Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

In the Media

Remembering Former President Jimmy Carter: Statesman, Humanitarian, and Peacemaker

Paul Snodgrass — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:30:48 +0000

Remembering Former President Jimmy Carter: Statesman, Humanitarian, and Peacemaker Paul Snodgrass Sun, 12/29/2024 - 17:30

��AV’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution Remembers Former President Jimmy Carter: Statesman, Humanitarian, and Peacemaker

Former President Jimmy Carter holding the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Photo credit: the Carter Center.

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at ��AV remembers James “Jimmy” Earl Carter, Jr. 39th President of the United States, as an agent of peace. We send our deepest condolences to his family.

“President Carter’s unwavering dedication to peace has been, and will continue to be, our beacon and guide. Our school’s name is a tribute to President Carter’s commitment to the worldwide peaceful resolution of conflict, which is imperative in today's world, as we face many entrenched and emerging human security threats,” said Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “We will further his legacy in conflict resolution through our research and practice. His insight, passion, and love for peace will remain our inspiration in educating future peacemakers.”

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, celebrating President Carter's Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in December 2002. Photo credit: The Carter Center.

“President Carter showed us that the American presidency can be even more than the pinnacle of political power. It can also be a prelude to far greater humanitarian works,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “Tirelessly, humbly, and often unheralded, he led the eradication of Guinea worm in Africa, assured free and fair elections, and devoted thousands of hours of manual labor to help build homes for those in need. In his life, he saved countless lives, brought dignity to countless more, and spread peace throughout our world.”

President, father, husband, author, teacher, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, humanitarian, and peacebuilder, Jimmy Carter led by example. Prior to his election to the presidency in 1976, he served as both Georgia Governor and Georgia State Senator. During his term as president, the Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created.

Carter expanded the national park system and environmental protection legislation. He negotiated the Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1978) and signed the SALT II Treaty with the Soviet Union (1979). He was, perhaps, best known for his mediation efforts in realizing the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978. Titled the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East,” these dialogues paved the way for peace between these countries, even when such an outcome seemed remote.

Post-presidency, Jimmy Carter conducted peace negotiations and worked to eradicate disease in developing nations. He founded the Carter Center in 1982, and through the center, helped mediate conflicts in Ethiopia and Eritrea, North Korea, Liberia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sudan, Venezuela, and many more war-torn countries. For decades, Jimmy and his wife, Rosalynn, were prominent and active figures in Habitat for Humanity across the globe.

In 2002, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He is one of only four U.S. Presidents to receive this honor.

On October 1st, to celebrate his 100th birthday, ��AV awarded President Carter an honorary doctor of humane letters to honor his legacy of selfless dedication to peace and a more just and peaceful world.

Jimmy Carter’s dedication to peace and justice was an example to peacebuilders and mediators and his efforts inspired the renaming of George Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in his honor in 2020. He will be remembered by the staff, faculty, and students at the Carter School and the entire peacebuilding community for his tireless and selfless contributions to peace.

About the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

��AV’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is a community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners with a fundamental commitment to building peace. Through the development of cutting-edge theory, research, education, and practical work, we seek to identify and address the underlying causes of conflict and provide tools for ethical and just peacebuilding on the local, national, and global stages.

About ��AV

��AV is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

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Mason Korea student promotes inclusivity through Korean ArtPop Storytelling Workshop

Colleen Rich — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:12:39 +0000

Mason Korea student promotes inclusivity through Korean ArtPop Storytelling Workshop Colleen Rich Mon, 10/14/2024 - 13:12

Seung Gyo Kim, a ��AV senior majoring in conflict analysis and resolution at Mason Korea, is making strides in peacemaking during his final year at ��AV’s Fairfax Campus. Kim recently spearheaded the inaugural Korean ArtPop Storytelling Workshop, bringing together more than 100 students from diverse backgrounds during Peace Week.

Students performing at storytelling workshop. Photo provided

“As an international student, I noticed that many international students want to connect with peers from different backgrounds but often gravitate toward familiar groups,” said Kim. “Having served as a vocalist in the Korea Air Force Band, I’ve seen how music can be a universal language for peacebuilding. This inspired me to create a music-based workshop to bridge the gap between international and domestic students.”

