Stefanie Viera

Stefanie Viera is from New Milford, N.J. and is a double major in History and Humanities & Global Studies, the latter being a contract major focused on human rights. She has a 4.0 GPA, and she has been on the Dean’s List for the entirety of her time at Ramapo. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the Alpha Alpha Alpha Honor Society and the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society.

At Ramapo, she has been active in several organizations including the Student Government Association where she has held the position as the Secretary of Service, and the newly created civic engagement club Project ARCH, where she is the Chief-of-Staff. She also is employed on campus at the Jane Addams Papers Project.

Off-campus, Stefanie is currently interning with Patrick’s Kids Foundation as their International Development Internship Coordinator, where she supports the cohort of interns as they pursue projects to support youth in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. She is also developing a mentorship program for students of limited means in Morristown, New Jersey as a part of her participation in the Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s ELLA Fellowship. Over the summer, Stephanie was awarded the New Jersey Governor’s Hispanic Fellowship Program during which she interned at the Immigration and American Citizenship organization.

Once she graduates, Stephanie hopes to travel and obtain a Graduate degree in Human Rights and to pursue a career in refugee advocacy and solutions.

Leigh Ann Sevastian

Leigh Ann Sevastian of Nyack, N.Y. is an English and Literary Studies major with a Human Rights and Genocide Studies minor. They have a 3.7 GPA.

At Ramapo, Leigh has been active in several organizations including the HGS Dean’s Student Advisory Council and working at the Center for Reading and Writing in the Learning Commons. They are a peer consultant and assist students of all majors with the writing process and reading comprehension for academic assignments. Leigh’s accomplishments at Ramapo include consistent placement on the HGS Dean’s List and having original poetry published in Ramapo’s literary magazine Trillium.

After graduation, Leigh plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science and, hopefully, entering into a career as a librarian.

Aime Lara

Aime Lara of Guttenberg, NJ is a Law and Society Major with double Minors in Human Rights and Genocide Studies and Marketing. She has a 3.8 GPA.

At Ramapo, Aime has been active in several organizations and activities, including being a Resident Assistant. She is also President of the Pre-Law Fraternity Phi Alpha Delta. She is also a Data Analytics Intern for The Office of the General Attorney at New Jersey Transit as well as an International Rescue Committee Intern for the Central American Minor program.

“I’m proud to be involved in refugee and asylum work from Central America.” She plans on applying to Law School and hopes to be an immigration or human rights attorney.

Madeline Zech

Madeline Zech of Lacey, N.J. is a senior History major with a Human Rights and Genocide Studies minor. She has a 3.8 GPA and has made the Dean’s List each semester.

At Ramapo, Madeline has been active in the Civic Community and Engagement Center, Peer Facilitators, Global Roadrunners, and an intern for  the Center of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Before becoming a staff member at the CCEC, she was a member of Leaders in Service, which propelled her to take part in Alternative Break and many community service opportunities. Madeline has a passion for being a leader in numerous organizations and making a change for the future.

After graduation, Madeline hopes to attend graduate school, working towards her Ph.D., focusing on Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies with intentions to become a professor.

Hope DeWitt

Hope DeWitt of Forked River, N.J. is a History and International Studies dual major with a minor in Political Science. She has a 3.7 GPA, active member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has made the Dean’s List all of her semesters at Ramapo. 

At Ramapo, Hope is an active member with the Peer Facilitators, an intern at the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies assisting in the Czech Torah Project, and a Global Road Runner after her study abroad in Germany. Hope enjoys being a helpful hand and guiding force for the student body to encourage all students to strive to reach their goals. 

Hope has also been involved with the Lacey Township School District as a paraprofessional focusing on special education, and in Interfaith Hospitality, where she helps the homeless population in New Jersey by providing shelter and food. 

After graduation, Hope plans to work for the United Nations in the field of Human Rights and strives to prevent genocide. She is currently applying for opportunities in the Human Rights Watch organization and the International Rescue Committee. 

Ashley Gomez

Ashley Gomez is a senior Law and Society major with a Human Rights and Genocide, and Civic and Community Leadership minor. She is a proud first generation college student with a 3.8 GPA and has made the Dean’s List several times.

