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40 Years of Meeting Humanity's Challenges

Throughout the 2026–2027 academic year, the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies celebrates its 40th anniversary—four decades of pioneering research, world-class peace education, and transformative strategic peacebuilding practice.

Guided by the theme Meeting Humanity's Challenges, this milestone year is not merely a retrospective, but a crucial call to action. Across the academic year, the Kroc Institute will host a series of signature lectures, impact workshops, and scholarly dialogues designed to interrogate the future of peace studies, showcase the expertise of our global alumni network, and address humanity’s most pressing global challenges—from nuclear disarmament and local mediation to environmental peacebuilding and decoloniality.

Key Events & Programming

Fall 2026

• Kroc Institute Ice Cream Social | September 1, 2026

• Celebration of International Day of Peace (IDOP) | September 17, 2026

• The Human and Moral Costs of the New Nuclear Arms Race (Washington, D.C.) | September 24, 2026

• 28th Annual Lecture on Dialogues on Nonviolence, Religion, and Peace featuring Dr. Lisa Sowle Cahill | October 29, 2026

• The 33rd Annual Hesburgh Lecture in Ethics and Public Policy, featuring Harvard's Dr. Erica Chenoweth | November 17, 2026

Spring 2027

• 40th Anniversary Symposium: Rising to Meet the Current Moment | March 18–20, 2027

• Notre Dame Student Peace Conference | April 9-10, 2027

Summer 2027

• Kroc Institute Strategic Peacebuilding Academy (KI-SPA) | May 18 – May 22, 2027

• 40 Years of Peace Research, Education and Action in Africa (Kenya) | June 10-11, 2027