The workshop featured live performances of Korean ArtPop songs, a genre that combines the poetry of art music with popular melodies. Trained student facilitators from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution guided participants in using the music to explore their own stories and build mutual understanding. International students in particular reflected on their motivations for studying in the United States.

Alexandria Lasswell, a student majoring in international security and law, expressed her enthusiasm for the workshop. "My table, mostly made up of international students, was quiet at first, but we noticed another quiet table of domestic students,” she said. “We decided to combine tables and reset the energy. We connected, laughed, and learned about our differences and similarities. It showed me that, to build peaceful relationships, we need to step out of our comfort zones and invite people to the table.”

Workshop participants. Photo provided

This student-led initiative drew on multiple disciplines and received guidance from faculty advisors at George Mason. The event was supported by The Narrative Transformation Lab at the Carter School with sponsorship from the Carter School's Dean’s Office and University Life. Audrey Williams, lab manager at the Narrative Transformation Lab, mentored the student cohort for the workshop.

“Seung Gyo has been a truly exceptional student to work with, and his leadership shone throughout the process,” Williams said. “As both an accomplished musician and a student of conflict resolution, he is well-poised to make critical contributions to the practice of arts-based peacebuilding. This was not an event where audience members simply listened to music and then dispersed. The team’s carefully designed questions and prompts opened doors to deeper conversations about belonging among international and domestic students.”

“Being a conflict analysis and resolution major equipped me with the resilience, outreach skills, and leadership abilities needed to lead a multicultural team,” said Kim, who navigated the challenges of organizing a large-scale event throughout the spring semester. “Negotiation was key, as seen in the process with the Washington Cultural Center and the Association for Conflict Resolution – Greater New York Chapter, which was vital for securing endorsements.”

Kim currently also serves on the International Student Advisory Board and as a Mason Korea Ambassador. He aspires to work at the Washington Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., and eventually become a professor, combining art song recitals with peace studies.

Learn more about Peace Week at the Carter School

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��AV honors former President Jimmy Carter with honorary degree

Colleen Rich — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:53:18 +0000

��AV honors former President Jimmy Carter with honorary degree Colleen Rich Mon, 09/30/2024 - 16:53

In recognition of former President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday on Oct. 1, ��AV’s Board of Visitors (BOV) voted to award President Carter an honorary doctor of humane letters.

Former President Jimmy Carter. Photo by The Carter Center

James “Jimmy” Earl Carter Jr. was the 39th president of the United States and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002. This recognition, approved at the BOV meeting on Sept. 26, celebrates Carter’s legacy of selfless dedication to peace and a more just and peaceful world.

In 2020, ��AV renamed its School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution in honor of Carter’s diplomacy and human rights activism. The Carters were married for 77 years before Rosalynn’s death in 2023.

“The ��AV Board of Visitors is proud to offer this honorary doctorate to a man who has given so much to his country as a submarine officer in the Navy, in a lifetime of public service, and in his humanitarian works around the world,” George Mason Rector Charles “Cully” Stimson said.

“When your university offers a school that bears the Carter name,” George Mason President Gregory Washington said, “you’re announcing to the world: This university wants to make a difference. This university stands for making the world a more just place. This university is committed to a good greater than its own. For a century, President Carter has led the kind of life we aspire for our graduates to lead. We are proud to present him with this honorary doctorate and deepen the Carter legacy at ��AV.”

Carter was elected President in 1976. His presidency is defined in large part by successfully mediating a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt with the 1978 Camp David Accords and, with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II) in 1979.

Since leaving office in 1981, the former president has been best known for his humanitarian work, including with Habitat for Humanity and through The Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 to work for peace and human rights around the world, including overseeing elections in young democracies, eradicating disease and conducting peace negotiations.

“Throughout his life, President Carter has exemplified the values of compassion, service, and justice,” Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem said. “His tireless efforts to promote human rights, resolve conflicts, and alleviate poverty have inspired generations of peacebuilders, and his enduring legacy continues to guide the mission of our school. We are privileged to carry his name and uphold his commitment to making the world a more just and peaceful place.” Read more from the dean.

