About Us
Who we are
Our staff & volunteers
Our work is possible through the dedication and committment of our volunteer staff, people committed to human rights education.
Thea MacFawn, Co-Director
Thea MacFawn is a school administrator. She spent the first 16 years of her career as a high school English teacher in upstate New York, where she developed curriculum focused on the study of Human Rights in the 21st Century and Journalism. She is a 2018 recipient of the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award, a National Board certified educator, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Teacher Fellow.
Kelly Wetherbee, Co-Director
Kelly Wetherbee is a retired Library Media Specialist. Prior to her work in public education, Kelly was a marketing specialist in the Financial Services industry until returning to the University at Albany to earn a Masters in Library Science, and additional teaching certification to work as a School Library Media Specialist. Kelly’s Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in English, is also from the University at Albany.
Our history
Founded in 2014 by Albany area teachers, the Capital Region Institute for Human Rights provides human rights education to secondary students and teachers interested in deepening their understanding of human rights history.
Over 500 teens have participated in our workshops and returned to their communities ready to make a positive impact.
Our mission
At the Capital Region Institute for Human Rights, our mission is to empower the next generation of human rights leaders. We focus on building leadership skills and promoting social justice awareness among participants.
Human Rights Education to Build a Just World
