civil society.These students come up with fantasticways to raise awareness for causesand to have a positive impact on theircommunities. It is a constant source ofinspiration to me.We are now working on a projectto raise awareness of the civil rightscomponent of the Arab Spring and therole of young people. With this projectand others, the greatest challenge israising funds, especially in the currenteconomy.Have you found your fieldsurprising in any way?I think many people find the humanrights field extremely competitive andfrustrating. There are many forcesagainst you, whether it is governmentor bureaucratic red tape. Sometimesyou find yourself discussing whatseems like trivial details when theissues at hand are so important, butthat’s just politics.If you could give advice to currentstudents, what would it be?Take courses that relate to the issuesyou will face in your career and thatgive you some type of marketable skill,because graduate school is about honingin on an expertise or specific skillset. Also, attend as many events on andoff campus as you can to expand yournetwork, build relationships with mentors,and take advantage of the largeamount of resources and expertiseavailable to you.What are your futurecareer plans?I would like to go back to school in thenear future for a law degree or Ph.D. inMiddle Eastern politics.Superscript 33Link back to contents page
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