University of San Diego: Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

The Kroc School is leading change through peace education. Our graduates have the courage to lead change locally and internationally. The Joan B.

Kroc School of Peace Studies is dedicated to advancing the field of peace studies and a world-view of peace as human development. The school nurtures and disseminates interdisciplinary scholarship and advanced practice to educate and prepare peacebuilders. Our school is home to a dialogue and a discipline of scholars and practitioners immersed and educated in peace as philosophy, methodology and c

reative act. Bringing peace and justice studies to life on the University of San Diego campus requires active engagement in peacemaking through education, research and dialogue with practitioners. Our vision for the school is to be a nexus of dialogue and engagement, drawing together practitioners, theorists and academics, as well as religious and laypeople, American and internationals, professionals and volunteers, frontline activists and recent college graduates. They inform, challenge, support and inspire each other with the idea that peace can be imagined and built. The school draws on the capabilities of its active institutes and programs. The Trans-Border Institute (TBI) works with the people who live on both sides of the busiest border crossing in the world, to conduct research and inform effective policies for the border region. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice (IPJ) continues its vital work to offer both expertise and dialogue to frontline peacemakers and a concerned community on the subjects of conflict resolution and human rights. We train our graduate students with the knowledge and skills they need to address some of the world’s most complex challenges. Our newly revised Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies prepares students to build peace in many of the world’s conflict-ridden regions. Joan Kroc understood that this is a time of great danger and great possibility. A new type of institution is required to educate the peacebuilders of the 21st century. She wanted to build an institution that would be engaged fully - to “not only talk about peace, but make peace.” With Mrs. Kroc’s generous endowment, we are working towards this goal.

Photos from University of San Diego: Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies's post

06/02/2026

🎓 Congratulations to the Kroc School Class of 2026! 🕊️

This year’s graduation celebration brought together 64 graduates across four master’s programs — Peace & Justice, Social Innovation, Conflict Management & Resolution, and Humanitarian Action — for an unforgettable afternoon honoring their hard work, resilience, and commitment to building a more peaceful and just world.

The ceremony was a true reflection of the talent and heart within this graduating class. Student representatives took the stage to share their journeys and inspire their peers, while faculty recognized outstanding scholarship, innovation, civic engagement, and humanitarian leadership through a series of prestigious awards. We are so proud to celebrate each and every one of them.

🗣️Class Speakers:
Holly Burton | Kroc Graduate Student Association President
Khaing (Kai) Yadanar Phyoe | MA in Peace & Justice
John Michael Maury | MA in Social Innovation
Matthew Ying Yeung Metz | MS in Conflict Management & Resolution
Jonathan Arogeti | MS in Humanitarian Action

🏆Award Recipients:

Kirsten Tayla Chaplin | Best Long-Form Piece & Best MAPJ Portfolio
My Haugland Soersdahl | Best Short-Form Piece
Halle Shilling | Best Published Piece & Best MSCMR Portfolio
Jonathan William Arogeti | MSHA Academic Excellence Award & John Patterson Humanitarian Promise Award
Matthew Ying Yeung Metz | Best MSCMR Portfolio
Nyla Aileen Baxter Williamson | Best MASI Portfolio
Sage Dobby | Patricia Márquez Innovator Award
Zoe Lorin | Necla Tschirgi Civic Engagement Award
Holly Burton | Joan B. Kroc Award

Want the full story? Head to the link in our bio to read about the ceremony, the speakers, and every award handed out. 🔗

We can’t wait to see what this class does next. Congratulations, graduates! 💙

04/22/2026

At the Kroc School of Peace Studies, Earth Day is a reminder that peace and sustainability are deeply connected. From advancing climate action to supporting communities on the frontlines of environmental change, our students, faculty, and alumni are working toward solutions that protect both people and the planet.

Through research, advocacy, and hands-on practice, we’re committed to building a more just, resilient, and sustainable world.

Today—and every day—we recognize that caring for our Earth is essential to creating lasting peace. 🌍

04/07/2026

Postcards from the Kroc School ✉️

Claim ownership or report listing

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in San Diego?

Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.

Location

San Diego

Telephone

+16192607919

Website

http://www.sandiego.edu/peace

Address

5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA
92110

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm