GCI-Democracy

The making of a Carter School conflict coach

Paul Snodgrass — Fri, 29 May 2026 13:58:50 +0000

The making of a Carter School conflict coach Paul Snodgrass Fri, 05/29/2026 - 09:58

When the time came to apply to graduate school, Oakley Hill applied to a single program: the master’s in conflict analysis and resolution at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at 91��.

Born and raised in Utah, Hill attended Utah Valley University (UVU) where he majored in integrated studies, focusing on peace and justice and moral philosophy, supplemented with research and critical thinking courses. “From my studies in peace and justice, I knew I wanted to study peace and conflict resolution, and I wanted to be in the D.C. area," said Hill. "I wanted a program that taught practical skills and would help me find a career where I could have a positive, social impact. And the multidisciplinary nature of the program was very appealing.”

Oakley Hill. Photo by Katelyn Smoot.

Hill went on to apply for his PhD at the Carter School after discovering Solon Simmon’s Root Narrative Theory (RNT) during his graduate studies. He knew he wanted to build his career as a researcher around this theory.

"[RNT] helps us understand how people perceive political situations… the specific story they believe themselves to be experiencing,” he said.

For Hill, RNT was more than an abstract, academic tool. “[RNT] helped me understand my own paradigm shifts, such as moving from Mormon to ex-Mormon and from the political right to the left,” he explained.

“I used to think I have ideas, but now I know the ideas have me,” he joked.

In 2024, Hill partnered with Carter School professor Solon Simmons and the Narrative Transformation Lab at the Carter School to employ the first national Justice Languages of America Survey (JLAS). Distributed a week before the presidential election, the survey captured how Americans were thinking about politics just before they voted.

The survey found that, on average, liberals, moderates, and conservatives tended to perceive a distinct political situation. Conservatives tended to perceive a situation where criminals and foreigners threatened the innocent, and the masses coerced citizens, while the state cheated the people. Liberals tended to perceive a situation where the elite divided society, cheated the people, and excluded minorities while the state coerced citizens. Moderates appeared to be self-aware—they scored between conservatives and liberals on almost all JLAS measurements.

Hill also paired the survey with a root narrative analysis of campaign speeches from both presidential candidates. He found that who the candidates are and what they communicated were strongly correlated with how Americans perceive the political situation, and that how they perceived the political situation was strongly correlated with their preferred candidate.

Simmons appreciated Oakley's insights. “His systematic survey of the moral commitments of the great ideologists over the course of modern history is both pathbreaking and eye-opening,” Simmons said. “It has been a pleasure to work with Oakley in the development and application of root narrative theory, an approach that allows us to measure commitments to elementary antagonisms, the philosophical foundations of disagreement.”

While working toward his degree, Hill has been a lab manager for the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation and the facilitation coordinator at the Carter School’s Point of View International Retreat and Conference Center (POV), where he has worked since 2021.

Point of View offers many services, including mediation. As the facilitation coordinator, Hill assesses the needs of every client who reaches out to the center in need of mediation. A mediator himself, Hill conducts informal intake interviews to identify the client’s goals and issues, before matching them with an appropriate, experienced mediator.

“Some clients are looking for conflict resolution in a general sense, such as inter- or intra-departmental issues, interpersonal conflict training or restorative justice practices," said Hill. "Other clients are more interested in strategic planning and require a mediator with a relevant background to engage critical thinking.

"[Hill] has proven to be an invaluable asset to Point of View throughout his time at the Carter School. His ability to match clients with the right mediator ensures that each engagement is tailored to the client's unique goals and objectives—and that meaningful resolutions are achieved,” said Jessica Avila-Franco, event and operations manager at Point of View. “Through his work with the facilitation and mediation program here at POV, we have been able to help numerous public- and private-sector clients reach amicable resolutions to their most pressing challenges."

In the past, Hill coordinated with Point of View to provide services to organizations such as Bowie State University, Loudoun County, and Northern Virginia Community College with their facilitation needs. Privately, Hill has worked as a conflict coach for Latter-day Saint and ex-Mormon families, and mediated dialogues for the Washington, D.C., Police.

