Dr. Riva Kantowitz

Speaker

Riva Kantowitz is an Assistant Professor at Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey, where she teaches in the Programs in Social and Political Sciences and Peace and Conflict Studies. Her research relates to participatory community development, social trauma, reconciliation, and leadership in post-conflict reconstruction processes. She is involved in various action research and applied projects, including currently designing the Youth Turkish-Armenian Leadership and Reconciliation Program, and consulting to organizations such as World Vision, UNHCR, and Collaborative Development Associates on youth, conflict prevention and monitoring and evaluation issues. Ms. Kantowitz has worked in the Balkans, Southeast Asia and extensively in Latin America, and is currently conducting a new program of comparative research on social trauma in Southeastern Turkey and Cyprus. Her work has been supported through sources such as a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Award, and David L. Boren and Columbia University Conflict Resolution Network Fellowships. Ms. Kantowitz has been affiliated with CICR since 1998. She has designed and lead workshops related to trauma and healing for projects in East Timor and the Interethnic Dialogue Program for Burma's Ethnic Nationalities. She co-taught the course Restorative Justice and Psychosocial Healing with Zachary Metz, and has served as a lecturer for various CICR classes. She earned a Ph.D. in Social-Organizational Psychology at Columbia University and received her undergraduate degree in history and peace studies from Bryn Mawr College. Publications: Martin, B., Mehr, K. & Kantowitz, R. (1996) The Future of Community Development: A review of community-based change initiatives, Corporation for National Service, Washington, D.C. Nickinson, S. & Ribero, H. (1996) Get Up, Act Up, Shape Up the World: A guide for youth activists. R. Kantowitz & C. Scherer (Eds.) Points of Light Foundation,Washington, D.C. CV info from: http://www.cicrcolumbia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=83&Itemid=19 http://myweb.sabanciuniv.edu/riva/publications/