United Nations Academic Impact Appoints George Mason University as New United Nations Academic Impact Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Hub Chair for SDG 16

23 January 2025 – The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University was appointed as the new United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Hub Chair for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) initiative. 

United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), is an intiative that has engaged institutions of higher education since November 2010 in supporting and contributing to the realization of the Organization’s purposes and principles, including the promotion and protection of human rights, access to education, sustainability (including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2015), and conflict resolution. 

George Mason University will lead the UNAI SDG 16 Hub over a three-year term, from January 2025 to December 2027, as part of the larger UNAI network, which comprises over 1,700 universities and colleges across more than 150 countries.  

George Mason University will play an essential role in advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through innovative education, impactful research, and strategic partnerships.

Dr. Alpaslan Özerdem, Dean of the Carter School, stated “This prestigious recognition highlights our school’s longstanding commitment and impactful contributions to the field of peace and conflict resolution. As Chair for SDG16, we will have the privilege and responsibility of generating, coordinating, and amplifying SDG16-related programs and activities on a global scale. This role represents not only a significant milestone for the Carter School but also an exciting new chapter in our journey towards advancing global peace, justice, and institutional resilience. It positions us to foster meaningful partnerships, drive innovative initiatives, and contribute thought leadership on critical global issues.”

UNAI SDG Hubs are designated institutions of higher education within the UNAI network that actively work to promote the SDGs by leveraging the power of academia to create positive social, economic, and environmental change that would bring the world closer to achieving the SDGs. In addition to incorporating sustainability considerations as a general policy and supporting the overall SDG agenda, each UNAI SDG Hub will focus on a specific SDG, fostering research, education, and global collaboration to advance that goal, while recognizing the strong interdependencies across all 17 SDGs. 

UNAI members are making significant strides in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To further encourage innovation and commitment to sustainability education for future generations, UNAI appointed the following institutions as UNAI SDG Hub Chairs from 2025 – 2027:

• SDG 1: No Poverty - University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger - [Co-Chair] EARTH University (Costa Rica) and University of California, Davis (United States)
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being - University of Pretoria (South Africa)                                    
• SDG 4: Quality Education - Al Balqa Applied University (Jordan)
• SDG 5: Gender Equality - CHRIST (Deemed to be University) (India)
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation - [Co-Chair] Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (India) and University of Manitoba (Canada)
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy - [Co-Chair] Lagos State University (Nigeria) and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - University of Auckland (New Zealand)
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - Mount Kenya University (Kenya)
• SDG 10: Reduce Inequalities - York University (Canada)
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - De Monfort University (United Kingdom) 
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan)
• SDG 13: Climate Action - University of West Indies (Jamaica)                      
• SDG 14: Life below Water - University of Bergen (Norway)
• SDG 15: Life on Land - Macquarie University (Australia)
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - George Mason University, Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter School for Peace & Conflict Resolution (United States)
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Tsinghua University (China)

For more information about the new UNAI SDG Hub cohort and their activities please visit: UNAI SDG Hub Network | United Nations

United Nations Academic Impact:

UNAI is an initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in supporting and contributing to the realization of United Nations goals and mandates. For more information about the UNAI, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/academicimpact

About the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution:

George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is a community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners with a fundamental commitment to building peace. Through the development of cutting-edge theory, research, education, and practical work, we seek to identify and address the underlying causes of conflict and provide tools for ethical and just peacebuilding on the local, national, and global stages.  For more information, please visit carterschool.gmu.edu.

About George Mason University:

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.