TORONTOթԹ – The International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies is pleased to announce its faculty for 2010. This year, ten leading scholars from the fields of international law, political science, history, sociology and psychology will teach an intensive two-week seminar on the challenging and critical phenomenon of genocide.
This wide variety of specializations ensures students will learn about genocide and the gross violation of human rights through a unique interdisciplinary, as well as, comparative approach.
Returning as faculty this year will be:
Joyce A. Apsel, Master Teacher, New York University;
Doris Bergen, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Chair in Holocaust Studies, Department of History at the University of Toronto;
Maureen S. Hiebert, Assistant Professor, Law and Society Program, University of Calgary;
Herbert Hirsch, Prof. of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University and co-editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal;
William A. Schabas, Director, Irish Human Rights Centre, National University of Ireland;
Roger W. Smith, Prof. Emeritus of Government, College of William and Mary;
Samuel Totten, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Arkansas and co-editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal; and
Major Brent Beardsley, Chief Instructor of the Canadian Forces Peacekeeping Training Center. In 1993 and 1994, Major Beardsley served as the Personal Staff Officer to then Major-General Romeo Dallaire, the Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, and was an eye-witness to the genocide there.
The Institute is also pleased to welcome back previous faculty member Simon Payaslian, who holds the Charles K. and Elisabeth M. Kenosian Chair in Modern Armenian History and Literature at Boston University. In explaining his commitment to teaching the history of the Armenian case, Prof. Payaslian wrote, “As the prototype of modern genocides, studying the Armenian case through a comparative approach becomes a valuable learning tool for students to better understand other occurrences of genocide, their similarities and differences.”
Joining the faculty for the first time will be Pamela Steiner, who holds an MA in Government from Harvard University, an MEd in Counseling and Consulting Psychology, as well as an EdD in Developmental Psychology, both from the Graduate School of Education, Harvard University. Dr. Steiner practices as a psychotherapist and specializes in working with individuals who have a trauma history. For twelve years she was a Clinical Instructor in Psychology at Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Steiner was a co-founder of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Harvard’s Weatherhead Center of International Affairs (1995-2003). She has experience in conflict resolution and reconciliation efforts with different groups, including Israelis and Palestinians, Armenians and Turks, and Germans and Jews. Currently she is a Senior Fellow with the Harvard Humanitarian’s Initiative, where she directs the Inter-Communal Violence and Reconciliation Project. The project’s primary purpose has been to contribute to an improvement in the relationship between Turkish and Armenian communities.
Upon being invited to the program this year, Dr. Steiner wrote, “My primary role in my work is as a facilitator of dialogue. As such, I do not make known my beliefs, convictions, or point of view on issues that are fraught between the communities with whom I facilitate. Rather, I acknowledge realities undisputed between parties and certainly speak of issues of mutual concern, such as the effects of past trauma in today’s relationship, of those effects on historical cycles of violence and revenge, and to approaches and methods for inter-communal healing. I am looking forward to presenting these ideas and my experience at the Zoryan program.”
“It is an honor for me to be working with these instructors, who bring their own special subject expertise and steadfast dedication to education and raising awareness to make this course such a unique and wonderful experience for all,” said Prof. Roger W. Smith, Director of the Genocide and Human Rights University Program. “One of the elements that makes this program different is not only the level of interaction between the students and the faculty, but also the interaction between faculty members in certain of the sessions,” he added. “Moreover,” he continued, “faculty members make themselves available outside of class and especially like to maintain communication with students even after they have graduated and are well into establishing their own careers.”
The program, accredited by the University of Toronto, which takes place in Toronto from August 2 to August 13, 2010, will appeal to a wide variety of students interested in various cases of genocide, their comparative study, as well as broader issues of human rights. Applicants must be current university students with three years or more of successful undergraduate experience. Limited scholarships are available for qualified students.
The deadline for application is May 31, 2010. International students are strongly urged to apply as soon as possible to avoid delays obtaining a visa.
The syllabus, registration information, faculty biographies, and more are available on the program’s web site, www.genocidestudies.org.
For further information, contact the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute), 416-250- 9807, admin@genocidestudies.org.
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