Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding (MSP)

MSP

The Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding prepares its students for careers engaging in today’s complex global problems. The curriculum incorporates a holistic approach that integrates diverse academic fields and professional sectors. The MSP requires 30 credits, with 2-year, 3-year, 15-month, and microcredential options. The core coursework centers on: 

• Community resilience
• Systems thinking
• Conflict transformation 

Courses are a blend of theory and practice. Throughout the program, students will have many opportunities to work directly with community organizations through class projects and summer fieldwork. 

MSP graduates pursue careers in a variety of sectors, providing a holistic or complex lens to projects and programs. MSP alumni are currently working in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, with a small subset pursuing doctoral degrees. 

Where are they now? Check out a few of our alumni.

Sam Dorios, 2016

Systems and Complexity Associate, Hawaii Leadership Forum (Honolulu, Hawaii) 

Hawaii Leadership Forum (HLF) is a societal change organization dedicated to fostering enduring, positive change in Hawaii. The main track for accomplishing this is a cross-sectoral leadership program, the Omidyar Fellows, which cultivates a community of midcareer leaders to equip them with the skills and relationships they will need to collectively transform Hawaii. Sam’s job is to support the fellows in their efforts. This usually takes the form of systems mapping; a process that he facilitates. Currently, his role is expanding to incorporate emergent learning so that the organization can continually adapt and improve its ability to create impact. 

“The MSP program gave me the tools and skills needed to do systems mapping, but more importantly, it taught me the mindsets needed for this line of work. The nature of grappling with complexity requires an open mind, desire to constantly learn and improve, and a willingness to adapt. This inner work must be done before any meaningful outer work is possible. Moreover, the MSP connected me to HLF through an internship opportunity that led directly to my current position.”

Aruna Kallon, 2018

PhD Candidate in Educational Policy Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, Wisconsin) 

Aruna is a PhD student in Educational Policy Studies, with a concentration in Comparative International Education (CIE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Aruna’s research focuses on the effects of free primary and secondary schooling on educational quality and outcomes in Sierra Leone. Aruna intends for his research to provide an understanding of, and inform, local and foreign/external interventions for a sustainable implementation of the fee-free policy, and for narrowing the achievement gaps for approximately 1.5 million schoolgoing children in Sierra Leone. 

“MSP nurtured in me a unique ethos: to embrace complexity as an opportunity or entry point for action and change, rather than as a limitation.”

Linda Xiong, 2019

Systems Change Coordinator, Texas Homeless Network (Austin, Texas) 

Linda works with agencies across the Texas Balance of State Continuum of Care to establish and operate Coordinated Entry. Coordinated Entry is a community-led process and systems change approach that shifts a housing crisis response system from program-centric to person-centric.

“Through the MSP program, I discovered the breadth and depth of systems thinking as it relates to complex social problems and became confident as a facilitator of systems change. My cohort exemplified a community of peacebuilders where we shared and valued diverse perspectives and built strong friendships – a community I hope to develop wherever I go.”

Students in the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding program pair coursework with fieldwork to participate in learning experiences that allow them to use their skills learned in class.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is the “heart” of the MSP. It is through fieldwork that students try out the methods and skills learned in class. Fieldwork also connects students directly to leaders in their fields of interest, allowing them to begin cultivating a professional network. Students partner with an organization of their choosing and collaboratively develop a fieldwork project. There is a large degree of flexibility regarding the geographic location, organization type and topical focus of a student’s fieldwork. Students interested in going abroad may need to be fluent in the local language. 

Curriculum

• MSP 760: Systems Thinking, Mapping, and Sustainability
• MSP 762: Conflict Transformation: Negotiation and Mediation Skills
• MSP 770: Conflict Analysis and Restorative Practices
• MSP 771: Facilitation Skills for Peacebuilding
• MSP 772: Fieldwork in Sustainable Peacebuilding: US Placement
• MSP 773: Fieldwork in Sustainable Peacebuilding: Study Abroad
• MSP 780: Transdisciplinary Research Methods and Information Literacy
• MSP 781: Evaluation and Organizational Innovation
• MSP 785: Strategic Project Design, Management, and Evaluation
• MSP 786: Transformational Leadership for Peacebuilding
• MSP 799: Independent Study

