Eric Biel Fellowship for International Labor Rights launched to honor late FLA senior advisor

WASHINGTON, DC, January 18, 2024 — The family, friends, and colleagues of late Fair Labor Association (FLA) Senior Advisor Eric Biel last week announced the creation of the Eric Biel Fellowship for International Labor Rights.

The fellowship honors the contribution of Biel, who passed away on November 27, 2023, to furthering international labor rights as well as his scholarship in the field of business and human rights. As a US government official, labor rights advocate, and law professor, his legacy is reflected in government policies and corporate practices that have improved the lives of millions of workers worldwide.

The Biel Fellowship will provide an opportunity for students in law school or a graduate degree program to pursue practical work experience and contribute to the advancement of international labor rights in the broader context of the business and human rights space. The fellowship will cover travel and living expenses for the summer term while the fellow gains experience and contributes to the work of a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of workers.

“I know Eric would be thrilled with the fellowship’s purpose,” said Dana Rosenfeld, Biel’s spouse. “The idea that those who loved Eric will celebrate his life and legacy through this fellowship sustains us, and makes us proud of all that Eric was able to accomplish in a life that was far too short.”

Fellows must be full-time graduate students pursuing a course of study related to the advancement of international labor rights and/or business and human rights at an accredited college or university in the United States.

The Biel Fellowship is financed through a fund established by his spouse, Dana Rosenfeld, his children David and Josh, and other family members, friends, and colleagues. Fellows will be chosen annually by an external committee which manages the search and selection process. Committee members include Dana Rosenfeld; Meg Roggensack, Georgetown Law; Sarah Altschuller, Verizon; Sif Thorgeirsson, FLA; and Cindy Lewin, Whitman-Walker Health System.

The Biel Fellowship is administered by FLA. Donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of every donation goes directly to the fellowship fund.

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The Fair Labor Association (FLA) promotes human rights at work. We are an international network of companies, universities, and civil society organizations collaborating to ensure that millions of people working at the world’s factories and farms are paid fairly and protected from risks to their health, safety, and well-being.

CONTACT:
Stacy Hope
communications@fairlabor.org