Susan Allen

Headshot Photo of Susan Allen
Titles and Organizations

Henry Hart Rice Chair and Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Carter School
Director of Graduate Programs, Carter School

Contact Information

Email: sallen29@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-3653

Campus: Arlington
Building: Arlington: Vernon Smith Hall
Room 5108A
Mail Stop: 4D3

Biography

Susan H. Allen is the Henry Hart Rice Chair of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Director of Graduate Programs, and directs the Center for Peacemaking Practice at George Mason University's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. She is a scholar-practitioner of conflict resolution. Her main focus is on reflective practice, action research, and research that emerges from practice contexts. She has substantial expertise in interactive peacemaking, intermediary roles and coordination amongst intermediaries, evaluation of conflict resolution initiatives, and theories of change, indicators of change, and evaluation in conflict resolution practice. She has engaged long-term in conflict resolution in the South Caucasus, as well as contributing to a variety of conflict resolution initiatives in other regions of the world.

Susan Allen joined the Carter School core faculty in 2005 after two years teaching International Peace and Conflict Resolution as Assistant Professor at the School of International Service at American University. This was a return to the Carter School. Dr. Allen’s Ph.D. (2000) and M.S. (1995) degrees are from the Carter School. Between graduate school and joining the faculty at the Carter School, she co-founded and directed the Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT) and served as Senior Program Associate for the Conflict Resolution Program at the Carter Center in Atlanta, GA.

Susan Allen’s current research centers on interactive peacemaking. Her work has been supported by the US Institute of Peace (Peace Scholar award, Grant program), the One Foundation, USAID, the UK Conflict Pool, the US State Department, and the William and Flora I. Hewlett Foundation, Compton Foundation, Catalyst Fund (with ACT), and US State Dept (with ACT).

Susan Allen serves as Associate Editor of the journal International Negotiation, on the Editorial Board of Conflict Resolution Quarterly, and Advisory Board of Caucasus Edition. She is on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT). She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, including as Chair of the Board in 2005.

Honors and Awards

  • Fulbright Scholar, Republic of Georgia, 2019-2020, 2022
  • Mary Lynn Boland Award, George Mason University

Affiliations

Media Appearances

In the News

Degrees

PhD, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University
MS, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University