Sandra Sirota

Director, Human Rights Close to Home

Assistant Professor in Residence, Experiential Global Learning & Human Rights

Sandra Sirota, EdD, is assistant professor in residence in human rights and experiential global learning with the Human Rights Institute. Her work explores human rights and social justice education in formal and non-formal settings in the United States and South Africa. Her current research, funded by the Human Rights Institute, focuses on how youth-led social movements may disrupt systemic racism in education. She is planning a new research project in conjunction with the launch of Dodd Impact’s 3-year pilot human rights and civics education project for educators and youth, Human Rights Close to Home. Sandra’s recent articles have been published in Comparative Education Review, The Journal of Human Rights, and Prospects. She serves as Book Review Co-Editor for The Journal of Human Rights and Faculty Coordinator for UConn’s Early College Experience in Human Rights. 

Sandra has collaborated and consulted with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other human rights and education organizations. She is a steering committee member of the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education. She earned her doctoral degree from Columbia University Teachers College’s Department of International and Transcultural Studies with a concentration in peace and human rights education. She completed her master’s degree in international human rights at the University of Denver Korbel School of International Studies and her bachelor’s degree in anthropology at Cornell University.