Alumni Newsletter

Kimiko Lighty, MAIS ’10, received the Alumni Service Award. She is the founding executive director of Restorative Arlington (RA). An innovator in peace building and conflict resolution techniques, Lighty has been involved with RA since the initiative began in 2020. She led the design and implementation of RA’s Heart of Safety Restorative Justice Conferencing Program, a diversion program serving Arlington’s public schools, legal system, and community, and continues to serve as a strategic advisor to the organization. In partnership with the non profit Doorways, RA has been awarded a five-year $1.5 million grant award from the federal Office on Violence Against Women to address harms resulting from intimate partner violence, dating and domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

American University announced the establishment of the Abdul Aziz Said Chair in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at the School of International Service (SIS). SIS Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer was selected to serve as the inaugural chair holder to advance the development and adoption of faith-informed peace interventions.“It’s very meaningful for me to be the inaugural chair,” said Abu-Nimer. “I shared a journey with Professor Said for over 22 years since I joined AU. We worked together very closely, sharing many ideas and the values and views on building [programs] and supporting diversity and inclusion both in our own AU community and in conflicts around the world. It’s an exciting and honorable occasion for me.”

Raquel Gonzalez, MS ' 12, is a queer, Latinx, first-generation college graduate who has championed social and racial justice as a government executive, organizer, and leadership development practitioner. As a strategy, operations, and culture consultant, they help organizations operationalize DEIJ goals, improve employee engagement, optimize recruitment processes, and plan for equitable growth.They have been recognized as George Mason University’s (GMU) 2022 Graduate of the Last Decade, the 2022 Community Mentor with the Public Leadership Education Network, a 2022 National LEAD trainer for New Leaders Council, a 2021 Political Partner with the Truman National Security Project, and one of The Hispanic Coalition of New York’s 2018 ‘40 Under 40 Rising Latino Stars’.