Course Plan Options

2-year Option (Enroll in Fall Semester)

Fall Year 1 (6)	Spring (9)	Summer (3)
MSP 770 MSP 760	MSP 771 MSP 785 MSP 780	MSP 772/773
Fall Year 2 (6)	Spring (6)
MSP 762 Elective	MSP 781 MSP 786

3-year Option (Enroll in Fall Semester)

Fall Year 1 (3)	Summer	Spring (6)	Summer
MSP 770		MSP 780 MSP 771
Fall Year 2 (6)	Summer	Spring (6)	Summer (3)
MSP 762 MSP 760		MSP 781 MSP 785	MSP 772/773
Fall Year 3 (3)	Summer	Spring (3)	Summer
Elective		MSP 786

15-month Option (Enroll in Spring Semester)

Spring (9)	Summer (3)	Fall (9)	Spring (9)
MSP 771 MSP 785 MSP 781	Elective	MSP 762 MSP 760 MSP 770	MSP 786 MSP 780 MSP 772/773

Microcredential

Our Sustainable Peacebuilding microcredentials offer in-person courses that can be taken by current degree-seeking UWM students or non-degree/special students in the community. Each microcredential can be taken individually, and later stacked (in addition to fieldwork and a capstone) to complete a master’s degree in Sustainable Peacebuilding.

Stackable MSP Degree (30 credits)

Looking for a more robust credential? You can combine these microcredentials and make the most of your time invested by stacking them toward a full graduate degree.

Courses:

• 3 Microcredentials (24 credits)
  • Microcredential in Systems Thinking for Social Change
    • MSP 760: Systems Thinking, Mapping, and Sustainability
    • MSP 780: Transdisciplinary Research Methods and Information Literacy
    • MSP 781: Evaluation and Organizational Innovation
  • Microcredential in Conflict Transformation and Resilience
    • MSP 762: Conflict Transformation: Negotiation and Mediation Skills
    • MSP 770: Conflict Analysis and Restorative Practices
  • Microcredential in Community and Organizational Change
    • MSP 771: Facilitation Skills for Peacebuilding
    • MSP 785: Strategic Project Design and Management and Evaluation
    • ED POL 501G: Community Change and Engagement
• MSP 786: Transformational Leadership for Peacebuilding (Capstone – 3 credits)
• MSP 772/773: Fieldwork in Sustainable Peacebuilding (3 credits)

MSP Program Director

Faculty and Staff

Advisory Board

Students

Sabaa Abdulrazzaq

My name is Sabaa (Saba’a) from Baghdad- Iraq. I have been in Wisconsin since 2014; I came from an immigrant family looking for peace and a stable life. I got my undergrad from UW-Milwaukee with a BS in Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology. I worked as a teacher assistant for 4K at the YMCA for three months. Worked as Leader for kids after school at Boys and Girls Club for the school year. I worked as a Research Specialist at UW-Oshkosh in Biology- Parasite with Dr. Shelly. 

Choosing this master’s program in Sustainable Peacebuilding MSP would engage my experience of community people with Health and Education. 

Cynthia Chirinda

Cynthia is a Human Capital Development, Strategy and Communications practitioner who has worked with various corporates, international development agencies, government ministries, coalitions, political organizations, faith-based organizations, and commissions in areas of leadership development, youth, and women empowerment. She is a holder of a BBA in Marketing Communications from IMM, South Africa. 

She joined the MSP program because of its transformative learning approach that engages complex global challenges and enhances capacities for ethical community engagement on an international scale. As an Institute for Systems Change and Peacebuilding Fellow, Cynthia is eager to apply Systems Thinking and Peacebuilding skills to promote wholeness in communities. Her goal is to become a systems change and social dialogue expert who facilitates social change and transformation in families, communities and nations. 

As a life coach, speaker and published author, Cynthia’s messages promote disruptive thinking by provoking people and institutions to challenge their comfort zones, live integrated lives and create trans-generational solutions through paradigm shifts and transformative actions. 

Marissa Cudworth

Marissa is pursuing the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding program at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, where she hopes to learn skills for advocacy and equity building for Latinx farmers. Marissa is a two-time Public Allies Wisconsin alum; she spent her service years engaging communities of color in environmental work in Milwaukee. Her dream is to continue to uplift women, queer folks, and POC in the environmental field in order to build community resilience. Marissa is an advocate for healing justice and encourages folks to rest and heal through authentic self expression, creative pursuits, and a connection to land and water.

Silvia Patricia Gelvez Delgado

Silvia is from Colombia. She graduated from Universidad de San Buenaventura-Bogotá with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. She has been involved with the Colombian Red Cross for thirteen years in a variety of programs related to peace building, community development, risk management and youth leadership. Her passion for peacebuilding includes educating ex-combatants from the former FARC guerrilla group in nonviolent communication, and mediation in a reconciliation process across Colombia. She later worked for the Program of Peace and Human Rights of the Swiss Embassy in Colombia where she gained experience in international efforts to promote a participatory and a holist approach of dealing with the past and conflict. Silvia is currently the vice-chair of the Youth Commission of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, where she leads the Global Project of the Youth Engagement Strategy.

Nora Graham

Nora Graham (they/them pronouns) is originally from Omaha, Nebraska. They graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Peace Studies. During undergrad, they were heavily involved in community service on campus. Nora recently completed a year of service with Public Allies Wisconsin where they served at Carmen Southeast High School.  

In addition to pursuing a degree in the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding program, Nora is also a fellow in the Institute of Systems Change and Peacebuilding. Through this opportunity, they are currently working at the City of Milwaukee in the Neighborhood Investment Development Corporation Department. In this role they are focusing on Healing Spaces and Targeted Investment Neighborhoods to build community investment in neighborhoods.  

After graduation, Nora wants to pursue a career in community organizing to help build power in communities. In their free time, Nora enjoys running, reading, and watching reality tv shows. 

Amy Horst

Amy Horst (she/they) is an arts worker, parent, educator, and community member. A naturalized cheesehead from the South, Amy has spent three decades and counting in costume design and production support. She also spends time with children at Milwaukee German Immersion School, Milwaukee Childcare Collective, and First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee. They hope to gain skills to deepen their practice of welcome in both professional and volunteer contexts, and to support the creation of a just world with a minimum of harm done. She lives in Milwaukee with her spouse and teenager. Their hobbies include: sleeping, giving hugs, reading, swimming, and finding delight. 

Elizabeth Malanaphy

As an educator, citizen scientist and activist, Liz has enrolled in the MSP program to up her game in helping create meaningful, sustainable change in our world.  A stay-at-home mother of five, with ten years as an educator in the public schools, and 30 years creating collaborative programming for young people and communities, she is more concerned than ever about the state of our world. ” There are so many pressing, volatile issues, and oppressive systems in this world, and the MSP program has the perfect, interdisciplinary approach to finding sustainable solutions.  These are ideals which will be in high demand in the coming decade(s)!”  The MSP program has given Liz more hope than she has had in a long time, and Liz looks forward to the interdisciplinary, collaborative, layered approach of this track, as well as working with the incredible people at UW-Milwaukee! 

Desire Muhozi 

Desire is a community enthusiast with interest in supporting underprivileged children and teen mothers through education and talent development. He acquired a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Business and Trade from the African Leadership university in 2023. He is currently pursuing a Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding (MSP) degree at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Desire served as a freelance news-writer (article developer) at The New Times | Rwanda in 2018-2019. He also volunteered at an online marketing and PR agency in Rwanda as a sales manager. He was elected the Campus Director for the Millennium Campus Network program at the African Leadership University in 2022/23 focusing on SDGs 1, 2, 3, and 13. 

He interned at Kigali General Services in May 2022 as an operations supervisor and volunteered at Journey House Actions – Rwanda as the Director of Quality Assurance in 2022 before transitioning into the Director of Partnerships and Public Relations in 2023. He served as a school leader at the Journey of Success ECD center. Desire led partnerships between JHA-R and Opportunity International (OI) and was elected the Cluster Leader for Gashora Cluster, earning Rwanda’s cluster leader and school leader of the year awards in 2022. Desire served as a Bugesera region’s program coordinator for AWANA foundation through Edify Rwanda. 

