Growing up in a Mexican American household where traditional gender roles were reinforced I have always been extremely frustrated by machismo. My grandmother made sure that I learned about Mexico and the issues that caused her to emigrate and that is when I came across the term femicide for the first time. Femicide: killing of women because they are women. One of the most if not the most extreme form of gender based violence. In 2023 it is estimated that 10 women were victims of femicide everyday. For me it was a no brainer what I wanted my capstone to focus on when I decided to major in peace and justice studies. 

For the interview assignment I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Rafael Luevano who is a professor of religious studies at Chapman University. In 2012 Luevano published the book “Woman-Killing in Juarez: Theodicy at the Border”. During our meeting we discussed femicide in Mexico as well as the reality of conducting this kind of work. I asked him about the correlation between domestic violence and femicide and he explained that it is a very important factor to consider when researching femicide.A significant amount of femicides in Mexico are women being killed by their partners where there is a history of domestic violence. It is important to note that here we were looking at all forms of domestic violence: physical, psychological, financial and sexual violence. Domestic violence in Mexico often goes without punishment as does femicide. The impunity for these crimes perpetuates gender inequality and gender based violence. 

Another aspect of femicide in Mexico that we discussed is the difficulty to find accurate quantitative data. As the crime of femicide goes underreported espeacially in rural areas it is difficult to find a solid reflection of the gravity of the situation. Then in cases where femicide is reported there is an attempt by news reporters to deny women their victimhood. In tabloids women are slandered as an attempt to justify the femicide. On this topic we also talked about the feminist responses to femicide . Women, mothers and fathers are sick and tired of this culture of violence and the impunity for the culture and structures that allow their daughters’ murders to go without punishment. There has been a shift in Mexico’s feminist movement from only benefiting middle class women in metropolitan cities to a movement led by women from small communities who are the mothers, sisters and daughters of murdered women. The feminist movement has also shifted from nonviolent to violent in response to increasing rates of femicide. Dr. Rafael Luevano and I also discussed the possibility of my capstone focusing mainly on feminist responses to femicide in Mexico. 

The last topic we discussed is the possibility of a career in Peace and Justice in regards to gender issues. He explained that when conducting the research for his book there were times when he felt his personal safety threatened and he was told by friends and colleagues to stop. He told me that there is a demand for people willing to take on this topic. To pursue research and a career aiming to end femicide in Mexico is not a want but a need that is often taken on by people who have a personal connection to the state. 

I am very grateful to Dr. Rafael Luevano for taking the time to meet with me and I plan to keep him in the loop as I move forward with my capstone project. 

Dr. Bojan Petrovic

For my interview assignment I interviewed Professor Petrovic. I took his course “Psychology of International Conflict” my sophomore year and was fascinated by how much knowledge he had about the topics we discussed and specifically the Middle East. Professor Petrovic is from what is formerly known as Yugoslavia and has experience traveling around the world. He speaks Serbo-Croatian, French, and English. His journey of interest in the Middle East began from learning the negative consequences of foreign rule over the Balkans in school growing up. He researched primarily focused on Europe at first and became more interested in the Middle East after 9/11.

After getting a Bachelor’s in law, he became interested in international law then international relations. In graduate school he became passionate about both international relations and comparative politics. Before becoming a professor he worked at a foreign policy think tank in Yugoslavia. There he focused on ethnic conflicts then moved religious conflicts, which he teaches and writes about today. He said that his career now as a professor just fell into place and that he actually thought he would be a researcher. However he finds that being a professor allows him to research and teach at the same time. His favorite part about being a professor is interacting with the students. It excites him when students become interested in the content of his classes. However, grading is the worst part as it becomes repetitive. Being a professor has also given him the opportunity to write a book on Afghanistan. After he was assigned to teach a course on the subject, he enjoyed putting the pieces of information together and decided to write a book about it. For his research for the book he used a lot of secondary sources along with interviews.

Overall he has found that traveling has helped him learn about his research subjects. Through his travels, he has become convinced that there’s always more to learn beyond just the reading. He has traveled all over both Western and Eastern Europe, South America, East Asia, Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, and the Gulf area. His most valuable experiences traveling have been the interactions with locals, enjoying the food (particularly street food), and people watching.

Professor Petrovic said that beginning a career in this field is not easy to get by simply applying as there is no strict path. Instead it is important to develop an interest where you can become an expert and then you will become in demand. The more niche the topic is, the better as there will be less competition. He suggests talking with colleagues for clues to issues or concepts that are in demand to be researched and understood. He said to develop your own impressions, not only in terms of us foreign policy, but also other frameworks. Additionally he suggests trying to learn the local languages, which I am in the process of doing as I have learned French and am now trying to learn Arabic. In regards to my project and interests, he said it would be interesting to contrast what diaspora communities are saying versus the natives of the diaspora who remain in their country.

