Webster University Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies

We interrupt this Summer Break to announce that the submission deadline for our December 2026 issue of “Righting Wrongs: A Journal of Human Rights” has been EXTENDED to June 15! Please help us spread the word to undergraduate researchers at ANY institution. We’re looking for your papers, reviews, and critical essays that explore issues related to human rights and social justice. This is a great way to get experience with academic publishing and possibly gain a peer reviewed writing sample for future job/grad school applications. See the “Call for Papers” for details, webster.edu/rightingwrongs.

We’re taking a summer social media break, but we will see you for the fall semester! If you have any questions about studying human rights at Webster in the meantime, please contact Professor Lindsey Kingston at [email protected]. Stay safe and have fun!

It’s almost Pride Month! Find STL celebrations at https://www.pridestl.org/events-calendar

Engaging in the cultural life of your community is a human right, ya’ll. Share some art this summer.

We are absolutely thrilled so many folks visit the Little Art Gallery STL! We are in need of art to keep up with the visitors. If you have works that you would like to share, you can drop them off in the gallery or send me a DM for a shipping address to mail some works. All mediums are welcome. Anything 8 x 10 and smaller fits in the gallery. Please NO FOOD! Thanks for keeping the community bright and colorful!!

We hope you’ve had the chance to relax at the start of Summer Break! Before you get too cozy, make sure to finalize your Fall ‘26 course schedule if you haven’t already. We’ll see you in a human rights class soon, yeah?

We are bidding a fond farewell to Professor Kristen Anderson Morton, who is leaving Webster University after 17 years of service. She’s moving to New Zealand with her family - yes, we said New Zealand - to write, hike, and make us all very jealous. Dr. Anderson Morton has been an essential part of Webster’s history program, as well as its human rights and WGST programs, and we will miss her dearly - even when she’s sending us photos from the beach while we’re in faculty meetings next year.

Temporary summer job opportunity for students interested in refugee/migrant rights! Learn more at https://www.iistl.org/job-openings/

The International Institute of St. Louis is seeking an energetic, compassionate, culturally responsive, and reliable Assistant Instructor to support our summer programming for refugee and immigrant youth. This role is ideal for someone who believes in the transformative power of shared experiences and community building and is committed to creating an inclusive, engaging, and welcoming environment for young people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

The Assistant Instructor will work closely with the Teen Programming Coordinator to facilitate educational and enrichment activities that promote confidence, creativity, and connection. Successful candidates will bring strong interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, adaptability, and an openness to diverse cultural norms, perspectives, and experiences. Candidates should demonstrate cultural humility, responsiveness, and an understanding of the unique experiences and challenges faced by refugee and immigrant communities. The ideal candidate approaches youth with energy, empathy, and a commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based practice.

Dates: July 1 - August 4, 2026, $15.90 per hour (maximum 16 hours/weekly)

It’s not too late to submit your undergraduate research on human rights and social justice to “Righting Wrongs: A Journal of Human Rights.” Students from any institution are welcome to submit to our December 2026 issue. The submission deadline is June 1 and details are available at our “Call for Papers” at https://blogs.webster.edu/humanrights/call-for-papers/

The Department of History, Politics, and International Relations (HPIR) had its last-ever department meeting a couple of weeks ago. It’s a bittersweet moment as HPIR merges with Webster’s anthropology, sociology, criminology, legal studies, and WGST faculty to form the new Department of Social Sciences. There will be many changes next school year, but some things remain the same: Webster University is still a leading institution for studying human rights. We’ll continue offering our minor in International Human Rights, and we’re launching a BA in International Relations with a Human Rights emphasis. We will also continue to publish “Righting Wrongs: A Journal of Human Rights,” support student groups like Amnesty International, sponsor faculty-led study abroad classes, and maintain this social media. So stick with us; change is hard, but we have lots of good things in store for you. If you have questions about the new IR program, message Professors Dani Belo ([email protected]) and/or Lindsey Kingston ([email protected]).

Congratulations to HRTS alumna Akouvi Aholouvi, who graduated with her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) last week from the Brown School at Washington University-Saint Louis. Akouvi attended this top-ranked graduate program on scholarship and completed her degree with a perfect 4.0 grade point average! She celebrated with her former Webster advisor/professor Lindsey Kingston and her 5-year-old daughter Kekeli, along with many proud friends and colleagues. Akouvi now works as a social worker at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.