In January, UNANIMA International welcomed threenew interns from Syracuse University, all committed to extending UNANIMA International’s research for education and advocacy, with a focus on climate-induced displacement. We expect the interns to contribute to research publications and presentations, as well as engage in political representation for our organization, bringing attention to Family Homelessness and our priority groups (women, children and girls, migrants, refugees, and the earth) in political spaces including civil society events and UN Commissions. Below you can learn a little bit about them!
Tyra Jean is a passionate and driven personality attending the 12-month Master of Public Administration Degree at The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Hailing from Freeport, New York, Tyra is the daughter of two Haitian immigrants. Due to her upbringing, Tyra understands the importance of empathy, lifting up the voices of the marginalized, and using relevant data to combat issues of poverty and social determinants of health. She previously held positions as a Health Assessment Data Team Intern at the Onondaga County Health Department and was one of 30 change-makers selected for the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program at UC Berkeley. She currently holds a position as a Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion Research Affiliate, and publishes research briefs when she feels inspired. She is honored to be on board this semester as a Spring Intern at UNANIMA International!
Lara Hicks is a Master of Public Administration student at Syracuse University concentrating on international development and completing a Certificate of Advanced Study in Civil Society Organizations. She graduated as a University Scholar from Syracuse University in May 2020 with her bachelor’s degree in international relations. Passionate about serving displaced families and refugees, Lara focused her studies on the politics of migration issues and how the UN system responds to protracted global crises. Her undergraduate honors thesis research sent her to Geneva, Switzerland to interview UN officials at the UNHCR and IOM. In addition to her academic interests in global governance and migration policy, Lara currently serves as the Assistant Manager for Adult and Family Programs for a Syracuse non-profit and as an advocate for relationship violence survivors in SU’s Take Back the Night committee. In her spare time, Lara enjoys singing, classical and contemporary dance, and cheering on sports teams from her home state of Minnesota.
Xiaowen (Abby) Cui is a Public Diplomacy student from Syracuse University with an undergraduate studies background in Broadcast and Journalism. Her interests lie in environmental protection, urban planning and development, educational inequity and reform, and ethnic minorities’ human rights violations and advocacy. Abby pays particular attention to effective communication practices that have the potential to address or transform conflicts resulting from these societal issues. Born and raised in China, she is also a self-taught chef.
