(Regis. Deadline Feb. 3) OPCSN Conference: "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding" 2026 Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network Conference!
/Join us for the annual Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network (OPCSN) Conference which will take place Feb. 13th, 9:30 - 4:30 PM at John Carroll University. (Deadline to register, Feb. 3) Register Here. Cost: Ohio College Students ($10); Ohio Faculty/Staff/Admin ($25); Others ($35)
Hosted by: John Carroll University’s Tuohy Center for Interreligious Understanding; Peace, Justice & Human Rights Program; Center for Service Learning & Social Action, and their office of Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center, & Community Campus Coalition.
Partners: The Ohio State University, Divided Communities Project & University of Akron’s Center for Conflict Management
Download the detailed agenda here.
9:30 - 10:30 AM Welcome Networking & Program/Research Posters - Join us to connect with colleagues and learn about other programs. Learn about research and projects that faculty, staff, administrators and students are working on in the field.
10:30 - 11:40AM Welcome & Opening Panel: Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding. Panelists: Carl Smallwood, Executive Director, Divided Community Project (DCP), Moritz College of Law; Ashley Nickels, Growing Democracy Project & Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies; John Crowley-Buck, Director, Arrupe Social Justice Scholars Program, John Carroll University Moderator: Jen Batton, Conflict Management Training Instructor, Center for Conflict Management, University of Akron
11:45 - 1:15PM Lunch & OPCSN Members Networking Luncheon
1:15 - 2:45PM Workshops (Select 1 of 4)
Workshop 1 (PANEL format): Examples of Experiential Learning & Service Learning: Integrating Community Peacebuilding into the Curriculum
A. The role of student leadership in service-learning and civic engagement
Panelist: Heather Craigie, Associate Director, Center for Service Learning and Social Action, John Carroll University
B. Strategies for Effective Community-Engaged Teaching Examining Conflict in the Community
Panelist: Andrea Meluch, Associate Professor, School of Communication, The University of Akron
C. Connecting Town and Gown through Experiential Learning
Panelist: Stacey Nofziger, Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Sociology, University of Akron
Workshop 2 (PANEL format): Creating the Conditions for Positive Change – Media Literacy Tools & Student Led Examples from Advocacy to Use of New Media Formats (Podcasts, Substack & Video)
A. Constructive Conversations: Finding valid information and how to use it
Panelist: Jen Batton, Conflict Management Training Instructor, Center for Conflict Management, University of Akron
B. Voices of Unity: Student-Led Advocacy for Positive Change, Mount Union’s Friend’s Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Delegation
Panelist: Emily Krizner, Student, University of Mount Union; Emily Denney, Student, University of Mount Union
B. Modeling Civic Dialogue on New Media (Podcasts, Substack & User Created Video) Platforms
Panelist: Mark Harris, Student, Master of Applied Politics & TA, Roy Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron
Workshop 3 (INTERACTIVE Format): Fishbowl Style Dialogue: Teaching Peace Under Senate Bill 1
Facilitators: Johanna Solomon, Assistant Professor, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Kent State University (KSU); Ashley Nickels, Associate Professor, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, KSU
Workshop 4 (INTERACTIVE format) Part 1: Sustained Dialogue at Work (**This is part 1 of 2, this is a 3-hour session)
Facilitators: Calloway Kusold, Coordinator for Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Lysette Roman J.D., John Carroll University Wellness Center Coordinator
3:00 - 4:00 PM Workshops (Select 1 of 4)
Workshop 5 (PANEL format): Peace Pedagogy, Theory & Study Abroad Application
A. Teaching Peace as a Matter of Justice
Panelist: Dale Snauwaert, Professor, University of Toledo
B. Critical Peace Theory
Panelist: Bryan Mullins, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Central State University
C. John Carroll's Ireland Peacebuilding Program: Immersive Encounters in Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and the Lessons Students Bring Home
Panelist: Phil Metres, Director, Peace, Justice and Human Rights Program, Professor, Department of English
Workshop 6 (INTERACTIVE format): Game-Based Dialogue and Bridgebuilding: The Breaking Bread Series Model
Facilitators: Semiha Topal, Program Manager, Tuohy Center for Interreligious Understanding at John Carroll University; JCU Students - Cooper Eberly, Rasmia Alnadi, Faith Berner, Arthus Azais de Vergenon, Lea Kanbar, Olivia Ziccardi
Workshop 7 (INTERACTIVE Format): Growing Democracy: Organizing & Nonviolent Action
Presenters: Ashley Nickels, Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies; Sara Koopman, Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies
Workshop 8 (INTERACTIVE format): Part 2: Sustained Dialogue (SD) at Work (**This is part 2 of 2, this is a 3-hour session)
Facilitators: Calloway Kusold, Coordinator for Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Lysette Roman J.D., John Carroll University Wellness Center Coordinator
