Student Profile: Syeda Mahmood
Email address: szmahmoo@uci.edu
Dual/concurrent degree you are pursuing: J.D. / Ph.D. in Anthropology
Expected graduation: 2027
Research interests/agenda: Land, legal geography, socio-ecology, property
Academic Experiences, Honors and Awards:
- Certificate in International Human Rights Law – Certification given by Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School
- Certificate in Community-based Research – Certification given by Newkirk Graduate Student Fellowship at the University of California, Irvine
- Newkirk Graduate Student Fellowship, University of California Irvine – Community-Campus Research Facilitator & Coordinator
- Teaching Assistant, University of California Irvine
Past Education
University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA – J.D. Candidate at the School of Law
University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA – Ph.D. Student in the Department of Anthropology
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL – Masters of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) - Anthropology Track
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI – Bachelor of Arts, Sociology (Honors), Minor in South Asian Languages and Cultures
What made you interested in pursuing dual degrees?:
I was interested in pursuing a dual degree to be equipped with the additional tools necessary to
combine legal studies, ethnographic research, and the practice of law to develop and implement
holistic solutions to global land conflicts and climate crises. I sought to bridge my
Ph.D. studies to the practice of law to gain the training needed to apply and innovate legal tools
and theories to advocate for and mobilize alongside impacted communities effectively.
How would you describe your experience as a dual-degree student so far?
As a dual-degree student, I have gained insight into legal application and legal logics that would
not have been as clear to me if I had just stayed a Ph.D. student. My law school courses and
assignments have provided proximity to our legal infrastructure that my Anthropology degree
simply could not tap into because it positioned me as an observer of law rather than a
practitioner. I am better equipped to engage with legal documents, court proceedings, and
conversations with interlocutors about their navigation of the legal arena during fieldwork.
Overall, my experience as a dual-degree student has been insightful and exciting.
How has the dual-degree program helped you achieve your goals?:
While I am still in the earlier stages of the dual degree program, the program will prepare me for
a multifaceted career. My first year of law school has made me feel more confident engaging
with legal documents and cases, conducting legal research, and discussing legal issues.
Combined with my legal anthropology training, I am strengthening my ability to approach legal
issues and strategies with the holistic approach required to support communities on their terms
and fully appreciate the complexities of land conflicts.