As the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize draws international attention to efforts to advance peace, St. Mary’s College of Maryland is building on its participation in the inaugural Partners in Peace Oslo Peace Congress, bringing ideas and international connections from Norway into student experiences, faculty discussions and campus programming.
President Rhonda Phillips and three faculty members attended the May 27-30 congress at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, joining higher education leaders and international partners to explore how colleges and universities can advance peace education, civic engagement and democratic leadership.
“The Oslo Peace Congress brought together educators and thought leaders from around the world who share a commitment to preparing students to navigate complex challenges through dialogue, collaboration and civic engagement,” said Phillips. “Participating in these conversations allows St. Mary’s to learn from global partners while contributing our own perspectives as we continue preparing students to lead with curiosity, courage and purpose.”
Among the opportunities emerging through the Partners in Peace initiative is the selection of Isabella Batarseh ’27 as SMCM’s first Partners in Peace student ambassador. Batarseh is participating in an online peacework studies course with her Partners in Peace cohort this fall and is scheduled to travel to Oslo in December for activities connected to the awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
The College is also bringing conversations about peace education into its academic and campus life. On September 21, the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning hosted a discussion on incorporating peace studies into the curriculum. On November 10, Norwegian philosopher and former Norwegian Nobel Committee member Henrik Syse will deliver the Goodpaster Lecture, the inaugural event in the College’s new President’s Colloquium Series, offering another opportunity for the campus community to engage with international perspectives on peace.
Joining Phillips at the congress were Andrew Cognard-Black, associate professor and chair of the Departments of Sociology and Anthropology; Parisa Rinaldi, assistant professor of environmental studies; and Matthew Fehrs, professor of political science.
Hosted through the National Collegiate Honors Council’s Partners in Peace initiative, the congress brought together educators, researchers and leaders from the Nobel Peace Center, the Norwegian Nobel Institute, and colleges and universities across the United States and Europe. Participants took part in discussions, workshops and site visits focused on peace education, dialogue, civic engagement and approaches to preparing students to navigate conflict and become engaged global citizens.
For the faculty members who participated, the congress provided an opportunity to explore how those ideas might take shape at the College.
“It was a unique opportunity to participate in an international meeting of scholars interested in studying and teaching about peace,” Fehrs said. “The opportunity to speak with other participants who are overseeing peace programs at their institutions answered many practical questions and highlighted the many opportunities that exist for St. Mary’s College in this space.”
Rinaldi said the experience reinforced the role higher education can play in creating opportunities for dialogue and engagement.
“Partners in Peace reaffirmed for me that education is the most powerful tool we have for building a culture of peace,” Rinaldi said. “What stood out most was how many of these programs centered on public discourse, youth empowerment and dialogue. I came back energized and recommitted to the work we're doing at St. Mary’s and to what's possible ahead.”
The College’s engagement with international partners also extends beyond Oslo. SMCM recently announced a partnership with Ulster University, adding another dimension to its international relationships and opportunities for students.
Together, these developments reflect St. Mary’s College’s continued efforts to connect the liberal arts with global learning, civic engagement and opportunities for students to participate in conversations and experiences beyond the classroom.
