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In Search of Asylum: How Student Research Powers Legal Victories
One In-Person Session
Thur., Sept. 4, 2025, 6:30-8 pm MT
FREE

The world has more refugees today than any time since World War II. At this very time of enormous need and rising backlash against immigrants, the U.S. asylum system itself is at risk like never before. This can bring feelings of despair—but not for Associate Professor Oliver Kaplan of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, the founder of the .

For over a decade, Kaplan has provided opportunities for DU students to conduct human rights research in support of over 100 asylum cases. Asylum seekers frequently flee their home countries with few resources and must rely on pro bono legal services and expert analysis.

In this presentation, Kaplan will explain how asylum works and review the current state of immigration and asylum politics. He’ll share how his partnerships with attorneys and legal nonprofits represent a “win-win-win”: students learn to investigate human rights issues through hands-on experience, while their research provides critical evidence for attorneys in support of asylum-seekers’ claims—research they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.

Kaplan will also share the results of his assessment of the 10-year-old project, highlighting its direct impact on people’s lives. This uplifting talk reminds us that even in challenging times, projects like Kaplan’s can make a real difference.

is an associate professor at DU’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies and author of the book, Resisting War: How Communities Protect Themselves and editor of the book, Speaking Science to Power. He is an expert on human rights, peacebuilding, the social effects of armed conflict, and civilian displacement. He received his PhD in political science from Stanford University.