Diana Rangel

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Diana Rangel
Junior Fellow

As a Junior Fellow, Diana contributes to the design, coordination, and implementation of the Center’s student programs. Additionally, she supports the Center’s media presence through its website management to capture its impactful research, programs, and engagement in the fields of academia and law.

Diana earned her B.A in Public Policy, with minors in Urban Design & Architecture Studies and Spanish from New York University. Her academic and professional path reflect a deep commitment to building more equitable cities. She is passionate about issues at the intersection of urban planning and public policy, including affordable housing, efficient transportation systems, and the expansion of public spaces to generate community and civic engagement.

Brianne Cuffe

Brianne Cuffe

Brianne Cuffe
Faculty Assistant, Philip Alston

Brianne Cuffe is the faculty Assistant for Philip Alston. She holds a BA in Biology from Boston University, but her passion for public health did not develop until working at MCPHS University as Administrative Coordinator for the School of Arts and Sciences. Working closely with a diverse and interdisciplinary group of faculty, she coordinated events and programming, included Community Action Poverty Simulations, for students and faculty.

Following Missouri Community Action Network’s model, participants experience a sample of the hardships families living on the brink of poverty encounter and learn to recognize with a holistic perspective the various barriers their future patients might encounter. Brianne is also an “environmental nut.” She volunteered with Boston Harbor Islands’ Stewardship Saturdays and currently volunteers with NYC Park’s stewardship team removing invasive species, planting trees, and collecting data for citizen science projects.

Ashley Otilia Nemeth

Ashley Nemeth

Ashley Otilia Nemeth
Supervising Attorney
The Earth Rights Research & Action

Ashley is a Supervising Attorney at the Center, the Director of Programs at the Climate Law Accelerator (CLX), and an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law for the Earth Rights Research and Action (TERRA) Clinic at NYU Law. Ashley works on legal actions, projects, and research relating to human rights, climate change, attribution science, rights of nature, and environmental issues. Ashley holds a J.D. from NYU Law (cum laude), as well as an M.S. in Entrepreneurship (cum laude) and a B.S. in Accounting (cum laude) from the University of Florida. Before joining the Center, Ashley practiced international arbitration at a multi-national law firm, working for a diverse array of clients, including sovereigns, private companies, the United Nations, and international human rights and humanitarian organizations.

In Residence

in residence.

The Center offers opportunities for scholars and practitioners to spend up to one year in residence working on projects related to our thematic areas and collaborating with staff members as well as with other visiting practitioners and scholars.

Susana Borràs Pentinat

Spring 2026 | Fulbright Schuman Postdoctoral Fellowship 

Dr. Susana Borràs-Pentinat is a Full Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the Faculty of Law of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Spain. She holds a PhD in Law with European Mention and Extraordinary Doctoral Award from URV. She is a researcher at the Center for Environmental Law Studies of Tarragona (CEDAT), the Research Group on Environmental Law, Citizenship and Sustainability, and the University Research Institute on Sustainability, Climate Change and Energy Transition (URV). Dr. Borràs serves as a legal expert on climate change, among others. Her research focuses on climate migration, Rights of Nature, climate justice, ecofeminism, human rights, and environmental defenders.

Distinguished Practitioners in Residence

Participants in this program are practitioners from around the world who have made outstanding contributions to human rights and global justice as advocates, policy makers, social movement leaders, international agency officers, non-profit leaders, journalists and other relevant roles. 

Please note that the Center is currently not accepting applications for this program.

Global Fellows at NYU School of Law 

The Center accepts up to three fellows per year through the NYU Law Global Fellows Program. Fellows interested in applying for this opportunity should refer to the program’s guidelines, funding deadlines, and application process and indicate their interest in being housed at the Center.

Transitional Justice Leadership Program

STUDENTS

Transitional Justice Leadership Program

Each year, the Center selects a cohort of incoming NYU Law LLM students to take part in the Transitional Justice Leadership Program.

Developed in consultation with prominent figures in the transitional justice field, the program provides an opportunity for NYU Law LLM students to engage through coursework, scholarship, and internships with the Center’s Prevention Project which:

  • seeks to transform prevention practices through research, conceptual clarification, and integration of knowledge and expertise
  • engages diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive prevention framework of evidence-based approaches and initiatives with proven preventive potential.

This program offered me an unmatched opportunity to develop my expertise in this vibrant field and to move my career toward the next stages

Jorge Carlos Peniche Baqueiro, Transitional Justice Scholar 2016-2017

2025-2026 Program

Senior Fellow and Professor de Greiff who served as UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence (May 2012-May 2018) leads the Transitional Justice Program and teaches the associated course.

  • The course offers insight into the legal, moral, and political questions governments and civil society must confront as they seek to come to terms with a legacy of human rights violations.
  • Students admitted to the leadership program are guaranteed enrollment and are required to take the course.

Students not selected for the program may still register for the course through the normal registration process; however, as with all NYU Law courses, enrollment for those outside the program is not guaranteed.

Following the orientation session, scholars will take leadership in organizing, leading and hosting monthly meetings at the Center. These will take the form of discussions with experts and writing workshops, as well as other activities. 

Scholarship is vital to preparing students for careers in transitional justice. Scholars are expected to develop original works of legal scholarship to submit to the annual Emerging Scholars Conference, a forum that provides students with the unique opportunity to receive detailed feedback from experts and peers in order to prepare work of publishable quality. 

