by Brandon Showalter
At the conclusion of an extraordinary year, the MA in Human Rights cohort had the privilege of meeting and connecting with Prof. Robert Destro of the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America. His areas of expertise include international human rights, religious freedom, and bioethics. Destro served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under President Donald J. Trump.
Congenial and good-humored, the former Asst. Secretary regaled us with several stories about his perspective on how human rights is done in practice, and how he now sees the fight for human rights from within the Department of State; a perspective that changed after taking a position in the government. Navigating the layers of the federal bureaucracy is not for the faint of heart but a worthy task, he recounted, sharing how he did his best to leave an imprint where it matters. For nothing, when done for the right reason, is ever wasted, he said.
Among the many themes that we explored was how necessary it is to find a way to do what animates us to further human rights while finding a way to finance it. His encouraging words to us befitted the occasion as we look forward to graduation festivities on May 14.