Members of the community are invited to participate in a special digital birthday card for President Carter, where they can express gratitude for his lifetime of public service and for his extensive work for peace.

The Carter School encourages the public to share their stories and memories of President Carter’s legacy using the hashtag #Carter100.

Also, on Friday, Oct. 4, the Carter School will host an outdoor screening of the documentary “Rock N' Roll President” at Mason Square Plaza at 7:30 p.m. This documentary offers a unique look at how music and culture intersected with President Carter’s leadership during his time in office.

“As we celebrate President Carter’s 100th birthday, we are reminded that peace is not just a goal but a practice—a practice that requires dedication, collaboration, and hope,” Özerdem said. “Together, we can continue to build on President Carter’s legacy, working toward a world where peace, justice, and equality thrive.”

Learn more about the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

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Navy chaplain works to build international peace

Shayla Brown — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:52:48 +0000

Navy chaplain works to build international peace Shayla Brown Thu, 08/15/2024 - 12:52

U.S. Navy chaplain Andrew Hoyle studied hard in the classroom to complete his master of science in conflict analysis and resolution at ��AV in one year, but he hasn’t stopping learning and gaining more experience. This summer, the active-duty officer interned at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C.

For his internship, Hoyle researched religions in Africa, China, Russia, and Rio de Janeiro, among other areas, looking at how the diversity of religions are embedded in cultures throughout the United States and internationally. His work culminated in an extensive article analyzing how the Russian Orthodox Church is expanding in Africa as part of Russian international relations efforts.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Andrew Hoyle. Photo provided.

Hoyle said one of his favorite internship experiences was collaborating with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development representatives, sharing their research and knowledge on peace building.

“The U.S. Ambassador to Suriname met with our team and talked about how indigenous peace building in Surinam helped address some of the nation’s biggest concerns,” said Hoyle.

“That was so phenomenal because I not only saw collaboration between the State Department and USIP on an official level, but on a really personal level. Seeing them address how we can do things better really reinforced to me that’s what international relations is about.”

USIP also frequently hosts forums and guest lectures on specific topics in the peacebuilding field. Hoyle’s academic advisor at George Mason’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, David Smith, encouraged him to attend as many as he could during his internship, he said.

“I learned so much about peace building in Africa, post-conflict societies for women in Ukraine, and how they relate to the wars happening,” Hoyle said.

“There were all kinds of interesting topics that really expanded my understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution on an international level.”

The United States has active-duty service members all over the world working to deter wars and build positive relationships that create stability and security, explained Hoyle.

“Those relationships happen on the international and grassroots levels, and as a military chaplain, I have a unique opportunity to be there and build those relationships through religious actor engagement,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle was able to complete his master's program in one year through the Naval Postgraduate School Civilian Institutions program.

At USIP, “I was assigned to work with the Religion Inclusive Societies Team frequently doing research on the role of military chaplains in international peace-building endeavors and how chaplains could be better leveraged to engage in those capacities,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle said his course with Carter School professor Douglas Irvin-Erickson, CONF 600 Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, laid the framework of what to expect in this field.

“The course was really foundational in my understanding of what this field is all about,” said Hoyle.

Hoyle also earned course credit with a Carter School study-abroad trip, Cambodia: Post Genocide Community Development, and Spirituality, from December 2023 to January 2024.

“We visited Buddhist monks and a monastery college, and we saw Buddhism in action culturally and did some comparison. This study-abroad experience really gave me an appetite for seeing more peacebuilding in the international community,” explained Hoyle.

Hoyle said his time with USIP will also influence his work as a chaplain.

“Throughout this internship, I observed the importance of interfaith collaboration,” he said. “One of the action guides that the team has put out is called Religion and Reconciliation, which focuses on intra- and inter-religious dialogue, and it’s something I see every day on a local level. I think that's going to be nuts and bolts for my next duty station assignment with the Navy.”

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Douglas Irvin-Erickson

David Smith

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Engineering, Carter School students give peace a chance

Nathan Kahl — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:51:26 +0000

Engineering, Carter School students give peace a chance Nathan Kahl Tue, 07/23/2024 - 14:51

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Incoming college students are increasingly concerned with social justice, conflict resolution, and sustainability. These are byproducts of being raised in an interconnected, interdisciplinary world, where they’ve been taught to consider the downstream consequences of their actions and decisions.

