Carter School News

The Center for Peacemaking Practice at George Mason University’s Carter School advances conflict resolution through practitioner‑driven research, global partnerships, and hands‑on learning. CPP works locally and internationally with peacebuilders, hosts fellows and study visits, and connects real‑world experience to theory and practice—offering students direct engagement in peacebuilding, facilitation, and program design across conflict‑affected regions.

Two Carter School undergraduates represented George Mason University at the 2026 Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in War and Climate Emergency Conference, where they presented original research alongside global scholars. Supported by faculty mentorship and donor funding, the students gained hands-on international experience, expanded their professional networks, and explored new academic interests—highlighting the Carter School’s commitment to creating transformative opportunities for students beyond the classroom.

Regina Garcia Garcia, a second-year student at the Carter School with a concentration in Building Peace in Divided Societies, found purpose in working with immigrants and first-generation college-bound students.

In spring 2024, during his internship with MHCR, Jonathan Fang and his supervisor, Rowda Olad, a mental health and psychosocial support expert and associate director of the MHCR, came upon the idea of developing a series of student-focused conversations on difficult, but relevant topics to students and inviting different cultural and ethnic student groups to participate.

On Thursday, April 16, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution will host the virtual panel discussion “Navigating the Impact of Changes in Climate Governance on Fragile States.” Presented as part of the Carter School’s 2026 Peace Week, the event will examine shifts in the global climate governance landscape and identify emerging institutional and governance gaps.

On February 11, 2026, Olesya Vartanyan, a first-year PhD student at George Mason's Carter School and conflict analyst with more than 15 years of field experience in the South Caucasus, took part in a congressional briefing on the political situation in Georgia. The event was hosted by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, a bipartisan body bringing together members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

From October to mid-February, the Venerable Buddhist monks of the Dhammacetiya Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center of Fort Worth, Texas walked more than 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. Known as the Walk for Peace, their goal was to raise awareness of the global need for peace as well as how we can practice and foster peace in our own lives and neighborhoods.

Marisa Parikh is an extraordinary, driven George Mason student. She earned her associate’s degree while still in High School. Now, she is a second-year Honors College student studying Public Administration at The Schar School of Government and Policy with a minor in Conflict Resolution and Analysis at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.  She is also the President of “Be the Change,” a student-led organization dedicated to driving positive change at Mason through the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

Hyoin is a Class of 2025 alumna of the Carter School and currently serves as a Sustainable Development and Economic Affairs Intern at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). Motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on international society, she majored in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.

Honor College student Cashlyn Bonds said her time at George Mason University has been defined by her passion for justice, human security, and international understanding.