As he looks ahead, Hill remains grounded in the same motivation that first drew him to the Carter School: a desire to better understand people and help bridge divides. Whether through advancing RNT research or continuing his hands-on work in mediation and conflict coaching, Hill is committed to applying both theory and practice to real-world challenges. By uncovering the stories people believe they are living, he hopes to contribute to more meaningful dialogue—and ultimately, more constructive paths toward resolution.

Learn more about George Mason's Grand Challenge Initiative

Learn more about the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Carter School News

University Scholar combines art and conflict resolution to build bridges
June 1, 2026
The making of a Carter School conflict coach
May 29, 2026
What’s happening at the Center for Peacemaking Practice?
April 30, 2026
Meet the Two Carter Undergraduates Who Presented at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference
April 27, 2026
Honors College student brews connections with tea talks
March 31, 2026

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Solon Simmons

George Mason funds seven GCI catalyst research projects driving bold solutions for a prosperous future

ckearney — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:53:09 +0000

George Mason funds seven GCI catalyst research projects driving bold solutions for a prosperous future ckearney Tue, 05/05/2026 - 20:53

As the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) enters its second year, 91�� today announced funding for seven catalyst research projects and the launch of the Grand Challenge Research Exchange—quarterly convenings for all GCI-related research to accelerate solutions to the grand challenge of our time.

“We have placed our first bets on building a better future for humanity,” said President Gregory Washington. “These awards represent the very best of George Mason faculty research. They sit at a crossroads where the world’s greatest problems meet our faculty’s greatest research strengths to solve them. At a time when the world’s greatest challenges can appear to be winning, today the smart money is on George Mason professors.”

Washington launched the Grand Challenge Initiative in 2025 to focus faculty expertise on tackling world’s most pressing interdisciplinary threats to solve the ultimate grand challenge of sustaining humanity’s ability to forge a peaceful and prosperous future, rather than merely a life endured.

Spanning artificial and aerial intelligence to quantum and space infrastructure development, the seven catalyst projects will also strengthen talent and workforce development across interconnected industries. The catalyst projects are:

George Mason’s Quantum Leap

Photo provided

This project will expand position George Mason as a leader in the next generation of computing. Quantum computers can tackle problems beyond the reach of today’s technology, opening new possibilities in health, climate research, and national security. This initiative will grow the university’s expertise in quantum hardware and algorithms, expand degree and training programs, and bring industry partners into the classroom and lab. By building talent, research capacity, and real‑world collaborations, Quantum Leap will help drive Virginia’s emerging quantum economy and prepare students for high‑demand careers.

Leadership Team: Patrick Vora, COS (PI); Harbir Antil, COS; Andre Clayborne, COS; John Cressman, COS; Maria Emelianenko, COS; Nadine Kabbani, COS; Jessica Rosenberg, COS; Ming Tian, COS; Giorgio Ascoli, COS/College of Engineering and Computing (CEC); Michael Jarret, COS/CEC; Ethan Ahn, CEC; Kris Gaj, CEC; Weiwen Jiang, CEC; Fei Li, CEC; Jill Nelson, CEC; Marc Sasseville, Patriot Labs/CEC; Nancy Holincheck, College of Education and Human Development (CEHD); Laurence Bray, Graduate Division; Terry Clower, Schar School of Policy and Government; and Jiasun Li, Costello College of Business.

Grand Solutions: Advancing 21st-Century Education for All, Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure, Improving Human Health, Well-being, and Preparedness

Participating Colleges: College of Science, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Education and Human Development, Schar School of Policy and Government, and Costello College of Business

91�� Space Center

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

This project will position the university as a leader in using space technology to solve real‑world problems. By designing and launching small satellites, the project will generate data that improve climate forecasting, disaster preparation, infrastructure protection, and scientific discovery. The new center will also expand degree programs, train students through hands‑on missions, and build partnerships with industry and government. Together, these efforts will strengthen Virginia’s space economy and prepare a diverse workforce for a rapidly growing sector.

