The U.S.-Asia Law Institute (USALI) at NYU School of Law and the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2025 USALI-AASF Fellowship. This joint program allows law students to engage in legal research and advocacy at the intersection of national security, science and technology, civil rights, and justice.
AASF has partnered with USALI for nearly three years to develop a pipeline of talent in the legal profession who can tackle the serious civil rights challenges facing Asian Americans and the broader research community. USALI is one of America’s preeminent academic institutes for the study of East Asian law and promotes constructive engagement and mutual understanding among legal scholars and legal professionals in the United States and East Asia.
The 2025 Fellow is Renata Shammo (she/her/hers), a 2027 J.D. candidate at Columbia Law School. She will conduct legal research and policy analysis that advances civil rights and justice for Asian Americans and all communities. Her contributions will help address critical issues affecting Asian American communities and provide key insights into the legal frameworks that shape national security and civil rights.
Renata graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology. Her interests and previous work experience center around human rights and international affairs.
“I chose this fellowship because I hope to contribute to AASF’s work promoting freedom and scientific development, preventing discrimination, and filling the legal gaps at the intersection of civil liberties and national security,” Renata said. “One of the primary reasons I hope to become a lawyer is to engage in deep analysis of interesting and important issues, while making a positive impact on people’s lives, and I appreciate that AASF is doing exactly that.”
Renata will work on analyzing laws and policies, examining emerging issues in science and technology, and supporting advocacy efforts to combat profiling, surveillance, and discrimination. Her research will contribute to AASF’s mission of protecting the rights of Asian American scholars, scientists, and researchers while aligning with USALI’s broader commitment to the rule of law and human rights.
“This fellowship supports the next generation of lawyers in addressing one of today’s most complex challenges: how to protect civil rights at a time of intense securitization in almost every sector,” said Katherine Wilhelm, executive director of USALI and adjunct professor of law at NYU School of Law. “We’re excited to welcome Renata and proud to collaborate with AASF to strengthen research and advocacy in this critical area.”
“This joint fellowship with USALI reflects our shared commitment to advancing fairness and justice for Asian American scholars and all communities. Together, we recognized a serious gap in legal research and policy response at the nexus of national security and civil rights,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, executive director of AASF. “By welcoming these scholars and next generation leaders into the field, we’re not only investing in solutions, but building a foundation for long-term impact in our country.”
This collaboration between USALI and AASF underscores a shared commitment to fostering legal scholarship and advocacy that champions justice, freedom, and civil rights.
ABOUT USALI
The U.S.-Asia Law Institute (USALI) is one of America’s preeminent academic institutions for the study of East Asian law. It serves as a bridge between East Asia and the United States, fostering mutual understanding on legal issues and using constructive engagement among legal professionals to promote the rule of law and human rights in both regions. The institute is funded by institutional grants and gifts to conduct legal exchange programs, hold conferences and speaker programs, publish research and analysis, and teach courses about law in Asia.
ABOUT AASF
Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is a national nonprofit that promotes belonging, freedom, and equality for all. In response to heightened anti-Asian sentiments and profiling in the U.S., AASF has been a leading national voice fighting for the rights of Asian American and immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars. AASF membership includes members from the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Science, and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, in addition to past and current university presidents, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, and past and current department chairs. Learn more at aasforum.org.