Deena Guzder
Deena Guzder is a human rights journalist and author. Her work has appeared in Time, National Geographic Traveler, Washington Post, United Press International, Reuters, Indian Express, Ms. Magazine, Global Post, Mother Jones, Huffington Post, Common Dreams, and elsewhere. She was awarded journalism grants from the Knight Foundation to report on theocracy and democracy in Iran; the Scripps Howard Foundation to report on low-caste “untouchables” in India; and, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting to report on commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Thailand. Guzder was awarded a second Pulitzer Center grant to travel through Pakistan—from the southern tip of Karachi to the northern tip of Kohistan—to report for the Red Cross Red Crescent magazine on the value of volunteers during the 2010 Pakistan floods.Biography
She graduated from Oberlin College in 2006 with a triple major in Peace & Conflict Resolution, Politics, and English. Guzder later earned a dual-degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and School of International and Public Affairs in 2008. she continued to be the youngest person to graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. As an antiwar activist, Guzder grew interested in the way politicians warp religion to justify warfare. Although not a Christian, she said she came to greatly appreciate the Historic Peace Churches and Catholic Worker Movement. Guzder wrote a book about the religious left titled Divine Rebels: American Christian Activists for Social Justice Raised as a Zoroastrian, Guzder told NPR that her own beliefs center on "good words, good thoughts, good deeds". Guzder also helped Shyalpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist lama, to compile his oral teachings. She also assisted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges research his book Death of the Liberal Class. She has been described as a "global nomad", having traveled to many countries on six continents. Guzder worked at Democracy Now! in New York City.