Leadership Team: Anamaria Berea, COS (PI); Ferah Munshi, COS (PI); JK Aier, Costello; Gabriele Belle, COS; Zafer Boybeyi, COS; Phillip Cunio, CEC; Jules Goldspiel, COS; Hina Kazmi, Schar; Tracy Mason, COS; Leigh McCue, CEC; Jeffrey Moran, CEC; Piotr Pachowicz, CEC; Rob Parks, COS; Peter Plavchan, COS; Ali K. Raz, CEC; Laura Aileen Sauls, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS); Michael Summers, COS; Kun Sun, CEC; Daniel Tong, COS; Chaowei Phil Yang, COS; and Jie Zhang, COS.

Grand Solution: Pioneering Space Exploration, Research, and Collaboration

Participating Colleges: College of Science, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Schar School of Policy and Government, and Costello College of Business

Teaching Initiative for Digital Education through AI (Teaching IDE-AI)

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

This project creates a model for responsible and ethical AI integration in the classroom to help prepare teachers who will then shape AI‑ready PK–12 students across Virginia and the nation. By bringing together experts in education and technology, the initiative will create practical tools, develop training for faculty, and design easy‑to‑use AI literacy resources that help educators guide students in a rapidly changing world.

Leadership Team: Jennifer Suh, CEHD (PI); Thema Monroe‑White, Schar/CEC; Ziyu Yao, CEC; Jered Borup, CEHD; Audra Parker, CEHD; and Seth Hunter, CEHD.

Grand Solutions: Advancing 21st-Century Education for All, Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure

Participating Colleges: College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering and Computing, and Schar School of Policy and Government

Toward a Center for Aerial Intelligence and Digital Earth Histories

Photo courtesy of 91�� Libraries

With partners like the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, this project will digitize and analyze unclassified historical aerial archives into usable digital data resources for research, education, and societal impact. The project will demonstrate how this work can reveal environmental change, urban growth, and infrastructure shifts while laying the groundwork for a future full‑scale center.

Leadership Team: Dieter Pfoser, COS (PI); Jana Kosecka, CEC; Sarah Campbell, Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact; and Allan Williams, National Collection of Aerial Photography/COS.

Grand Solutions: Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure, Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy, Building a Climate-Resilient Society, Advancing 21st-Century Education for All

Participating Colleges: College of Science and College of Engineering and Computing

Industry-University Working Group on Climate Change and Physical Risks

Photo by Getty Images

This project brings together industry leaders and university researchers to advance understanding of shifting climate hazards and develop practical tools that strengthen physical‑risk assessment and decision-making in the insurance, reinsurance, and finance sectors of the economy. By identifying urgent research needs and developing practical tools for insurers and financial institutions, the project will improve how physical risks are assessed and managed, strengthen climate‑risk science, support decision‑making, and help communities and industries adapt.

Leadership Team: Luis E. Ortiz, COS (PI); Natalie Burls, COS; Edward Oughton, COS; Fengxiu Zhang, Schar; and James Kinter, COS.

Grand Solutions: Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure, Building a Climate-Resilient Society

Participating Colleges: College of Science and Schar School of Policy and Government

Humanitarian Forensics and Peacebuilding

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

This project will build a multidisciplinary program that improves how human remains are located, identified, and reunified with families after war, disaster, or violence. Bringing together experts in forensic science, public health, peacebuilding, and international law, the project will launch a needs assessment and summer training program in the South Caucasus, along with a new course at George Mason. By integrating scientific precision with community‑centered practices, the initiative will strengthen global capacity for recovery and identification work that supports families and communities.

Leadership Team: Joseph DiZinno, COS (PI); Margarita Tadevosyan, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (PI); Katherine Scafide, College of Public Health; and Arthur R. Traldi, Scalia Law School/Lexpat Global Services.

Grand Solutions: Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy, Advancing 21st-Century Education for All, Improving Human Health, Well-being, and Preparedness

Participating Colleges: College of Science, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, College of Public Health, and Scalia Law School.

AI-Powered Human Rights Education for All

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

This project will create an AI‑driven virtual human rights classroom prototype that gives people everywhere access to practical, personalized tools to learn and apply human rights principles in daily life. Using the built‑in toolkit, users will explore interactive scenarios and receive personalized guidance to help them navigate real‑world dilemmas and assess the human rights impact of policies and technologies.

