Photograph above from Joseph Maestas's time at the United Nations in Geneva
As Joseph Maestas anticipates his upcoming graduation with a PhD this May, he looks back on his enriching journey at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, particularly through his engagement with the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (HRHA) program.
Regarding his decision to specialize in human rights, Joseph shares, “I purposefully chose to do a JD and PhD because of human rights. The human rights specialization weaves many different threads of interest together for me - particularly law, politics, and advocacy. Before UNL, I had never studied international relations but knew I wanted to take my political, philosophical, and legal background and apply it to some of the biggest challenges that face the world today.”
Joseph shares how “the biggest academic contribution of the HRHA program comes from the people. Courtney Hillebrecht, both as my advisor and Chair of the HRHA, has created a fantastic space to share work and receive constructive feedback. The program itself benefits from the numerous talented and passionate students. The Dr. Joseph Elston Fellowship also helped support my research and would not be possible without the HRHA.”
Joseph’s dissertation – "What's Next: How and Why States Strengthen Treaties Through Deepening Commitments" – explores how states respond to threats by leveraging deepening commitments both to strengthen international law and as a strategic tool.
After graduation, Joseph plans to pursue non-academic research roles for the U.S. government or human rights-focused NGOs. He emphasizes the significance of collaboration across job types and missions, drawing from his experiences with the United Nations. Being named a Presidential Management Fellow Finalist, Joseph hopes to draw from different perspectives to further his well-rounded education received at UNL.
Encouraging fellow students, Joseph advises them to pursue their passions, “It sounds cliche, but studying human rights can be tough. The world of human rights is often watching terrible actions and waiting for the world to get bad. Having something that motivates you when on the tough days or weeks of human rights research will help. One person cannot possibly do everything, but one person can absolutely make a difference. Pick something that you are passionate about and use that to make the world a better place.”