I asked if he finds it challenging to have a work life balance as I sometimes feel like as a student in this field that I have to constantly be up to date on events and the world. He said that it is a busy time of the world right now as there are a lot of moving parts and everything seems to be changing with Russia and Ukraine, China, fears of nuclear war, dooming climate disaster, etc. which makes the Cold War and the 90s seem lazy and predictable. However today, since the world is so dynamic, it can also be seen as exciting because there is more to talk about. He said to just find your own pace and that it is impossible to know everything about one event. Eventually you will catch up with interactions with colleagues and friends or through social media.

Additionally I asked Professor Petrovic what he enjoys doing outside of work. He told me he enjoys playing piano, seeing live music, cooking, driving around the U.S., visiting National Parks, snow skiing, modern dance, and modern art. I told him that I also love art and museums so he gave me a list of art galleries to visit. Overall, I found his advice about research and becoming an expert in whatever I am interested in to be good advice. I feel like this is especially important if I do want to become a professor in the future as it would make me an attractive candidate. It also is another incentive for me to travel the world. I also really appreciated his advice about staying up to date with the world. Overall he said to not panic and give myself time, which is a good reminder.

I recently spoke with Dr. John Hall regarding his experience working in the Peace and Justice field. Dr. Hall is a professor at the Chapman University Fowler School of Law, where he currently teaches a range of subjects, including International Law and Human Rights. Dr. Hall has had an impressive career in the Peace and Justice field. Following a hitch-hiking trip in South East Asia, he became inspired to shift his professional focus from American history to Human Rights Law. He earned his J.D. in law from Stanford University and has participated in extensive human rights fieldwork in Cambodia and the Philippines. Due to the fact that I am interested in a potential career in international public law and human rights, I felt that Dr. Hall would be an excellent person to speak to. We talked about his experiences working in a global arena, studying and practicing law, and building a career in the human rights field. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Hall was able to use his personal experiences to offer valuable insight and advice for myself and other students who may be interested in pursuing a career in this field.

Dr. Hall earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School

One crucial point that Dr. Hall emphasized was the importance of fieldwork. He stated that he views the opportunity to do fieldwork as the most important aspect of his work in human rights. Participating in fieldwork offers valuable opportunities to build connections and gain experience in this field. Dr. Hall also explained that working abroad can assist with building language skills, which can prove to be highly valuable for those who are interested in international law or human rights work. Additionally, fieldwork can provide young professionals with a more robust understanding of how other countries, as well as the international community as a whole, function and interact. Dr. Hall illustrated the importance of building an understanding of a variety of cultures and norms by reflecting on his own experiences while providing legal aid in Cambodia and emphasized the fact that it is essential to understand how to adapt and adjust your practices in order to effectively conduct work abroad. In this sense, fieldwork is valuable because it is the most effective way to provide professionals with opportunities to further the knowledge and skills that are necessary to succeed in this field.

Dr. Hall also emphasized the importance of planning ahead and being strategic and adaptable. Because it may be challenging to find a paying job in human rights work as a young professional, it is important to keep financial restrictions in mind, particularly concerning educational and living costs. Additionally, he explained that diligence and perseverance are highly valuable to securing a job in this field. Dr. Hall recounted times near the beginning of his career in human rights, during which he had to fight hard to secure a position with organizations in order to do the work he was interested in. He underscored the importance of being assertive and taking advantage of the opportunities that are thrown your way. The importance of fieldwork is also relevant in this regard due to the fact that many jobs are based on recommendations or connections, meaning that it may be necessary to engage in volunteer work in order to secure a paying job. Finally, adaptability is vital because of the high level of uncertainty associated with doing work in this field. Dr. Hall stated that this is especially relevant when working with NGOs, which may shift their interests based on new causes or the interests of the international community. Because of this, professionals must be able to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of this field and the interests of the organizations they work with.

This conversation with Dr. Hall provided me with further insight into the complexities, but also the importance and value, of working in the Peace and Justice field. Due to the fact that this field can be so challenging to get into, I appreciate the immense value of learning from the experiences and advice of professionals. Throughout Dr. Hall’s career, he has clearly gained incredible knowledge, experience, and insight, and I am immensely grateful for the time that I was able to spend with him and for the advice and recommendations he provided.  

Professor Tessa Venizelos

 When I chose to major in Peace Studies, I was aware of the common judgment that any humanities major is a waste of money. Regardless, I cared deeply for all the material I learned, and I have never regretted my decision. This confidence is only further enforced when I get the opportunity to talk to professionals in the field. I chose to speak with Tessa Venizelos, a professor here at Chapman University who has expertise in feminist and post colonialist theory.

