Fred C. Cuny Center for Peace & Conflict Studies

Fred C. Cuny Center for Peace & Conflict Studies

About Us

Mission Statement

Named after humanitarian and disaster relief specialist Frederick C. Cuny, the Fred C. Cuny Center for Peace and Conflict Studies provides an academic and multidisciplinary platform for studying and teaching the causes, practices, and consequences of war and political violence, as well the methods of conflict management and conflict resolution. The research undertaken by the Center helps academics, governments, practitioners, and civil society to understand the multifaceted nature of conflict, assist in the formulation of policies that effectively manage and resolve conflicts, and advise on international peacekeeping and state-building efforts. It is the Center’s vision to bring understanding, reconciliation, and transformation to communities across the globe through the development of tomorrow’s humanitarian leaders.

Vision

The core of the Center’s aspirations is derived from its namesake, Frederick C. Cuny, a humanitarian and disaster relief specialist who revolutionized aid and relief operations. Having responded to emergencies in more than 50 countries, Cuny garnered a reputation for accomplishing the impossible by saving lives in incredibly complex circumstances, often at risk of his own. He was unrelenting in his quest to help others based on visions of a shared humanity and the larger dream of peace. In his memory, it is the Center’s vision to pursue the same mission to bring understanding, reconciliation, and transformation to communities across the globe by empowering youth through peace education. Students involved in the Center will not only develop a passion for humanitarian work but will also develop the critical thinking necessary for confronting, resolving, and transforming conflict through engaging classes, language/culture exposure, skill-applicable internships, and practical research opportunities. The Center will educate students by drawing extensively from experiences with conflict, peacekeeping, and state-building in the Western Balkans, but it will also draw from related experiences in other conflict areas in the Middle East and Africa. In this sense, the Center’s vision rests on developing tomorrow’s humanitarian leaders and preparing them for a future similar to Cuny’s: riddled with impossible missions waiting to be transformed into opportunities for lasting peace.

Center Staff

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 Professor Colonel (Ret)
 Michael Hess
 Center Director
picture of Professor Xhavit Gashi
 Xhavit Gashi
 Summer Program Director
picture of Hollant Pratt Center Coordinator
 Holland Pratt
 Center Coordinator
Picture of Madison Poe Center Coordinator
 Madison Poe
 Center Coordinator
Picture of Djellza Geci Summer program director
Diellza Geci 
Summer Program Coordinator
photo of Alisa Ramadani Program Specialist
Alisa Ramadani
Program Specialist
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 Peyton D'Anthony
 Program Assistant

Fred C. Cuny Peace and Conflict Center Summer Program

Every summer, the Center hosts a summer program at RIT Kosovo’s campus in Prishtina, Kosovo. The Summer Program is a premier international leadership and peace-building seminar taught by renowned practitioners and academics who have hands-on experience in the United Nations, national governments and militaries, humanitarian organizations, and the private sector. Undergraduate and graduate students are offered courses on war, diplomacy, state-building, peace-keeping, conflict transformation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, post-conflict and transitional justice, international human rights, and development economics. This program will equip students with the necessary skills from a practitioner’s perspective for careers in government, international organizations, think tanks, and academia. The Summer Program’s courses are accredited by the Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo (RIT Kosovo).

Our program offers the following unique features: 

  • Regional Travel: The programs include a joint, one-week study tour to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where students learn about the region and its history by meeting local stakeholders and activists and visiting historical and recreational areas.
  • Live What You Are Learning: Kosovo is a ‘living laboratory' of history and state-building in the heart of the Balkans and an ideal location to explore the origin and resolution of armed conflict and mass atrocities, reconstruction, international peacekeeping, institution-building, justice, and reconciliation efforts at the end of wars.
  • Practitioner-Focused and Mentorship Based: Courses are taught by senior civilian and military officials, NGO activists, and academics with hands-on experience in the Balkans, Middle East, and elsewhere. The staff function not just as instructors but as mentors invested in your professional development as a leader in international affairs. 
  • Professional Exposure: You will meet Kosovo government senior officials, activists, and officials from diplomatic and international missions. 
  • Intellectual Stimulation: Visit historically significant sites in Kosovo, take part in informal late-afternoon seminars on current issues, and participate in workshops/simulations of peacekeeping operations and reconciliation efforts. 

You can learn more about our Fred Cuny Peace and Conflict Summer Program and apply here

Graduate Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies

The Graduate Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies is accredited by the State of New York and Rochester Institute of Technology in Kosovo (RIT Kosovo). Unique in its location in Kosovo for studying both past and ongoing conflict resolution, this program seeks to educate students on how conflict is engaged, resolved, and transformed for the aims of establishing and sustaining peace. We develop students in three main ways: academic rigor, research development, and practical skills application. 

Learn here more about the Graduate Certificate and how to apply.

Research/Publications

The Center undertakes various research projects on peace and conflict related topics and works to preserve existing knowledge in these fields for future research use. This work aims to continue to develop the knowledge around peace-building best practices while aiding both existing and future practitioners in the evidence available to them as they evaluate existing policies and proposed new or improved approaches. We do all work in accordance with the RIT Kosovo’s research integrity policy and all other relevant policies.

Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies

RITK is responsible for the new Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies (JPCSS) and will publish its inaugural issue in June of 2025! The journal aims to publish original research, book reviews, and other works from academia within the broad scholarly discipline of peace, conflict, and security studies. Keep an eye out for the upcoming open call for proposals and consider submitting your work.

Oral History Project

At the Cuny Center, we believe strongly that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayan). Through our new Oral History Project, we are working on preserving the knowledge and history of international practitioners, important figures in Kosovo’s history, and scholars. The project began as a partnership between West Point Center for Oral History, and has continued on RIT’s campus in Kosovo. With an array of themes, from the conflict in Darfur to the demobilization of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the Oral History Project aims to highlight and preserve the invaluable stories and lessons learned of those who experienced these historical moments firsthand.

These videos can be viewed on the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, RIT Kosovo Youtube Page.

Center Annual Updates

Every year the Center puts out a review of the past year’s activities, achievements, and significant changes. You can check out past updates here:

Interns and Fellows

How to Support Us

Your support helps us promote peace, create the next generation of peacemakers, and empower communities. You can contribute in several ways:

  • Donate: Make a financial contribution to sustain our programs and expand our impact through our “Establishing the Fred C Cuny Center at RIT Kosovo” Global Giving Page.
  • Partner with Us: Collaborate on initiatives, sponsor events, or provide resources to help us foster meaningful change.
  • Spread the Word: Follow us on RITK social media and Youtube, share our work, and help us reach more people dedicated to peace.

Honorary Members

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Professor Louis Sell
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Professor Jock Covey
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Professor Christopher Coleman
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In Memoriam - 
Professor Leonard Hawley