Engineering students like the Engineers for International Development group pictured here on a clean drinking water project in Ecuador served as inspiration for the new minor. Photo provided

In response, the ��AV College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution are now collaborating on a minor in peace engineering. The minor’s germination comes from numerous places but was pushed forward initially by Liza Wilson Durant, CEC’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and community engagement, and Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School.

"I advised students in Mason’s Engineers for International Development chapter on developing engineered solutions to community problems in remote lands in Central America,” said Durant. “The engagement with community members and the work to understand the needs of a vast number of community stakeholders was as important as the final engineered solution. It occurred to me that we could bring that kind of understanding to the classroom for more engineering students through collaboration with the Carter School.”

Jane Walker, director of undergraduate student services for the Carter School, said the minor is ideal for students of both colleges. “The engineering students will better understand culture, people, and the complexity of their interactions, and Carter School students will better understand systems thinking and engineering design. Understanding design process helps with problem solving.”

Walker noted that their students have shown interest in adding to their expertise in conflict analysis with skills in project management and technical considerations, which they could get from classes that make up this minor.

Durant was inspired watching students tackle problems in Central America.

According to the university website, the minor “brings together expertise in systems-level science, engineering principles, and conflict resolution practice to support conditions for peace. It prepares students to engage in projects with conflict sensitivity and to understand the engineering technologies and approaches impacting human systems.”

“When I pursued my civil engineering degree in Istanbul during the late 1980s, our curriculum offered limited engagement with socio-economic and cultural issues,” said Özerdem. “Although we had the opportunity to select a few electives that touched upon these topics, the primary focus remained on the technical and structural aspects of civil engineering.”

Rajesh Ganesan, an associate professor in the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department, explained how systems engineering approaches are useful. “As we look at conflict on the whole from a global perspective, and think of all the huge factors that play a role in any crisis, we want to incorporate systems thinking into conflict analysis," he said. "It’s important for our students to have those systems thinking approaches.”

Özerdem, an engineer by training, wants students to develop holistic approaches to problems.

Özerdem said, “The disciplinary focus has evolved from a narrow technical lens to a more holistic approach that embraces flexibility and interdisciplinary learning. This shift has been a response to the growing recognition that the challenges we face today—ranging from climate change and urbanization to social equity and global peace—cannot be adequately addressed by any single discipline alone.”

Ganesan added that increasingly students are asking for courses related to things like climate change, global conflicts, energy sustainability, and more. He said, “These words were nonexistent previously. If you had asked me six or seven years ago, nobody spoke about these things, but now the students are asking for them, and we have other pushes, like from the Dean’s Advisory Board.” He said the advisory board, students, and alumni are the key sources of feedback on curriculum change.

For students looking to graduate on time, the minor only requires 15 more credits, of which eight are unique. A student may complete the minor by adding three classes and no more semesters.

Özerdem has a strong vision for the minor. “In the coming years, we hope to see it become a flagship program attracting a diverse and dynamic cohort of students from across the university,” he said. “Our goal is to build a robust and supportive learning environment where students from different disciplines can collaborate and learn from one another, fostering a culture of innovation and interdisciplinary excellence.”

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This Senior of the Year found ‘true community’ at George Mason

Colleen Rich — Thu, 09 May 2024 21:24:11 +0000

This Senior of the Year found ‘true community’ at George Mason Colleen Rich Thu, 05/09/2024 - 17:24

Senior of the Year Celine Apenteng has made an impact during her time at ��AV, and she isn’t done. After graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution with a concentration in global engagement, and minor in intelligence studies, the Silver Spring, Maryland, native will continue to pursue her master’s degree in international security at the Schar School of Policy and Government through the university’s accelerated master’s program.

Senior of the Year Celine Apenteng. Photo provided

Senior of the Year is awarded annually by the George Mason Alumni Association. In nominating Apenteng, her academic advisors at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution—Isaac Jasper, Jane Walker, Averi Jordan—wrote: “From her academic to her professional success, Celine has shown she is leaving the university as an ambassador of the best George Mason has to offer.”

