News

Rethinking “Fixing”: What Ombuds Practice Taught Me About Helping Others

“For those with a genuine desire to support others through difficulty, the ombudsperson role offers a career path that is simultaneously fulfilling, ethically grounded, and emotionally sustainable,” writes NECR student Catherine Cao.

Moving to “Yes” When You Don't Hold the Power

During an NECR webinar, Reese Fayde examined the relationship between power and influence, offering approaches for building consensus and moving ideas forward.

Designing Voice: A Workshop on the Future of Conflict Resolution

NECR students worked with democratic innovation expert Dr. Marjan Ehsassi to examine how Citizens’ Assemblies can strengthen public participation and address complex policy challenges

A Scholar-Practitioner’s Approach to Conflict Resolution

Peter Dixon reflects on his first year as M.S. in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program director and discusses the value of engaging across differences.

Confronting the Past: New York City’s Truth and Reconciliation Effort

At a Negotiation and Conflict Resolution event, practitioners and scholars examined how cities can address the enduring legacies of historical injustice.

What I Wish I Knew: Mariana Caro from Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Watch: Mariana Caro, recent Negotiation and Conflict Resolution graduate gives advice on finding community while studying at SPS. (YouTube)

From Fighting Financial Crime to Advancing Global Equity

M.S. in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution alumna and Dean’s Excellence Award winner Noëlle Demole combines work in financial crime prevention, anti-trafficking research, nonprofit leadership, and women’s health advocacy to create systemic change for vulnerable communities around the world.

Meet the 2026 Student Marshals

Hear from some exceptional students who have been chosen to represent their master’s programs at graduation.

A Partnership Forged at Columbia: How NECR Sparked a Global Peacebuilding Partnership

What began as a Negotiation and Conflict Resolution workshop evolved into an enduring collaboration, demonstrating how theory, practice, and relationships can shape meaningful work in global peacebuilding.

Making a Difference Close to Home with an SPS Degree

Columbia SPS students and alumni are applying their expertise across industries to strengthen local communities throughout the U.S.

Exploring Emerging Conflicts Through NECR’s Special Topics Courses

SPS student Karin Okada shares her experience in the Special Topics electives within the M.S. in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program.

Meaning-Making as Peacebuilding

Rose Sall (’24SPS, NECR) reflects on how the Coordinated Management of Meaning framework helped her understand her experience navigating cultures, spirituality, and identity.