Two students stand out not only for their academic prowess but for their unwavering commitment to fostering peace and justice in a world often fraught with conflict. Analina Barnes and Lina Abdellatif are this year’s recipients of the prestigious 2024 Yarrow Award in Peace Studies.
The award is given annually by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies to one or two undergraduate peace studies majors or minors who demonstrate academic excellence and commitment to service in justice and peace. Selected students show a particular commitment to the undergraduate program and its learning community, and have identified career goals that reflect a future dedication to peace and justice.
“The selection committee was delighted to select these two candidates from an extraordinarily dedicated and exemplary senior class,” said Laura Miller-Graff, associate professor of psychology and peace studies and director of undergraduate studies. “Peace studies is a multifaceted field, and the Yarrow Award gives us the opportunity to recognize how diverse contributions to our mission converge to advance peace and justice on our campus and in the world.”
Their journey into the realm of peace studies is as diverse as the field itself, reflecting the serendipitous twists and turns that often define academic and personal paths. For Barnes, an anthropology major with a supplementary major in peace studies, it all began with a freshman theology requirement, a chance encounter that ignited her passion for peace studies. "It was luck, in a way, that I took a class that brought me to peace studies," she reflects. Enrolling in courses such as "War, Peace, and Revolution," Barnes quickly found herself immersed in a world where anthropology seamlessly intertwined with the pursuit of peace and justice.
Abdellatif, a sociology major with a supplementary major in peace studies, took a different route, starting as a premed student before finding her calling in sociology and, eventually, peace studies. It was a conversation with a friend and fellow peace studies enthusiast, Duncan Donahue (Class of 2022), that led her to enroll in "Introduction to Peace Studies," a decision that she describes as a moment of clarity. "That's when everything clicked for me," Abdellatif recalls. "It's everything all at once, a multifaceted lens toward looking at the world."
Their academic pursuits, however, are just one aspect of their commitment to peace and justice. Both Barnes and Abdellatif have been eagerly engaged in extracurricular activities that embody the principles they study. Barnes has participated in a Kroc Institute promotional photoshoot, proudly showcasing her love for peace studies to the campus community. Abdellatif served as a co-chair of the 2024 Notre Dame Student Peace Conference, an experience she describes as "one giant culmination of what peace studies might actually be able to do."
Their experiences extend beyond the confines of the Notre Dame campus. Barnes, through internships and experiences abroad, has explored how educational spaces like museums can be transformed into platforms for peace and accessibility. Abdellatif, meanwhile, embarked on a transformative study abroad visit to Rwanda, where she delved into the complexities of conflict and genocide dynamics firsthand.
As newly minted graduates, Barnes and Abdellatif are poised to embark on the next chapter of their journeys, carrying with them the invaluable lessons and experiences gleaned from their time at Notre Dame. Barnes looks forward to potentially teaching in South Korea through a Fulbright English teaching award or pursuing graduate studies in museum anthropology, while Abdellatif has been selected as a Boren fellow, with plans to immerse herself in Arabic language studies in Jordan before potentially pursuing a career in government or the law.
“Their stories serve as a testament to the transformative power of education,” said Miller-Graff. “As they step out into the world, Analina and Lina embody the ethos of the Yarrow Award in Peace Studies, serving as beacons of hope and inspiration for future generations of peacebuilders.”