Between 2014-2017, Desire worked at a Coca-Cola agency as a manager as well as a warehouse manager at a certain social enterprise in Tanzania. He initiated a language coaching center in Kahama Tanzania to provide freshmen middle school graduates joining high school with English speaking and writing skills in 2017 after succeeding in timber and firewood selling business in 2016, a few months before he started a fashion boutique in Kayanga, Tanzania. Desire is currently serving as a program advisor at the BELLA Masters’ Youth Leadership Program. 

Diego Rodriguez 

Diego Rodriguez is an Operations Coordinator with Ostara Initiative and a Community Activist. Diego is passionate about affecting positive social change through civic engagement, despite his lived experience with incarceration.  He focuses on queer equality, reform of the criminal legal systems, and promoting safe and secure housing. He possesses a bachelor’s degree in finance and is currently working toward a master’s degree in Sustainable Peacebuilding. Diego utilizes his knowledge and skills to help engage and serve underrepresented queer, formerly incarcerated, and communities of color.  He is a firm believer in focusing on doing the work rather than talking about the work. He is also the proud owner of two rabbits. 

Bryan Rogers

Bryan Rogers, former Witness for Peace Honduras Program Coordinator, has facilitated dozens of delegations across Latin American and the Caribbean, including two to Cuba. His work as an educator, organizer, writer and musician has taken him into the heart of a grassroots student movement in Chile; black liberation struggles in Salvador, Brazil; land reclamation and reparations projects led by black indigenous Garifuna in Honduras; anti-drug war and anti-militarization caravans through Central America; and managing a sheriff’s campaign for a queer black feminist running on an anti-racist platform. He holds bachelors in Spanish/Portuguese and Latin American Studies from UW-Milwaukee and studied jazz piano at Columbia College. He currently lives in the River West neighborhood with one lovely spouse, two lively children, and three mostly obedient house animals.

Zarifa Saadat

Zarifa Saadat’s journey as the first person in her family to study abroad and her status as a racial/ethnic minority may come with unique challenges and opportunities. She may have faced various cultural, linguistic, and academic adjustments during her time abroad. Still, her determination and resilience likely helped her overcome these challenges and succeed in her educational pursuits. Her academic journey began at the Asian University for Women, where she completed her undergraduate degree. There, she majored in economics and took development studies as her minor. This educational background has laid a solid foundation for her current pursuit in Sustainable Peacebuilding, as it enables her to approach the subject with a multidisciplinary perspective. She chose MSP because this program will enable her to pursue a career in peacebuilding, which is exciting to her.   

Zarifa’s goal is to become a member of the United Nations and a leader in the field of peacebuilding. She aspires to work closely with communities and organizations worldwide, dedicating her efforts to the development of sustainable and inclusive peacebuilding initiatives. While her overarching mission is to contribute to global peace and stability, her primary focus lies in extending a helping hand to immigrants and refugees who have faced the challenges of displacement and resettlement. Moreover, she is deeply committed to advocating for underprivileged women and children, recognizing their vulnerabilities and the critical need for empowerment and support. By pursuing this path, she hopes to foster a world where every individual, regardless of their background, can thrive in an environment of peace, dignity, and opportunity. 

Okeowo Segun Daniel

Okeowo Segun Daniel is a dedicated social impact entrepreneur, project manager, community manager, education and training consultant, and peace advocate who has made significant contributions in the non-profit sector. He holds a BSc in Educational Technology from the University of Ilorin and has worked tirelessly to provide quality education, sustainable development, Peace and Resilience building training, and advocacy for children, educators, youths, and communities. 
 
Previously, he served as a Training and Program Director for One African Child Foundation and Founding Impact Officer for World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Community, Ilorin Hub. He also held the Director of Partnership for the hub, focusing on building a supportive network for youths worldwide and providing them with the right resources to create sustainable impacts in their communities. 
 
Daniel’s expertise in training educators in West Africa on peace and resilience building and preventing violent extremism has earned him recognition from various organizations, including UNESCO INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CAPACITY BUILDING IN AFRICA (UNESCO IICBA), NATCOM UNESCO, UNODC, and Global Shapers Community. 
 
