Amelia L. Urwin

Amelia Urwin, our graduate student studying diplomacy and international law, has been actively involved with the AUP community. Her devotion to academics and two-year experience working as the Graduate Writing Tutor at AUP's Writing Lab landed her an internship at the University as a Teaching Assistant for International Human Rights Law. Collaborating with Professor Perry teaching, researching, and helping students improve their writing and reinforce their critical thinking, Amelia decided she'd continue on the path of education and a research-related career. She recently took on the position of a Policy Analyst at UNESCO, where she researches legal policies related to emergencies in global education.

Tell us a little bit about your background? 

I am originally from a sunny beach town in Los Angeles. I moved north of New York City to attend Sarah Lawrence College for my undergraduate degree. I studied Philosophy and the Classics. After graduating in 2018, I moved to Beijing to teach English Literature to high school students, then to Korea before moving to Paris!

Which company/organization are you currently interning with?  

The American University of Paris.

 
Where is your internship taking place?  

My internship took place in Paris, France.

When is your internship taking place?  

Fall 2022.

What is your job title?  

Teaching Assistant for International Human Rights Law, taught by Professor Susan Perry.

 
What types of responsibilities and/or tasks do you have in your internship? What's a typical day for you like? 

Each week, Professor Perry and I read through students' work together. Together, we analyzed students' quality of work according to the predetermined grid and discussed the progression of students' legal thinking. We discussed what students did well, in addition to their analytical flaws or incomplete arguments. I provided support in the classroom, helping facilitate roleplay scenarios and occasionally providing my own input in discussions with students.

Additionally, students could make appointments with me to guide them to improve their thinking and adhere to proper legal citations, argumentations, etc. My experience working as the Graduate Writing Tutor at AUP's Writing Lab for the last two years proved valuable, as I collaborated with students to ensure their legal analysis flowed and they expressed their arguments through clear, graceful writing. Explaining legal reasoning and analysis to students was also a delight. 

 
What are the biggest challenges and successes you’ve experienced during your internship? 

It was fantastic to watch students learn how to fuse creative thinking with rigorous legal analysis. Achieving the balance between precision and ingenuity in thought and expression is quite difficult. Yet, it is a hallmark of the liberal arts education. Guiding students through the process and gradual discovery was a satisfying challenge and asemester-long adventure!

Each student brought varying opinions and analyses on human rights issues and different solutions on how to approach them, which was delightful to observe.

Working alongside Professor Perry was a tremendous honor; I learned so much from her expertise and am very thankful to have observed the behind-the-scenes activities of teaching a university class.

What language(s) are you speaking/using in your internship? 

English and French.

 
Tells us about your future goals/aspirations. Is this internship relevant? Do you think it will help you along the way?  

My internship with Professor Perry led to my current position as a Policy Analyst in the EME sector at UNESCO! I research legal policies related to emergencies in global education. Sometimes I am sent to assist the data team, which is a beneficial experience!

Collaborating with Professor Perry allowed me to observe teaching at a university level, which informs my current work. A few years down the line, once I gain more experience working in international relations, I feel more confident about pursuing a Ph.D. and becoming a professor someday!

 
Anything else to share?  

The AUP internship office and career services are invaluable resources! Throughout my graduate studies, everyone in the office helped me with my resume, CV, interviewing, and forging a career.

It's easy to be pessimistic about careers, especially with the recent launch of generative AI. But rigorous thought is always relevant and irreplaceable. AI lacks its own imagination and vision, which the students I worked with have in spades. Observing how students automatically apply their own perspective in their analysis and solutions renders all of their thoughts personal and unique. On a global scale, innovation is requisite when we discuss problem-solving to uphold human rights.

The art of rhetoric, celebrated since ancient times, and the joy of learning are constants in our lives and the liberal arts experience, and they will never be replaced.