KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 7, 2018

Forum marks official opening of School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development

A panel discussion marking the official opening of Kennesaw State University’s School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development (SCMPD) will feature Gary White, CEO and co-founder with Matt Damon of Water.org, which has helped more than 10 million people worldwide gain access to clean, safe water.   

What:

The forum is part of the opening ceremony for the SCMPD, a unit of Kennesaw State’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. In addition to White, the forum, titled “Educating Future Leaders: Developing Peace and Inspiring Change,” brings together thought leaders in the areas of conflict management, peacebuilding and development, the school’s three pillars. The public is invited to attend.

Who:

On the panel:

• Gary White was named one of TIME Inc.’s most influential people in the world in 2011. For more than 25 years, he has worked to break the cycle of poverty. He co-founded Water.org in 2009 and is considered a pioneer in providing market-driven financial solutions to the global water crisis. His company was recently featured in a 2018 Super Bowl ad for the Belgium brewer Stella Artois’ #BuyALadyADrink campaign to provide clean drinking water to developing countries.
• Carla Koppell, vice president for the Center for Applied Conflict Transformation at the United States Institute of Peace, was previously the chief strategy officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
• Gen. Russel Honoré (Ret.), former commanding general of the U.S. First Army at Fort Gillem, Ga., is widely known for his service as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina-affected areas across the Gulf Coast.
• Kevin Avruch, dean of the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) and professor of anthropology at George Mason University, is author of “Context and Pretext in Conflict Resolution: Culture, Identity, Power and Practice.”

Follow an ongoing discussion about the panelists at #KSUInspiresPeace.

When:

Thursday, March 15, 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is free but reserve tickets here.

Where:

Social Sciences Bldg., Room 1021, on the Kennesaw Campus. Free parking available at the top of the West Deck, 3510 Campus Loop Rd NW

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.