Conferences and Symposia

In the spirit of sharing and learning, our conferences bring together large groups of students, academics, and practitioners to explore approaches to applied peacemaking, present on innovative research, and engage in analysis of social movements.

The Trauma of Torture

November 2019

Led by Dr. Jessica Wolfendale, professor of philosophy, this interdisciplinary conference addressed the prevalence and trauma of torture by bringing together researchers, activists, and survivors to discuss the impact of torture on survivors, society, law, and culture.

Socially Responsible Investing Symposium

September 2019

Co-hosted with the College of Business Administration, this symposium engaged students, faculty, and community members—particularly from Milwaukee's investing community. The program included discussion of a variety of strategies and challenges on the minds of socially responsible investing practitioners and advocates.

The Center for Peacemaking sponsored the keynote address delivered by Rev. Séamus Finn, OMI, chair of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility board of directors.

Nonviolent Peacemaking: Responding to the Call of Christ

April 2017

This campus-wide interdisciplinary symposium served as a continuation of ongoing international dialogue started at the Vatican in 2016 when the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International hosted a conference titled "Nonviolence and Just Peace: Contributing to the Catholic Understanding of and Commitment to Nonviolence."

Students, faculty, and the wider community gathered to hear from participants in the Vatican conference and examine the Catholic Church's approach to peacemaking and nonviolence.

What Was Achieved? Migration, Impunity, and Social Justice after the Peace Accords in El Salvador and Guatemala

October 2016

Led by Dr. Laura Matthew, associate professor of history, this symposium featured keynotes and roundtables in commemoration of the twentieth and twenty-fifth anniversaries of the signing of the Guatemalan (1996) and El Salvadoran (1992) Peace Accords.

The Center for Peacemaking sponsored freelance journalist Gene Palumbo's activities at Marquette and participation in the symposium.

Peacemaking and Nonviolence in World Religions

October 2013

Led by Dr. Irfan Omar, associate professor of theology, this symposium examined traditions of peacemaking, nonviolence, forgiveness, and justice in seven major religions. A scholar-practitioner from each religion delivered a presentation and contributed to interfaith dialogue throughout the event.

Information share about each religion included foundational teachings and scriptures, seminal figures in the development of traditions, historical and contemporary communities of faith-based peacemakers, and personal experiences of the scholar-practitioners. This information was compiled into the seminal textbook Peacemaking and the Challenge of Violence in World Religions.

Negotiating in a Polarized Society

26th annual conference of the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies

March 2012

This student-faculty conference examined ways to bridge divides between haves and have nots; left and right; religious and secular; restorative and retributive justice; state and non-state terrorism; absolute nonviolence vs. just war; wealth and poverty; analysis of seemingly intractable conflicts; self and structural transformation' peace and war; gender, ethnic, racial, and religious conflict; and international legal and political institutions.

Exploring the Power of Nonviolence

8th annual conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association

October 2009

This conference consisted of 100 concurrent sessions on topics of nonviolence, with more than 350 attendees from around the world.

Sr. Helen Prejean, C.S.J. delivered the conference's keynote presentation about her journey from the seminary to being a spiritual advisor for death row inmates to becoming one of the leading advocates to abolish the death penalty. Marquette University awarded Prejean an honorary degree in Theological Studies at the conference.