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Laila Ujayli

Election Year: 2019

Election Constituency: United States of America

Scholar Status: Scholar Alum

Rhodes Identifier: Ohio & Lady Margaret Hall 2019

Laila Ujayli

Biography

Laila is passionate about the intersection of narrative and human rights. She graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University with a double major in international relations and English, and a double minor in screenwriting and business. As a Rhodes Scholar, she spent two years at the University of Oxford pursuing consecutive master’s degrees in film aesthetics and public policy, attaining distinction in both degrees. In May 2024, Laila graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. After graduating, she clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and worked for an international law firm.

Outside of the law, she is particularly interested in the use of storytelling to inspire change. She writes screenplays with her twin sister, telling stories that not only entertain, but complicate, humanize, and diversify representations of Arabs and Muslims. She is dedicated to elevating the voices of marginalized populations, cultivating empathy, and utilizing storytelling to uplift laws that safeguard the wellbeing of people within the United States and abroad.