"Cornell students dream bigger dreams."

--Frank H.T. Rhodes, Cornell University Commencement, May 28, 1995

Monday, February 17, 2014

67. Jared Genser

Bethesda, Maryland · Human Ecology


info@perseus-strategies.com
Twitter: @jaredgenser
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jared.genser

Tell us about what you're doing with your life.
I am an international human-rights lawyer and my work takes me all over the world—something I enjoy less and less over time. After being a partner at a global law firm, I left to start my own law firm, Perseus Strategies, and founded and serve on the board of a non-profit group, Freedom Now (www.freedom-now.org), which works to free prisoners of conscience around the world. I've been tremendously honored and challenging by representing such clients as Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and Liu Xiaobo. I also teach a seminar at Georgetown Law School about the UN Security Council. Personally, my wife Lisa and I have two beautiful children Zachary (5) and Alexandra (2). To blow off steam, I play ice hockey in an adult league. I've never been all that good, but keep thrashing away!

What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?

There are so many wonderful memories from my time at Cornell. They include, among others, Thursday night "group therapy" at Dunbars with my fraternity brothers; a Spring break road trip to New Orleans and Panama City, Florida; some really inspiring faculty and classes; and having the luxury of time to build deep friendships.

How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?

I have wonderful memories of my time at Cornell. It was just a fabulous time of my life. In many ways, the kinds of things I studied and the extracurricular community service activities that I was engaged in at Cornell in HumEc put me on the path to where I've ended up today. I never could have imagined exactly where I've ended up or how I would have gotten here, but the foundation that was laid at Cornell has had a profound impact on my life.

What extracurricular activity or hobby from your time at Cornell was the most meaningful?

Hockey. I never would have imagined how much the PE requirement from college would have a positive effect on my well-being. I took ice skating to meet the PE requirement, then starting taking hockey lessons, and ended up playing intramural hockey at Cornell. I later played in grad school and law school and for a few years after that. And now that my five-year-old son is on the ice, I've returned to playing. It is just a fabulous sport and I love to play. Ironically, I married a Canadian who can barely ice skate!