More than a series of classes, SPI is a place to learn in community. Participants live on campus, share meals, attend lectures, and build connections that last long after the program ends.

This year’s sessions will be held May 18-26, May 28-June 5, and June 8-12.

The application deadline for U.S. participants is May 8. Learn more and apply at .

Born and raised in the Mennonite church, Rhodes grew up believing she was called to be a peacemaker. But that early understanding of peace, she admits, made her avoid conflict rather than engage in it.

Then, two students, burly Russian men seated near the back of the classroom, began arguing. 

Within moments, the tension shifted. Chairs scraped. Voices sharpened. The exchange turned physical. And Rhodes realized something that would change the course of her life.

鈥淚 could talk about peace, but I didn鈥檛 actually know how to respond when presented with conflict,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I returned to the United States, I knew I needed to learn how to handle conflict.鈥�

She scuttled her previous plans to pursue a graduate degree in English and instead studied conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University, earning both a master鈥檚 degree and a PhD. While at graduate school, she was hired by Professor Emeritus Dr. Vernon Jantzi ’64 to help coordinate the newly launched Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at 黑料正能量.听

For 34 years, Rhodes has taught at 黑料正能量, primarily in its world-renowned Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). Today, she serves as academic director of CJP and professor of peacebuilding and conflict studies. She also teaches courses in conflict transformation and peacebuilding for the undergraduate program and the master of nursing program.听

Rhodes has led semester and summer intercultural programs in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, South Korea, and the Navajo Nation. She has served as department chair of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Applied Social Science Department, administrative director of SPI, and as a program assistant for the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution.

With SPI turning 30 this year, we sat down with the long-tenured professor to talk about the values-based education offered at CJP and how students are bringing more peace and justice to the world.

The following responses are from an interview that Rhodes conducted with photographer and videographer Macson McGuigan 鈥�17. A video from their interview will publish later this spring. These responses were edited for conciseness.

What鈥檚 unique about CJP?

Many other programs teach basic communication or mediation skills, but what we add at 黑料正能量 goes deeper. Our focus is on who you are and what you bring. Beyond the technical skills of conflict transformation, students engage in deep reflection and introspection around questions of:

• Who am I?
• What are my values and identities?
• What do I uniquely contribute to this work?
• And where do I fit in creating a more just and peaceful world?

We challenge students to connect their personal growth with leadership. They consider how to bring these skills and values into the places where they already work and lead. That combination of skill and self-assessment is the value we offer.

What can CJP grads do with their degrees?

There are generally three directions our students take. 黑料正能量 a third go into direct practice, often working with nonprofit or non-governmental organizations anywhere in the world. These roles can include mediation centers, community outreach, or other supporting positions where they apply skills like facilitating discussions and bringing together diverse groups to meet community needs.

Another third pursue further education. Many go on to doctoral programs to study conflict more deeply, contribute to policy, or prepare to teach in this relatively new field. 

The final third continue in their current careers in positions ranging from ministry, health care, business, and government. They鈥檙e drawn to CJP because they want to improve how people work together, make decisions, and solve complex problems.

Why should people study at CJP?

We are truly about creating a learning community together. This isn鈥檛 a place where you come to be filled up with knowledge. You come because you want to explore your part in making the world more peaceful, and together, we figure out how to bring more peace and justice to the world.听

We can鈥檛 do it alone, and no single set of skills fits every situation. That鈥檚 why our approach is based on mutuality and learning, where everyone鈥檚 experiences and knowledge matter. Students contribute what they know, and at the same time, gain practical skills they can use in their own contexts.

Our focus is on practice, not just theory or research. We care about what people can do to make the world more peaceful and just. CJP is a place to learn, share, and build that future together.

What kinds of hands-on experience is offered at CJP?

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to include hands-on practice in the community. For example, in the facilitation course, our graduate students are contracted by local groups and organizations to help facilitate meetings or support decision-making processes. While students are learning and practicing new skills, the organizations also benefit from their work.

At the end of the master鈥檚 program, students can choose a traditional thesis, but most complete a practicum. These opportunities are diverse, ranging from restorative justice and trauma healing to mediation, facilitation, and training. Alumni often connect current students with new practice opportunities, ensuring a rich network of real-world engagement.

What is the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI)?

Part of how we support our students is by offering courses in the summer, not as traditional summer school, but as a training institute. These courses and trainings, held in May and June, allow anyone to explore topics related to conflict, restorative justice, and other areas of practice. Courses generally last five to seven days, and multiple courses run simultaneously over the two-month period. 

SPI is intentionally designed as a learning community. Students live in dorms, attend classes and lectures, and learn from one another, all while experiencing what it means to live together in a diverse community. It鈥檚 both a retreat and a training space. As one alum described, SPI is like a well where people can take a drink of water. It鈥檚 not going to feed them forever, but it鈥檚 nourishment they can take back into their work and communities.

The Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) teaches 16 to 20 short-term, intensive courses each May and June. Courses are taught on a variety of topics, including but not limited to trauma awareness, restorative justice, organizational health, evaluation, and the connection between peacebuilding, media, and the arts. These course can be taken for training and skills enhancement or academic credit. Visit our website () for more information.

Jodie Geddes, a graduate student at 黑料正能量 who is attending the [SPI], helped organize the event with help from the and . She said Americans shouldn鈥檛听turn a blind eye to events.

鈥淚f something happens in my hometown in New York, I carry it with me,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen something happens in Burundi or any other country, we can feel that.鈥�

Stan Maclin, leader of the of Virginia Organizing, called the number of high-profile confrontations between black men and police 鈥渁larming.鈥�

鈥淚t will continue to get out of hand like it did in the 鈥�60s,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 lot of people say, 鈥楧on鈥檛 talk about the past鈥欌�� we need to talk about it.鈥�

Maclin said the only way to bring about change is for everyone to stand together听regardless of skin color.

鈥淭hat won鈥檛 happen if we don鈥檛 come together like we are today,鈥� he said.

Oscar Apesough, a Harrisonburg resident from Nigeria [who also attended SPI], said he attended the听vigil听because he wants to find 鈥渨ays we can support the idea of working through this.鈥�

Apesough said civic organizations should work together with law enforcement to restore community relations and maintain peace.

鈥淚t should be peaceful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 be violent.鈥�

Courtesy of the Daily听News-Record听