Braden Rivers 2025 Summer Fellow Spotlight

1. What do you expect to gain from this externship?
From this externship, I hope to gain hands-on experience in international religious freedom law, particularly in the Eurasia region. I look forward to deepening my understanding of legal strategies that protect religious liberties in diverse cultural and political contexts. Additionally, I aim to develop practical skills in legal research, policy analysis, and advocacy while observing how international law interacts with local regulations.2. What are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about the opportunity to engage directly with religious freedom issues in the broader Eurasia Area. Having witnessed religious suppression while living in Russia, I’m eager to contribute to meaningful work that upholds fundamental freedoms. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with legal professionals who share this mission, learning from their expertise, and seeing how international legal frameworks are applied in real-world cases. The chance to be part of impactful advocacy while gaining exposure to cross-cultural legal practice is incredibly motivating for me.3. Why did you apply?

I applied because of my deep personal and professional commitment to religious freedom. My experiences in Russia, where I saw the consequences of religious suppression, ignited my passion for this area of law. Since then, I’ve sought opportunities to advocate for these rights, which led me to work with the International Center for Law and Religious Studies. This externship aligns perfectly with my goals—it offers practical experience in international religious liberty law and allows me to contribute to meaningful change in a region where these issues are critical. I’m eager to bring my background, language skills, and dedication to this role while learning from experts in the field.