I met Professor Venizelos last semester during one of my classes, and was extremely interested in her choice to get a master’s at the London School of Economics, a school I have dreamed of attending since highschool. As graduation looms, the nerves of a life in the “real world” get worse and worse, but talking to Tessa gave me the opportunity to feel hopeful about the future rather than just nervous. 

I began my interview by asking Professor Venizelos about her journey after graduating from Chapman. She explained her strong love of storytelling, and how this led her to take a job in a boutique while writing for free at a lifestyle blog. I enjoy hearing from professionals that they did not necessarily initially have things figured out, and instead tried different experiences in order to build their skills and realize what they wanted to do. This eased my nerves about making decisions post grad, helping me accept that I may not get the perfect job right away, and everyone is on a different path. 

Professor Venizelos then reflected on her time at the London School of Economics, specifically on the cultural differences she experienced while outside of the United States. Especially in a world pre 2020, where many Americans had not yet begun recognizing critical race and post colonial theory, Tessa was confronted by these ideas. The international nature of London helped with this learning, her classmates coming from around the world. While here, she was able to hear criticisms by others about the United States, and had to come to terms with the privilege she experienced in life as an American. As someone who wants to travel post grad, this was useful for me to hear. Although in Peace Studies we try to educate ourselves, when we are confronted head on and even blamed for the actions of our government it can be difficult to process. For Professor Venizelos this was the case, but it also allowed her to create connections across the globe and expand her mind.

“I Really Wanted to Tell the Untold Stories”
– Tessa Venizelos

LSE, attended by Venizelos, is a top Political Science institution.

Professor Venizelos said one thing in particular which really stood out to me, explaining that she “really wanted to tell the untold stories”. During this process, she had to learn when it was important to listen instead of talk, as well as deconstruct initial responses she had and really sit with things and reflect. This is a uniquely “peace studies” sort of perspective, however I wish it was adopted by everyone. Learning when to listen is what allows her to properly let women tell their own stories, rather than continue a cycle of reporting that has existed for so long.  

 What I appreciate about Professor Venizelos’ path is that she did not necessarily have a specific position or career in mind, but rather has focused on a passion. When asking her for advice to give to students, she asked me to think about what it is that I always come back to. This passion is what I should follow, listening to my inner voice and letting the experiences occur from there. This is something I will keep in mind as I move forward in the world, trying to forge my own path using the things I have learned with a Peace Studies degree.

One of the first people I thought of when thinking of Peace Studies professionals I could interview for this project was the lovely Dr. Dani Smith. At Chapman University, Dr. Dani Smith serves as the C.A.R.E.S. coordinator and sexual assault crisis counselor. She also currently co-leads “Healthy Panther,” a First-year orientation program, and the C.A.R.E.S. members arrange information sessions and activities to increase sexual assault awareness. Dr. Smith is a useful person to interview because my topic revolves around sexual violence guidelines. She began working for the Department of Preventative Education in 1993. Her main areas of interest were preventing sexual assault and educating people about drugs and alcohol. However, soon after being hired, two R.A.s approached her and informed her that Chapman University required more sexual assault education. These two students and Dr. Smith started C.A.R.E.S. and went to the freshman seminars to educate students on rape and sexual assault. Furthermore, Dr. Dani Smith wrote the first sexual assault policy and conduct code for Chapman University. She argues that C.A.R.E.S. dealt with cases well, as professors who were experts on the subject were on the hearing board.
With the Title IX coordinator’s institution, the program completely shifted because they had to follow mandates put out by the federal government. Furthermore, she argues that investigators need more training than merely going to a conference. Also, she states that since many cases deal only with people’s accounts, it can be incredibly difficult to discern the truth. She claims that not much has changed since she founded C.A.R.E.S. in 1993, yet she is still optimistic and also argues that the world is not equitable for women. She talked about how instead of being a part of the adjudication process, she stands by the side of the survivors and supports them during the process. Dr. Dani Smith provided information on sexual assaults on college campuses, including the prevalence of attacks by former acquaintances on survivors of sexual assault as well as the prevalence of sexual assault within fraternities and by athletes. Additionally, she claimed that rather than the victim suing the school for wrongly handling the issue, assailants were more likely to sue the school for investigating an assault.
To combat these statistics, she stated that education and intolerance of sexual assault are the most important tools. Dr. Dani Smith works tremendously hard and is passionate about making Chapman University faculty and students feel supported. Dr. Dani Smith’s statements emphasize the need for continued training and experience in treating situations of sexual assault. Her viewpoint emphasizes the necessity of ongoing training and the advancement of investigative methods to guarantee appropriate case management of sexual assaults and assistance for victims. This relates to my thesis because I can utilize her suggestions for improvements in the field for my research.