Naomi Glassman is a graduate student in the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), pursuing her Master’s degree in Latin American Studies and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) at Georgetown University Law Center through a Dual Degree Program. Naomi’s studies concentrate on conflict resolution and human rights. Last summer, she participated in CLAS’s summer immersion program in Bogotá, Colombia. She reflected on her time at the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) with current BSFS fellow Mary Breen (SFS’19, Science Technology and International Affairs Major).
Why did you choose to study Latin America?
It’s been a gradual progression over my life. I went to a Montessori school through eighth grade, where I took Spanish, Japanese, and Latin. I was able to learn Spanish and I later took a trip to Peru in high school. This introduced me to some of the regional issues, language, and culture. Then, I took a Latin American history class my first year at Swarthmore College, and I was really struck by the patterns of history and the role of the United States. I was also fascinated by the way the region functions and the diversity within it. The more classes I took on Latin America the more interest I developed on the subject. I created a Latin American Studies Major at Swarthmore, because at the time they only offered a minor for Latin American Studies. After studying abroad in Ecuador, I decided to focus my academic research on Latin America.
After graduation, I traveled to Peru and worked for an NGO. Unfortunately, I tore my ACL and had to return home. My recuperation coincided with the Ríos Montt trial in Guatemala, which I followed carefully. I began to realize that the intersection between law and politics is really important. The Ríos Montt trial, from a political science and historical perspective, is mostly accepted as genocide; however, the trial applied a legal definition of genocide, which is more precise and harder to prove. The defense lawyers used a variety of unusual legal strategies to postpone the verdict, that made me wonder about the procedural and substantive legal issues. The importance of these legal tools and the interaction between law and politics was why I decided to pursue a joint degree.
Why were you attracted to Georgetown’s graduate program?
I really wanted to take advantage of the connections Washington D.C., and specifically CLAS, offer. Organizations like the Inter-American Commission and many NGOs are based here. I thought a Georgetown education would offer more opportunities than anywhere else.
Are you involved with any campus activities at Georgetown?
On Georgetown’s Law School campus, I’ve been co-president of the International Migrants Bill of Rights. This a law school organization that created a bill of rights for migrants and does advocacy with organizations in D.C., particularly the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Migrants at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. I’ve also done a lot of pro-bono work such as translating for asylum cases and completing legal intakes for Bread for the City, which provides legal services to underserved communities in D.C.
Since coming to Georgetown, what internships have enhanced your studies?
After my first year at Georgetown Law School, I had an internship in Chile that I arranged through the Law Center’s International Internship Program. It was with the Vicaría de la Solidaridad, which is the human rights organization connected to the Catholic Church during the dictatorship. I was working with the Universidad Alberto Hurtado, which was doing an interdisciplinary investigation on the documents filed in the Vicaría. I contributed to the investigation’s efforts and wrote a paper on the application of international human rights treaties during the Chilean dictatorship.
This past summer, I was in Bogotá with CLAS’ Colombia program. I worked with the Consejo de Estado, which is the highest administrative court. I helped them with an investigation on the role of administrative justices in post conflict. This spring, I will intern with the Department of International Law at the Organization of American States (OAS).
What do you think Georgetown’s Masters in Latin American Studies program uniquely offers its graduate students?
CLAS definitely uses its connections with many institutions in D.C. to organize really cool events and bring in prestigious speakers. It also attracts interesting people; a great array of professors and students with a variety of interests. The diversity of the student body has also shaped my experience here at Georgetown.
What event at CLAS is most memorable to you so far?
I really enjoyed the event with Ambassador Pinzón. It was interesting to get yet another perspective on the peace process, partly because I was so connected to it. Each of us in Colombia, because of the institutions we were working with, had a very different perspective. Ambassador Pinzón presented what the Colombian government was thinking a couple of months later, which was particularly interesting in light of the second peace accord discussions. Ambassador Pinzón was able to present the post-referendum context of the issue.
How would you describe the community within CLAS both among graduate students and with professors?
It’s a pretty collaborative environment and I respect all of my classmates. There have been papers where my friend and I are doing something similar, so we’ll share sources and talk things through. That’s been really helpful. I’ve also formed strong connections with some of my CLAS professors on main campus. I find the professors at CLAS very accessible and interested in us as people.
Is there a course or professor in CLAS that had a significant impact on your time here?
I took Professor Kapiszewski’s course, Constitutions, Courts, and Rights in New Democracies. That was really important for me, because it’s more connected to what I’m interested in—the intersection of law and politics. It revealed to me that although law and politics are really connected, the academics on both sides work in parallel. There’s not much interconnection, so it made me really aware of this gap that I’m hoping to fill.
Professor Chernick was one of the reasons I came to Georgetown originally. Taking the class called Peace Processes/Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Latin America and participating in the Colombia Program cemented my awareness of what is going on in Colombia now. It also reinforced my interest in the events there, especially the legal issues involving transitional justice and rule of law.
How has your coursework impacted your internship experiences?
By taking Professor Chernick’s class before I went to Colombia, I was very prepared and informed. It provided me a framework but also prepared me to be open to different perspectives. In terms of research capabilities, writing skills, and interactions, CLAS course definitely prepared me well.
What do you hope to get out of your experience at CLAS and how do you see that fitting into your future career?
I’m interested in the way that international law is incorporated into domestic systems in Latin America, known as domestic court applications, which has been the bulk of my research recently. CLAS is helping provide the political, social, and economic context. Lawyers have a tendency to think only about the law, but CLAS is about remembering the people. All laws create consequences and the decisions that courts make affect people. That’s really what CLAS has helped with, since there is a huge focus on the people of Latin America. We look at institutions, laws, and historical trends, but it’s really about who lives there, the people, and their struggles. I think that’s going to be the focus that I will carry with me through my legal pursuits.
Do you have an advice for undergraduate students who may be interested in Latin American Studies?
Do what really interests you. That’s how I ended up in Latin America. When I was doing some of my research projects, I remember how excited I was to get new books in the library about Latin America. I think it has gone well because I really care about it and am interested in it.
Specifically, CLAS offers many connections. Most of the interesting institutions focused on Latin America have offices in D.C. and sponsor many events, which I have been able to attend.
It’s also about what part of Latin America interests you. Every graduate program has different focuses. The Colombia program was one big reason that I came to CLAS. It was definitely worth it.