As a recognized expert on conflict resolution, dialogue, peacebuilding and
development, Dr. Abu-Nimer has worked for over a decade on Arab-Israeli dialogue
and peacebuilding efforts, the application of conflict resolution models in Muslim
communities; inter-religious conflict resolution training; interfaith dialogue; and
evaluation of conflict resolution programs. As a practitioner, he has been intervening
and conducting over a hundred training workshops and courses all over the world on
themes of conflict resolution; community development, peacebuilding, reconciliation
and development, training for trainers; interfaith and interethnic dialogue; culture,
religion, intercultural training; conflict resolution and human rights in relief and
development projects, and problem-solving workshops in such conflict zones as Sri
Lanka, Mindanao- Philippines, Palestine, Israel, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Sierra
Leone, and Guatemala, as well as other areas including Egypt and the United States.
Dr Abu-Nimer has published extensively on these subjects, from edited books to
articles in established and refereed peace and conflict resolution journals. Dr. Abu-Nimer is also the co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of
Peacebuilding and Development. He has appeared on numerous television news
programs, radio shows, and has been interviewed for newspaper articles on topics as
diverse as U.S. Foreign Policy in Iraq to Islamic perspectives on peace, social justice
and violence. These interviews have appeared on Al Arabia, Washington Post, MBC,
World T.V. News Show, NPR, BBC World News, Arabic Radio (Israel), Christian
Science Monitor, Al Itihad, and Voice of America.
Dr. Abu-Nimer has won numerous teaching awards and distinctions, most recently the
Outstanding Teaching Award for Full-Time Appointment at American University (2002-
2003) and the American Political Science Association's Teaching Excellence Award
(2003). He was recently a Visiting Fellow at the Joan B. Kroc Institute at Notre Dame,
and a visiting Professor at UPEACE (United Nations Peace University) in Costa Rica
since 2002. Along with a full course load, he regularly conducts dialogues and peace
skills building workshop trainings at American University and in partnership with a
number of other organizations.
He received his PhD from George Mason's Institute for Conflict Analysis and
Resolution in Fairfax, VA in 1993, with a Master's degree in Education from the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem. He speaks fluent English, Arabic and Hebrew.
Born and raised in Turkey, Dr. Kadayifci-Orellana received her Ph.D. at the American University in
Washington D.C. in the field of International Peace and Conflict Resolution and her M.A.
at the University of Kent at Canterbury, England in the field of International Conflict
Analysis. Her doctoral dissertation looked at different interpretations of war and peace
in the Islamic tradition and explored the reasons behind the rise of extremist
interpretations in the West Bank and Gaza.
Dr. Kadayifci-Orellana has co-authored the edited the volume, “Anthology on Islam and
Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam: Precept and Practice” as well as various
journal articles on Islam and nonviolence, conflict resolution, and mediation. She is
currently working towards publishing her dissertation entitled: Standing on an Isthmus:
Islamic Narratives of War and Peace in Palestine with Lexington Publishers. She has
been invited to lecture at various institutions, such as George Mason University, the
World Bank, among others. She also served as a consultant to nonprofit development
agencies: Center for International Environmental Law and CoDevelopment Canada, on
various projects in Turkey. She is one of the founding members of Salam Institute for
Peace and Justice (a non-profit organization that works on issues of conflict resolution,
nonviolence, development and interfaith dialogue especially in the Muslim world). She
is also a member of the Advisory Board of Mediterranean Agenda, an online, multi-
media journal focusing on the current political issues in the Mediterranean and the
Balkan regions. Dr. Kadayifci-Orellana has taught and conducted research at the
School of International Service at the American University on topics including religion
and conflict resolution, culture and conflict resolution, Islamic sources of peace and
conflict resolution, peace paradigms, Islam and democracy, introduction to peace and
conflict resolution in regions as diverse as the Middle East, the Balkans, Africa, Central
and South Asia, and Latin America, among others. She is currently an Assistant
Professor at the School of International Service at American University in Washington,
D.C.
Adnane Raiss joined the Salam Institute as Senior Director in January 2011. Adnane focuses primarily on strategic planning, development and partnerships. Most recently, while working with the Salam Institute, Adnane helped conduct civi education and technical assistance training to local organizations in Chad and Niger. Adnane holds a Bachelor of Science in business and management from the Higher Institute of Commerce and Business Administration in Casablanca, Morocco and he completed a Master’s of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at the American University in 2001 as a Fulbright scholar. He has collaborated with several leading organizations including Search for Common Ground and the United Nations in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs in the area of dialogue, conflict transformation and peacebuilding in Africa and the Middle East. He has also worked closely in an advisory capacity with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Religious Endowments in Morocco- his homeland- on strategic programs pertaining to the religious sector reform and interfaith dialogue. For the past few years, Adnane has worked as an independent consultant for various international organizations and government agencies. His areas of expertise include mainly youth empowerment, leadership, education, counter-extremism. He is a frequent lecturer on issues related to peace and Islamic spirituality. He brings the Salam Institute an invaluable set of skills and experiences in the area of strategic planning, corporate philanthropy, strategic fundraising, communications and alliance-building. Adnane is fluent in English, Arabic and French. He has lived on four different continents and has work experience in 34 countries.
Christine Mosher joined the Salam Institute in October 2009 as a Program Assistant while studying International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University's School of International Service. Prior to joining the Salam Institute, Christine worked as a Managing Editor for the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development. She developed an interest in the field of religious peacebuilding while obtaining her Bachelors degree from Rollins College in Psychology and Religious Studies. In addition to working with the Salam Institute, she works with the U.S. Institute of Peace in several of the Centers of Innovation including the Center for Religion and Peacebuilding, the Center for Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding and the Center for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding.