Leadership Team: Cher Weixia Chen, CHSS (PI); Graziella Pagliarulo McCarron, CHSS; Lei Gao, Costello; Ziwei Zhu, CEC; Antonios Anastasopoulos, CEC; and Sungsoo Ray Hong, CEC.

Grand Solutions: Advancing 21st-Century Education for All, Driving Responsible Digital Innovation and Sustainable Infrastructure, Strengthening Peace, Trust, and Engagement in Democracy

Participating Colleges: College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Computing, and Costello College of Business

“Spanning multiple disciplines, colleges, campuses, and the region, GCI is designed to launch new research efforts, scale promising programs, enhance faculty expertise, and build the shared infrastructure required for sustained collaboration,” said Ajay Vinzé, interim provost and executive vice president.

With $5 million supporting this first round of funding, the seven catalyst projects were selected from 41 proposals, with more than 75 PIs, submitted across every college and school at George Mason, including Mason Korea. More than 35 external partner organizations were represented across submissions; 38 were transdisciplinary, and six involved five or more colleges working together.

“George Mason's institutional investment underscores our commitment to high-impact, interdisciplinary mission-driven research,” said Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “GCI positions research to build our enterprise and engage additional funders to deliver real-world change.”

To support all GCI-related research, including the 41-proposal cohort, through stages of development, George Mason is launching new quarterly convenings called the Grand Challenge Research Exchange. The first convening will launch this fall. Designed in partnership with the three Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) Institutes and Mason Now team, these exchanges will feature industry keynotes, expert guest lecturers, and professional development workshops about leadership development, strategic planning, financial and program management, funding support, proposal and partnership development, and community engagements models.

What Our Industry Partners Are Saying

“Northern Virginia’s long-term economic strength, environmental resilience, and quality of life depend on meaningful collaboration with its research and educational institutions. For more than 30 years, the partnership between the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) and 91�� has demonstrated how place-based, applied research can address complex regional challenges. Through work that aligns closely with George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative, our collaboration has delivered tangible outcomes—from mapping solar energy potential to advancing stormwater management models, promoting purposeful cross-national transfer of policy and technical innovations, and revitalizing stressed watersheds. These efforts have produced measurable benefits for communities throughout Northern Virginia, and NVRC looks forward to sustaining and expanding this impactful partnership.”

—Dale Medearis, Senior Environmental Planner, Northern Virginia Regional Commission

“Partnering with George Mason’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth has enabled our team to expand our conservation work in innovative ways. By collaborating with George Mason faculty whose interdisciplinary expertise complements our own, we are addressing complex environmental challenges with both scientific rigor and practical application. This partnership aligns closely with the Grand Challenge Initiative, translating research into actionable insights that advance effective conservation, community resilience, and sustainable decision-making.”

—Philip Loring, Global Director of Human Dimensions Science, The Nature Conservancy

“Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure risks have reached the scale of true grand challenges, particularly in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. What distinguishes George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative is its broad, interdisciplinary approach and its top‑down investment in bold, unconventional ideas that span academic disciplines and engage industry and policymakers. These problems cannot be solved in isolation, and the initiative is built for the kind of collaboration our economic and security future depends on.”

—Jeremy Epstein, Co-Director, Institute for Cybersecurity and Resilient Infrastructure Studies Center; Adjunct professor, Georgia Tech School of Cybersecurity and Privacy; Member of George Mason's Institute for Digital Innovation Industry Advisory Board

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Honors College student brews connections with tea talks

Paul Snodgrass — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:28:04 +0000

Honors College student brews connections with tea talks Paul Snodgrass Tue, 03/31/2026 - 18:28

When Jonathan Fang, an Honors College student and a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at 91��, began his internship at the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR), he had no idea that he would be facilitating a multi-cultural student dialogue group.

Jonathan Fang. Photo provided

During his internship with MHCR, Fang and his supervisor, Rowda Olad, a mental health and psychosocial support expert and associate director of the MHCR, came upon the idea of developing a series of student-focused conversations on difficult, but relevant topics to students and inviting different cultural and ethnic student groups to participate.

Fang hoped that through these conversations students would learn to challenge their assumptions, appreciate different points of view, and respectfully agree to disagree on sensitive topics in an open and judgement-free space.

