Academic Information

• George Mason University, Institiute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, doctoral studies
• M.S., Conflict Management, George Mason University, 1990
• B.S., Applied Mathematics, The George Washington University, 1983

Biographical Information

I have been involved in peace and conflict resolution work professionally for just under twenty years now.  I’ve had periods focused particularly on academic pursuits and periods focused on professional work in the field.  This began in 1988 with graduate studies at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.  I completed a Master’s degree there and then, after completing all requirements but dissertation for the PhD, spent most of the 1990’s working on the dissertation, teaching at Georgetown and George Mason Universities and developing a consulting practice around conflict resolution and diversity work.

The topic for my dissertation was very theoretical – looking at ways to incorporate alternative paradigms for power in conflict resolution theory – but the consulting work was much more practical.  It included: conflict resolution training ranging from peer mediation training for seventh graders to negotiation training for UN diplomats (more similar than you might think!); work with organizations on conflict, change and diversity issues; and dialogue facilitation and training work around race relations in the DC area.  I also began doing some international consulting: negotiation training for MBA students in India, work in Taiwan with an international group of young people on reconciliation skills, work with youth from international conflict areas through a DC based organization called Seeds of Peace.

These practical experiences naturally had an effect on my academic and research interests.  I was increasingly attracted to exploring the complex dynamics of power and culture in conflict resolution and negotiation processes and this led me towards applications in international ethnic conflict.  Eventually I succumbed to a growing preference for practice over theory and, in 2000, abandoned the dissertation and took a job running a peace building project in Sri Lanka for CARE, the international aid organization.  I’ve been based in Asia ever since.  From Sri Lanka I went to Thailand and from there to Dhaka, Bangladesh where I’m currently based.  During this period I’ve been doing conflict and peace building work primarily in Sri Lanka and Nepal, work on issues of gender-based violence in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Tajikistan, work on rights-based approaches to development in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and some regional level training and facilitation work out of Bangkok, Thailand.

Specialization

• Principled Negotiation
• Peace building
• Conflict and Development  
• Training and Dialogue Facilitation