Human Rights and Global Justice Cohort

Members of the Global Justice Cohort from 2023-24 and 2024-25 at the Rapoport Center’s 20th Anniversary Gala on April 24, 2025.

Since fall 2023, the Rapoport Center has been pleased to award scholarships, mentorship, and tailored career guidance to a group of first year law students who are committed to careers in human rights and global justice. From the moment they step on campus, members of the Human Rights & Global Justice Cohort are exposed individually and as a group to faculty, alumni, staff, and others working in human rights locally and globally.

 

Why join the Global Justice Cohort?

Each member of the Cohort receives a scholarship of at least $1250 to support their studies at the University of Texas School of Law. These scholarships are funded with the generous support of Michael E. Tigar through the Orlando Letelier and Ronni Karpen Moffitt Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law and the Charles and Elizabeth Tigar Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law.

The Global Justice Cohort program provided me not just with access to leading human rights scholars and practitioners, but with a community of like-minded individuals passionate about social justice. This program has empowered me to pursue a career in human rights and opened my eyes to pathways and possibilities I hadn’t previously imagined.
— Camille Meshack, J.D. Class of 2027

The Cohort meets monthly with UT human rights faculty and staff to engage in networking and community-building. These conversations expose the Cohort to the diverse career paths available in this field—from human rights litigation and NGO advocacy to scholarly research and work with intergovernmental organizations.

I am grateful to the Global Justice Cohort and the Rapoport Center community for providing me with support and guidance during my first year at UT Law. Our monthly meetings helped me reconnect with the “why” that brought me to law school.
— Tori Bianco, J.D. Class of 2027

The Rapoport Center matches each member of the Cohort with a human rights professional to serve as their personal mentor. These mentors are drawn from the alumni of Texas Law as well as the extensive network of human rights advocates who are associated with the Center.

The Global Justice Cohort has provided me invaluable opportunities for learning and networking. Through this program, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of global justice issues, have learned from experts in the profession, and have been empowered to pursue my passion for social justice with confidence and purpose.

– Rooha Hagharmehdiabadi, J.D. Class of 2026

The Rapoport Center connects each Cohort member with professional opportunities in human rights and global justice that fit their unique interests. Faculty and staff work with the cohort members to identify and secure summer internships and other professional opportunities with human rights NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, and other entities working on global justice.

Being part of the Global Justice Cohort allowed me to connect with fellow students and practitioners in the human rights world. This helped me to understand how diverse this world is and the many paths to launch a career in human rights. Thanks to this program I have a new perspective about the role of law in defending human rights.

— Herbert Girón Lemus, LL.M. Class of 2024

 

Global Justice Cohort members with attorney Scott Hendler and staff from Hendler Flores Law.

Interested in learning more about the Cohort?

The Cohort is coordinated by Cooper Christiancy (JD), Research and Academics Manager at the Rapoport Center, who has experience working in human rights with the UN and NGOs. He works with a faculty committee including Professor Karen Engle, Minerva House Drysdale Regents Chair in Law and founder & co-director of the Rapoport Center; Professor Elissa Steglich, Clinical Professor and co-director of the Immigration Clinic; and Professor Ariel Dulitzky, Clinical Professor of Law and director of the Human Rights Clinic and the Latin America Initiative.

Applications for the 2025-2026 program are now open. Applications are due August 8, 2025. 

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Questions? Contact Cooper Christiancy (cchristiancy@law.utexas.edu).

 

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Meet the Cohort
(2024–25)

Click on photos below to see bios

Tori Bianco

 

Tori Bianco (J.D. expected 2027) graduated from New York University magna cum laude in 2021 with a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish.

While an undergraduate, she was a Presidential Honors Scholar, played for the Varsity Women’s Soccer Team, and published her honors senior thesis on deforestation and migration in Colombia.

After graduation, Tori moved to Spain to teach English. Later, she served as the 2023-2024 Weil Legal Innovator at the Clooney Foundation for Justice where she contributed to the research and development of the Waging Justice for Women fellowship program.

 

Adiba Chowdhury

 

Adiba Chowdhury (J.D. expected 2027) graduated from New York University in 2024 with a B.A. in Politics and Sociology, with Sociology Honors for her thesis.

She has worked with the America Reads/Counts program in New York City and the Red Cross of the Greater New York Region.

Before entering Texas Law, Adiba was active in community organizing. She has participated in March for Our Lives, Youth Climate Strike, and immigration rights lobbying, as well as organizing work with the Democracy Summer program and Amnesty International.

 

Ariana Guerrero

 

Ariana Guerrero (J.D. expected 2027) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2023 with a B.A. in International Relations and Global Studies and Race, Indigeneity, and Migration.

While an undergraduate, she was a Brumley Next Generation Scholar at the Strauss Center for International Law and Security and participated in the Mellon Engaged Scholar Initiative.

Before entering Texas Law, Ariana interned at La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) in San Juan, the ACLU of Texas in Houston, and the Equal Justice Center in Austin.

 

Camille Meshack

 

Camille Meshack (J.D. & M.G.P.S. expected 2027) graduated from Howard University in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Spanish.

While an undergraduate, she interned in various organizations including on a TX State House campaign, at a strategic public policy firm, and in Congress as a legislative intern for Rep. Colin Allred and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Before entering Texas Law, Camille interned with the Center for American Progress where she researched conflict in East Africa, global democratic backsliding, and racial equity issues in Latin America.

 

Karla Peredo

 

Karla Peredo (J.D. expected 2027) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and Global Studies and Government and minors in Arabic and Latin American Studies.

While an undergraduate, she interned at the Texas House of Representatives and wrote her thesis on the rise of privatized border security.

Before entering Texas Law, Karla worked full time at the Texas House of Representatives and with civilian-led police oversight entities at the City of Austin and the City of Oakland.

 


Dalia Sabbagh

 

Dalia Sabbagh (J.D. expected 2027) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2024 with a B.A. in Government and International Relations and a minor in Arabic.

While an undergraduate, she was the Vice President of Texas UNICEF and was responsible for spearheading and facilitating fundraisers and club events to raise awareness for children’s rights across the globe. She has also been involved in advocacy for refugee communities in Houston for many years.

Before entering Texas Law, Dalia worked at Gonzalez Olivieri LLP, an immigration law firm.

 

Read more about current and past Cohort members.