Discussion topics are pulled from complex real-life issues facing college students. Past topics have included mental health and well-being, race and ethnicity, political polarization, and interpersonal relationship reconciliation.

The idea for Tea Talk originated with the tradition of Somali tea gatherings called Casiriya, where the communities would gather resolve disputes, and is based on the work Olad performed in Eastern Africa.

Fang continues the Somali tradition by serving traditional Somali tea and sambusas, a pastry similar to a samosas, at every session.

According to Fang, the first Tea Talk mostly consisted of Carter School Ambassadors, but has since grown to include members of the Christian fellowship student group CRU, the African Student Association, the Muslim Student Association, the College Republicans at Mason, and several other organizations. Currently, the discussion series averages a dozen student attendees per event and is preparing for its fifth monthly session.

Fang is pleased with the success of the dialogue series and hopes it will continue to grow. “It’s great to see students willing to step out of their comfort zone, open up in honest conversation with care and understanding, and listen to different or conflicting perspectives," he said.

When asked about the long-term vision for Tea Talk, Fang replied, “We’re looking to deepen and expand its impact both on campus and globally. This includes strengthening university connections and building sustained engagement among students.”

Currently, Fang is participating in a study-abroad trip to the Philippines, where he hopes to explore how to build similar programs and to facilitate the exchange of peacebuilding practices in cross-cultural settings.

For information about upcoming Tea Talk sessions, please visit the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation for dates and times.

More Carter School News

University Scholar combines art and conflict resolution to build bridges
June 1, 2026
The making of a Carter School conflict coach
May 29, 2026
What’s happening at the Center for Peacemaking Practice?
April 30, 2026
Meet the Two Carter Undergraduates Who Presented at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference
April 27, 2026
Honors College student brews connections with tea talks
March 31, 2026

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Patriots advocate for George Mason at Mason Lobbies event in Richmond

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:59:50 +0000

Patriots advocate for George Mason at Mason Lobbies event in Richmond Katarina Benson Wed, 03/18/2026 - 13:59

Eighty-one energetic Patriots traveled to Richmond on March 5 for Mason Lobbies, where 91�� President Gregory Washington joined House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, BA Economics ’93, and Senator Saddam Salim, BS Public Administration ’12, MPA ’15, in welcoming students to the General Assembly for a whirlwind day of advocacy.

Herring spoke with the students before their meetings with legislators. “Virginia legislators are proud that we come from all walks of life,” she said. “We’re part-time legislators with careers and diverse experiences, representing diverse communities.”

Maceo Franks Jr. during Mason Lobbies event. Photo by Drew Precious

Salim, whose district includes George Mason’s Fairfax Campus, encouraged students to “advocate not only for yourself, but also your fellow students.”

Mason Lobbies gives students interested in the political process a chance to practice their advocacy skills. Before the trip, students identify issues to champion, research the university’s accomplishments, including economic impact and student success outcomes, and prepare informational packets to leave with legislators and their staff.

Hannah Kohler, a sophomore majoring in government and international politics with a concentration in political behavior and identity politics, said she was encouraged by the reception students received. This was her first time participating in the event. “I was very delighted to see that the legislators and their staffers are very open to hearing our pitches.”

Kohler is also a Student Government representative and sustainability liaison. One of the legislators she met was Delegate May Nivar, whose daughter graduated from George Mason. “As a GMU mom, I’m very familiar with George Mason’s impact,” Nivar said. “I understand how its diverse environment helps students develop socially and prepares them to successfully enter the workforce.”

While Kohler is still considering her post‑graduation plans, she sees opportunities like Mason Lobbies as valuable professional development. “This event allowed me to test my abilities as an advocate and evaluate whether I could see myself doing this as a profession,” she said. “It’s given me the confidence that I can definitely do this.”

Senior environmental and sustainability studies major Maceo Franks Jr., also a first-time Mason Lobbies participant, gained a new appreciation for the pace of policymaking. “The legislators are very busy during session,” he said. “One of my target legislators was interrupted during our meeting to vote on a bill. She said her vote was being requested for bills all morning.”

