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Studying peace in Chiapas

peace_scholarsThe state of Chiapas is known for its tropical climate, lush rainforests, and in part for the civil war and internal conflict that plagued the area in the mid 1990s. It is also a “perfect microcosmic example of a peacekeeping situation,” according to Elise Marubbio, a professor of American Indian studies, women’s studies, film, and English at Augsburg.

Last summer Marubbio led a group of students in Chiapas as part of the Nobel Peace Prize program. The Peace Scholars, students representing five Midwestern Lutheran colleges, spent nine days in Chiapas studying the history of conflict and peace in the state. Augsburg’s Scholars are Katia Iverson, a sophomore cross-cultural studies major, and Jessica Spanswick, a senior majoring in international relations and peace and global studies. Continue reading “Studying peace in Chiapas”

Meet the 2009 Peace Scholars

peace_scholarsAugsburg is proud to announce that Jessica Spanswick and Katia Iverson have been chosen as the 2009 Peace Scholars representing Augsburg College.

Spanswick [pictured left], a sophomore from Perham, Minn., is majoring in international relations with a minor in peace and global studies. Spanswick enjoys playing the alto saxophone in the Augsburg Concert Band and the Gospel Praise Jazz Ensemble, but her favorite activity is tutoring East African adults and children in the Cedar Riverside community. She is also actively involved in the Seward Montessori School, helping with a 4th and 5th grade class. The most meaningful college experience for Spanswick was studying abroad in Namibia and South Africa in the fall semester of 2008. Studying “Nation Building, Globalization, and Decolonizing the Mind” in Namibia inspired a passion in her for cross-cultural communication. She is planning to work abroad after graduating in Spring 2010, and hopes to return to Africa. Her goal is to one day work for the United Nations in a peacekeeping mission. Continue reading “Meet the 2009 Peace Scholars”

Peace Scholars are announced at the forum

scholars2Last Friday, at the Peace Prize Forum (PPF) held at Concordia College (Moorhead), Augsburg juniors Willie Pinckney and Hannah Glusenkamp were introduced with the first class of Nobel Peace Prize Forum Peace Scholars.

This new PPF program selects two students from each of the five sponsoring colleges — Augsburg, Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia, Luther, and St. Olaf — who will travel together on a summer seminar, meet as a cohort during the following academic year, lead peace activities on their campuses and present at the next spring’s Peace Prize Forum. The goal of the Peace Scholars program is to develop student leaders inspired to careers or lifelong interests in world peace issues. Continue reading “Peace Scholars are announced at the forum”