Introducing our 2024-2025 Undergraduate Human Rights Working Group

The Human Rights Program is excited to announce and welcome this year’s Undergraduate Human Rights Working Group!

The working group is an essential part of the Human Rights Program. They ensure that the voices of undergraduate students are included in decisions shaping the curriculum and program. This year’s members include 13 dedicated undergraduates committed to addressing human rights issues and engaging in advocacy on campus and globally.

Human rights is multidisciplinary, and the working group draws students from a variety of majors from economics to English studies. They joined the working group motivated by their courses, professors, and academic projects, as well as potentially pursuing careers in or involving human rights. The working group members' interests span a wide range of issues, including environmental rights, advocacy for marginalized communities, and addressing both global and local injustices.

Athena Degree is an economics major with a minor in business law and has a keen interest in human rights law and policy. She is actively involved in student organizations and co-founded the Women of Color Association. Human rights are essential to Degree because “they ensure that every individual is entitled to basic rights and freedoms, regardless of their background, beliefs, or circumstances. They provide a foundation for a just and equitable society, where all people are treated with dignity.” 

Second-year student, Bayleigh Bergner, is studying political science and strategic communications. She is also involved in the Undergraduate Political Science Association (UPSA), the Public Relations Student Society of America, and the Pre-Law Society. Bergner joined the working group because, “I am passionate about advocating for human rights, particularly in the areas of women’s rights, education, and climate protection. I’m always seeking opportunities to improve my community and become more involved on campus to promote positive change. I hope to connect with like-minded individuals to work toward these goals and find new ways to create meaningful impact.” 

Second-year student Elizabeth Gust is an English and political science double major who plays in a campus band, works at the Learning Abroad Center, and volunteers with 826 MSP at their youth writing lab. She is passionate about climate justice, gender equity, and public education and hopes to someday pursue a career in public policy or non-profit work. Gust joined the HRP undergraduate working group because she wants to encourage more involvement on campus in human rights. “I want to make human rights knowledge and advocacy more accessible to undergraduates at the University of Minnesota,” Gust says. In her free time, Gust also likes to read, travel, and attend concerts.

Leandro Idiarte, a political science and psychology major and business law minor, is passionate about human rights and social justice. He joined the working group because, “I want to help build a culture of human rights awareness among students. It's important to me that human rights are not seen as abstract concepts but something we all fully understand and act on in our daily lives.” He also volunteers with The Advocates for Human Rights and is committed to supporting underserved communities and creating positive change. Through his involvement in the Human Rights Working Group, he hopes to raise awareness and engage students in meaningful action to promote human rights on campus and beyond.

Madelynn Shaw is a senior in global studies with a concentration in human rights, and minors in Spanish and political science. Shaw has always had a passion for human rights with specific interests in human rights and immigration law. Shaw says, “Human rights matter because they ensure that everyone can live a life of dignity. To this end, human rights are constantly being violated in our community and around the world. To protect our human rights, we must protect the human rights of others. People should care about human rights because the violation of one person's human rights is a threat to everyone's human rights.” In her free time, she loves to travel, try new restaurants, and listen to music.

Michaella Burmis is a global studies student with a concentration in human rights and a minor in Spanish. Burmis believes, “Human rights are important because they assure humanity and light in the world and promise that someone will fight for the oppressed.” Burmis has had a passion for human rights since a young age. Beyond the Human Rights Program, Burmis loves bees, traveling, hiking, and their two dogs. Burmis spends her time volunteering, studying, and doing activism work.  

Sophomore, Mumtaaz Mahammud Hirsi, is majoring in psychology with minors in African American studies, global studies, and public health, and is also the Human Rights Program’s 2024-2025 Hrant Dink Memorial Human Rights Scholar. She is passionate about human rights, actively involved in student organizations that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is dedicated to advocating for justice and equality. Human rights matter to her because, “Human rights are the foundation of dignity, equality, and justice. They matter because everyone deserves to live without fear, oppression, or discrimination. Protecting human rights ensures that society is fair and inclusive for all, and everyone has a role in safeguarding these rights.” In her free time, she loves to read, watch all kinds of TV shows, and go on walks with family and friends. 

Third year-student Riley Stern is majoring in economics and mathematics with a minor in public health and is passionate about housing and health equity. Stern believes, “Human rights matter because as a society, our well being is intrinsically connected. By protecting each other, we benefit ourselves as well.” Outside of school, Stern loves to read, write, and spend time outdoors.

Sakiya Mohamed is a junior studying political science and business law. She also enjoys reading and writing, especially if it pertains to government and law. Outside academia, she likes to learn languages, travel, and try new sports. This is Mohamed’s second year on the Undergraduate Working Group and she joined because, “​​The human rights working group brings together diverse talent and backgrounds and fosters dialogue about current events. It is a productive way of engaging with action oriented individuals to create something new on campus.” 

Samsam Ali is a junior studying global studies with a concentration in health and a minor in Asian and Middle Eastern studies. “I joined the human rights working group to assess the inner struggles marginalized communities face on a global scale, develop meaningful ways to use research to create community awareness, and explore how written analysis can provide resources to strengthen and unify communities,” Ali says. This year Ali is a part of the Data and Research Lab Committee. 

Skylar Strudwick is a third year student currently pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology focusing on public policy and human rights. Strudwick believes that human rights are important because, “Protecting human rights ensures that everyone, regardless of background, is treated with respect and has access to basic necessities and opportunities. If we don’t care for the rights of others, we risk allowing injustice and oppression to spread, ultimately harming us all.” Outside of HRP, Strudwick is also a Pre-Law Society mentor, CLA Student Board Council member, and Treasurer for FUSE. Strudwick is also the founder of "Art of Expression," a creative magazine that amplifies diverse voices, and has a blog called "Woman Reckoned."

Tatum Miklasevics is a senior in the CCAPS Inter-College Program with concentrations in plant science and global studies. To Miklasevics, human rights matters because, “It's an approach to discussing social, political, and economic issues that is both receptive and accepted across the globe …  People should care about human rights because it can be a global standard we can unify under.” Beyond her involvement in the Undergraduate Working Group, Miklasevics is a board member of the student organization, MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Active Women in Letters and Social Change) a organization for self-identified Chicana, Latina, Native American, Mujeres Indigenous, gender non-conforming, academics, students, and activists. In her free time, she gardens at the Fairshare Farm in the Como neighborhood.

Tye Hiltunen, a second year student, studies history and coming from a small town in Northern Minnesota, Hiltunen grew up surrounded by history which has taught him to love learning about different historical perspectives leading him to pursue a major in history. To Hiltunen, human rights matter because, “they keep us alive, not only physically, but culturally. We should all care about human rights to foster a world of tolerance and understanding so we can continue the progress we have been making for generations.” Hiltunen also loves political involvement and connecting with people through music.

We are excited to have this diverse group of dedicated students on our team, helping us with different projects, research, and events in order to promote and further human rights work at the University of Minnesota!