Hometown: New York, NY
Research Interests: Human rights law, settler-colonial resistance, international law, migration, peace negotiations, protester tactics
Jenine Samara graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a B.A. in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and a concentration in politics. Her senior honors thesis explored the proliferation of colonial violence through contemporary Western media outlets, Palestinian liminality, and the expansion of the meaning of genocide in the Palestinian context. Jenine’s prior research experience centered on grassroots political uprisings through the College of William & Mary’s Global Research Institute.
Jenine spent much of her undergraduate career organizing in support of Palestine and hopes to carry this work into a career in international human rights law. Over the past year, she has worked at a New York City law firm focused on civil litigation and Islamic estate planning. Jenine has also volunteered with New York-based nonprofits, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Safe Horizon, and Asiyah Women’s Center.
At CCAS, Jenine hopes to build on her Arabic proficiency and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the region’s cultural and political landscape. Outside the program, she looks forward to exploring new bookstores and matcha cafés throughout D.C.