WASHINGTON, PA (April 7, 2016)—International Peace Negotiator Mary Montague will return to Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) April 11 to 15 to speak in classes, meet with community leaders, and present a public lecture.
Her lecture, entitled “The Challenge of Peacemaking and Terrorism in the 21st Century,” is April 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 100 of the Dieter-Porter Life Sciences Building on the W&J campus. This lecture is free and open to the public, and a Q&A session will follow.
Montague was invited by faculty and associates of W&J’s Conflict and Resolution Studies program and the Education Department. Her visit is sponsored by the Walter K. Levy Lecture Series.
“Conflict and Resolution Studies and the Education Department and the College have re-invited international mediator and peace award winner Mary Montague because she had such a significant impact on the College, its students, and the larger community during her visit last fall. She is so experienced in this area of work,” said Richard Easton, director of the Conflict and Resolution Studies concentration.
During Montague’s previous visit to W&J in November 2015, she worked with community leaders, both at W&J and in the Washington, Pa. community. She will continue her work during her return visit.
Montague, a renowned mediator from Northern Ireland, is the recipient of the Mediators Beyond Borders 2015 Award and also is the Bremen, Germany, Schwell Foundation Peace Award Winner for 2015. After dedicating many years to promoting peace in communities both at home and abroad, Montague has been able to bring conflicting parties closer together and have them partake in inter-community peace talks. By acting as a mediator in the Northern Ireland conflict, Montague has made a significant contribution to reconciling the communities for decades. Montague also has done mediation work in Kosovo, the Balkans, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, the Middle East, Asia, and Northern Africa.
Montague co-founded the non-profit organization TIDES Training & Consultancy to help promote the building of a sustainable peace. The program gives ex-combatant groups and security leaders an opportunity to recover from the trauma they endured during the Northern Ireland conflict by letting them discuss and share their experiences.
“Montague is indeed a significant force and the events with which she is involved during International Week are very important,” said Easton. “The Conflict and Resolution students and affiliated faculty members are so excited about her return to the campus and community.”
The College’s Walter K. Levy Lecture Series is dedicated to the memory and spirit of Walter K. Levy, 1952 graduate and former trustee of Washington & Jefferson College.
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
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