As he and other Patriots met with legislators, Franks appreciated the personal connections they made. He recalled Delegate Dan Helmer asking the group about their favorite Taco Bamba orders. “He connected to us on a simple human-to-human level, and I loved that.”

Mason Lobbies attendees. Photo by Drew Precious

A prospective policy writer, Franks said Mason Lobbies offered a glimpse into his future career. “It was beneficial for helping me understand how politics works at George Mason and at the state level,” he said. “I also was able to network and get to know who I may be working with or for in the future.”

For Kohler and Franks, Mason Lobbies is more than an annual event.

“Mason Lobbies is a tradition,” Franks said. “All students, no matter their major, should get involved with it at least once during their time at Mason.”

Kohler agreed. “Every student has a unique experience, so there are endless testimonials to be heard by legislators. It truly makes me feel like I have a stake in my university’s success, especially since it gave me the opportunity to share my story with legislators in hopes of a continued bright future for 91��.”

Mason Lobbies supports the Strengthening peace, trust and engagement in democracy solution of George Mason's Grand Challenge Initiative

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Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia

Katarina Benson — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:21:35 +0000

Carter School welcomes Walk for Peace to Northern Virginia Katarina Benson Wed, 02/18/2026 - 13:21

From October to mid-February, the Venerable Buddhist monks of the Dhammacetiya Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center of Fort Worth, Texas walked more than 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. Known as the Walk for Peace, their goal was to raise awareness of the global need for peace as well as how we can practice and foster peace in our own lives and neighborhoods.

Carter School students Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Photo provided

On February 8and 9, students and staff from 91��’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution gathered together in the cold and wind to greet and witness the Walk for Peace.

The monks, ranging in age from 29-68, represent monasteries and temples from around the globe. In past years, they have gathered for walks in other locations across the globe, including India, Cambodia, and Thailand. They gather when there is a sense that the world is in crisis, and peace is especially needed.

On Sunday, February 8, Carter School undergraduates Angelina Di Matteo and Grace McIntyre traveled to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to greet the monks as they arrived for their lunch break at the Chùa Hoa Nghiêm temple. Carter School doctoral student Heather Rosso was one of the volunteers escorting the monks as they arrived at the temple.

Rosso had been following the Walk for Peace on Facebook when she noticed a call for volunteers at the Virginia locations and volunteered. “We were told to be prepared for anything, including the cold weather, so I bundled up and headed to the temple.”

Rosso’s assignment was to escort the monks through the temple grounds while maintaining crowd control and respect for the monks. In addition to typical crowd control for an event, the monks required special care and attention. “For monastic reasons, we had to be sure nobody touched or approached the monks.”

"It was an amazing experience," said Rosso, who studies U.S. mass violence, extremism, and coercive control. "It was bitter cold and windy, filled with love and peace, long hours on our feet, and over in what seemed like the blink of an eye. I was so honored to have been among those chosen to assist as a volunteer that morning."

The next day, February 9, one of the last days of the walk, George Mason students, members of the Carter School, and Mason Square faculty and staff greeted the monks as they passed by Vernon Smith Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, Virginia. They were joined by the Rotarians from District 7620. The Rotary is a Carter School partner organization, as both share a mission of fostering peace locally and globally. Participants laid yellow flower petals along the monks’ path, and greeted them with a banner, flowers, and signs representing the Carter School for peace studies.

The gathering was an incredible experience filled with “fellowship, hope, peacefulness, healing, resilience,” said Shirley Al-Jarani, director of operations for the 91�� Instructional Foundation (GMUIF). Al-Jarani captured the experience well when she recalled, “The hope I felt as a group of virtual strangers [as we] talked in fellowship getting to know each other realizing we may never meet again but we were connected in that moment and stood together in solidarity for peace and hope.”

From left, Mark Flanigan, Paul Snodgrass, Monica Solis, Heather Rosso, Shirley Al-Jarani, Angela Mandizvidza, and Rotary's Mari Clark welcomed the Walk for Peace with a banner as the monks made their way through Arlington. Photo provided

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PiVoT Peace Lab transforms conflict into connection

sholla4 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:35:41 +0000

PiVoT Peace Lab transforms conflict into connection sholla4 Fri, 10/17/2025 - 09:35

Look at any newsfeed in the United States, and it won’t take long to find an article, op-ed, or think piece on the growing divide between Americans. Left vs right, liberal vs conservative, blue vs red: political polarization has become a hot topic in American media as both a cause and a symptom of growing tensions across the country.

