Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation, and the Intersection of Experience and Brain and Behavioral Science
Tim Phillips | Founder and CEO of Beyond Conflict
Tim Phillips is the founder and CEO of Beyond Conflict. Using the unique approach of shared experience, Tim helped catalyze the peace and reconciliation processes in several nations, including Northern Ireland, El Salvador, and South Africa. In recent years, Tim has led Beyond Conflict’s work with scientists and community leaders to apply lessons from brain and behavioral science to address a range of challenges, such as toxic polarization, racial justice and inclusion, conflict resolution and reconciliation.
Expertise: Peace and reconciliation, conflict resolution, the role of leadership, political polarization in the U.S.
Preempting Racism
Dr. Marjorie Rhodes | Beyond Conflict Advisor, and Principal Investigator at the Conceptual Development and Social Cognition Lab at New York University.
Dr. Marjorie Rhodes is a Professor of Psychology at New York University. She directs the Conceptual Development and Social Cognition Lab at NYU, which conducts research on cognitive and social development in early childhood at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the American Museum of Natural History, various New York schools, and online at Discoveries in Action Lab. In partnership with Beyond Conflict, Dr. Rhodes is directing a large longitudinal study on the development of racial biases among children across the United States, with the aim of developing new intervention approaches to prevent the development of racism in young children.
Expertise: Racial biases among children, cognitive and social development in early childhood
Dehumanization
Karen Bernstein | Decoding Dehumanization Program Lead.
Expertise: Evidenced-based peace-building, conflict mediation in entrenched conflicts, programming focused on vulnerable communities
For most of her career, Karen Bernstein worked in entrenched violent conflict and post-conflict reconstruction contexts, specifically in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, Cambodia, Nepal, Ireland/Northern Ireland, and South Sudan. Karen has 20 years of working in conflict zones including as a UN civilian peacekeeper and as the Middle East Peace Process Advisor to the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Mental Health and Armed Conflict
Michael Niconchuk | Program Director with extensive experience in the Middle East.
As a Program Director, Mike Niconchuk leads the strategy and execution of initiatives focused on trauma and violence prevention in the U.S., Germany, Jordan, and Lebanon. These initiatives target two major themes: the link between neuroscience and participation in group violence (e.g., gangs, extremist groups, etc.), and the mind-body effects of conflict, forced displacement, and violence on youth and adults.
Expertise: Trauma, neurobiology, public mental health, social belonging and group behavior, complex emergencies, conflict and fragility.
Polarization
Dr. Michael Pasek | Polarization Program and Research Lead
Dr. Michael Pasek directs Beyond Conflict’s translational science and intervention work in polarization. As the Program and Research Lead, he is responsible for creating, testing, and deploying evidence-based interventions to reduce toxic polarization and division. Dr. Pasek has extensive experience conducting cross-cultural field research aimed at understanding and improving intergroup relations.
Expertise: Social and political psychology of intergroup relations, social belonging and group behavior, ethno-religious conflict, evidence-based interventions for social cohesion.
Media Contact
Ana Eira
Communications Lead
(646) 331-0027
aeira@beyondconflictint.org
January 2021
Announcing Joshua Martin as Beyond Conflict’s New Executive Director
October 2020
Self-help tool reduces refugees’ psychological distress and mental health stigma
August 2020
Fear of the Economic Impact of Coronavirus is Associated with Perceived Animosity Between Republicans and Democrats
June 2020
New Research Finds Americans Are Not As Divided As They Believe
June 2019
Beyond Conflict Awarded $100,000 to Address the Racial Wealth Divide in Boston