Senior Award in Peace Studies
The Senior Award in Peace Studies is awarded annually by the Kroc Institute to a peace studies undergraduate from the graduating cohort who demonstrates academic excellence and a commitment to peace and justice.
The selected students have records of outstanding scholarship on topics related to peace studies, have engaged in extensive public service to the campus and the local community, have shown 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.
Recipients are selected by a committee of peace studies faculty during the student’s senior year of study, and the committee can opt to split the award between two equally qualified students. Senior Award recipients receive a monetary award, public acclamation by the Kroc Institute, and formal recognition during Commencement Weekend events.
Past Recipients
2026
Madeleine Colbert (global affairs/theology/peace studies)
2025
Aria Bossone (American studies/peace studies)
Eva Garces-Foley (anthropology/peace studies)
2024
Lina Abdellatif (sociology/peace studies)
Analina Barnes (anthropology/peace studies)
2023
Thanh Nguyen (political science/peace studies)
Farah Khashman (computer science/peace studies)
2022
Duncan Donahue (sociology/peace studies)
Madeline Ward (political science/peace studies)
2021
Elsa Barron (biological sciences/peace studies)
2020
Elizabeth Boyle (political science/peace studies)
2019
Monica Montgomery (political science/peace studies)
Madeleine Thompson (theology/peace studies)
2018
Brittany Ebeling (international economics/peace studies)
2017
Alexis Doyle (biological sciences/peace studies)
Leah Landry (political science/Spanish/peace studies)
2016
Connor Hayes (political science/peace studies)
Teresa Kennedy (anthropology/peace studies)
2015
Brenna Gautam (history/peace studies)
2014
Alex Coccia (Africana studies/peace studies)
Ilse Zenteno (political science/peace studies)
2013
Olivia Lee (American studies/peace studies)
2012
Patrick McCormick (political science/peace studies)
Melissa Wrapp (anthropology/peace studies)
2011
Shannon Coyne (political science/Arabic/peace studies)
Shanna Gast (economics/peace studies)
2010
Jennifer Knapp (anthropology/peace studies)
2009
Elizabeth Brennan Bollman (biological sciences/peace studies)
Maureen Howard (political science/peace studies)
2008
Michael McKenna (anthropology/peace studies)
Mariah Quinn (romance languages and literature/peace studies)
2007
Megan Towle (anthropology/peace studies)
Stephanie Gharakhanian (pre-professional studies/peace studies)
2006
Jessica Collado (mathematics/peace studies)
Peter Quaranto (political science/peace studies)
2005
Teresa Hansen (economics/peace studies)
Victoria Fiore (political science/peace studies)
2004
Brigitte Gynther (anthropology/peace studies)
2003
Tona Boyd (political science/Spanish/peace studies)
2002
Lauren Simmons (government and international studies/peace studies)
2001
Erin Lovell (government and international studies/peace studies)
Tim Doenges (Program of Liberal Studies/peace studies)
2000
T. Nicholas Tyszka (theology/peace studies)
Kelly Smith (English/peace studies)
1999
Mark Massoud (sociology/economics/peace studies)
Sarah Shirey (German/peace studies)
1998
Robert Dorton (history/peace studies)
1997
Katheryn Meyer (government and international studies/peace studies)
1996
Judith Williams (Italian/anthropology/peace studies)
Contact
To learn more about the program or declare a major or minor in peace studies, email:
Anna K. Van Overberghe
Assistant Director for Academic Administration and Undergraduate Studies
avanove1@nd.edu
To meet with the faculty director of undergraduate studies, contact:
Ernesto Verdeja
Associate Professor of Peace Studies and Global Politics
Director of Undergraduate Studies
everdeja@nd.edu