The Riverland Community College Global Education Committee and diversity department hosts David Smith, a senior program officer in the U.S. Institute of Peace's Education and Training Center, to speak at two presentations Tuesday on the Austin campus.
The first presentation titled "The International Crisis in the Use of Child Soldiers: Defining the Problem, Seeking Solutions" begins at 2 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre. At 5 p.m., there will be a reception for Smith in the Theatre lobby. The second presentation, "Civil Society Approaches to Building International Peace" begins in the Theatre at 6 p.m. All events are free admission and open to the public.
Smith focuses on secondary and higher education efforts in promoting peace building and conflict resolution. He has primary responsibility for issues related to youth and violent conflict. Smith coordinates the Institute's programs for college and university faculty and secondary social studies teachers. He speaks frequently to community, faculty and student groups on a variety of issues including civil society and peace, child soldiers, conflict resolution, and international education.
His experience before joining the Institute in 2005 focused on teaching at the college and university level. He has also worked in the fields of domestic and community conflict resolution, and as a practicing attorney. From 1992-2005 he taught legal studies, and peace and conflict studies at Harford Community College in Maryland. As a Fulbright Scholar in 2003-04, Smith taught peace studies and alternative dispute resolution at the University of Tartu in Tartu, Estonia. He also has taught peace studies at Goucher College, served on the faculties of Towson University and Stevenson University, all located in Maryland. Abroad, Smith has lectured on American mediator practice at Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Jammu in India.
Smith holds a bachelor's degree in political science and urban affairs from the American University School of Public Affairs, a master's degree from the George Mason University Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore--School of Law.
The United States Institute of Peace is an independent nonpartisan national institution established and funded by Congress. Its mission is to help prevent, manage, and resolve violent conflicts by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by direct involvement in peace-building efforts. Since the late 1990s, the Institute has held summer seminars for community college faculty as well as for four-year college and university faculty. This year's seminar participants will consist of 18 faculty and administrators from 12 states.
Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is a regional comprehensive community college inspiring learning for living through a personalized educational environment. Approximately 4,000 students are served, annually, through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. An additional 5,600 students are annually served in non-credit courses. Facilities are located in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Minn. Riverland may be found on the Internet at www.riverland.edu.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 250,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 140,000 students in non-credit courses.
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