The Notre Dame Student Peace Conference is an annual conference organized by undergraduate peace studies students at the University of Notre Dame.
OUR MISSION
We hold this conference every year to provide a space for undergraduate and graduate students to dialogue about peacebuilding, social justice, and conflict transformation. Our goal is to foster a learning environment in which students can present their ideas, research, and experiences within a network of peers who share their personal and academic interest in building a more just and peaceful world.
OUR HISTORY
The conference has been been a part of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies for over three decades. It began in 1993 as a single-day symposium to celebrate the tenth anniversary of undergraduate peace studies at Notre Dame. Over the following decades, the event has expanded into its present form, and it continues to evolve as new students bring new ideas and energy to the event.
One of the many generous gifts that Joan B. Kroc provided to the Kroc Institute was an endowment specifically intended to fund this conference. As a result of her generosity and the ongoing support of the Kroc Institute, we are able to offer this conference without charging a registration fee. Materials and meals are also provided, so participants are only responsible for their travel and lodging costs and any incidental expenses.
OUR HOME
We acknowledge our presence on land that was, and continues to be, traditional homelands of the Potawatomi peoples, the Miami peoples, and many people from other Indigenous nations who have been in relationship with this land for thousands of years. We also recognize our place in the violent history and practices of colonialism that have resulted in ongoing structural injustice against Indigenous people around the globe.
We understand that our responsibility extends beyond simply posting this acknowledgment. As a step toward reconciliation, we commit to reflecting continuously on the University of Notre Dame’s past, present, and future relationship with the land’s original stewards. We also commit to amplifying Indigenous voices and emphasizing Indigenous sovereignty in our activities and conversations.
As an initiative of the Kroc Institute, the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference is part of the University of Notre Dame’s Donald R. Keough School of Global Affairs. Founded in 2014, the Keough School is a vibrant community committed to advancing integral human development through research, policy, and practice; transformative educational programs; and partnerships for global engagement.