Laila Ujayli

About Laila Ujayli

Born in Beckley, West Virginia, and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Laila Ujayli is the daughter of Syrian immigrants. She inherited a love of storytelling from her grandfather, a well-regarded author from Raqqa, Syria. Years later, Raqqa’s occupation by ISIS and subsequent destruction has motivated her to fiercely advocate for the rights of victims of conflict and elevate their stories.  

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. There, she worked several semesters with Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic, including on projects aimed at strengthening international protections for civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. She also served as an executive managing editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. After graduating, she began a clerkship on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

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.