Distinguished Alumni Award
The Kroc Institute’s Distinguished Alumni Award honors Notre Dame graduates in peace studies whose careers and lives exemplify the ideals of international peacebuilding. Each year the Distinguished Alumnus, who is selected by committee, travels to Notre Dame's campus to deliver a public lecture and meet with current peace studies students.
2024
Jorge Vargas-Cullell (M.A. '94)
Director of Estado de la Nación, a Costa Rica-based center of thought that conducts research on sustainable development.
2023
Myla Leguro (M.A. '10)
Technical Advisor for Social Cohesion and Church Engagement at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in the Philippines; Founder, Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute
2022
Valerie Hickey (M.A. '00)
Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources and the Blue Economy, World Bank
2021
Brittney Nystrom (B.A. '98)
Executive Director, ACLU of Utah
2020
Bina D’Costa, M.A. '97
Professor of international relations and peace and conflict studies specialist at the Australian National University
2019
P. Carl, BA '88, M.A. '90
Distinguished Artist in Residence at Emerson College, co-founder of HowlRound, dramaturg, and nonfiction author
2018
Mai Ni Ni Aung, M.A. '03
Founder, Sone-Tu Cultural Preservation Project and Sone-Tu Backstrap Weavings
2017
Obi Anyadike, M.A.'97
Editor-at-large and Africa editor of IRIN
2016
Karsonya Wise Whitehead, M.A. '93
Associate Professor of Communication and African and African American Studies; Loyola University Maryland
2015
Jian Yi, M.A. '98
Independent filmmaker, cultural activist, founder of IFChina Studio.
2014
Vienna Colucci, M.A. '91, B.A. '90
Director of Policy for Amnesty International USA, overseeing human rights policy development, review, and guidance.
2013
Adriana Quiñones, M.A. '99
Strategic Planning and Coordination Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean at UN Women, the United Nations entity that supports the empowerment.
2012
Molly Kinder, B.A. ’01
Director of Agriculture and Europe Policy for ONE, a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to mitigate extreme poverty.
2011
Rosette Muzigo-Morrison, M.A. ’93
Legal Officer, United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
2010
Irene Perurena, M.A. ’91
Executive Vice President, City of Knowledge, Panama City, Panama, connecting nongovernmental organizations that focus on humanitarian aid, human rights, conflict resolution and development.
2009
Xabier Agirre Aranburu, M.A. ’95
Senior Analyst, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, The Hague
2006
George Wachira, M.A. ’91
Founder, Concerned Citizens for Peace, Nairobi, Kenya
2006
Oana-Cristina Popa, M.A. ’96
Ambassador of Romania to Croatia
2005
Hannah Wu, M.A. ’89
Human Rights Specialist, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva
2004
Emil Bolongaita, M.A. ’88
Technical Director, Management Systems International, Australia
Contact
Kate Chester
Communications Program Director
574-631-8577
cchester@nd.edu
Ari Woodworth
Events Coordinator
(574) 631-3237
awoodwor@nd.edu
Jena O'Brien
Communications and Digital Media Specialist
574-631-3991
jobrie29@nd.edu
Lisa Gallagher
Writer and Content Specialist
574-631-9370
lgallag3@nd.edu