The philosophy and political science double major, who is currently pursuing an M.A. in nationalism studies at Hungary's Central European University, will spend next year at Kent Law School's master's in law program in the U.K.
Julian Schneider '17 is passionate about the rights of migrants and refugees. As a Haverford student, he spent a summer interning with Menedék, an NGO that promotes social integration of immigrants in Hungary, where he worked in refugee camps with children. He, then, created an initiative coordinating similar NGOs across Hungary, which received funding from the United Nations Refugee Agency. Back on campus, the political science and philosophy double major—who also earned a concentration in peace, justice, and human rights—wrote one of his two senior theses on state duties to refugees. And after graduation, he returned to Hungary to continue work with Menedék while pursuing a master's in nationalism studies at Central European University. Next, he will continue his academic exploration of international law in the U.K. thanks to being named the lone recipient of the Fulbright/University of Kent Award.
After his June graduation from CEU, Schneider will move to Canterbury for a 10-month master's in law program, focused on international and European law, at the University of Kent. The Fulbright Award will fund his tuition, room and board, living expenses, and insurance while there. As a part of the program, he will write a dissertation based on research he will conduct at the Centre for Critical International Law with Sara Kendall, focusing on the conflicts that emerge between European Union law and member state law.
"[I will study] how these conflicts are addressed in national and European courts, and how these conflicts ought to be dealt with according to the respective laws and legal principles," said Schneider. "In so doing, I will study internal conflicts within supranational legal systems at large, giving particular attention to how these conflicts are driven by tensions derived from the sovereignty of member states. In turn, these tensions tend to exacerbate wider social phenomenon, such as the European migrant crisis."
He is also looking forward to continuing his on-the-ground work with refugees as a volunteer for the Kent Refugee Action Network.
Once his Fulbright year is over, Schneider will further his legal studies. He has already been accepted to Stanford Law School (SLS), and though he deferred his attendance for a year in favor of his Fulbright, the one-time Haverford Honor Council member is already anticipating all the people—including migrants and refugees—he will able to help as his legal knowledge grows.
"I look forward to a career in law and politics, and working to improve the ways that our legal systems redress injustice in society and serve communities that have historically been—and presently are—oppressed across the U.S." he said. "I am confident that my Fulbright year and three years at SLS, all of which builds on my foundational education at Haverford, will give me the tools I need to pursue these sorts of change."
