The mission of the SMU Human Rights Council (HRC) is to help students empower themselves and gain vital skills through real world experience in promoting, defending, and extending human rights during their college career.
HRC was founded in 2010 as the Human Rights Student Leadership Initiative and became a fully chartered student organization in 2016. Meetings are held weekly during the fall and spring semesters. Students on HRC work for positive change in a number of ways, including by:
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Cultivating a conscious and committed SMU student body;
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Organizing events and trips for service, socializing, and activism;
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Offering student perspectives on the SMU Human Rights calendar and curriculum;
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Overseeing the budget for human rights student organizations;
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Encouraging greater participation in the SMU Human Rights major and minor, trips, and outreach; and
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Fostering a close knit and supportive human rights community on campus.
Meet the 2020-2021 Board of Directors:
Administrative Director: Lamisa Mustafa
Vice Administrative Director: Bethany Bass
Marketing Director: Shara Jeyarajah
Co-Events Director: Lamisa Ali
Co-Events Director: Teresa Acosta
Student Liaison: TJ Hammond
HRC is governed by a small board of directors consisting of exceptionally motivated students. The board observes a non-hierarchical leadership structure in which each member participates equally according to her or his abilities and desires. Board members serve one year terms, with the possibility for subsequent terms. Any SMU undergraduate is eligible to join the board, although human rights majors and minors are especially encouraged to apply. Applications for the following academic year are accepted each spring.
To learn more about HRC or attend a meeting, contact Lamisa Mustafa at lamisam@smu.edu.