Tyler Vandergrift
Tyler has a Political Science degree from Monmouth University with a concentration in International Relations. He focused his international studies on the Middle East and Islam, and he is very interested in political representation as well as human rights abuses. He has contributed to the Shia Rights Watch Monthly anti-Shiism report, and conducted research on Saudi Arabia.
Tyler Krouse
Tyler Krouse is pursuing a Master’s in International Commerce and Policy with a concentration in Global Development and Governance at George Mason University’s School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs. Krouse completed his Bachelor’s in History with a minor in Africana Studies at James Madison University. His research focuses on emerging markets, nationalism, security studies, and the convergence of crime and terrorism. Krouse lived in Jordan in 2012.
Valerie Teachout
Valerie Teachout is a student at the University of South Florida where she is studying International Relations and Religious Studies. Spending the past year studying and interning abroad, she has spent significant time researching human rights violations, particularly that of those that occur within Bahrain and Latin America. She dedicates the majority of her to research focusing on the sociological and physiological aspects of why mass atrocities occur and how to prevent them. Upon graduation in 2015, Valerie plans to obtain a law degree in order to promote change on a policy level in becoming an international human rights attorney.
Skye Thompson
Skye is a senior at George Mason University majoring in Global Affairs with a concentration in Human Security, and a minor in conflict analysis and resolution. Skye has always been passionate about minority rights in the world and defending their rights for the better. Skye joined SRW advocacy group and hopes to use this opportunity to give voice to voiceless.
Jessica Agostinelli
Jessica is an undergraduate student at American University’s School of International Service, studying foreign policy in the Middle East and Arabic. Jessica has interned at the Brookings Institution, the Visions Center for Strategic and Development Studies, and the National Peace Corps Association in addition to her work with Shia Rights Watch. She has also studied and lived abroad in Amman, Jordan with CIEE’s Diplomacy and Studies program. She hopes to pursue a career in foreign policy after graduation.
Haley Bibbee
“Haley Bibbee is a rising sophomore at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio with a double major in Political Science and Music with a minor in Leadership Studies. She is involved in Greek Life as a Chi Omega, the College’s Concert Choir, and volunteers her free time to the Ely Chapman Education Foundation. She is originally from Cottonport, Louisiana and graduated in 2013 from Avoyelles Public Charter School of Mansura, Louisiana. During her time here in D.C. she plans to work with the local Habitat for Humanity.”
Jocelyn Liberatore
Jocelyn Liberatore is a current graduate of Bethany College, West Virginia with a degree in Political Science and is currently living in the greater Pittsburgh area, Pennsylvania. She interned at Shia Rights Watch in the summer of 2013 under the Washington Center for Academic Internships and Seminars for what she considers the best 10 week experience in the heart of Washington, D.C. She hopes to continue her career by going to law school and using her skills to help indigenous communities around the world.
Anna Owens
Anna Owens is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science: International Relations Concentration and in Cultural and Global Studies from Central Michigan University. She is also completing undergraduate certificates in Middle East and Islamic Studies, European Studies, and Lawmaking and Legal Processes. She joined the Shia Rights Watch in May of 2017 as an intern and hopes to continue broadening her perspective and knowledge of human rights violations within the Shia minority population.