Welcome to a listing of conferences and conventions in which the U.S. Institute of Peace has participated.

December 14-15, 2010

Senior Program Officer Virginia M. Bouvier participated in a roundtable of a dozen experts on Colombia and conflict resolution from throughout Europe. The meeting on “Challenges and Opportunities for Peace in Colombia” was held at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain and sponsored by the Escola de Pau (Barcelona) and Conciliation Resources (London).

December 10, 2010

Maryland Mediators Convention David J. Smith presented on “Global Peacebuilding: Moving Conflict Resolution to a New Paradigm” at the Maryland Mediators Convention held on December 10, 2010 in Linthicum Heights, Maryland and sponsored by the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office.

December 9, 2010

USIP co-sponsored with Center for International Policy a day-long, invitation-only, roundtable conference at USIP on “Stabilization and Development: Lessons from Colombia’s ‘Consolidation’ Model.” About 85 people attended, including U.S. and Colombian government officials, development specialists, military officials, and members of the non-governmental and academic communities.

December 8, 2010

Senior Program Officer Virginia M. Bouvier spoke about the conflict in Colombia via Skype for an undergraduate class of about 25 students at Virginia Technological Institute in Blacksburg, VA.

October 28, 2010
Community College Humanities Association/Southern Division
David J. Smith hosted a pre-conference workshop at the annual meeting of the Community College Humanities Association/ Southern Division on October 28, 2010.  His workshop was titled “Teaching About Global Peace and Conflict: Emerging Community College Approaches.”  The event was held in Arlington, VA.

October 23-24, 2010
Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies
Qamar-ul Huda represented USIP as a guest presenter at the conference, “New Approaches to Qur’an and Exegesis” held at George Mason University's Harris Theatre. The conference had approximately 250 guests and was sponsored by the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies.

October 1, 2010
Peace and Justice Studies Association
David J. Smith presented at the annual conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association on October 1, 2010.   His topic was: 'The U.S. Institute of Peace: New Horizons, New Opportunities'. The conference was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

September 1-5, 2010
American Political Science Association (APSA)
Several USIP staff participated in the 2010 annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA) held in Washington, D.C. from September 1-5, 2010. Steven Riskin, senior program officer in the Grants program presented USIP funding opportunities. David Backer also presented a paper on transitional justice based on findings from a USIP-funded study. The Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship program co-sponsored an event with the International Security and Arms Control section that was attended by some 80-100 people.

September 3, 2010
10th Annual Association for Conflict Resolution Conference
In a presentation titled “USIP: America’s Commitment to Building Global Peace and Security” David Smith presented on the new building, the Academy effort, resources for practitioners, and Special Report 246 on graduate education. The Association for Conflict Resolution is the largest U.S. based organization of practitioners, both domestic and international, that work in the field. The event was held in Chicago.

May 30 - June 4, 2010
NAFSA 2010 Annual Conference
On Thursday, June 3, 2010, National Education Outreach Officer David J. Smith and George Lopez, a Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, spoke at the NAFSA 2010 Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.  Their workshop, “Exploring the Intersection of Peace Studies and Study Abroad,” was attended by 70 US based international education directors and faculty that support study abroad programs. Smith and Lopez discussed the overall relationship between study abroad and the field of peace studies, highlighted developments in the field, and explored the dynamic role of study abroad in peace and justice curriculum.

May 15, 2010
Global Studies Commencement of 2010 at The College of Wiliam & Mary
On Saturday, May 15, 2010, Virginia M. Bouvier, USIP Senior Program Officer for the Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, gave the commencement address for the International Relations and Global Studies graduation ceremonies at The College of William and Mary.  The ceremonies were attended by some 120 graduating seniors, their families, friends and faculty members from the college.   Her remarks called for continued engagement on behalf of justice and peace.
 

April 16, 2010
7th Annual International Education Conference
Col. J.M. "Matt" Venhaus, USIP's Jennings Randolph army fellow, and USIP specialist David Smith spoke at the 7th Annual International Education Conference at Tomball College, part of the Lone Star College System, in Tomball, Texas on April 16, 2010. As part of his research projects at the Institute, Col. Venhaus spoke with an audience of 200 faculty, students and community members about why young men join insurgent groups like al-Qaida. Smith discussed the work of community colleges in promoting peace.

 

March 27, 2010
3rd International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education

The 3rd International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) was an opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and research on issues related to the development of infrastructure in CRE and justice initiatives. Presentations focused on innovations in the fields that are making broad impacts in local, state, national, and international communities.  Participants (drawn from the local, state, national, and international community) exchanged best practices, evaluation methodology, creation of policy implementation structures, consideration of obstacles to success, and new and innovative use of training, resources and technology.

• David Smith Presenter, “The United States Institute of Peace: America’s commitment to building global peace and security”
  Workshop Facilitator, Peace and Conflict Studies Efforts

March 26, 2010
17th Annual Conference of the Midwest Institute of International/Intercultural Education

The Midwest Institute for International/Intercultural Education is a self-funded consortium of two-year colleges located in the Midwest region. Its primary objective is to support curriculum and professional development by organizing curriculum workshops, fall and spring conferences, overseas projects for faculty and students, assistance with grant development, provide faculty mentoring and professional networking.

• David Smith
  Keynote Presenter, “Community Colleges as Agents of Global Peace”

February 17-20, 2010
USIP at International Studies Association 2010

A number of Institute staff participated in the annual International Studies Association (ISA) convention in New Orleans from February 17-20, 2010. The ISA is an organization founded in 1959 by scholars and practitioners and now has more than 4,000 members worldwide dedicated to international studies. The theme of this year's ISA meeting, "Theory vs. Policy: Connecting Scholars and Practitioners," highlighted an enduring strength of the Institute.

The USIP staff listed below presented papers and participated in panels at the convention, as well as featured recent publications by USIP Press and answered questions about grants and fellowships.

Presentations

• Pamela Aall
  Panelist, "Theory's Contribution to Conflict Resolution: Helpful, Harmful or Ho-Hum"
• Linda Bishai
  Presenter, "Implementing the Liberal Peace: Observations from Sudan" on "Informing Theory on Peacebuilding" panel
  Discussant, "Making Sense of IR Theory" panel and "Understanding Peace" poster session
• Chantal de Jonge Oudraat
  Panelist, “Play it again Uncle Sam: Transatlantic Relations, NATO and the EU”
• Matt Levinger
  Presenter, "Integrating Conflict Analysis into the Policymaking Process" on "Dealing with State Fragility: Connecting Scholarship and Practice" roundtable
  Chair: Ann L. Phillips, George C. Marshall Center
  Participants: Matthew Rhodes, George C. Marshall Center; Paula Homes-Eber, Marine Corps University
• Bill Long
  Presenter, "Pandemic Peace: Transnational Cooperation and Governance in Infectious Disease Control" on "Theory's Contribution to Policy" panel
• George Lopez
  Chair, "Contemporary State Terrorism - I"
  Discussant,"Contemporary State Terrorism - II"
  Discussant,"New Perspectives on Targeted Sanctions"
• Mary Hope Schwoebel
  Presenter, "Gender and Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration....and Reconciliation: The Case of Colombia" on "Gender and Humanitarianism" panel
  Panelist, "Careers in International Affairs"
• Abi Williams
  Presenter, “Strategic Planning in the Office of the U.N. Secretary-General” on “Challenges in Policy Planning in Multilateral Institutions” panel
  Discussant, “Regional Security and Conflict Management” panel