Lianna Leung

Lianna Leung (she/her) is a sophomore majoring in International Relations with specializations in East and South Asia and International Security. Lianna spoke with us about her research interests, favorite IR classes, internship experience, and what she enjoys outside the classroom.

What are your primary research interests? 

I'm particularly interested in human rights and international law, with a focus on transitional justice and atrocity prevention. I've also pursued research related to U.S.-China relations; this past quarter, I worked on a project with Dr. Larry Diamond examining China's sharp power initiatives in Africa.

What is your favorite IR class so far and why? 

Two classes come to mind. First, International Security in a Changing World with Dr. Sagan and Dr. Trinkunas, which included an immersive and slightly stressful (but fun!) treaty conference simulation. The second is one that I'm currently taking, entitled War and Peace in American Foreign Policy. As someone interested in working for the State Department or the U.S. government in the future, I was fascinated by our class discussions about the motivations driving humanitarian intervention in countries such as Somalia, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

Can you tell us a bit about a recent internship experience? 

This past summer, I interned at the NGO International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) in Geneva, Switzerland—an organization dedicated to expanding access to competent legal representation worldwide. I supported various country programs through research and writing, including drafting memos on Indonesian drug laws, preparing grant applications for children's legal aid initiatives, and contributing to our developing cryptocurrency efforts. It was also my first time traveling abroad alone, and one of the most exciting parts was spending weekends exploring Europe, with amazing visits to cities like Vienna, Lyon, and Zurich.

Any hobbies or outside interests?

Anything that gets me outdoors! I'm a member of the Stanford Triathlon team, so most weekends you'll find me running the local trails or cycling through the hills. When I'm not studying or training, I turn to music—I'm a classically trained pianist and recently started exploring jazz as part of a combo. I also enjoy watercolor painting, social dancing, and getting lost in a good book—especially an Agatha Christie murder mystery.