2026-27 MA in International Peacebuilding Students

Students have been selected for our highly competitive MA in International Peacebuilding for 2026-27. The program is a one-year, residential, 36-credit, master’s degree program where students develop interreligious literacy and acquire constructive conflict intervention skills through a combination of service-learning, traditional courses, experiential courses, and project-based learning. Below are the profiles of our incoming class, which will begin studies in late August. 

Giselle Jacobs

Religious identity: Christian

Country of origin: USA 

Giselle is a U.S. Army veteran, Certified Recovery Support Specialist, author, and community advocate from Hartford, Connecticut. Her journey from trauma, addiction, homelessness, and incarceration in her family to healing, homeownership, and service has shaped her passion for peacebuilding and restorative justice. Through her lived experience, Giselle has dedicated her life to mentoring youth, supporting individuals in recovery, and advocating for veterans and underserved communities. She is the author of “SOARING: A Transformational Journey of Triumph Through Trauma,” where she shares how faith, resilience, and recovery can transform lives. Giselle feels honored to join the MAP program at Hartford International University. She looks forward to learning alongside a diverse cohort while contributing her experiences in community healing, conflict transformation, and compassionate leadership.

Desmond Kwadzobra

Religious identity: Christian

Country of origin: Ghana

Growing up near the Alavanyo–Nkonya conflict area, Desmond witnessed firsthand how decades of conflict claimed lives, destroyed property, and disrupted communities. Those experiences inspired his passion for Peacebuilding and strengthened his belief that lasting peace begins with ordinary people working together. Desmond holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and previously worked with MTN Mobile Money, where he developed leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. As Chairman of the Norvinyo Welfare Association, he has led youth football tournaments, door-to-door peace campaigns, and educational excursions that promote unity and dialogue among young people. Desmond is excited to join Hartford International University's Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding (MAP) program and looks forward to gaining practical knowledge and building global partnerships to advance sustainable peace and community development in Ghana and beyond.

Moucharoudine Maiga

Religious identity: Muslim

Country of origin: Ghana

Flight Lieutenant Moucharoudine, who also serves as an Imam, is a disciplined and hardworking commissioned officer of the Ghana Armed Forces. In his religious capacity, he focuses on uplifting the spiritual well-being and deepening the Islamic knowledge of troops under his command, while also welcoming interested learners from both Islamic and non-Islamic communities. In his multicultural, multireligious Ghanaian community, he is dedicated to fostering intra- and interreligious cohesion through mediation and conflict resolution, contributing to peaceful coexistence.

Theresa Botchway

Religious identity: Christian

Country of origin: Ghana

Theresa is a cheerful and optimistic person who finds joy in the little things in life. She enjoys swimming, skating, singing, and asking questions because she loves learning about people and the world around her. Her family is one of the most important parts of her life, and she deeply values the love, support, and encouragement they have given to her. One of Theresa’s greatest dreams is to help make the world a more peaceful and happier place for everyone. She is certain that kindness, understanding, and service to others can make a meaningful difference, and she hopes to contribute to that through both her personal and professional life. She looks forward to learning, growing, and building meaningful friendships during her time at HIU.

Ashley Kollar

Religious identity: Muslim

Country of origin: USA

Ash’s research explores holistic integration as a foundation for individual and collective peace. As a Muslim revert, personal trainer, and trauma-informed yoga instructor, Ash views physical resilience, spiritual grounding, and environmental dynamics as interconnected pillars of conflict resolution. Their work examines how healing intergenerational trauma and addressing ecological and structural environments serve as essential pathways toward breaking inherited cycles of harm. Ash is deeply dedicated to advancing women and children’s rights, safety, protection, and education, developing survivor-centered frameworks that foster agency, bodily autonomy, and community safety. Drawing from her background in Personal Training and peer recovery support, they seek to design peacebuilding methodologies that honor the complete ecosystem of the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and environment. Ultimately, Ash aims to contribute actionable research that empowers, advances social justice, and creates safe, sustainable spaces for transformational healing within diverse populations. 

Nasibe Karik

Religious identity: Muslim

Country of origin: Albania

Originally from Turkey, Nasibe was raised in Albania, which allowed her to grow up between two cultures and appreciate diversity from an early age. She has a background in communication and journalism, and holds a Master’s degree in Public Relations. In Albania, she worked in the International Students Office at Western Balkans University, where she enjoyed supporting students and fostering an inclusive environment. Over the years, she has worked as a freelance writer, completed journalism internships, and served as a visiting journalist at WGBH Radio in Boston. Nasibe has also participated in several youth forums and dialogue programs across Europe, which shaped her passion for intercultural understanding.
Outside of work, Nasibe enjoys reading, photography, traveling, and learning new languages. She is excited to join the MAP community and looks forward to building international friendships and engaging in cultural exchanges.

Nata Sutisna

Religious identity: Muslim

Country of origin: Indonesia

Nata is the Chairman of the Institute of Democracy and Education (IDE) Indonesia, a youth-led organization dedicated to advancing education, leadership, intercultural understanding, and peacebuilding. Through IDE Indonesia, he works with young people, educators, faith communities, and international partners to promote dialogue, strengthen social cohesion, and empower future leaders. Driven by a belief that sustainable peace begins with education and meaningful human connections, Nata has been actively involved in initiatives that foster collaboration across diverse communities and cultures. His work reflects a commitment to building inclusive societies where differences become opportunities for learning rather than sources of division. As a Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding student at Hartford International University, Nata hopes to deepen his understanding of conflict transformation and collaborative leadership while learning from a global community of scholars and practitioners. He aspires to contribute to more peaceful, resilient, and inclusive communities in Indonesia and beyond.

Dana Saad

Religious identity: Druze

Country of origin: Lebanon

Dana studied social sciences and specialized in gender and intersectionality studies. With over five years of hands-on experience working with NGOs, she has worked on the ground across Lebanon and the MENA region. She served as a Vice President of the Lebanese Youth Parliament, where she contributed to the development of 14 proposed laws advancing youth and women's representation. In addition, Dana has facilitated workshops and policy dialogues in over 10 countries. As a Druze woman, she is especially attuned to the experiences of women from religious minority communities, and she remains committed to ensuring their voices are represented in conversations on gender equality and civic participation.