ICAR Undergraduate Program: Building a Network of Influence at Mason and in the Community
The ICAR Undergraduate Program has had a busy year with activities and events that showcase its success as it approaching its sixth year. The main events during the spring semester were the undergraduate career panel and the First Annual Spring Conference.
On March 30th ICAR held a unique career panel, which featured primarily ICAR undergraduate alumni as panelists. The event provided students with insight into career paths relevant to a B.A. or B.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Lisa Shaw, moderated the discussion with each panelist sharing the challenges faced and lessons learned during their job search. Panelists included Christine Bancroft, a financial management analyst for the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs; Shukria Dellawar, President of TruBride consulting LLC; Dolores Gomez-Moran, University Ombudsman at George Mason University; Kristen Hunt, Analyst for Group W, INC; Hassen Khraibani, Manager of International Sales for Barros International, Ltd.; Danny Kaysi, Junior Fellow of Middle East Program for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Rebecca Newman, Conflict Response Coordinator for District of Colombia Public Schools.
Alumni panelists reflected on their experiences at ICAR and discussed how their education and skills relate to their careers. They agreed that the skills learned at ICAR are unique and applicable to both their personal lives and careers. Dolores Gomez-Moran also discussed the art of conflict resolution and the challenges she faces as Mason’s Ombudsman.
On Friday, April 16th ICAR hosted its First Annual Undergraduate Spring Conference, “Confronting Major Challenges in the 21st Century.” The conference was paired with the Conf 490 poster session. The morning session featured two panels with presenters: Blazenka Barisic from University of North Florida; Ruth Canagarajah from Penn State University; Mackenzie Drutowski from George Washington University; Garik Himebaugh from George Mason University; and Shannon Reiger from University of California, Berkley; highlighting the key points of their research. Formal presentations were followed by a question and answer period. Mark Schenider, Senior Vice President and Special Adviser on Latin America from the International Crisis Group, was the afternoon's keynote speaker.
The top paper awards went to Mackenzie Drutowski from George Washington University and Garik Himebaugh from George Mason University. The best poster award went to Jennifer Scolese.
The undergraduate program also has two ongoing programs, Peer Mediation Partners and the Dialogue and Difference Project, which are student run and focus on actively engaging the community.
This year the Dialogue & Difference Project held three campus dialogue events – Beyond Fort Hood: Reflections and Implications, Terrorism: A Panel Discussion and Dialogue, and Health Care: Constitutional Danger or Human Right? Dialogue topics emerged from current events and survey responses. Dialogue & Difference interns, Crystal Simon and Cameron Isaac, provided leadership and energy in organizing the events and training dialogue facilitators.
Peer Mediation Partners (PMP) has also been active on campus and in the local community. PMP is a GMU student organization that partners with middle and high school students in Northern Virginia to build strong and sustainable peer mediation and collaborative conflict resolution programs. This year, PMP worked to increase their presence on-campus and within Fairfax County Public Schools and as an integral part of the steering committee for the Pathways to Peace Conference. PMP worked with students and faculty from West Springfield H.S., Annandale H.S., and Fairfax H.S., to build and evaluate conflict resolution programs through the development of lesson plans and role-plays.