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Iris Defino’s story is a ���غ��� story, too. Her parents met while attending ���غ��� and even though DeFino hails from Danbury, Conn., her parents’ origin story and other ���غ��� references were something DeFino heard a lot of growing up.

“My mother earned her bachelor’s degree and my father earned his bachelor’s and PhD degrees at ���غ���, and they met when my mother brought a paper in to the Writing Center to be reviewed and my father was the reviewer.” Although DeFino admits, “it didn’t go so well initially. My aunt also went to ���غ���, and just so happened to room with my mother on a study abroad semester, and it was really through their friendship that my parents ended up getting together.”

When it came time for DeFino to apply to colleges herself, she had a lot of options, but ���غ��� was definitely on her list. An attractive financial aid package and an invitation to the ���غ��� Scholars Program — a selective, four-year honors program — helped seal the deal for DeFino, and she was now part of her family’s ���غ��� tradition.

DeFino arrived in ���غ��� with a strong interest in social justice issues, which were deeply rooted in her upbringing and influenced by her parents’ careers in education.

“Even when I was young, I had an awareness of these issues. I recall being five years old and interested in what was happening during the 2008 election,” she said.

She connected with those roots by becoming involved with social justice organizations on and off campus, including the ���غ��� Policy Project and , a community organization addressing issues related to mass incarceration, which she discovered through one of her classes.

Originally a philosophy, politics and law major, DeFino narrowed her focus to political science over time, with a particular emphasis on elections, voting rights and voter behavior. During her second year, she added a minor in human rights, which supported her interest in social justice and public interest law.

“Human rights was a good complement to the political science stuff,” she said. “I was able to learn a bit more about women, gender and sexuality and had an opportunity to take classes with a focus on queer liberation and racial issues.”

DeFino has participated in several key internships as part of her human rights minor. In fall 2023, she interned at Journey’s End Refugee Services, an immigration and asylum law firm, where she conducted new client intake and developed memoranda for trial for those applying for temporary protective services or political asylum. She also conducted extensive research through State Department reports, helping to build a case for asylum seekers.

Last summer, she worked with the housing litigation division of Housing Preservation and Development in New York City, assisting with tenant defense, particularly issues of landlord harassment, negligence or abuse. This experience helped hone her interest in the law.

“That experience really shifted how I thought about the future of my legal career,” said DeFino. “I got to shadow attorneys in the courtroom and I saw myself as being that person who could be in the courtroom doing that arguing, as opposed to before, when I knew I wanted to practice law but maybe in a more policy-related sector.”

She is currently interning with the , where she is engaged in case law and policy research as well as direct client interactions. She handles a wide range of cases, from drug possession to custody hearings. She is also back in the courtroom, but this time meeting with clients face-to-face.

“Having the opportunity to work directly with clients is important to me because the human aspect of the work is what I really lean into,” she said

Finding community

Since arriving on campus, DeFino has discovered a community and supportive network at the University’s Q Center.

“Finding a vibrant queer community on campus was impactful for me,” she said. “I think it’s hard for anybody when they first come to college to find their niche. The Scholars Program was nice because we had established a community before beginning our first year. But finding queer friends or friends that had similar interests to me, whether that be politics and law or, you know, musical theater and other things like that, the Q Center helped with that.”

However, it wasn’t until this past academic year that she decided to apply for a position at the center. The center’s coordinator, Aiden Braun, suggested that DeFino consider a role in the SOGIE educator program — an acronym for sexual orientation, gender identity and expression — which ended up being a good fit. As a SOGIE educator, DeFino has led workshops on topics such as gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia and eating disorders within the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, she has collaborated with other SOGIE educators at the center to develop content addressing consent, domestic violence and sexual assault issues in these communities.

“Iris is a fantastic student, employee and above all, a great person,” Braun said. “She works hard, always finds levity in any situation and is truly a joy to be around. Iris has brought passion and creativity to her work as a SOGIE Educator, and I have had the opportunity to learn so much from her. Working with Iris has been one of the highlights of my year, and I am confident she will do great things in the future.”

DeFino has been engaged academically and in other activities during her time at ���غ���, and the hard work and dedication to her studies and extracurricular pursuits have been recognized. This year, she received the President’s Award for Undergraduate Excellence and the Chancellor’s Award, which is awarded across the entire SUNY system.

After graduation, Defino plans to take a year or two off to work as a paralegal or legal assistant while she studies for her Law School Admission Tests and applies to law school. She is interested in moving to New York City and working on behalf of pro bono clients with organizations such as The Legal Aid Society, the Innocence Project or The Bronx Defenders.

“I am proud of my time at ���غ���,” she said. “I’ve been able to get involved with so many issues that I’m passionate about, like criminal justice reform, immigration and asylum, even getting some of my fellow students interested in advocating for these issues, too. And helping to educate people within the queer community about significant issues or informing those outside of it to learn how to be better allies. I want to think that I have made a positive impact in these areas, even if it’s just on the few people I have worked with directly.”