Founder & President
The Rev. Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone has been a science and peace educator for 30 years. She has degrees in Biology (BA), Science Education (Ed.M.), and International Educational Development with a specialization in Peace Education (MA, Ph.D.). She received her MDiv in 2017 (Union Theological Seminary) and was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist ministry in 2019. Currently, Leonisa is a Visiting Professor at Vassar College, the founder of the Peace Education Center of the Hudson Valley, the C0-Chair of the Broader Social Impacts Committee at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, a Community Minister in Ulster County, NY, an author, a musician, and a mom.

Media & Outreach Director
Bea Brindle, originally from the UK, has their roots grounded in earth conservation. They have spent the past years immersing themselves in community living, permaculture, herbalism and environmental and human rights activism. They are passionate about spiritual wellness and our interpersonal connection with one another and our natural surroundings

Board of Directors
Jane (she/her) is a current graduate student in Sociology and Community & Environmental Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is deeply interested in issues of community, climate violence, and peace education. She also loves to read, play with her two cats, and cook new recipes.

Board of Directors
Victoria Berrios is currently finishing a two-year journey as the Manager of Education and Community Relations at the Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History. Born and raised in Kingston, NY, but with a penchant for wandering, Victoria is passionate about place, people, and how intersectionality affects the work of peace and justice in our everyday lives. She graduated from Messiah University in 2022 with a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies, and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Victoria’s professional interests include oral history and advocating for African and African-descendent Burial Grounds. She currently serves as the clerk of the Kingston Interfaith Council, and loves to engage in collaborative interfaith work. She enjoys salsa dancing, volunteering at the Pine St. African Burial Ground, writing poetry and a good, long story around a campfire. One of her goals is to become a published children’s book author.

Board of Directors
Nic holds a BA in International Economics and an MA in International Relations and Affairs. For 10 years he served as the legal consultant for the Delegation of the European Union to the United States at the United Nations. For the last twenty years, he has been a small business owner and travel writer. He speaks multiple languages and is well-versed in international governance and human rights law.

Board of Directors
My name is Julio Gonzalez (he/him), a native Bronxite who has enjoyed taking steps towards transformative education. I am currently working as an Admissions Officer at Prep for Prep, an nyc-based educational non-profit. I look forward to working in many spaces that will engage my critical thinking and ability to step out of my comfort zone. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time rooting for the New York Knicks and going to the movie theaters (animated movies are my favorite!).

Board of Directors
Laura started her adult career in the military, completing separate enlistments in the US Navy and Air Force, followed by several administrative jobs in the civilian for-profit sector. Eventually, she found her way to Grace Smith House, Inc. (GSH), a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence. Over the next 16 years and working alongside dedicated social workers, Laura developed a lens and a passion for human service work. She wore a number of ‘hats’ for GSH including computer person, overnight counselor, volunteer coordinator, shelter director, and human resources manager. Following her departure from the agency she served on the GSH Board from 2017-2020. She is still a friend of the agency and remains a strong domestic violence advocate. Laura’s career path eventually led her to the Human Resources field in both nonprofit and for-profit settings. She holds a BS degree from Empire State College in Community and Human Services with an emphasis on Human Service Management.

Advisory Board
Maria Hantzopoulos earned her BA from Boston University in History, her MA in Social Studies Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and her doctorate at Teachers College in International Educational Development. Her work broadly considers how educational processes structure inequity in their contexts and beyond. Her research interests include school culture and climate, project-based assessment, peace and human rights education, migration and education, and social studies curricula. She has written numerous articles and released two books about peace education. Her latest is “Educating for Peace and Human Rights”.