Graham’s interest in joining the IHRC stems from his desire to advocate for the rights of vulnerable populations. Before law school, he served as president of his school’s chapter of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), an advocacy organization founded in response to the war, genocide, and mass atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan. As president, he led students in lobbying their Congressmen and Senators on legislation designed to ensure that the U.S. had the requisite watchdog capabilities to identify mass atrocities. His work with STAND cultivated a consciousness for global human rights issues.

During his undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross, Graham double majored in Political Science and History. He took classes on ethics in international relations, revolutions in modern Africa, and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. He researched the U.S. response to refugee crises in Syria and Burma, evaluating the historical nuances that influenced the policy-making process. Graham is excited to cultivate his interest in international law as a student attorney with the IHRC.

At USC Gould, Graham served as a 1L Representative for the Student Bar Association, Public Interest Law Foundation, and International Law and Relations Organization. He currently holds executive board positions in the Public Interest Law Foundation and First-Generation Professionals Program, and he is the Academic Affairs Co-Chair of the Student Bar Association. Graham also volunteered with the International Refugee Assistance Project, and during his 1L summer, he worked as a legal intern with Navy JAG Corps in Washington, D.C.

“My experiences have intensified my interest and passion for human rights and the international legal system. I see this clinic as an opportunity to follow up on the experiences I had with human rights issues and conduct substantive legal work while in law school.”