Carter School Undergraduate Program

University Scholar combines art and conflict resolution to build bridges

Paul Snodgrass — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:37:17 +0000

University Scholar combines art and conflict resolution to build bridges Paul Snodgrass Mon, 06/01/2026 - 14:37

In May, Honors College student Avery Shippen graduated from 91�� with a two degrees: A BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a BA in Art and Visual Technology from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

To Shippen, the fusion of the two majors, graphic design and conflict resolution, was a natural pairing. “I think both fields work to connect communities. People see conflict resolution as a scientific process, but it’s deeply rooted in people,” she explained. “Graphic design creates a ‘language’ that anyone can understand, which can be effective in the peacebuilding process.”

While managing the workload of a two degrees is impressive, even more impressive is the number of awards and fellowships the University Scholar received during her time at George Mason, including a Peraton Scholarship in National Security, Carter School’s Oxford Scholarship, the Noah J. Seidenberg Award, and the Peacebuilding Fellowship.

Shippen said that these scholarships and fellowships provided a financial “safety net,” giving her the ability to gain valuable life experience, such as being the first Carter School student to attend the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference or to study-abroad in Bosnia and Croatia.

The awards also provided Shippen with the financial freedom to undertake several internships, which allowed her to explore the real-world applications of the skills she learned in both academic programs.

During her time at George Mason, Shippen held three internships. One was with the World Affairs Councils of America, where she was employed at a global education Intern and helped coordinate the logistics of an annual event that brings high school students from across the country to Washington, D.C., to learn about global engagement and public diplomacy. Shippen also interned with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency under the Department of War. “I saw each side of government and federal contracting,” she said. “Each had a very different approach to resolving conflict.”

“I sought out opportunities that aligned with my personal values,” Shippen said. “The awards put me in a position to give back and inform other students about the opportunities that exist at Mason.”

The desire to give back also drives her career goals. She said her interest in curriculum development stems in part, from the work she performed as part of the Peacebuilding Fellowship. After researching the Appalachian educational curriculum, Shippen wrote a proposal to the school district that recommended a systemic curriculum change that placed greater emphasis on practical and sustainable life skills and de-emphasized rote memorization.

Shippen’s experience in Bosnia and Croatia also contributed to her interest in educational systems development. While studying ethnic narratives in conflict, Shippen found that each of the three major ethnic groups had their own, independent school system and curriculum. Essentially, how and what students learned in any given subject, depended on the ethnic group to which they belonged.

“After speaking with students there, I realized that the conflict analysis skills I learned can be a valuable tool in engaging youth and educational systems,” she explained.

This fall, Shippen will be continuing her studies at Stanford University where she is entering a master's program in global and comparative education/international education policy analysis.

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

Topics

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Carter School News

Carter School Undergraduate Program

Meet the Two Carter Undergraduates Who Presented at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference

Paul Snodgrass — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:20:50 +0000

Meet the Two Carter Undergraduates Who Presented at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference Paul Snodgrass Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:20

Two undergraduate Carter School students, Lisa Misaki Gray, a fourth-year student with minors in criminology and Russian language, and Christina Gizzi, a third-year Honors College student with a minor in global affairs, presented their research at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference.

Lisa Misaki Gray, Karina Korostelina, and Christina Gizzi. Photo provided.

The conference was held March 23-29 at Oxford University, UK, and was organized by the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights (OCHR). They attended the event with Carter School professor Karina Korostelina, who was also a presenter at the consortium. The trip was funded through the generous support of Carter School donors.

“This is exactly the kind of life-changing experience we want our students to have,” said Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “Opportunities like this expand their horizons, build confidence, and connect them to global conversations in ways that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom. I am deeply grateful to our donors whose generosity makes these transformative experiences possible.”

Christina Gizzi at the Bodleian Library's Radcliffe Camera building. Photo provided.

Gray and Gizzi found the invitation to apply through the Carter School newsletter. They both applied to attend the conference, were interviewed by professors, and were selected to attend. Gray, who knows one of the students who made the trip last year, was very interested in attending. Gizzi, who had applied last year, was encouraged to reapply after taking a class with the professor who previously interviewed her.

