Pushpa Iyer, Ph.D.

Dr. Pushpa Iyer is an activist, practitioner, scholar, and educator specializing in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She currently chairs the Department of Conflict Resolution Studies at Halmos College of Arts and Sciences at Nova Southeastern University and serves as an Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution. Additionally, Dr. Iyer is an Adjunct Professor of Social Transformation at Saybrook University.

Dr. Iyer's work in Gujarat, India, aimed at fostering peace between the region's Hindu and Muslim communities, laid the foundation for her commitment to social justice. Her research spans South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and the United States, focusing on identity-based conflicts, non-state armed groups, and peacebuilding. Her current research explores the historical and contextual impact of colonization on knowledge acquisition and dissemination, with the goal of developing methodologies for decolonizing the mind.

Dr. Iyer’s academic career includes over fifteen years as an Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, where she also coordinated the conflict resolution specialization program. Notably, she became the institute’s first Chief Diversity Officer, a role she held for two years. After her tenure at Middlebury, she joined Catholic Relief Services as a Senior Technical Advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, designing programs that foster attitudinal and behavioral changes towards a more equitable and inclusive culture.

In 2011, Dr. Iyer founded the Center for Conflict Studies, which she continues to lead. The Center has launched several successful initiatives, including a Summer Peacebuilding Program, a Certificate in Conflict Resolution, and the Allies initiative for racial equity. One of the Center's current programs is Compassionate Courage, an approach aimed at resolving identity-based conflicts.

Dr. Iyer is the author of "Gandhi’s Gujarat: Vibrant Diversity," a coffee table book published by the Center for Conflict Studies. She is currently working on "Challenging the Binary: Decolonizing Antiracism Approaches with Compassionate Courage," scheduled for publication by Routledge in 2025.

Recognition for her contributions includes the Visionary Scholar Award in 2013 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016 from George Mason University. She was honored as a peacemaker by Moonwalk for Peace in 2011.

Beyond her academic and research commitments, Dr. Iyer serves on the boards of various non-profits, is a sought-after speaker and trainer on social justice issues, has organized eight conferences and symposiums, and regularly writes on topics aligned with her dedication to social justice and equity.