Throughout her college career, Apenteng, who is a member of the Honors College, was active in Student Government, serving as Student Body Vice President in 2022-23 and as Speaker of the Student Senate. She also was a member of President Gregory Washington's Student Advisory Board and co-chair of the Student Advisory Council for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Outside of the classroom, Apenteng held several internships that she said helped shape her as a person and a professional. She interned at the White House in the Office of Public Engagement and U.S. Department of State.

She also started out as an intern at the Carter School’s John Mitchell Jr. Program for History, Justice, and Race, which focuses on promoting a more informed public, political, and academic dialogue on the intersections between historical memory, justice, and racial reconciliation. She continues her work with the program as a fellow, documenting the impact of lynching incidents on African American communities and conducting historical archiving to preserve evidence of racial terror.

How have you grown while at George Mason?

Mason has helped me create a life of collaborative relationships instead of competitive ones. When I look for friendships, workspaces, and all other types of connections, I find myself gravitating toward people who want the same, a life filled with supportive people, doing their best, whatever that looks like, and wanting the best for the people around them. I can’t say that wanting that has changed since coming to Mason, but my efforts to seek it out certainly have.

Senior of the Year Celine Apenteng with Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

How did your internships affect your career path?

[The internships] have all offered me different perspectives on what progress looks like for the world. Without a doubt, I can say that the key players are the local leaders we see every day who help us when no one is looking. As people look for opportunities, solutions, and answers, don’t overlook what your local or regional efforts can do for the people you know and the people you don’t.

What’s your best memory at George Mason?

During my junior year, I was Student Body vice president. Although the entire year is filled with great memories, one that sticks out the most is the fall farmer's market. So many people had come out to support the local vendors we had brought to campus, Student Government members were out in full force, and we were all having a great time. We danced to music, played games, and of course ate really good food. Seeing everyone out just happy to be in that environment made me really happy, and I hope that event continues with the same excitement that made so many people feel the presence of true community at Mason.

What is your best piece of advice for incoming students?

You are on time. If you think you’re behind, you're not. There’s no science to living life and college is just one chapter of a (hopefully) very long book! It can be easy to feel like everything is passing you by, but just think back to high school and where you thought you’d be now. Your hopes will change, your dreams will change, and you will change. And that’s all just a part of the process of being alive. So don’t stress about what you can’t control and enjoy what you can.

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Dean Özerdem speaks with WJLA about the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter

Paul Snodgrass — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:34:16 +0000

Dean Özerdem speaks with WJLA about the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter Paul Snodgrass Tue, 11/21/2023 - 11:34

WJLA ABC 7News interviewed Dean Özerdem about the life and legacy of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter on Sunday, when she passed away.

Excerpt from the video and article, DMV leaders, organizations react to the death of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, published on November 19th, 2023:

“Considering the scale of mental health challenges and problems we face in our society today and considering she’s been working at this since the 1980s, it really shows her foresight and her deep engagement with our society,” said Alpaslan Özerdem Dean of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“She wasn’t just a first lady, she was very close to her husband in different policy-making issues and initiatives, and for example, in the late 1970s during the Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt, she was there throughout that process and we know that she helped Jimmy Carter in his difficult negotiations,” Özerdem said. “She was with Jimmy Carter on various missions for peace and conflict resolution in the Middle East in Panama and different places.”

When asked to put into words the impact Rosalynn will continue in the DMV, Özerdem said, “Her impact will live with us.”

“I don’t know of many people who really did so much for public service, and we really need to recognize this,” Özerdem said. “In our classrooms at the Carter school, we always underline that.”

If you are a peacemaker, you’ve got to work with communities to make that change, whether that’s in Arlington or Afghanistan,” Özerdem continued. “So yes, Rosalynn Carter and her legacy will live with us here at the Carter school.

- Alpaslan Özerdem

Watch the video and read the full article.

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Remembering Rosalynn Carter: Humanitarian and Global Health Advocate

Paul Snodgrass — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:57:18 +0000

Remembering Rosalynn Carter: Humanitarian and Global Health Advocate Paul Snodgrass Sun, 11/19/2023 - 19:57

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at ��AV remembers Eleanor Rosalynn Carter, 96, former first lady, as an agent of peace, champion of human rights and advocate of mental health research. We send our deepest condolences to former President Jimmy Carter and their family.