When asked why they were so interested in the consortium and Oxford in particular, Gray commented “Oxford is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. How could I not want to go!? The Secret History by Donna Tartt is also one of my favorite books, and in this book, there's also a prestigious university with secret libraries and secret organizations similar to Oxford, which made me even more excited to attend.”

Gizzi echoed Gray's sentiment, “I was excited for the opportunity to learn from the scholars at the historical university, and shortly after arriving, I learned Oxford claims to be the oldest university. I also love architecture, and the opportunity to see Harry Potter-esque architecture was very appealing.”

Gray and Gizzi presenting their work. Photo provided.

At the consortium, the pair presented their research, "Silence Breakers in Our Local Communities: Advocacy and Local Peacebuilding." Because peacebuilding has historically been dominated by international organizations and aimed at appeasing international stakeholders, they chose instead to focus on the impact of empowering local peacebuilding efforts.

"Although communities have been given more agency, it is not enough. Using two case studies, we illustrated that even before community, successful local peacebuilding comes from the individual. You cannot expect others to change their actions or change the world; change must start within yourself," they noted.

Their presentation was well received, receiving numerous compliments and opening the door for future conversations. "Students and faculty approached us later in the day and told us stories about their similar experiences and challenges," they said.

Karina Korostelina, Christina Gizzi, and Lisa Misaki Gray. Photo provided.

Korostelina, their faculty liaison and mentor, who also presented at the consortium with colleague Hugo Slim on the topic of civilian devastation and human rights during the war, was proud of the work her students had done.

"It was a thoughtful and compelling presentation. Their work stood out not only for its clarity, but for its grounded, practical vision. Their core message: 'Peace starts with you,' was both powerful and actionable. They moved beyond slogans to outline a systemic approach to peacebuilding, operating at multiple levels: the individual (values, responsibility, everyday choices), the organizational (initiatives, partnerships, advocacy), and the social movement level (collective action, public engagement, narrative change)."

Korostelina also added that equally impressive was the duo's emphasis on collaboration. Gray and Gizzi highlighted the Carter School’s partnership with Rotary International, demonstrating how cross-sector engagement can translate ideas into concrete initiatives—from dialogue and community projects to broader peacebuilding efforts.

"Their presentation had a great balance of critical reflection and constructive pathways forward," Korostelina said. "It is a strong reminder that the next generation of peacebuilders is not only deeply informed, but also ready to act—with intention, creativity, and a commitment to impact."

Korostelina was also greatly impressed by the knowledge demonstrated by Gray and Gizzi. She proudly shared that, on one of the last days of the consortium, a guest speaker was discussing peacebuilding and asked the attendees to define peacebuilding and the differences between terms like mediation and negotiation. Gray's response prompted the speaker to ask, "Did you, by chance, work for the UN?"

When asked about presentations that stood out to them, Gizzi recalled a presentation that discussed the conflicting interests of human and environmental rights. During the presentation, the host related a story about Chilean fishermen who were shooting sea lions. However, the fishermen were not killing the sea mammals for their skins, but because the animals were preying upon the fishermen's catches before they could be pulled in, raising difficult questions about how to balance the fishermen's livelihood against conservation interests. Gray agreed and recalled a presentation by a researcher who worked with Indigenous communities in Malaysia and the visible impact of declining populations of native species. "It really stuck with me," she said. "I discovered a new interest in tracking environmental change and species loss."

Lisa Misaki Gray. Photo provided.

Now, a month later, Gray looks back on the academic and personal impact of the experience. “I am so grateful to have had the chance to attend such a prestigious university for a week and learn from their guest speakers, students, and faculty. Everyone there had so much experience, knowledge and insight, and I felt like a sponge absorbing all this information and processing it. I loved meeting everyone there and learning about their lives and experiences. It truly opened my eyes to how bright the world can be despite the struggles we face.”

Gizzi also described the consortium as a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. “[The consortium] was full of new knowledge, friends, and networks, opening a wider range of opportunities to come. The sightseeing, lectures, company, and snacks—including tea time—made it a life-changing and unforgettable experience. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and would recommend it to everyone!”

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

In This Story

Alpaslan Özerdem

Karina Korostelina

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