Communitas Blog

David J. Smith, JD, MS is our keynote speaker for Day 2!!

January 10, Keynote Address: 10:15-11:25 a.m.
Center for the Arts

David J. Smith, JD, MS
President, Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc.

Keynote Address: Global Learning: Uncovering Success Stories and Planning a Course for the Future”

Over the past 30 years, David J. Smith has cultivated many skills and worn many different hats: a Fulbright Scholar, an educator, trainer, practitioner, and consultant in areas of conflict resolution (mediation, negotiation and facilitation), peacebuilding, and global affairs.  David supports educators, youth and professional groups in developing institution-wide initiatives and student activities that promote civic, conflict and peacebuilding awareness.  He has worked with groups and individuals in need of career coaching, mediation and conflict engagement assistance.  He has worked with over 500 colleges throughout the United States and has given approximately 600 talks on international education, peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

David’s most recent projects include being the founding President of the Forage Center For Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, Inc., a 501c3 not for profit that offers experiential learning opportunities for students and professionals; an Educational Consultant and Peacebuilding Trainer for the David J Smith Consulting; and, a Senior Manager for the United States Institute of Peace. 

He has taught at Harford Community College, Goucher College, Towson University, Georgetown University, Drexel University, and the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. Also, he is the author of Peace Jobs: A Student’s Guide to Starting a Career Working for Peace (Information Age Publishing, 2016) and was the editor of Peacebuilding in Community Colleges: A Teaching Resource (USIP Press, 2013).

David earned a B.A. in political science and urban affairs from American University School of Public Affairs, an M.S. from the George Mason University Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

Should be interesting!!