  • Scholars receive guidance in obtaining academic-year internships and research opportunities with human rights organizations such as the International Center for Transitional Justice.
  • NYU Funding to pursue opportunities in a variety of transitional justice institutions, such as truth commissions, courts, reparations programs, and local human rights organizations in countries throughout the world, is available through the International Law and Human Rights Student Fellowship.
  • All interested LLM students enrolled at NYU School of Law are encouraged to apply.
  • Applications are now closed.
  • Selected candidates will be notified by September 25, 2025; the orientation session will be confirmed at this time.

In addition to other information, applicants are required to submit the following materials: 

  • CV or NYU Resume
  • Cover letter detailing your qualifications, specific interests, and any relevant background or experience where applicable (max 500 words)
  • Relevant English-language writing sample (10 pages max, excerpts acceptable)

Review call for applications.

Staff Profile – Template

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International Law and Human Rights Fellowship

STUDENTS
International Law and Human Rights Fellowship

Since 2002, the International Law and Human Rights (ILHR) Fellowship Program offers enrolled NYU School of Law students an opportunity to complete a specialized training program in international law and undertake a summer internship through a matching process at a leading institution or organization. Students are also encouraged to complete a research project growing out of that work experience.

Together with coursework, topical events and informal opportunities for networking, this program:

  • Offers critical learning opportunities that introduce students to the global practice of human rights.
  • Provides students with the type of professional experience and connections that have proved essential for them to pursue human rights careers over the years.

The fellowship is undertaken with funding support from the Public Interest Law Center, and in partnership with the Institute for International Law and Justice.

My fellowship transformed my commitment to human rights from an abstract ideal into a tangible pursuit. Through this hands-on experience, I was exposed to the real-world complexities of advocacy work, challenging my assumptions and the theory we learned in the classroom. It wasn’t just a fellowship; it was the bridge between aspiration and action. 

Jasper Kamradt, ILHR Fellow 2024

Program

A 10-12 week funded internship to take place either in Summer or Fall semesters at an organization working in human rights or international law. 

Students selected for the ILHR Fellowship will receive a stipend administered by the Public Interest Law Center.

Depending on the fellowship’s track and placement, preparation and training in the form of course requirements and a series of not-for-credit seminars in the Spring semester are required. 

Fellows present and participate in the Center’s Emerging Scholars Conference reflecting on their engagements and learning experiences. They are also encouraged to undertake a research project inspired by the fellowship on an international law or human rights issue. Parameters to be determined in agreement with academic supervisors. 

Applicants must:

  • Be enrolled NYU Law Student in any degree program (JD, LLM, JSD)
  • Demonstrate commitment to human rights and social justice
  • Have excellent research and writing skills
  • Able to work independently in a professional environment
  • Demonstrate potential for engage and rigorous scholarship or applied research

The application for Summer/Fall 2026 has now closed.

In addition to other information, applicants are required to submit the following materials: 

  • CV or NYU Resume
  • Recent unofficial transcript
  • Cover letter detailing your qualifications, specific interests, and any relevant background or experience where applicable (max 500 words)
  • Statement of Interest tailored to each placement organization of interest (500 words; max 750 words)

Human Rights Scholars

STUDENTS

Human Rights Scholars

The Center provides current NYU School of Law students with an opportunity to contribute to our activities as research assistants, and be integrated into our community of staff, faculty, visiting scholars, and students through invitations to events, research workshops, and expert convening.

Whether during one semester or through the academic year, the Human Rights Scholars work with faculty and staff to further the Center’s research agenda and to support the design and implementation of our projects, workshops, and programs including legal research, writing and advocacy.

2025-2026 Program 

The Center houses many initiatives; the projects recruiting scholar positions are listed in a document during the recruitment cycle.

Each scholar will work with a designated Center faculty and staff to further our line of work, and support the design and implementation of the relevant projects, workshops, and other programming.  

Scholarship is vital to preparing students for careers in human rights. Students:

  • who are interested in working on their own academic research projects are encouraged to apply,
  • will benefit from guidance and feedback from the Center’s faculty,
  • could earn academic credit, at the discretion of their supervisor through NYU’s Directed Research program or through enrollment in a course with a writing component taught by a Center’s faculty,
  • and will be encouraged to submit contributions to the annual Emerging Scholars Conference, a forum that provides students with the unique opportunity to receive detailed feedback from experts and peers in order to prepare work of publishable quality.

Applicants must:

  • Be enrolled NYU Law Student in any degree program (JD, LLM, JSD)
  • Demonstrate commitment to human rights and social justice
  • Have excellent research and writing skills
  • Able to work independently in a professional environment
  • Demonstrate potential for engage and rigorous scholarship or applied research

The program begins in the Fall semester and continues through the academic year.

Human Rights Scholars at the Center will be:

  • either compensated at $16.50/hour
  • or undertake work for RA academic credit; please note that 1L students are ineligible to be RAs for credit.

Workloads will vary by project, and will be assigned on an as-needed basis. All applicants should be prepared to contribute:

  • a minimum of 60 hours per semester
  • with a maximum of 20 hours per week of RA assistance.

The application cycle for Fall 2025-Spring 2026 has closed.

The following documents will be required to be submitted via an application form:

  • CV or NYU Resume
  • Recent unofficial transcript
  • Cover letter detailing your qualifications, specific interests, and any relevant background or experience where applicable (max 500 words)
  • English-language writing sample (10 pages max, excerpts acceptable)
  • Identify projects of interest associated with the program