Student spotlight: Emily Katz

Emily Katz graduated in June with a B.A. in political science and a minor in global studies, with a specialization in African studies and a focus on women’s and human rights issues.

She chose to study these topics because “I felt as though Africa was a neglected region in political science, and women's rights have always been an issue that is important to me personally.”

One of her favorite experiences as an undergraduate was visiting the South African Supreme Court in Johannesburg. “It's built on an old prison that housed political prisoners and is meant to remind the justices and visitors of South Africa's history,” she said. “The building itself is modeled after traditional justice ‘under the tree,’ where chiefs and councils would sit and talk through conflicts. It’s a very different place and a moving experience.”

Her minor capstone project analyzed “critiques of transitional justice regimes to answer whether their failures are endemic to transitional justice or something that can be corrected.” She also wrote a thesis that examined the factors contributing to the gender gap in voting.

Reflecting on her time at Stanford, Emily says she is proud of how she has learned to adapt to change and how to approach new situations with greater flexibility and openness.  Following graduation, Emily will be taking a gap year before going to law school. Her knowledge base and perspectives have broadened through her experiences at Stanford, and she is ready to tackle future challenges.

Congratulations Emily, and best of luck next year!

Please join us in congratulating the class of 2019! As the academic year draws to a close, we are highlighting students graduating from across our 14 programs. Click here to view more student spotlights.