Okeowo Segun Daniel is a visionary leader with a passion for social change and empowering the next generation to create a better world. He currently Founded World Youth Hub to support youths around the world with right resources they need and promote their work. He’s also Currently pursuing his Masters in Sustainable Peacebuilding at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Andy West 

Andy acts as the Community Engagement and Experiential Learning Program Manager at the Center for Student Experience and Talent, providing support for UWM students and local non-profit organizations as they work as a team to help clean and restore the waterways and habitats in the city of Milwaukee. Andy has a passion for community engaged science and enjoys building educational programs that help connect everyone to our natural world. When he is off the clock, Andy enjoys hitting the trails, bird watching, and native gardening. 

After a decade in the Navy Andy completed a degree in Conservation and Environmental Science with a minor in Biology and Geography. He joined the MSP program to further develop his understanding of community and help bridge gaps in his experience to better serve students and the city of Milwaukee. 

Tomi Vandergriff

Tomi is a UWM alum, who graduated in 2013 with a BA in Religious Studies.  She studied abroad in Morrocco with the School of Public Health for a summer program in 2013 with a focus on women and infant health in Islamic societies and realized she eventually wanted to work in an international setting.  After returning to the States, she began an internship at the International Institute of Wisconsin and was quickly hired.  She worked there for six years in refugee resettlement as the medical liaison and the intensive case manager for high needs clients.  For the past three years Tomi has been working at Great Lakes Hemophilia Foundation as their Director of Special Events and Donor Engagement. 

Tomi is active in the community, volunteering her time with the Irish Cultural Heritage Center as their bar manager and volunteering throughout the year with Celtic MKE, Stars and Stripes Honor Flight and Holiday Folk Fair International.  In her free time she loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends.

If you are motivated to understand the complex dynamics underlying the issues facing today’s world and dream about being an effective changemaker, we encourage you to learn more about the MSP!

The MSP is a cohort-based program that begins each year in Fall (2-year & 3-year) or Spring (15-month). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all spots in the program are filled.  

Dates and Deadlines

• Fall Start (2-year or 3-year cohort program) 
  • December 15^th: priority review 
  • February 1^st: secondary review & international applicant deadline 
  • After February: rolling admission until all spaces are filled 
• Spring Start (15-month intensive program) 
  • November 1^st: priority review 
  • Rolling admission after this date until classes start 
• Microcredential  
  • Opens January 2025- rolling admission  

Scholarships & Funding

• A limited number of scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships are available each year with varying deadlines through MSP, School of Nursing, UWM Graduate School, the Institute for Systems Change & Peacebuilding, and other departments on campus.  
• Scholarships for each track of the MSP are awarded on a rolling basis after admission. For fall start, apply by December 15^th for consideration in our first round of reviews.  
• Reach out to the MSP Program Manager with questions! 

Prerequisites

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (4.0 scale) to be considered for admission.

Application Process

To be considered for admission, all applicants must complete an online application, including: 

1. Pay the nonrefundable application fee; 
2. Upload unofficial transcripts from all schools attended, regardless of how long ago it may have been. Applicants will be required to submit official transcripts after an admission offer is accepted; 
3. Upload a current professional resume or CV; 
4. Upload a 2-3 page Personal Statement (Reason for Graduate Study). This essay should address any or all of the following:
   • What brought you to MSP? 
   • Why is MSP a good fit for you? 
   • How will MSP help you advance your professional goals? 
   • Share a personal story that relates to why you want to join MSP. 
   • Which faculty member(s), community organizations, and/or global issues are you interested in working on while in MSP? 
5. Upload evidence of English proficiency (international students only). The language of instruction at UWM is English. All international applicants must provide evidence of proficiency. View details at the UWM Center for International Education’s website. Email questions to isss@uwm.edu. 
6. Optional: To strengthen your application you may submit the names and email addresses of up to two references who will write a letter of recommendation for you. This can be an academic (e.g. advisor) or professional (e.g. supervisor) reference.
7. Optional: Applicants may upload a writing sample (max 10 pages) from within the past five years. Examples include a college paper, expert from undergraduate thesis, grant proposal, peer-reviewed article, web-based piece such as a blog entry or news article, or a project report or evaluation. You may also use this Guided Research Essay to write something new.