Student-Faculty Conference
The Institute has held annual academic conferences since its beginning in 1985, with a faculty conference in the fall and a student conference in the spring. In 2013, the conferences were combined into a larger, joint student-faculty conference. Past conference hosts and themes are listed below, with the full list attached.
2024
Resource Wars: Conflict and Peacebuilding in a World of Environmental Challenge
April 5, 2024 | EDGEWOOD college
Speakers: Panel Discussion of Laudato Si: Interfaith Perspectives. Panelists included Fr. Oscar Nduri, S.J., Irfan A. Omar, Grace Alvarez, and Sumana Chattopadhyay
2023
Innovative Peacebuilding in Times of Trouble
March 31, 2023 | St. norbert college
Speakers: Brandon Bauer, associate professor of art, St. Norbert College, “Artistic Activism”; Mary M. McConnaha, doctoral student, Michigan State University, “Restorative Justice”; and Alexandra Thomas, student, St. Norbert College, “The Art of Dance: A Form of Activism and a Tool to Bridge Cultural Gaps”
2021
Health, Equity, and Peacebuilding: Creating Healthy and Inclusive Communities
JOINT CONFERENCE WITH THE PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER 8-10, 2021 | uw-mILWAUKEE
Link to Conference schedule.
2020
Trauma in Everyday Life: Trauma, Compassion, and Reconciliation
Cancelled due to COVID-19
April 3, 2020 | Madison COLLEGE
Link to Conference program draft.
2019
Forced Migration and Human Flourishing
April 5, 2019 | ST. NORBERT COLLEGE
Keynote speaker: Dr. Mireille Twayigira, Refugee Education Advocate for Jesuit Refugee Services.
2018
Will Democracy Survive?
April 6, 2018 | Edgewood College
Keynote speaker: Norman Stockwell, publisher of The Progressive.
2017
Gender, Peace, and Conflict: Toward a Deeper Understanding
March 30-31, 2017 | Alvero College
Speakers: Dr. Enaya Othman, Assistant Professor, Marquette University, Director of the Arab and Cultural Studies program, and Director of the Oral History Project of the Arab and Muslim Women’s Research and Resource Institute, speaking on “Engagement Beyond Research: Muslim Women’s Agency and Oral History in Wisconsin;” Kime Abduli, Aduli Immigration Law, LLC; and Dr. Angelique Harris, Associate Professor of Sociology, Director of the Center for Gender and Sexualities Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Marquette University.
2016
Global Citizenship: A road to peace?
April 7-8, 2016 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Keynote speaker: Valerie Barske, professor of history, UW-Stevens Point.
2015
Democracy in the 21st Century?
April 16-17, 2015 | Carthage College
Speakers: Wendy Pearlman, “Triumphs and Tragedies in the Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East,” assistant professor and chair in Middle East Studies at Northwestern University; Martin Farrell, “Democracy, Peace, and Conflict: Personal and Professional Reflections on 30 Years with the Wisconsin Institute,” professor, Ripon College.
2014
Resources for Peace
April 10-11, 2014 | UW-Whitewater
Keynote Speaker: Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence.
2013
first Combined Student-faculty conference
Borders, Boundaries, and Peace
February 28-March 1, 2013 | UW–Milwaukee
Two keynote panels included Melanie Greenberg, president and CEO, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Jenny Kehl, director of UWM’s Center for Water Policy, Magda Peck, dean of UWM’s School of Public Health, Johannes Britz, provost, UWM, and Michelle Breslauer, U.S. program manager of the Institute for Economics and Peace.