Exploring Ethics

Kate Alexander

Kate Alexander is a junior pursuing a B.A. in International and Global Studies and a Minor in Legal Studies. She began volunteering in elementary school and has since worked in projects ranging from environmental conservation to working with juvenile delinquents. Her interests grew from domestic to global concerns while working for Planned Parenthood and ultimately took form while coordinating Portland Oregon’s Stand Up and Take Action to End Poverty Now event. She is primarily interested in the role the United States will take in shaping international justice and human rights, particularly concerning the structure of USAID, empowering women and working with the International Criminal Court. Kate sees the ECLC as an opportunity to expand her own views on international justice and human rights, to work with other students who have taken steps to become global citizens, and to foster enthusiasm for international politics among fellow Brandeisians. She plans to attend law school with the goal of becoming an international humanitarian and human rights lawyer.

Yuan Yao

Yuan Yao believes that art has the power to open our eyes to the world around us. As a senior at Brandeis University majoring in biochemistry, he has had exposure to some of the controversial topics of biomedical research. His six years of being both a nationally recognized black and white photographer and active campus photojournalist has led to his interest in bringing these parts of his experience together. Yuan loves to take what he knows of arts and photography and apply those ideas to explore questions we ask about contemporary issues. He believes that art has an unparalleled ability to reach across cultural boundaries and influence all people. Art can be used as a tool to tell a story, and it can be a wonderful way to initiate dialogue and bring people together. Through its universal visual appeal, art can ultimately lead to peacebuilding.

Rachel Gillette

Rachel Gillette is currently a senior studying Politics and African and Afro-American Studies at Brandeis University. Back from studying abroad in her junior year in Uganda and Rwanda, she has conducted field research on Conflict Sensitivity Mainstreaming and has experience building community dialogue programs in the refugee camps of northern Uganda.  Rachel is also currently a student researcher at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism. Other on-campus involvement includes a former student position with Coexistence International, research assistantship on community-building and grassroots organizing, and involvement with Adagio Dance Company.  Off-campus experiences include organizing for the Obama Campaign for Change, Cultural Survival, and the Beads for Education Project. Rachel is excited to be joining the ECLC in hopes of furthering discussion and thought on general ethical questions that concern our daily lives, and hopes to prompt an engaged, active community of leaders on campus.

Anna Khandros

Anna Khandros is a senior majoring in Politics with a double minor in Peace, Conflict, & Coexistence Studies and Legal Studies. Although she is hoping to become a Peace Corps volunteer and go into the conflict resolution field, Anna has worked in technical theater throughout both high school and college. She currently works in the scene shop of the Brandeis Theater Company and was previously involved with the Undergraduate Theater Collective. As an Ethics Center Leadership Council member focusing on Peacebuilding and the Arts, she is hoping to combine her passion for theater arts with her interest in coexistence studies. She strongly believes that theater brings all sorts of people together and transforms them, and looks forward to working with the Ethics Center to bring relevant events to the Brandeis community

Beneva Davies

Beneva Davies is a sophomore studying Politics and an Independent Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) of Advocacy and Development in the Third World. At Brandeis, in addition to her work with the Ethics Center Leadership Council, Beneva practices her desire for community-building, advocacy, activism and grassroots organizing as Senator at Large, Black History Month Coordinator and a member of The Vagina Monologues. Off-campus Beneva continues to cultivate her skills as a community advocate and organizer through her work with the Boys and Girls Club and with non-governmental organizations focusing on post-conflict restoration and development as well as poverty alleviation in Sierra Leone. As a member of the ECLC Beneva hopes to assist the Ethics Center as it continues to provide many opportunities to help mold students into engaged, informed, global citizens.

Tenzing Yonten Sherpa

Tenzing Yonten Sherpa is a junior majoring in International Global Studies and Economics with a minor in Legal Studies. From Kathmandu, Nepal, Tenzing is studying at Brandeis as a Wien scholar, and is actively engaged in promoting forums for discussing international issues on campus. As a Tibetan refugee, he has always been passionate about international justice and human rights and seeks a career in this field in the near future. He has had experience on the ground interning for Sahara International Orphanage-Nepal and Heifer International. These organizations have exposed him to human rights violations during the Nepalese civil war and the various social injustices in developing nations. Tenzing now seeks to further pursue his passions through the ECLC, and would like to use this window of opportunity to expand his own outlook on international justice and human rights as well as that of the Brandeis undergraduate community.