Pathways: Chris Fletcher ’11

"I chose Northeastern because of a deep belief in the benefits of experiential learning coupled with a desire to learn alongside others who share a commitment to advancing the public good." — Chris Fletcher ’11

I came to Northeastern with a background in human rights. Having worked in various sectors I came to understand that the traditional human rights tools — while still vital — can have limitations. NGOs can be underfunded and have a reduced impact, and bureaucratic governments can be slow to adapt and respond to human rights violations. Corporations, however — when driven by the right vision — have the potential to bring about needed and positive change on a global scale. My aspiration is to help multinational corporations work within the intersection of commerce and justice. This relatively new field offers a space in which businesses can fulfill their mission while making progress on economic, social, and environmental challenges.
 
My first co-op brought me into the world of business litigation. During that time I developed an appreciation for the wide range of legal issues in which businesses can become entangled. My second co-op took me to Cambodia, where I supported the work of the UN Tribunal in holding the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge accountable for their role in that regime. The focus of my activities addressed the alleged forced transfer of populations and the use of media to incite genocide. This experience deepened my knowledge of transitional justice and helped me understand the potential and limitations of CSR, especially when a country suffers from governance and capacity challenges.

For my third co-op, I was a PHRGE fellow in the private sector department at the headquarters of Oxfam America. There, I engaged directly with cutting-edge CSR legal issues such as locating and analyzing critiques of John Ruggie’s UN framework for business and human rights, along with carrying out research focused on the intersection of poverty alleviation and corporate social responsibility.
 
For my final co-op, I spent time at the apparel company Life is good. There, I assisted with strategic planning for the company’s CSR program by, among other things, drafting a CSR framework to make current program more robust, far-reaching and comprehensive, along with updating the factory code of conduct to enhance social compliance within supply-chain factories. This experience was invaluable as I gained exposure to CSR within a private sector context and learned how CSR-related issues are addressed on a daily basis. It was an excellent way to conclude the experiential component of my NUSL education, and having had two co-op experiences that aligned perfectly with my interests was exciting and enormously helpful to the professional life I see myself pursuing.

Chris’s Pathway