The Carters’ dedication to peace and human rights was a beacon to peacebuilders and mediators. Their tireless work inspired the renaming of Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in their honor in 2020.

“America has lost a public service icon in Rosalynn Carter’s passing,” said Mason President Gregory Washington. “We mourn a world without her, but also marvel at the life she led and the legacy she leaves. Few public figures in America have lived so long and contributed so much as Mrs. Carter did, and she leaves us with a charge to make good on her name in the work of the Carter School.”

“We mourn the loss and celebrate the life of former first lady Rosalynn Carter,” said Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem. “She was an inspirational humanitarian and peacemaker. The Carter School, shaped and inspired by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s legacy, stands as a beacon in today’s turbulent times, and their name signifies more than just a legacy—it's a torch, a commitment, a promise.”

Former first lady, mother, wife, author, and activist, Rosalynn Carter was named "second most powerful person in the United States" by Time Magazine during her time in the White House. However, her humanitarian work extended far beyond her years in the White House. Together with her husband, Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, she championed democracy and human rights around the globe, from monitoring free elections to working with Habitat for Humanity, with which they worked for more than 35 years. It was with these goals in mind that she cofounded the Carter Center in 1982.

Rosalynn Carter was also a vocal advocate for global heath and campaigned to de-stigmatize mental health issues. She served as a board member emeritus of the National Mental Health Association and was an Honorary Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Rosalynn Carter was also the president of the board of directors for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, which promotes policies and programs to address the needs of family caregivers.

She received many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1997, The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) established The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award to honor “individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to public health through scientific achievement, philanthropy, and policy work.” In 2023 Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers Lifetime Achievement Award.

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A Celebration of Legacy and Impact

On October 16th and 17th, the Carter School commemorated Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter as peacemakers and leaders for change.

Watch the Celebration of Legacy and Impact

DMV leaders, organizations react to the death of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter: WJLA

Carter School Partners with U.S. Department of State to Provide Research on International Conflicts

Paul Snodgrass — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:20:27 +0000

Carter School Partners with U.S. Department of State to Provide Research on International Conflicts Paul Snodgrass Fri, 11/10/2023 - 11:20

Carter School to become an Academic Center of Conflict Anticipation & Prevention Partner

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at ��AV and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations (CSO) have signed an agreement, along with a select number of other universities, to become an Academic Center of Conflict Anticipation & Prevention (ACCAP) partner. As part of this public-private partnership, the Carter School will provide research on “current, real-world conflict-related issues” as identified by CSO offices in the interest of supporting conflict resolution and stabilization efforts.

Under this new initiative, research will be conducted by select students, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, with oversight from Carter School faculty. Students will be able to select from different projects that have been requested by CSO offices. Developed under the supervision of Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem, Dr. Susan Allen, and Dr. Karina Korostelina, this partnership will not only allow Carter School students to contribute to international peacebuilding efforts with actionable research, but it will also provide valuable insight as to how the State Department considers approaches to conflict prevention or mitigation in regions around the world.

Carter School Dean Alpaslan Özerdem stated, “This is an excellent partnership for building bridges between policymaking and academia on a myriad of topics in conflict prevention. We are proud to work with the US Department of State on this exciting initiative.”

Dr. Susan Allen, who is also the Director of Graduate Programs at the Carter School, added, “I am pleased that when the U.S. State Department sought out leading university research centers in conflict analysis and resolution, they approached the Carter School. Our diverse student body comes from all over the world, and our faculty focuses on peace and conflict resolution from diverse methodological approaches.”

When asked about the benefit to students, Carter School professor and Director of Peace Lab on Reconciling Conflicts and Intergroup Divisions, Dr. Karina Korostelina commented, “This initiative will not only advance students’ research skills but also develop their capacities to write policy-oriented papers and briefs. The access to vast databases and localized data is essential for the understanding of conflict dynamics and complexities of peace and justice processes.”

��AV is a Tier 1 research institution.

About the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

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Karina Korostelina

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