Oxford Consortium for Human Rights (for University of Oregon Students)

The Oxford Consortium for Human Rights (OCHR) conducts workshop seminars for students and faculty in collaboration with the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC). The Oxford Consortium currently hosts annual workshops for students and faculty in Oxford (spring and summer) and New York and Sonoma (fall), with additional workshops in development in other locations and with different areas of focus in human rights. Our workshops are student focused, but with a faculty component involving collaborative research (learn more about workshops here).

The Consortium began in 2012, with generous financial support from Steve Raymund, David Stern, and Laura and Bob Sillerman, and the administrative support of Former Dean David Frank of the University of Oregon Clark Honors College and Caroline Massey of Merton College, Oxford. It is co-chaired by Cheyney Ryan and Hugo Slim, both Senior Fellows of ELAC. Dr. Ryan is also Director of Human Rights Programs for ELAC, Dr. Slim is Head of Policy for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. The executive director is Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox of Quinnipiac University. The Consortium's work is enriched by the ongoing participation of our affiliated faculty members, as well as guest presenters who have included human rights practitioners, UN representatives, non-governmental organization leaders, and Oxford University scholars.

The Office of Distinguished Scholarships coordinates the outreach, recruitment, application, and selection of UO students to participate in the workshops and provides funding to support their participation. The OCHR experience is integrated into the pipeline programs for developing distinguished scholarships candidates at the University of Oregon, and there is a strong correlation between OCHR alum and distinguished scholarships endorsees, finalists, and recipients from the University of Oregon. 2024 UO alum and Rhodes Scholar Nayantara Arora became the first UO OCHR Rhodes Scholar and looks forward to strengthening the UO-Oxford network while pursuing her DPhil in Clinical Medicine as a member of St. Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford. She has offered to perform livestream conversations with prospective and current UO distinguished scholarship applicants from the Rhodes House and document her experience through a blog. On October 31, 2024, OCHR alum Charles Petrik was selected as a Rhodes finalist and will interview in Seattle on November 15-16.

Human Rights, Activism and Community Action Workshop

In January of 2025, the University of Oregon and Oxford Consortium of Human Rights supported the following cohort of students to attend the Human Rights, Activism and Community Action Workshop in Sonoma, CA.

Kendall Allgower '26 Political Science

As a Political Science major in the Clark Honors College with minors in Legal Studies and Queer Studies, and as an aspiring civil rights lawyer, Kendall is committed to understanding the structures of power and law that sustain or refuse justice. More than anything, her education has crystallized this belief: real equality can only come from systemic change. Human rights activism is where the personal and political intersect for Kendall, and it's the place she feels most called to act. She organized events with local shelters, handing out hygiene kits, blankets, and informational pamphlets on local legal services and job opportunities available; she completed over 700 hours of community service as an online active listener with 7 Cups, a free, anonymous online therapy platform supporting people going through problems including discrimination, mental health issues, questions of identity, and more. Kendall also volunteered to help run workshops on tenant and worker rights for vulnerable populations of immigrants and low-wage workers.

Violet Ashley '27 Journalism

Violet is a Journalism student with minors in Global Service and Philosophy. She directed “Justice Week” at her high school, worked with Blanchet House as a Student Ambassador leading service projects for the local homeless community, volunteered at the nighttime hospitality nonprofit Operation Nightwatch to alleviate the isolation experienced by those living on the streets, interned at the affordable housing nonprofit Sabin Community Development Corporation dedicated to returning historically displaced Black Portlanders to their northeast neighborhoods, and served as a UO Students for Justice in Palestine organizer.

Vaani Bindal '26 Neuroscience

Vaani Bindal is a junior currently studying Neuroscience with a Global Health minor in the Honors College. She has worked with the campus community as a Students for Global Health Co-President and nationally advocated for legislation through Partners in Health Engage. She has had the opportunity to work with schools and NGOs internationally to address health disparities as the co-founder of the AkashVaani Foundation. Along with these experiences, she has gained insights on the process of providing accessible healthcare through the Volunteers in Medicine free clinic. Vaani’s experiences in the clinical and global health fields have deepened her passion for human rights and provided guidance on her path to becoming a healthcare professional.