Ashley has been a Resident Assistant since her sophomore year. Additionally, she has served as the School of Social Science and Human Services (SSHS) School Senator for three years, and is currently serving as Senate President for the Student Government Association. Ashley enjoys being a voice for the student body. She is also the Chapter President for Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

After graduating from Ramapo, Ashley hopes to travel to different parts of the world. She hopes to attend and graduate law school, to eventually become an immigration attorney.

Amanda Williams

Amanda Williams of Hillsborough N.J. is a Political Science major at Ramapo College, with a 3.9 major GPA. She is a Dean’s List student and executive member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society at Ramapo. 

On campus, Amanda is most proud of founding and serving as president of the Ramapo College Progressives. In her time, the political club connected with school offices, other organizations, and charities, to foster student education and civic involvement, and serve the community.  

While a student, Amanda spent her summer as an intern at the U.S. Department of Transportation – NHTSA and continues to work for NJDOT. 

Upon graduation, Amanda hopes to continue working on infrastructure policy, focusing on research and innovation to implement changes that save lives and improve communities. 

Natalie Tsur

Natalie Tsur of New Milford, N.J., is a senior Communication Arts major, concentrating in Journalism and double minoring in Creative Writing and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a 3.98 GPA and has been awarded Dean’s List throughout her academic career and published in the college’s literary magazine.

At Ramapo, Natalie has served as a peer mentor and is an active member of the College Disciplinary Review Board and The Ramapo News as News Editor. She recently conducted an independent project interviewing Ramapo students, documenting their experiences during quarantine. Her work is viewable on the newspaper’s Instagram page.

Natalie is currently a writing consultant at the Center for Reading and Writing. She hopes to continue her studies post-graduation, specializing in feature journalism and plans to teach later in her life.

Spencer Love

Spencer Love of Mickleton, N.J. is an International Studies major with a  3.6 GPA. He has a minor in International Business with a concentration in East Asia. 

At Ramapo, Spencer is the President of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity, Delta Iota Chapter, and the President of Sigma Iota Rho International Studies Honors Society. He is also a board member on the HGS Dean’s Advisory Council.

Spencer spent the spring semester of 2020 living and studying in Osaka, Japan. While there, he engaged in numerous cultural activities special to Japan, including the tea ceremony and cherry blossom viewing. He is currently pursuing Japanese coursework here at Ramapo.

 Spencer is pursuing a career in international logistics and hopes to work in Japan

Thera Carlin

Thera Carlin of Springfield, Ohio, is a History major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies. She has a GPA of 3.8.

“At Ramapo, I have worked hard to keep up on studies and promote healthy discussions amongst peers on difficult topics. Off campus, I have a part time job while also making time to participate in organizations such as SOAP, who combats sex trafficking.” Thera’s goal post-graduation is to join the Peace Corps and use her history degree to teach in underdeveloped countries. “In addition, I’d like to join human rights organizations that focus on refugees or sex workers.”

Zurine Cadena Jimenez

Zurine Cadena Jimenez, of Mount Arlington, N.J. is an International Studies major with a minor in Human Rights and Genocide Studies.  She has a 3.96 GPA and is a member of Sigma Iota Rho.  Zurine plans to enroll in a Master’s program in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University.  Upon completion, she aspires to obtain a position at UNICEF to work with regional and country offices that are engaged in advancing the early childhood education sector in developing countries.

In the summer of 2018, Zurine completed an internship with the director’s office of the Office of Innovation at UNICEF.  Through this experience she was able to take part in quarterly progress meetings pertaining to scaling of regional as well as country infrastructure projects such as healthcare and water access through the use of various technologies.  She also represented the School of Humanities and Global Studies at COPLAC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Her life goal is to compose a peace education curriculum, emphasizing tolerance and equality that she hopes will be utilized in the process of intra/interstate conflict resolution.  She also hopes to extend her research on the Colombian civil conflict and 2016 peace accord as well as partake in campaigns working towards the elimination of FGM and child marriage.

Additionally, Zurine has an Associate degree in both Studio Art and International Studies.  She is currently a preschool teacher for Kindercare Learning Centers.  In her free time, she engages in working on art pieces and in writing poetry.  Her poems have been published in the literary magazines Driftwood and the Promethean. She has also been featured as Reward Publishing’s Poet of the Month.