Welcome the MHR Class of 2022: Samiira Husein
Welcome Samiira to the Master’s of Human Rights class of 2022! A Minneapolis native and graduate of the University of Minnesota Samiira, looking to deepen her knowledge of human rights in both theory and practice as well as acquire the hands-on experience necessary to promote the protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights, decided to apply to and attend the MHR program. Read below to learn more about Samiira!
A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota, Samiira is looking forward to continuing her education with the Master’s of Human Rights program. Last year, Samiira graduated with a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management. Thanks to experiences she had throughout the course of her undergraduate career, Samiira developed a deep passion for human rights which made U’s MHR program a perfect fit to continue her studies from a social justice centered lens.
Samiira’s decision to concentrate in Human Rights and the Environment was largely influenced by the time that she spent interning and studying abroad as an undergrad. With the organization FishWise, Samiira worked to track slavery and human trafficking in global seafood chains. This experience, along with the time she spent studying abroad in Peru’s Amazon Rainforest, where she researched the ways in which the the biodiversity of canopy cover is changing in relation to climate change, sparked the passion she has to dive deeper into mechanisms focused on combating the exploitation of Indigenous peoples, their resources, and their labor.
As an undergrad, Samiira explains that she heard wonderful things about the quality of the program and the unparalleled commitment that staff members have to both human rights and the success of their students. Additionally, Samiira is confident that her participation in this program will provide her with the opportunities needed to be an effective human rights worker in the future, as she plans to work either in social responsibility in partnership with an international NGO or with corporations that are responsible for the exploitation of Indigenous peoples and the pollution of the environment in an effort to stop these issues from the source.
Despite starting her time with MHR online, Samiira describes her experience with the program thus far as being an overwhelmingly positive one. Stimulated by engaging, eye-opening readings and conversations with faculty and fellow cohort members alike, Samiira is excited to have the opportunity to learn from leading human rights scholars and deepen her understanding of human rights work.
