In 2004, Al and Beth Cafagna established the Thomas H and Margarette M Greer Endowment for Peace and Justice Studies to honor the memory of Thomas Greer, a professor of humanities and a social activist.
Each year, monies generated by the endowment are made available to support student scholarships and projects. These funds are to be used for activities that have a clear connection to peace and justice studies, for example, travel to a conference, research, creation of a work of art, or participation in an internship.
Applications for Thomas Greer Peace and Justice Studies Grants require: (1) a brief description of the project/conference/activity and its relationship to issues of peace and justice, (2) name of a faculty advisor or project sponsor (if there is no faculty advisor, provide a suitable reference letter), (3) a project budget, and (4) sources of supplemental funding (e.g., Department, School, College, or other units on or off campus). If you have questions you may contact the Director, Dr. Elizabeth Drexler, (drexler@msu.edu).
At the completion of each project, each grant recipient will be required to submit a brief, one-page report describing her/his activities to Dr. Elizabeth Drexler, and a letter of appreciation to the Associate Dean of Academic & Student Affairs in the College of Social Sciences. Grant recipients may also be invited to present their projects at informal Peace and Justice Studies gatherings or seminars on campus.
Past Recipients
Ryan Boudreaux – Search for Peace and Understanding: The Arab and Jewish Conflict
Kiana Elkins – Study Away Internship in Washington, DC
Gregory Miedema – Belarus in the Post-Soviet World: Autocracy in the Absence of Democratic Consolidation. Paper presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference at the KROC Institute.
Chelsea White – Contemporary Culture, Politics, and Society in Greece, study abroad program.
Grace Clark – Development and NGOs – Internships in Malawi
Jenaca Cryder – Community Engagement in the Peruvian Andes
Victoria Kulesza – Agents for the Vulnerable: Examining the Roles of Local and International Actors in the Global Migrant and Refugee Crisis. Paper presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference at the KROC Institute.
Karishma Kumar – Contemporary Issues in Developing Societies: Spring Break in Belize
Hannah Levy – Art and Social Influences of South Africa
Miya Devoogd – Exploring Indigenous Rights: The Lakota and Dakota People – Tree of Life Ministry Alternative Spring Break
Sean Fitzpatrick – Building Peace, One Story at a Time in Mali
Andrew Jason – Building Peace, One Story at a Time in Mali
Amanda Kruzel “Kurdish Women in the Turkish State: Intersections between Nationalism, Gender, and Identity Politics.” Paper presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference at the KROC Institute.
Ally Paschal “Contemporary Immigration Policy.” Paper presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference at the KROC Institute.
Anita Chitwood “Beyond the Local and Global Divide: Human Slavery and Sex Trafficking” on organized crime in Pattaya, Thailand and Atlanta, Georgia. Presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference at the KROC Institute.
Emma Davis Research related to religion, politics and refugees with the MSU Study Abroad program at Bogaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kate Lang “Changing Looks, Changing Lives: Volunteering in Fair Trade” research project in Chicago.
Valentin Pulido “The 3 October Incident” on relations between the Libyan and Italian governments and the current state of irregular immigration between the coast of Libya into Lampedusa. Presented at the Notre Dame Student Peace Center at the KROC Institute.
Moussa Traore “Ethics and Development in Mali: Dialogue and Reconciliation” Summer Study Abroad program with Dean Stephen Esquith of RCAH.
Tera Warn “Christian Peace Maker Teams: Colombian Peace Delegation” focused on the impacts of the drug war and social unrest in Colombia.
Charla Burnett GSAH “Effects of The Mobilization of Shame in Human Rights Advocacy” Documentary Film Refugee Development Center, Lansing, MI
Justine Markey IDS and PLS “Assessment of Intensive Vegetable Production in Hamsapur, Nepal” Field Research with CARRS faculty.
Samantha Oliver International Relations; Comparative Cultures and Politics, “Internships in Cape Town Study Abroad Program” for work on paper examining HIV/AIDS as a Human Rights issues.
Mitch Goldsmith Social Relations &Policy; Women’s and Gender Studies “An Ecofeminist Response to the Vivisection of Nonhuman Animals”
Talya Tavor English, “Powershift 2011” Participating in youth conference in Washington, D.C. to represent MSU Beyond Coal.
Rebecca Sobanski Anthropology, History and Political Science, “Resources and Religion Water Use in the Himalayan Region of India”
Emily Rutkowski International Studies, Arabic, “Peace and Justice in Morocco”
Katherine Lixey IDS, “Exploring Humanitarian Law Coordinator” Red Cross Ann Arbor, developed trainings and workshops
Elizabeth Harvin GLAS-African Studies, “Kuona Wao Ulimwengu” (To See Their World)” for travel to Kenya to work with Building Partnerships for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Study Abroad.
Rebecca Farnum Peace and Justice in Israel
Elizabeth White Social Work, “Building Partnerships with Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Kenya-Study Abroad”
Scott Latunski Social Work, Work at Pinnacle Orphanage in Mexico
Jen Litteral Communication, Work at Pinnacle Orphanage in Mexico
Christina Currel Social Work, Haiti Foundation against Poverty
Jasmine Angelini-Knoll Anthropology, Political Science, “Theatre of the Oppressed” Workshops