News

Imagine the dreams that become possible when financial barriers are removed for students: a term abroad, an immersive language program, a globally focused internship, or research grounded in another culture. Students might find themselves volunteering in a refugee settlement, researching an issue they care about, immersing themselves in global music, taking a field course in environmental justice, working with a governmental think tank, or collaborating with an NGO overseas. Experiences like these broaden a person’s perspective, change career paths, and contribute to the kind of leadership that Canada will need in the future. 

Thubelihle Mkwalula is in her second year of the MPACS program. She is originally from Eswatini and completed her undergraduate degree in global affairs in the United States. Following her undergrad, she applied directly to the MPACS program because she wanted to diversify her field of study. 

For nearly a decade, Dustin Fulgur worked in security, as he considered a career in policing or the military. Now, as a third-year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) student, he is reexamining the structures at play in society. 

Each year in November, Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) students are invited to apply to attend the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) United Nations (UN) Student Seminar. Six students attended the seminar this year, held in the United Nations Plaza in New York City. The three-day seminar explored themes regarding the UN’s role in peacebuilding and advocacy initiatives. After the students returned home, inspired and invigorated, they expressed their takeaways from the trip.

Adey Gebrehiwot is a final year Arts and Business student majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), whose passion for social and environmental justice is palpable. Although Adey always envisioned attending law school, she realized her career interests involved promoting community well-being and systemic change. A few weeks after enrolling PACS 201: Roots of Conflict, Violence, and Peace, Adey was intrigued and found herself declaring a PACS major and Legal Studies minor.

Chiara McLean, a 4th year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) student at Conrad Grebel University College based at the University of Waterloo, is passionate about global affairs. As Chiara began studying at Waterloo, she knew her educational path involved a Political Science major and Communication Studies minor. In her first year, Chiara heard a friend mention they were enrolled in PACS 101: Peace is Everybody's Business and that it was an interesting course. Curious to know more about PACS, she enrolled in PACS 201: Roots of Conflict, Violence and Peace and PACS 203: A History of Peace Movements in her second year of undergraduate studies. In her third year, she decided the program would complement her academic plans. With an interest in international relations and affairs, Chiara sought opportunities through co-op and volunteering that were challenging yet rewarding. 

Peace is not just a theory for Maria Lucia Zapata Cancelado (DPCS 2001); it is a daily mission. As a Colombian lawyer and peace scholar, Maria is the Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at Javeriana University in Bogotá. Her work at the Jesuit school focuses on restorative justice and post-conflict peacebuilding. Maria earned her PACS diploma from Conrad Grebel University College in 2000, where she developed an interdisciplinary approach that reshaped her perspectives on law and peacebuilding. 

Alice Chu is accustomed to winding roads. Now an attorney and an entrepreneur who franchises bakehouse Hazukido throughout Canada, Alice’s experience studying at the University of Waterloo provided a foundation for the pursuit of her interests.  

Alice, who attained a Bachelor of Arts and Business (ARBUS) in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) in 2018, recalled starting her degree as an Economics major. As her interest in Economics waned, she decided to take several courses from other programs. While in PACS courses, she “felt like the instructors and the professors were invested in their cohort and in their class.” Alice sought community during her time as an undergraduate student, and intimate class sizes were an important aspect of her undergraduate experience. The class sizes, alongside the program being aligned with her skillset, later motivated her to declare a PACS major. 

The journey of figuring out what you want to do after high school isn’t linear, and Abigail Persaud is an example of how seizing new opportunities can lead to the most profound experiences of self-discovery and impact. As she completes her final term of her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, the experiences she has gained through her time at the university have provided a strong foundation for her to be a part of the meaningful change that Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) alumni are making around the world. 

Abigail Persaud, a 4th-year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) student, explored global opportunities through the Beyond Borders program at St. Jerome’s and completed a co-op term working abroad in Uganda. The Beyond Borders program provides students with an international service-learning experience where they can explore new cultures and discover alternative perspectives and ways of life around the world. She worked with Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM) in Mukono, Uganda, a non-for-profit organization that supports international fellowship to provide care to older adults and the grandchildren that depend on them in both Uganda and Ethiopia. As an Intergenerational Support Worker, she provided direct hands-on support in Uganda.  

Her experience working abroad gave her a new perspective on how she approaches work and how peace and conflict studies can fit into that.

The Conrad Grebel University College community is pleased to highlight some notable students who are graduating this week. These students have demonstrated academic excellence throughout their degrees and are recognized for their hard work and achievement in their respective fields.