Alena Nosel is a third-year student at American University majoring in Asia, Pacific, and Diaspora Studies (APDS) and minoring in Korean language. As a Research Intern at HRNK, she looks forward to helping increase worldwide consciousness of North Korean human rights violations and learning the ins and outs of non-governmental organizations.

Her interest in North Korean human rights issues stems from her identity as a third-generation Cuban American, recognizing the significant overlap between their respective operations of authoritarian regimes. At American University, she has advanced her knowledge of North Korea through taking courses like “K-Pop in North Korea” and “Visual Culture in Korea,” writing documentary analyses, and attending escapee testimonies. She is excited to attend Yonsei University in Fall 2024 to continue her APDS studies and expand her appreciation of Korea’s global influence as its cultural and innovative exports shape modern society.

After finishing her education, Alena hopes to work under UNESCO, where she hopes to promote diverse cultural representation on the World Heritage List by contributing unsung perspectives.