But what’s missing from the conversation is the solution. How do we find common ground and bridge these growing gaps to create a more peaceful future?

In the Polarization and Violence Transformed (PiVoT) Peace Lab in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, researchers and practitioners are developing methods for peace-oriented responses to the negative impacts of extreme polarization and conflict around the globe.

Daniel Rothbart. Photo by Creative Services/Office of University Branding

“Most protracted violent conflicts are identity-based, meaning that the militants of one identity group are in a violent engagement with the militants or civilians of another identity group,” said Daniel Rothbart, Druscilla French Chair in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and director of the PiVoT Peace Lab. “That type of destructive polarization that encourages dehumanization is often at the center of these conflicts.”

The lab hosts a number of student- and researcher-led projects diving deeply into polarization: its causes, its consequences, and its possible solutions.

“It’s created for me this exciting opportunity to not only explore these important issues, but also to work with amazing students at all levels of our program,” said Rothbart.

One of those students is PiVoT Peace Lab manager Randy Lioz. Lioz, a master’s student in conflict analysis and resolution, developed an interest in the study of polarization in 2016, when conversations with friends and family about the 2016 presidential election highlighted contrasting viewpoints.

“I thought that what we’re missing are the tools and skills to have these conversations that could bring us into better understanding with one another,” he said. Since pivoting his career from the automotive industry to peacebuilding, Lioz has worked with practitioners and academics to develop methods and strategies for engaging opposite sides in relationship building that can break the cycles of dehumanization that fuel negative polarization.

“We need to understand what forces exist and how they push people toward radicalization, extremism, and alienation,” Lioz explained, “and then we need to figure out the best interventions.”

“Our mission as peacebuilders is to not only understand violent conflicts, but to help change the relationship among antagonist groups and help them transform,” said Rothbart.

As part of the peace lab’s mission to develop methods of reducing or eliminating the negative impacts of polarization and to foster this transformation, one of Lioz’s ongoing projects is leading the Depolarization Labs and Trainers Alliance (DeLTA). DeLTA brings scholars and practitioners together to build connections and explore pathways for bridging the growing divide.

Randy Lioz. Photo provided.

“Putting nonprofit partners in the same room as academics gives folks who are working in this field a place where they can talk about their research and connect it back to practice on the ground,” Lioz said.

DeLTA’s upcoming conference on October 27, “Pathways Forward: How Can We Restore Trust and Faith in America?” will give students, scholars, and practitioners the opportunity to learn about intervention techniques from national nonprofit leaders and university professors across the greater Washington, D.C., region.

“Right now, our faith in our institutions has been shaken, and this is existential for us. We need to rebuild our social capital and our trust in each other,” said Lioz. “I want people to get inspired by the work that’s being done to bring us all back into community with one another, particularly students who might want to pursue this field as a career. I want this to motivate us to tackle this existential problem of our time.”

But still, the question posed by the media remains: Can we come back from this?

Lioz and Rothbart believe so.

“Just as the forces of polarization have increased, I see the forces of depolarization are also intensifying. I see it in the strength and resilience that all over the nation, in how people are protecting the most vulnerable populations,” said Rothbart. “We talk about polarization as if it’s an inevitability; polarization is not inevitable, nor is it irreversible. There are so many reasons to be hopeful.”

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Explore George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative addressing the greatest threats to humanity’s ability to live a peaceful, healthy, prosperous, and just existence.

Learn more about the 2025 DeLTA conference

Preventing gun violence in Baltimore before it begins

Katarina Benson — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:35:55 +0000

Preventing gun violence in Baltimore before it begins Katarina Benson Wed, 08/20/2025 - 16:35

Maryland ranks among the top 10 states with the highest rates of gun-related killings. Although Baltimore accounts for just 9% of Maryland’s population, it has historically been responsible for a disproportionate share of the state’s gun violence (41% of all gun homicides). Yet across the city, community organizations, public agencies, and violence prevention initiatives are joining forces to reverse that trend. Their efforts are showing promising results: In 2024, Baltimore saw a 23% decrease in homicides and a 34% drop in nonfatal shootings.

