THOMAS HILL

Director, NYU Peace Research and Education Program
Clinical Professor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs
Affiliated Faculty, NYU Institute of Human Development and Social Change

ABOUT
Dr. Hill is a peacebuilding practitioner and researcher with more than 20 years of experience focusing on Iraq. Since 2003, he has visited Iraq regularly to oversee the design, development, and implementation of a series of interrelated research and educational projects focused on increasing levels of peacefulness in Iraq. He has also overseen research projects in Colombia, Libya, Kuwait, Moldova and Malawi.

RESEARCH & FOCUS AREAS: Peacebuilding practice and research, with a focus on Iraq and other violence-affected contexts. Areas of expertise include university-based and community-centered approaches to peacebuilding, conflict analysis and assessment, and the integration of development and peacebuilding strategies.

CURRENT WORK:

• Supporting Iraqi-led Infrastructures for Peace and thought leadership on Peacebuilding through the Iraq Peace Studies Network– Principal Investigator; sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme

• Mitigating AI-Driven Power Concentration in Fragile Contexts: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Public AI Oversight and Community-Led Governance – Principal Investigator, sponsored by Silicon Valley Community Foundation

• Malawi Voice Data Commons – Principal Investigator, sponsored by The Gov Lab and Microsoft

PREVIOUSLY
He has served as principal investigator on many applied research initiatives, including:

• Municipal Leaders Building Peace: Understanding Locally-Led Impact in Conflict-Affected Countries — based in Colombia and Libya; sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.

• Strengthening Academic Institutions and Cultures at the University of Fallujah — supported by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX).

• Developing Peace and Conflict Assessments in Selected Municipalities in Libya –  sponsored by GIZ.

• Supporting the Development of Al Salaam University in Kuwait – supported by Al Salaam University Co.

• Enhancing Possibilities for Youth Peacebuilding at the University of Anbar, sponsored by IREX.

• Joint Certificate in Peacebuilding at the Domiz Refugee Camp – sponsored by the Catalyst Foundation for Universal Education.

• Building University Capacity in Peace Education in Duhok and Mosul – sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme

• Supporting the University of Duhok in Becoming the Center of Excellence for Peacebuilding in Iraq – sponsored by the U.S. Department of State

• Improving Local Capacity to Build Peace and Improve Social Cohesion Among Host and Displaced Communities in Duhok and Nineveh Governorates – sponsored by UNDP.

• Iraq Re:Coded – sponsored by UNDP

A former journalist, Dr. Hill combines academic research, field experience, and policy engagement in his work.

EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania
M.I.A., School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
B.A., History, University of Pennsylvania

COURSES TAUGHT:
Peacemaking and Peacebuilding; Workshop in Applied Peacebuilding; Participatory Action Research; Joint Research Seminar in Peacebuilding; Advanced Joint Research Seminar in Peacebuilding, and; Conflict Assessment.

LANGUAGES: Spanish(intermediate), Arabic (intermediate)