2023 Peace Scholars in front of the Oslo Harbor.
Back Row: Richard Landis, Rachell Wittkopp, Tallulah Campbell, Emma Gross, Kailey Thomas, Olivia Petersen, Ben Gusdal.
Front Row: Elijah Paez, Theresa Akinjo, Heidi Danielson, Gabrielle Janssen, Anna Kronbeck, Elise Trail-Johnson.
Six colleges founded by Norwegian-American immigrants in the 19th century came together to sponsor an annual summer Peace Scholars program in Norway, designed to deepen students’ understanding of dialogue and conflict by learning about Norway’s approach to these topics both domestically and abroad.
Students are currently elected through an application and interview process as Peace Scholars—from Augsburg University, Concordia College (Moorhead), Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University, and St. Olaf College—to be awarded a seven-week academic experience including a dialogue-focused pre-week. The Peace Scholars program is an outgrowth of the Noble Peace Prize Forum. The forum was founded in 1988 by the five-college consortium of Augsburg, Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia (Moorhead), Luther, and St. Olaf.
The 2024 Peace Scholars conference will include presentations from the 2023 Peace Scholars and a keynote speech: The Rule of Law—The Path to Peace by the Honorable John R. Tunheim, U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota. The conference is free and largely open to the public—with a few private engagements—and we welcome you to join us, learn with us, and meet others with a passion and dedication for peace!
Generous support of the Peace Scholars program is provided by the Smaby Family Foundation and Ms. Liv Dahl.
2024 PEACE SCHOLARS CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
12:00PM
Peace Scholars Luncheon [PRIVATE]
An opportunity for the 2023 and 2024 Peace Scholar cohorts to meet each other, with program overviews by chief administrator Michelle Fredrickson and professor Erik Cleven.
1:00PM
Individual Preparation [PRIVATE]
Loosely structured time allowing the 2023 Peace Scholars to make final preparations for their presentation, and for the 2024 scholars to meet with Erik Cleven individually to discuss their upcoming research projects.
3:00PM
2023 Peace Scholars Presentations
A series of presentations given by the 2023 Peace Scholars, with subjects including the Peace Scholars mission, reflections on their experiences in Norway, and their updated research projects.
5:00PM
Alumni Dinner [PRIVATE]
A private dinner for the Peace Scholars, program alumni, and friends of the program.
6:00PM
Public Hors D’oeuvres | Meet & Greet
A free time for the public and Peace Scholars to interact, with food and refreshments provided.
7:00PM
Introduction of the 2024 Peace Scholars | Keynote Speech by the Hon. John R. Tunheim
A brief ceremony officially unveiling the upcoming 2024 cohort of the Peace Scholars and Smaby Fellows, preceding our keynote speech, where Judge Tunheim will touch on the origins of the Peace Scholars missions and some of the program’s major themes (with introduction by the 2023 Peace Scholar Ben Gusdal).
The Honorable John R. Tunheim
Appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Honorable John R. Tunheim has served for over 28 years as United States District Judge in the District of Minnesota, being Chief Judge from 2015 - 2022. He is a leader in the federal judiciary, serving now as a member of the U.S. Judicial Conference and formerly as Chair of the Court Administration and Case Management Committee, along with various other committees and task forces.
Judge Tunheim has devoted much of his judicial career to helping develop the rule of law in new democracies and other parts of the world. Since the early 2000s, he has worked on rule of law development projects in over 40 countries—including democracy building in Russia, jury trials in Georgia, criminal and procedural reform in the Ukraine, election reform in Bangladesh and Nepal, codes of ethics and constitutional reform in Uzbekistan, and counter-terrorism work in South Asia. Having also played a central role in the drafting of Kosovo’s Constitution—continuing to work closely with Kosovo’s governmental institutions for nearly 25 years—along with his service on the Nobel Peace Prize Forum Executive Committee, the Peace Scholars program and Norway House are honored to have Judge Tunheim share his time and invaluable insights in the cause for peace.
2023 PEACE SCHOLARS PRESENTATIONS
3:00PM
Dialogue Exercise: Four Corners
Gabrielle Janssen (Luther) & Elise Trail-Johnson (Luther)
3:20PM
Mindful Intersectionality: How UiO Courses Shape Our Research
Theresa Akinjo (Augsburg) & Heidi Danielson (Augsburg)
3:40PM
The Sámi and Sovereignty: An Exploration of How the Sámi People Have and Continue to Fight for Self-Determination
Tallulah Campbell (Luther), Emma Gross (St. Olaf), & Olivia Petersen (Pacific Lutheran)
4:05PM
I and Cow: Multispecies Justice in Peace Studies
Elijah Paez (Pacific Lutheran)
4:25PM
A Comprehensive Comparison: Accessing Healthcare in Norway vs. United States
Kailey Thomas (Concordia)
4:45PM
Compromised Cooperation: Understanding the Obstacles to Norway’s Transition Away From Oil
Bejamin Gusdal (St. Olaf)
Poster Display
The Legacies of Norwegianization: Refugee Settlement & Integration Policy in Contemporary Norway
Anna Kronbeck (Concordia)