One such project led by 91��’s Arthur Romano is working to prevent gun violence in the city through proactive peacebuilding initiatives. The Baltimore Peace Education and Violence Prevention project is addressing the problem with a multipronged approach: Peace summits that bring together peacebuilding organizations in Baltimore, offering services to municipal governments to strengthen their strategic plans in that area, and an international exchange of violence prevention practitioners to share emerging practices.

Carter School professor Arthur Romano at a peace summit in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo provided

Romano, an associate professor at the at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and founder of the Carter School’s Program on Urban Peacebuilding, has more than 25 years of experience in research and practice in peace and conflict resolution and focuses primarily on conducting actionable research to prevent violence in U.S. cities.

This project received seed funding as part of a collaboration between the Carter School and Rotary International. With its peacebuilding mission and connections around the world, Rotary International and local Rotary clubs were a natural partnership for this work.

“Since community-based violence is a result of multiple compounding stressors and structural issues, then the interventions need to be multi-level,” said Romano. “We’re trying to be proactive and build infrastructure that accelerates learning and communication across organizations. This is a different approach than focusing on a single organization.”

First, the research team held a pilot peace summit in Baltimore in April 2025 that brought together practitioners and community organizations on the front lines of violence prevention to share knowledge, identify gaps, and identify areas for collaboration. During this event, they mapped the peacebuilding work in the city, much like urban crime is mapped, and paved the way for their long-term goal of fostering a sustainable community of practice through ongoing workshops, skill-sharing, peer-learning and targeted training from outside experts.

A key partner in the project is recent Carter School alumna Nawal Rajeh, who organized the peace summit and has been running a peace camp in Baltimore for the past 17 years for children most at-risk for gun violence. Rajeh founded the Baltimore-based nonprofit By Peaceful Means, which aims to reduce violence among youth through peace education, advocacy, and employment. Nawal leveraged her skills in community-building and conflict resolution to bring together leaders in peacebuilding from across the city.

A peace map created by Romano and summit participants. Photo provided

The research team is also conducting outreach to municipal governments on the second component of the project—seeking to develop or strengthen their strategic plans for violence prevention. When municipalities express interest, the team works with local agencies to assess current peacebuilding efforts, share insights from the peace summits, use the city-wide map to assist with coordination and collaboration and help create long-term systems for ongoing learning and collaboration.

The third component of the project is the Urban Peacebuilding Exchange (UPX), a professional learning exchange designed to support and connect community-based peacebuilders. The first pilot UPX program will launch in August, sending practitioners from Baltimore to engage with peers in Valparaiso, Chile, who are addressing issues like incarceration, prison reentry, and community violence.

Romano said they looked at what intervention points would have the highest impact for leveraging practitioners’ skills and the university’s role. “This came out of years of conversations with community organizations and recognition of these needs,” he said. “We create a bridge between the community and the university. I think this is where the Program on Urban Peacebuilding and George Mason are at their best.”

As the project enters its next phase, the team is mapping peacebuilding efforts across Baltimore and looking to leverage university resources—like cloud computing—to support and scale the work. They are seeking faculty collaborators with expertise in digital and participatory mapping, data visualization, cross-organizational learning platform development, or gaming and simulation design.

The team aims to develop two key tools: a real-time digital map of local peacebuilding efforts that allows for public input and offers dynamic visualization of existing violence prevention efforts, and a citywide learning and communication platform to connect peacebuilders, share resources, and help coordinate community-driven violence prevention efforts in cities around the world.

“This work demonstrates the powerful role universities can play in aiding and accelerating knowledge production in spaces outside the university through research partnerships,” said Romano.

This work in a critical part of George Mason’s Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) and the university’s commitment to strengthening peace, trust, and engagement in democracy. George Mason also chairs the United Nations SDG 16 Hub—Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, a position it will hold for the next three years. As hub chair, the Carter School is responsible for education and training, research, community engagement, developing partnerships, and working with other SDG hubs to strengthen and further the United Nations’ mission of peace and justice.

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