Samantha Moore (Merrill ’23, politics) has always had a passion for human rights advocacy. She graduated UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in politics and government and knew her interests would one day take her to the East Coast or Europe. Now, a year after graduation, Moore has found herself in the home of the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. She recently completed an M.A. in International Relations at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
“I have dreamed of decreasing suffering and creating spaces for people to advocate for themselves and improve the global community,” Moore said. “I knew that moving here would give me the opportunity of a lifetime: to work and be at the center of international relations. This was a chance that I knew I would always regret not taking.”
Since moving to Geneva in the fall of 2023, Moore has completed an internship as a gender affairs intern at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) promoting gender equality. She has also supported female participants in the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 by developing mentoring and training programs. During her internship at ITU-T, Moore’s most notable experience was organizing a women’s breakfast event focused on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Through this event, Moore had the opportunity to meet female delegates from all over the world.
“I was able to see an event from its inception until its execution and through the process, meet inspiring and intelligent women revered in their field,” she said.
Nearing a year into her Master’s program, Moore is grateful for the experiences and opportunities she had at UCSC. Through her involvement with several university programs she further developed her passion for human rights advocacy.
She participated in Model United Nations, a program in which students roleplay as United Nations delegates working within diplomacy, international relations, and current world issues. Moore says this experience was influential for her career trajectory, providing her the opportunity to learn about and mitigate social issues.
“UCSC helped me tremendously in pursuing my career path,” she said. “Before attending, I was unsure about what I wanted to pursue, but it was here that I discovered my passion for international relations.”
Moore’s UCSC education was not confined to Santa Cruz. Through the UC Education Abroad Program, Moore studied abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. The experience gave Moore the courage to adapt to new environments and reinforced her desire to work on global issues. Moore also participated in the UCDC Program where she had the opportunity to intern at the Human Rights Campaign in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. She said that the experience not only deepened her understanding of political and social issues, but also provided her with the practical skills needed to pursue graduate school and internships with confidence.
Moore finds inspiration from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, one day hoping to establish her own NGO dedicated to advocating for human rights, raising awareness of international issues, and advising and enhancing U.S. government policies. This will allow her to contribute to a better world for both Americans and people of other cultures.
In pursuing each of her goals, Moore is grateful for the unconditional support of her friends and family. In addition, she is appreciative of her undergraduate years at UCSC, which provided her with the tools to excel within her field of passion.
“UCSC has a very special place in my heart,” Moore said, “as it provided me with the space and resources to develop who I am and discover what I want to do with my life.”
Read more about the Class of 2023 and their lives beyond the UCSC redwoods.
