Mission Statement
The Peace Studies Program at Florida Atlantic University is committed to the extensive investigation and understanding of the causes of peace from a multidisciplinary perspective. The Program invites the active participation of students at all academic levels as well as the broader community.
Program Description
Established in 1999 in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the Peace Studies Program at Florida Atlantic University was established in 1999 to encourage scholarly cooperation, promote interdisciplinary research and increase opportunities for students to study and understand the complex search for peace.
The program is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the complexity of peace and the resolution of conflict from an interdisciplinary perspective. It offers students from different primary disciplines the opportunity for reflection on the wide range of issues of peace, cooperation, and justice. The Peace Studies Program offers students a number of opportunities to participate in its activities at various levels of study.
Executive Committee
Composed of faculty from numerous departments, the Peace Studies Executive Committee is responsible for overall program management, curriculum and program development, management of the program resources, and allocation of funds. Executive Committee members include:
Josephine Beoku-Betts, Women's Studies
Robin Fiore, Philosophy
Mark Frezzo, Sociology
Andy Furman, English
Noemi Marin, Communications and Multimedia Studies
Jeffrey Morton, Political Sciences
Lynn Appleton, Sociology and ex-officio representative of the Dean's Office
Projects
The Peace Studies Program is involved in two types of projects: Peace Studies events and events supported by Peace Studies. Peace Studies events are organized by the Peace Studies Executive Committee. Annual events of this type include the South Florida Model United Nations (SFMUN) simulation and the Peace Studies Conference.
Events supported by Peace Studies are those initiated by faculty members, programs, or departments that receive financial support from the Peace Studies program. Events of this type include guest lecturers, courses taught by visiting scholars, film series, conferences, and cultural events. In 2004, the Peace Studies Program provided substantial financial support for an Honors College Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Mustafa Abu-Sway from al-Quds University, and a conference organized by the South Florida Storytelling Project.
The Peace Studies Program also supports study abroad through its Middle East Study Abroad Scholarship, available to FAU undergraduate and graduate students.
Outreach Programs
The Outreach Program targets secondary students in an effort to promote a lasting discussion and understanding of the challenges confronting peace efforts. International Peace Day, the South Florida Model United Nations simulation and a variety of other activities bring students to campus and involves them actively in our common pursuit of peace and social justice. Additional programs target community members through the Peaceful Mind/Peaceful World series, bringing lecturers and workshops on topics ranging from the practice of non-violence to the practice of meditation.