We are thrilled to welcome Sarah Doerrer, Ed.D., as a new member of the Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education's Board of Directors. Sarah, a 2019 graduate from Loyola Marymount University's Educational Leadership for Social Justice doctoral program, brings a wealth of experience in peace education and nonprofit leadership. Her dissertation focused on the impact and best practices of the M.A. in Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation at the University of Rwanda. She most recently served with Anne Arundel County Public Library, and has also facilitated antiracism community reading and discussion groups, using her strong background in international education and human security. Sarah’s passion for humanitarian education and her commitment to our mission make her a valuable addition to our team.

Sarah recently shared her thoughts on joining the board, and her insights reflect the depth of her dedication and the unique perspectives she brings to our organization.

What attracted you to the Forage Center for Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Education, and what aspects of our mission resonate most with you?

"I heard about the work of the Forage Center through my connection to Board President David J. Smith, because of our mutual membership in the Peace and Justice Studies Association. I have attended virtual meetings of the National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar and later became aware of the amazing work Forage does with its robust, realistic field simulations. For both programs, I love that Forage plays a pivotal role in assisting the thought process of students and transitioning professionals as they consider whether humanitarian aid work is the right fit for their futures. The simulations, in particular, not only seem to help illuminate those answers for participants but also empower them by underscoring the unique strengths they bring to a team, especially teams working in crisis situations. I am a firm believer that individuals working in virtually any role can play their special part in building peace in our world, and I think the variety of Forage Center offerings facilitates this discovery process for so many."

Are there specific projects or initiatives you’re particularly excited to support or lead?

"One of the most rewarding aspects of my career path so far has been the opportunity to organize logistics for various fellowship and scholarship programs, especially when they involve small cohorts and mentorship. So, I am incredibly enthused about the chance to assist in the further development of the Forage Fellows program, both our recruitment and selection process and the yearlong experience of nurturing those fellows, ensuring they have the chance to contribute meaningfully to our organization. I also hope I can work alongside our President to ensure a continuation of our National Community College Peacebuilding seminars, as community colleges hold a very special place in my heart, and I believe they are a rich arena in which to foster people committed to peacebuilding."

What personal values or beliefs guide your commitment to peacebuilding and humanitarian education?

"I believe in the value of exposure, both interpersonally (to people, cultures, values different from our own experience) and professionally (to settings where we may not ordinarily get a realistic perspective of what to expect). Both of these kinds of exposure are addressed through the Forage Center simulation programs, as well as our other programmatic offerings. Similarly, I believe in the cumulative effect of individual and collective efforts towards peace—not just of people in the highest positions of power, but of ordinary, everyday people, bringing their skills and passions to bear on our world's problems."

Can you share a story or experience that illustrates why you’re passionate about the work we do?

"I myself considered going into humanitarian aid work as a path to follow after my Master's program. In fact, I took multiple courses during my three years at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy that were meant to prepare students for working in the field in this arena. However, I found I was constantly in a state of heightened stress and dis-ease, unable to relax and simply focus on the challenges at hand. When I talked with fellow students about this experience, I was surprised to learn that some of them felt the opposite! They were 'in the zone' in these emergency scenarios, able to not only think clearly but also make reasoned, informed decisions. In other words, they seemed to thrive in crisis situations, whereas I felt I was not at my best, even with practice. It would have been easy to beat myself up over this, but in fact, this was extremely useful data to have about myself! The chance to really put myself in the shoes of a humanitarian aid worker allowed me to viscerally experience the fact that I simply might not have the temperament to adjust easily to working in the field in that way, and so I pivoted to working in international education projects instead. Rather than seeing that experience as discouraging or limiting, I choose to see it as illuminating and empowering because it showed me that I might thrive more fully in non-emergency environments. Indeed, whether students discover they are passionate about working in the field, or they realize (as I did) that it's not for them after all, offering them the chance to really plant their feet and try it on for size is an invaluable opportunity that they may not get elsewhere in their education, which is a big part of why I'm passionate about what the Forage Center offers."

How do you see the Forage Center evolving over the next few years, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?

"I hope that the work of the next few years is all about sustainability—that we diversify who's taking the lead on various organizational efforts and delegate tasks such that it doesn't all fall on just a couple of people. We want our programs and offerings to continue to be feasible, even if there are staffing changes, leadership transitions, etc. By taking the lead in managing the Fellows Program with our wonderful Program & Administration Manager Heather, I hope I can do my part to make that vision a reality. I also hope we can become increasingly data-informed by making robust use of alumni and participant surveys, and by using such data to seek out new grants, funding sources, and simulation partners so that we can grow in our ability to articulate our vision as an organization. Lastly (but relatedly), I'd love to see us use our data to become a thought leader in the fields of peacebuilding and humanitarian education by turning it into published academic papers (or op-eds) and maybe present at conferences, both of which I'd be happy to assist with in the years to come."

We are excited to have Sarah on board and look forward to the positive impact she will make as we continue our mission to promote peacebuilding and humanitarian education through our innovative programs and initiatives.