Carter School News

In an article published in Focus Ukraine, Dean Alpaslan Özerdem, wrote about the opportunity and need for planning for the reconstruction of Higher Education in Ukraine. Özerdem argues that, "higher education will be needed to keep up with the need for more trained people. No matter how much reconstruction funding is provided, if the country lacks people with the skills to use the help effectively, the reconstruction experience will become a major disappointment for everyone, from donors to national authorities to the war-torn communities themselves."

In an article by the Kyiv Independent, Dean Alpaslan Özerdem reacts to the selection of Penny Pritzker to lead the U.S. efforts in the economic recovery of Ukraine. The article by Elsa Court, published on September 18, 2023, is entitled, Who is Penny Pritzker, new US special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery?

Karina Korostelina, a professor of conflict analysis and resolution in Mason’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, conducts remarkable research with global implications that not only applies to countries and groups in conflict but societies as well. Ukraine’s war with Russia, at its end, she says, will present enormous problems with the reconciliation of people and territories.

In an article by Arab News, Dean Alpaslan Özerdem analyzes the dynamics of post-conflict reintegration of child soldiers and the impacts of their use on public psychology. The article by Rober Bociaga, published on September 1, 2023, is entitled, Sudan conflict poses threat of long-term societal harm as recruitment of child soldiers surges.

George Mason University graduate student Yuhyun Sihn spent the summer studying political polarization through the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership.

Hannah Adamson, who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution, is one of 62 recipients nationwide awarded a fellowship by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

During July 17-20th, 36 passionate students could be found on George Mason University’s campus, facing some of today’s toughest challenges and buzzing with potential solutions. While the field of Conflict Resolution may not be known to all, these students took advantage of an opportunity to engage in discussions over topics like minority issues, climate change, guns in society, immigration, and discrimination.

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, many people are discussing how the art form has influenced culture, but few know about its role in conflict resolution and diplomacy.

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution has launched a new website: “Conflict Resolution Resource Hub for Teachers” (https://teach.conflictresolution.gmu.edu). Designed for high school teachers, this site provides free resources and activities to help teachers include non-partisan conflict analysis and resolution tools into their lessons regarding historical and contemporary real-world problems.

Recent graduate Yong June Kim (CONF, ’23) epitomizes the essence of a well-rounded scholar. Having made the most of his Mason experience, he now embarks on an exciting journey to Europe for his next chapter.

In an interview with the Portuguese newspaper Expresso, Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Carter School, identified the critical components of a successful reconstruction of Ukraine. According to Özerdem, the legitimacy of reconstruction rests upon including the needs of the Ukrainian population as a whole. He warned that focusing on the investment priorities of the funding parties, at the expense of the needs of the people who will live in the reconstructed zones, is a recipe for failure. Mental health, culture, and interpersonal connections in divided front-line communities should be priorities when planning reconstruction.

The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University and Restorative Arlington, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides restorative justice services to the schools, legal system, and communities of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, have signed an affiliation agreement that would facilitate collaboration between the two organizations and further cement the Carter School’s profile as a key resource in alternative dispute resolution in the DMV.