Paul Mdumi Awarded Celie J. Terry Prize

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Paul Mdumi is the 2023 recipient of the Celie J. Terry Prize. The prize, established by Sanford Cloud Jr., former Chair of Hartford International’s Board of Trustees, is awarded each year to a student who demonstrates a commitment to academic achievement and excellence in interfaith community work. 

Paul, a student in HIU's MA in International Peacebuilding program, strives for peace within diversity. He seeks to achieve it by working with like-minded individuals to encourage dialogue among people, mending relationships, and reforming institutions. These initiatives led him to be the Zanzibar Interfaith Centre Executive Director in Tanzania, his home country. The Centre has contributed to regional and global peace by building a resilient society that can survive violent conflicts and fostering peaceful co-existence among diverse religious, political, and cultural divides.

This was the citation read at graduation:

The winner this year is a pastor and a community servant. In his coursework, this student skillfully balanced sharing contributions from his own peacebuilding work with a deep desire to learn from others. He brings to every endeavor, from leading an extensive interfaith organization to getting to know the custodian at his Field Education site, a profound respect for human dignity. His home context is never far from his mind, and he clearly articulates how each thing he learns at HIU will impact his work back home. This year's recipient of the Terry Prize is Paul Mdumi.

"Paul is the perfect recipient of this prize. He brings broad peacebuilding experience, pastoral care, and a genuine love of diverse perspectives to everything he does," Phoebe Milliken, MA in International Peacebuilding (MAP) Program Director, said. "It has been a pleasure having him in MAP and I look forward to hearing about his work when he returns to Tanzania. His combination of knowledge and wisdom enriches every community of which he is part."