Alice Farmer
Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Thesis Title: The Explosion of the New Created by the Rite of Spring
What Now: Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
I am now a refugee lawyer for the United Nations. At the moment I specialize in U.S. refugee law, working in Washington D.C. Before this job, I was based in Geneva, Switzerland and my career has taken me all over the world. I spent many years conducting human rights investigations (similar to investigative journalism) in refugee camps, detention centers, and other settings in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Hist & Lit has been a useful foundation for this. First, at Harvard I focused on French history and literature (including Francophone studies). I've used French professionally in France, francophone Africa, and Switzerland, and my understanding of francophone history gained during my time with Hist & Lit has been helpful. Second, as a refugee and human rights lawyer I conduct research into children's rights issues and draft articles and reports on those topics. The training I got as a writer in Hist & Lit -- augmented by further training in law school -- comes in handy.