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.


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.