The following people have generously contributed to this blog:
Bahá’í Chair for World Peace Staff
Professor Hoda Mahmoudi holds the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland. Dr. Mahmoudi develops a sound scientific basis for knowledge and strategies that explore the role of social actors and structures in removing obstacles to peace and creating paths to a better world.
For more information about Hoda: Bahá’í Chair for World Peace website.
Kate Seaman is the Assistant Director to the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace where she supports the research activities of the Chair. Kate is interested in understanding normative changes at the global level and how these changes impact on the creation of peace.
For more information about Kate: Twitter.
Tiffani Betts Razavi (DPhil. Oxon) is a Visiting Research Professor at the University of Maryland Bahá’í Chair for World Peace and a senior staff writer for The International Educator. Her research and writing explore people and their environments, the changing nature of work and education, and the conversations that connect observation and insight with practice.
Nicole des Bouvrie is a continental philosopher and a visiting scholar during autumn 2016 at the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. She works as a freelance philosopher all around the world, applying structures of thought to practical problems. She is interested in radical change and feminine thinking.
For more information about Nicole: personal website, Twitter.
Meredith Friedland is a junior at the University of Maryland majoring in Marketing and minoring in Technology Entrepreneurship. Meredith is the Social Media and Marketing Intern at the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. After college, she hopes to travel the world and learn more about different countries and cultures. Meredith wants to combine her interest in business with her passion for helping others.
Sharath Patil is a fellow on economics and trade at the University of Maryland’s Bahá’í Chair for World Peace program. He recently graduated with a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and has a bachelor of science in supply chain management from Arizona State University. He has significant academic and professional experience in international trade, global logistics, and commercial diplomacy.
UMD Contributors
Margo Shear is the Coordinator for Undergraduate Communications & Recruitment for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS), and the advisor for the BSOS Dean’s Student Advisory Council and the BSOS Ambassador program. Margo is an alumna of University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and previously worked as a producer at WUSA9 television. Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Margo currently resides in Washington, DC.
UMD Student Contributors
Amber Allen is currently a sophomore psychology major/public leadership minor in the BA/MPP program at the University of Maryland. She is particularly interested in women’s rights and equity in education, and could see herself going into counseling psychology, education, or social justice public policy.
Heather DeMocker is an undergraduate studying Criminology and Criminal Justice, with a Law & Society minor. She also studied Sociology of Law at Universitetet i Oslo, in Norway. Besides writing for the Baha’i Chair Blog, Heather tutors inmates with the Petey Greene Program and edits creative shorts for the UMD Athletics Department. She hopes to attend law school and become a defense attorney with the Innocence Project.
Samantha Ernst is an undergraduate student studying Public Health Science at the University of Maryland with a minor in Sustainability. She is interested in understanding more about how different environmental factors affect health and plans to attend medical school upon graduation.
Emily Gorey is a freshman studying marketing and studio art at the University of Maryland. She is pleased to take a break from writing satirical articles for the Rival UMD in order to shine light on a topic of such importance. Emily hopes to pursue a career creating advertisements for nonprofit organizations.
Esther Kaufman is an undergraduate student studying Economics at the University of Maryland with a minor in Global Terrorism Studies. She is interested in the effects of economic policy on issues such as equality, welfare and the radicalization of individuals in society.
Alawi Masud is an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying Government & Politics with a focus in International Relations. He also is currently working as a student intern for our very own Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. Through cooperation, mutual aid, and academic understanding, he perspires to make the world united towards a better future.
Kanta Mendon is currently a junior, undergraduate student pursuing a double degree in Government & Politics and Criminology. Kanta is interested in international development, specifically human trafficking and would like to work in the non-profit sector.
Kathryn Obisesan is a senior Government and Politics – International Relations and Economics double major. She also has studied International Relations and Multilateral Diplomacy in Geneva, Switzerland. Through bringing awareness and implementing thoughtful global philosophy and theory, she hopes the world can progress towards an order rooted in peace and understanding.
Chika Okusogu is an undergraduate student studying nursing at the University of Maryland, with aspirations to become a nurse practitioner. Chika values all walks of life and seeks to combine his future career goals with his credo of sympathy.
Corinne Paul is a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. She recently completed her B.A. at UMD, where she majored in Government and Politics and did minors in both United States Latina/o Studies and International Development and Conflict Management. She is interested in Haiti, immigration, and international women’s empowerment.
Grace Powers is a sophomore studying Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is especially interested in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. After college, she hopes to pursue a Master’s of Engineering and work in industry for a biomedical device company.
Erin Rao is a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is planning on double majoring in Finance and Information Systems in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. After graduation, Erin is interested in working in the field of consulting.
Edwin A. Rodriguez is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a Criminology and Criminal Justice major and a U.S. Latina/o Studies minor. His fields of interest include policing, Central American immigration, race and ethnicity, and social inequality. He intends to pursue a PhD in Ethnic Studies.
Molly Rogers is a sophomore Neurobiology and Physiology major at UMD. Growing up in Memphis, TN and being minutes away from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Molly has always been interested in children’s medicine and research. Her goal after graduation from UMD is to pursue medical school and make her dreams of working with children come true.
Grace Russell is a freshman studying Civil Engineering with a minor in Sustainability at the University of Maryland. She is interested in global environmental health and women’s empowerment studies.
Bronwen Schriml is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a double major in Geography and Government and Politics with a concentration in International Relations. She is interested in pursuing a career in international relations focusing on women’s issues, the economy, and immigration.
Jack Schurman is a Sophomore from Columbia, MD studying computer science and philosophy. On campus, you can find him with the Philosophy Club or out skateboarding. He is not sure what he wants to do after school, but he is leaning towards doing something with research.
Ashli Taylor is a senior Government & Politics major at the University of Maryland. She has been interning with the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace for almost three years now. After graduating, Ms. Taylor will be attending Law School later this year.
Julia Thomas is an undergraduate at the University of Maryland. She is studying Psychology with a minor in Law and Society. She is interested in forensic psychology, psychopathology and neurobiology and hopes to continue her education, but doesn’t really know where just yet.
Dinali Weeraman is an undergraduate at the University of Maryland, College Park. She studies Government and Politics with a minor in Public Policy. She is interested in international and domestic relations, communication, and law. She hopes to one day go to law school and make a difference somewhere.
Angela Yang is an Information Systems and Operations Management/Business Analytics double major in the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She is involved in MZZ ventures, a non-profit consulting organization that helps agricultural start-ups in Ghana. In the future, she hopes to enter the consulting field then transition into international development work.
Vicky Yu is a curious undergraduate student currently pursuing two degrees in economics and statistics at the University of Maryland. She tries to integrate knowledge from a wide variety of different fields to craft her understanding. Her goal is to encourage people to think critically.