Margaret Grace '27 Global Studies | History

Margaret Grace is a sophomore at the University of Oregon, studying Global Studies and History. She is passionate about immigration reform and global health. Margaret hopes to attend law school after receiving her undergraduate degree and eventually work in international human rights law or immigration law. On campus, Margaret competes with UO Mock Trial and is a Wayne Morse Scholar. Margaret also currently works at a local law firm as an office assistant. This summer, she will be volunteering at Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Mexico.

Aishiki Nag '26 Political Science

Aishiki is a sophomore studying Political Science and Global Studies with a concentration in Diplomacy, Peace, and Conflict Studies and a minor in legal studies. Last summer, Aishiki worked as a campaign financial intern for Andrea Salinas and is currently working as an intern for the Prison Education Program, focusing on advocating for legislation that benefits underserved community members. Aishiki is also currently involved as an opinion columnist for the Daily Emerald. She plans on using this experience to work further with international humanitarian and immigration law to create ethical conditions for migrations.

Vivian Reynoldson '27 Economics | Global Studies

Vivian Reynoldson (she/her) is a sophomore at the University of Oregon. She is pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Economics, with a concentration in Diplomacy, Peace, and Conflict Studies. She hopes to attend graduate school for international relations and aims for a career in conflict resolution abroad. Vivian's work in human rights started in high school with her Civics Education Passion Project, where she worked with the Oregon Department of Education on re-evaluating the civics standards. She currently works for the Peace Corps on-campus and intends to start her career by serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer after graduation.

New Technology and Human Rights Workshop

In July of 2024, the University of Oregon and Oxford Consortium of Human Rights supported the following cohort of students to attend the New Technology and Human Rights Workshop at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.

Sophia Barghouti '27 Political Science, Middle Eastern and North African Studies

Sophia Barghouti is a Palestinian student at University of Oregon, majoring in Political Science and Middle Eastern and North African Studies. With a passion for human rights work, she has gained valuable experience as a Human Rights and Disability Rights Intern at Mobility International USA, where she engages with government officials in Bahrain to discuss disability laws and programs. Sophia's commitment to advocating for social justice and equality is further showcased in her published work, "'Til Bombs Do US Part." This narrative story, inspired by real events during the 2006 war in Lebanon, highlights her deep understanding and interest in promoting human rights. She hopes to pursue a law degree in international human rights.

Bryonie McMahon '27 Political Science, Educational Foundations

Byronie McMahon (she/her) is a freshman at the University of Oregon, where she studies Education and Political Science. She hopes to use her degree to one day impact public educational policy and become a teacher. Previously, Byronie served on the Portland Public School Board, where she developed a passion for educational equity and access. She now carries this passion into her work as a Youth Advisory Board member at Plan International US. Her advocacy with Plan has led her to engagements with organizations such as the White House AI Task Force, World Bank and the Untied Nations regarding technology and girl's leadership.

Colleen Uzoekwe '24 Human Physiology

Colleen is a Human Physiology major at the University of Oregon. She participated in a research internship on public policy for human rights in medicine and she hopes to eventually become a doctor who can advocate for other with limited health knowledge. Colleen was a 2024 Rhodes National finalist.

Ruby Wool '25 Journalism

Ruby Wool is studying journalism and global health at the University of Oregon. She is entering her second term as the Governor-appointed student represtatative on the UO Bard of Trustees. As a news correspondent for the UO-UNESCO Crossings Institute, Wool aims to highlight journalism's crucial role in ensuring a sustainable future that respects human rights and welcomes diverse voices. This past May, she covered World Press Day 2024 in Santiago, Chile, where she explored the importance of freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.

Miriam Yousaf '24 Global Studies

Miriam Yousaf recently graduated from the University of Oregon Clark Honors College with a BA in Global Studies and minors in Spanish, Global Health and Environmental Studies. She has worked with Environmental Justice NGO, Beyond Toxics on community health data collection and analysis, and the UO Prison Education Program, which provides education opportunities to incarcerated men and women. This fall, Miriam is attending Columbia University to pursue a Masters in International Affairs (Economic Development, Conflict Resolution). In the future, she aims to work on human rights documentation in migrant communities and conflict zones.