Hello, This is Rumana Monzur
Hello, This is Rumana Monzur
I have lost my sight, but I have gained vision...
I have lost my sight, but I have gained vision...
AT A GLANCE
In June 2011, I lost my sight as a result of a horrendous act of domestic violence.
Along with blindness came many hardships and challenges. Yet, in facing these challenges, I did not lose my perspective. I still see myself as the same person I always was. The same Rumana, who always believed in celebrating life; celebrating the life that made me the woman I am today. Until June 2011, I was building my career in academia. After becoming blind, I decided to change my career. I graduated from the University of British Columbia, Canada in May 2017 with a law degree. Today, I am an articled student at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP.My motto: Be Infinite
THE PAST
Feels like another lifetime
THE PRESENT
I'm fighting and thriving
THE FUTURE
Looks promising and "green"!
ACHIEVEMENTS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
My interests keep growing, there's no limit, I will continue learning till my last breath
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
View my TEDxStanleyPark talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxjcfF6g3Bo
2015 TEDxStanleyPark. Theme: “Yes we can reduce violence against women”
- 2017 Peter A. Allard School of Law Graduation Student Speaker, University of British Columbia
- 2016 Hilda Janzen Memorial Award for Feminist Legal Studies recipient, awarded by the Peter Wall Institute
- 2016 Outstanding Performance in Environmental and Natural Resource Law recipient, awarded by DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
- 2016 Gordon Bisaro Memorial Prize in Law recipient, awarded by UBC
- 2015 Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund, drawn from almost 90 General Counsels from across Canada
- 2013 Laurie Shepherd Award in recognition of academic excellence and leadership in community service, Vancouver, BC
- 2012 Canada’s Daughter of the Year, Daughter’s Day, Edmonton, AB
- 2012 Faculty of Arts Graduate Student Scholarship, UBC
- 2011 UNESCO Keizo Obuchi Fellowship, Women's participation in the peace building process in post-conflict Sri Lanka (declined, due to blindness brought about just a month earlier)
PUBLICATIONS
Past academic publications:
- Sri Lanka on the verge of Non-Violence: Can violence lead to Stable Peace? Identity, Culture & Politics: An Afro-Asian Dialogue, Volume 9, No. 2, December 2008.
- Humiliated Pakistan and its Uncertain Future; Journal of South Asian Affairs: Vol. 1, No. 2,
July-December, Vishakhapatnam, 2008. - Beyond the Security Impasse: State, Development & People; RCSS (Regional Centre for
Strategic Studies) Policy Studies # 46; Colombo, 2008. - Sri Aurobindo & Modern Imperialism; Philosophy & Progress, June-December, Dhaka, 2004.
- Combating ‘Terrorism’: New Challenge for the Southeast Asian Countries; Journal of
International Affairs; Vol. 7, No. 2, July-December, Dhaka, 2003.
DLA PIPER (CANADA) LLP - ARTICLED STUDENT
The journey continues
- I am currently articling at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - PETER A. ALLARD SCHOOL OF LAW
Law School Graduate
- Graduated in the Juris Doctor (JD) Program in May 2017
- Completed Masters in Political Science from UBC - 2013
PHOTOS
Some pictures from my recent travels!
GET IN TOUCH
Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email!
