Neermala Persaud

NEERMALA PERSAUD

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY · SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Ethics, Peace & Human Rights · Migration · Policy

Bio

I'm a researcher, policy analyst, and human rights practitioner working at the intersection of migration, peace and conflict resolution, and diaspora identity. I'm completing my M.A. in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights at American University's School of International Service, with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Resolution and a Certificate in Global Migration.

I currently serve as a Fellow at the Stimson Center, where I help lead planning for the 2026 T-20 conference and co-author flagship reports on global governance innovation, climate financing, peacekeeping, and the future of international cooperation. I'm also the Director of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) at American University, where I've built a community of students across the DMV committed to advancing the WPS agenda.

My research spans continents and methodologies. Most recently, I conducted independent field research in Guyana with Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, and Indigenous communities, exploring how cultural practices are preserved across generations in the face of displacement. I contribute to the Roti Collective Lab, using ethnography and ArcGIS to trace how culinary traditions carry migration stories, and to the Mass Atrocity Research Initiative (MARI), where I study early warning indicators and social resilience.

Before graduate school, I spent nearly three years as an Immigration Analyst at VisaNation Law Group, reviewing family- and employment-based petitions and helping design client-facing tools to improve access to legal services. My earlier experience includes the National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project, the Suffolk County DA's Office, and the U.S. Congress. I speak Guyanese Creole fluently and intermediate Spanish.

Education

  • M.A., American University (2026)
  • B.A., Political Science (2021)

Languages

  • English
  • Guyanese Creole (Fluent)
  • Spanish (Intermediate)

Technical

  • SQL · STATA · R · NVivo
  • Tableau · Power BI · ArcGIS
  • Figma · Salesforce · Airtable

Research

Independent Field Research, Guyana

Dec 2025

Interviewed Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, and Indigenous communities in Georgetown and Berbice on how cultural practices are preserved and how families cope with displacement across generations. Produced qualitative analysis of social resilience and identity preservation.

Roti Collective Lab (Prof. Durrani)

Oct 2025 – Present

Ethnographic research on roti-making as a thread connecting migration experiences across the diaspora. Uses ArcGIS to visually document and share narratives of culinary heritage.

Mass Atrocity Research Initiative (MARI)

Oct 2024 – Present

Research on early warning indicators, policy engagement, and social resilience efforts. Includes analysis of how mass atrocity and genocide are taught in U.S. secondary education curricula.

Stimson Center Fellowship

Jan 2025 – Present

Leading consultations with think tank stakeholders for the 2026 T-20 conference. Research on migration, climate financing, and peacekeeping, with co-authorship on the GGIR'25 and FIC'25 reports. Partnering with the Savannah Centre on the ANUMDI and ACUNS Annual Meeting in Nairobi.

Experience

Fellow
Stimson Center · Washington, D.C.
Jan 2025 – Present
  • Planning the 2026 annual T-20 conference and leading consultations with think tank stakeholders.
  • Researching migration, climate financing, and peacekeeping; co-authoring GGIR'25 and FIC'25 reports.
  • Led planning committee meetings with Nigerian partners at the Savannah Centre for the ANUMDI and ACUNS Annual Meeting in Nairobi.
Director, Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
American University · Washington, D.C.
Sep 2024 – Present
  • Plan events (networking, panels, social), manage communications, and build a DMV-wide community of students advancing the WPS agenda.
Immigration Analyst
VisaNation Law Group · Fort Lauderdale, FL
Feb 2023 – Dec 2025
  • Ensured USCIS compliance through regular internal audits.
  • Conducted UI/UX testing on custom family immigration software to identify and implement improvements.
  • Used CRM/CMS systems to automate workflows and extract data supporting CEO decision-making.
  • Designed a new client-facing program to improve intake and client-legal team communication.
  • Reviewed family and employment petitions, including I-130, I-485, I-765, I-864, and I-129 forms.
Key Leader
Lululemon · Sunrise, FL
Dec 2021 – Dec 2022
  • Educated guests on product features and made tailored recommendations, contributing to a 15% sales increase during peak seasons.
Legal Secretary
Mukerjee Law Group, P.A. · Coral Springs, FL
Aug 2021 – Sep 2022
  • Prepared and submitted complaints, motions, and notices to Florida courts on behalf of plaintiffs.
  • Managed attorney calendar, retrieved medical records, and facilitated client communication.
Legal Intern
National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project · Washington, D.C.
Oct 2020 – May 2021
  • Created toolkits on U-visa, T-visa, VAWA, Asylum, and H-1B processes, plus training materials on DV/SA.
  • Analyzed survivor intake procedures and staffed the hotline, connecting survivors with legal assistance.
Interfaith Fellow
American University · Washington, D.C.
Aug 2019 – May 2021
  • Managed social media, newsletters, and events for interfaith projects; provided orientations and campus support.
Intern
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office · Hauppauge, NY
Jun 2020 – Aug 2020
  • Researched civil justice policy proposals and authored a policy proposal on the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
Congressional Intern
Office of Rep. Brad Sherman · Washington, D.C.
Aug 2019 – Dec 2019
  • Researched South Asian policy issues, including the Kashmir crisis, and assisted with hearing logistics.
  • Managed the congressman's schedule, attended hearings, and supported constituents.
National Program Intern
Congressional Hunger Center · Washington, D.C.
Jan 2019 – May 2019
  • Supported the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship, overseeing the work of 25 fellows across the U.S.
  • Conducted comparative evaluations of D.C.-area food banks and anti-poverty policies.

Research & Publications

2025
The Human Right to Reparations: Principles, Provisions, and Pathways to Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent
American University Futures of Democracy, Tech & Human Rights Lab
2025
Future of International Cooperation Report 2025 — Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress
Stimson Center
2025
Global Governance Innovation Report 2025 — Advancing the Pact for the Future and Environmental Governance
Stimson Center
2025
Girls Left Behind: How Legal Gaps and Social Norms Sustain Child Marriage
Stimson Center
2024
Why Are Child Marriage Rates Stagnant in the Caribbean and Latin America?
Inter-American Foundation (IAF)

Notes from the Field

Weekly reflections on migration, research, and the diaspora.

Contact

Email: neermalapersaud25@gmail.com
Location: Washington, D.C.

For research collaborations, speaking engagements, or press inquiries, email is the best way to reach me.