Students Build More than a Resume in the Human Rights Careers Intensive

Imagine walking into a warm and homey environment at the Center for Human Rights and International Justice, with the smell of coffee brewing and freshly baked biscuits in the air, and a full spread of breakfast waiting for you on the kitchen island. You arrive to find other students laughing and settling into the comfy yellow and orange couches. All of you are here for the same reason: looking for guidance, community, and answers to common career questions: What does human rights work mean for an engineer, a policy maker, a healthcare professional, an educator, a lawyer, or an artist? What type of careers exist, and is it possible to support myself financially while building a meaningful career? 

If you’re a Junior, Senior, or Co-term feeling the pressure of finding the “perfect job” after graduation, you’re invited to enroll in an upcoming cohort of the Human Rights Careers Intensive (HRCI). Every Winter and Spring quarter, the HRCI brings together a cohort of students passionate about crafting a career that is purposeful, fulfilling, and aligned with their values. Currently facilitated by Center Associate Director Penelope Van Tuyl and Student Services Specialist Denise Fernandez, the HRCI is a six-week 1-unit course geared towards exploring rights-oriented career options, assessing student skills and interests, and developing a network of human rights-focused students, alumni, and professionals.

Students come from diverse campus communities and disciplines, bringing their unique experiences and ambitions to weekly sessions. Each session is carefully designed  to prompt students to reflect, take stock, and explore the varied human rights-related career possibilities. Throughout the quarter, students get to hear from guest speakers (ranging from seasoned career professionals to recent Stanford alumni), develop their professional outreach and interview skills, craft their resumes, and build community with fellow classmates and Human Rights Center staff. 

For many, the HRCI serves as a respite in the fast-paced academic environment of Stanford. Susanna Newsom ‘26, a Psychology and Creative Writing minor, appreciated how this class allowed her to examine her deepest values and to explore how these could be channeled into a concrete purpose. 

“At Stanford, it can feel like people are seeking careers for monetary gain, but it was very clear that the people in the HRCI are prioritizing impact, empathy, and action towards making the world a better place,” Susanna said.

She recalls one class speaker in particular–a Stanford alumnus who worked as a hospital chaplain–who helped clarify that she was similarly drawn to direct person-to-person healing work. Susanna connected with this alumnus after class, and he helped guide her to a clinical pastoral education program. Following graduation, Susanna will work as a chaplain herself, visiting hospitals to pray for those who are very ill, and sitting with people in their last moments. 

Georgia Walker-Keleher ‘26, who is majoring in Environmental Systems Engineering and minoring in Human Rights, was also inspired by the HRCI’s guest speakers. An environmental engineering major, she enrolled to figure out how to integrate her passion for social justice into her career ambitions in the energy space. While each guest speaker came from a different sector, she felt inspired by how they all encouraged students to take time to reflect and examine whether one’s career is in alignment with core values. 

“The guest speakers were great role models of how to undertake a process of discernment to intentionally get where you want to in your career” said Georgia. She went on to describe how the HRCI felt particularly impactful because she took it during her senior year, just as everyone is beginning to make decisions regarding the post-grad paths.  

Inspired by the conversations and content explored throughout the HRCI, Georgia carried her learning from the class into a project spearheading the “Do Good Now Career Fair”, which offered an alternative to the more corporate and tech-focused career fairs at Stanford that inadvertently exclude student populations interested in social impact and mission driven organizations. Georgia helped design and organize the first annual campus-wide event in March 2026, connecting students to mission-driven organizations with post-grad opportunities. Georgia is working with the Career Ed director to increase student input in decision-making processes. 

Public Policy major and Human Rights minor Anusha Nadkarni ‘27 was similarly drawn to the HRCI as a junior beginning to think seriously about what she wanted to do after graduation. She described how the community felt like a place where people were not focused on competition, but rather collaboration. In a particularly stressful time, having a class where people wanted to help each other analyze the job market, explore their values, and navigate shared concerns was deeply meaningful. She appreciated being able to do a lot of the career-related research she was already planning on doing in a fun, authentic, and kind environment. 

“The Careers Intensive has a sense of genuine presence and authenticity, where people genuinely want to be in the room and share the space, building confidence and knowledge before going out into the world,” said Anusha. 

Anusha found that the class helped expand her sense of possibility. The class reminded her of the career paths available outside of just what she thought she could do. It helped challenge her to make sure that her choices are intentional, rather than just the easy or comfortable option. The HRCI also helped build her confidence in the ability to find a job that balances financial stability and impact. She left the course with a deeper awareness of how expansive the human rights field is, and that it is possible to find a job that allows you to live well while doing good. 

Sakeena Razick ‘25 came to the HRCI already having built a career in human rights. After spending seven years working in India and Sri Lanka, her home country, Sakeena enrolled as a 2-year Master’s student in the International Masters Policy Program at Stanford. She took the HRCI during fall quarter of her second year, just as she was beginning to think about how to re-enter the working world following her time back in school. She felt excited to have a space on campus that enabled her to take stock and ask hard questions with no judgement. Sakeena recalls how useful the 1:1 cover letter sessions were for her, because Penelope helped her think not only about her professional trajectory, but also her personal values and continued ambitions in the human rights space following graduation. 

“If you are in a similar mindset where you are using your time at Stanford to unpack and question everything, this space allows you to do so with no judgement,” Sakeena said. “Penelope took my desire to work in human rights seriously and believed that it was possible.”

Indeed, Sakeena was able to find a job directly from a HRCI connection. She now works at Climate Rights International, an organization founded by Brad Adams (a HRCI guest speaker), focusing on climate and human rights. Her current research project will allow her to examine the impact of extreme heat on factory workers in Sri Lanka. One of her biggest takeaways from the HRCI–you do need some idealism in this world, not just pragmatism. 

If you are interested in learning more about the HRCI and enroll in future sessions please visit: https://humanrights.stanford.edu/academics/human-rights-careers-intensive.