Four Beloit College seniors are named Weissberg Fellows each year, nominated by faculty members.  Fellows receive up to $5,000 each to help them take the next steps toward life-long engagement with human rights.  Fellows are expected to report on the activities facilitated by their awards and to become active members of the Weissberg Human Rights Program network.  In their applications to become fellows, they will provide evidence of their commitment to understanding and improving human rights as well as discuss how the award will facilitate the further development of their capacity to contribute in this area.  (Above: Marvin Weissberg, center, with Fellows (from left) Jessica Slattery'12, Oliver Wyckoff'12 and Mashail Malik'12). 

To nominate a student, submit to Josh Moore (moorej@beloit.edu):

• a letter of nomination commenting on the candidate’s commitment to understanding and improving human rights.

• include the nominee’s major(s) and minor(s).

Nominees will be invited to submit applications.

Deadline for nominations: Wednesday, February 1, 2013

WEISSBERG FELLOWS 2012

Mashail Malik’12

Majors: International Political Economy and Philosophy

Mashail volunteered after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, which jump started her interests in human rights. At Beloit, she has served as a chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Mashail plans to complete a Masters degree at the University of Chicago in International Relations in hopes of returning to Pakistan to work in nonprofit organizations to improve political and economic issues in Pakistan.

Ben Sercombe’12

Major: International Relations

Ben became interested in human rights in high school through the Students for Social Justice club. While at Beloit, Ben gained a new perspective on inner-city poverty through his Duffy Internship at Community Action. Ben is passionate about drug policy in the united states and the impact of the war on drugs on Latin America.  He plans on improving his Spanish and working with Latin American organizations in the future.  He has secured an internship with International Peace Brigades.

Jessica Slattery’12

Major: Anthropology Minor: Spanish

Jessica’s studies have incorporated a human rights lens in many ways.   She studied abroad in Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, completing a research project on the Commercialization of the Cultural Heritage in Northern Argentina.  She also participated in the Jamaica Field School, studying special segregation in housing.  She is currently the Program Manager for the Stateline Literacy Council in Beloit.  She plans to do an internship in a housing organization in Mexico City following graduation.

Oliver Wyckoff’12

Major: Political Science

Oliver has been very dedicated to his academic study of human rights issues.  In 2009, he traveled to Rwanda as a member of the Global Youth Connect delegation studying the legacy of genocide.  He has volunteered for a local homeless shelter and worked for Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State. Oliver plans to pursue his Master’s degree in international development in Denmark following graduation from Beloit College.

Ian Hedges’12

Major: International Relations

In his Health and Society minor studies, Ian has focused heavily on public health responses to bridging health disparities in the US and Latin America.   While studying abroad in Chile, Ian worked to address gaps in health care to sex workers.  In Washington, DC, he interned with district Health Department on meeting the health needs of underserved populations.  In Beloit, he has been a leader in founding the Beloit Public Health Initiative, aiming to reduce the burden of sexually-transmitted diseases.   After graduation, Ian plans to return to working on policy issues with the Washington DC Department of Health, eventually attending graduate school in policy studies.