Page 4 - Human Rights Program 2025 Annual Report

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MASTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS STUDENTS
ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE
The Master of Human Rights (MHR) is a joint initiative of the College of Liberal Arts and the
Humphrey School of Public Affairs. The MHR program prepares students to engage in local and
global human rights challenges through research, policy analysis, and advocacy. In Fall 2024,
we welcomed 21 new MHR students.
ADVOCATING FOR TRANSGENDER AND HEALTHCARE RIGHTS
Mila Genesis Hellfyre Hernandez (MHR ‘26) presenting her research at the Human Rights Day Symposium.
Mila Genesis Hellfyre Hernandez (MHR ‘26), a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has dedicated
her career to empowering and uplifting the transgender community, particularly transgender
women of color. She has worked with various organizations, including NMAC (formerly the
National Minority Aids Council), the Human Rights Campaign, The Equality Empowerment
Center, and Proyecto FQ, to develop and implement projects and campaigns that focus on
leadership training and initiatives that strengthen and protect.
As a survivor of conversion therapy, Hellfyre Hernandez’s political activism has led her to
specialize in transgender and healthcare rights. She currently serves as a member of the
Advisory Committee of the LGBTQ Federation of Puerto Rico, bringing her public policy and public
health experience to the table as the youngest member to hold this position. Hellfyre Hernandez
aims to use her degree as a tool for human rights change across the United States and Latin
America. Currently, she serves as the Vice President of the Gender and Sexuality Policy
Engagement Committee at the Humphrey School, where she advocates for students to have the
space for both restoration and community building, especially during these challenging times
when human rights are being eroded. She aspires to continue sharing her knowledge and
experiences with the community through her words and work.