DPP MPA (Master of Public Administration) alumna Song Ah Lee has been awarded the highly competitive and prestigious year-long Human Rights Watch Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship for 2022. Professor Kirsten Roberts-Lyer said: "I am delighted that Song Ah has been awarded this highly competitive and prestigious fellowship with one of the leading human rights NGOs in the world. Song Ah is an outstanding MPA student and will be a great asset to Human Rights Watch during her fellowship. This wonderful opportunity will firmly set her career path in human rights, where she has the potential to be an exceptional researcher and leader. All of us at DPP wish her the very best."
Song Ah describes the application process and how her studies at DPP have contributed to getting the fellowship as follows:
I came across the job posting for the Finberg fellowship shortly after graduating CEU’s Master of Public Administration program. I knew that I wanted to work in human rights after graduation, and there are countless organizations out there that are committed to upholding social justice. Two things made this fellowship stand out for me: 1. Its promise to offer a comprehensive range of activities for its fellows — from conducting research and doing on-site investigations to engaging in media outreach; 2. How much Human Rights Watch values and prioritizes the voices of survivors throughout its investigation and research process. I wanted very much to be a part of this process. My chances did not seem that great, but there was nothing to lose by applying and so much regret to gain if I did not even try. Now that I have become the recipient for the Finberg fellowship for the year 2022-23, I find myself extremely humbled at the prospect of what is ahead of me. It is my hope that I can use this precious opportunity to shed light on the human rights issues that are important to me. My academic experience at CEU’s School of Public Policy equipped me with integral skillsets that granted me the confidence I needed to envision a solid future for myself as a researcher in human rights. Being in an environment with like-minded peers and mentors who are invested in upholding the values of human rights helped me to believe that I, too, could make a positive contribution to the effort. I am especially grateful for Dr. Kirsten Roberts Lyer’s engaging courses on human rights, rule of law, and international humanitarian law, which reignited my passion for human rights and confirmed my desire to seek a career in this field. I am also very grateful for the support of Jesse van de Woestijne at CEU’s Career Services Office, whose amazing tips got me safely through the interviews