Call for Applications - Posted October 15, 2025
Christopher R. Mitchell Visiting Practitioner Fellowship
Center for Peacemaking Practice
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School
George Mason University
Virginia, USA
Mitchell Fellows
The Center for Peacemaking Practice (CPP) at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (Carter School) at George Mason University (Mason) calls for applications for the Christopher R. Mitchell Visiting Practitioner Fellowship (Mitchell Fellows). Mitchell Fellows are practicing peacemakers– mediators, facilitators, religious leaders, ombudspersons, scholar-practitioners. These practitioners join the CPP and Carter community to reflect on their work, write, and talk to students at the Carter School about the practicalities of peacemaking, locally, regionally or internationally, with the opportunity for respite. The Fellowship award sits within the Center for Peacemaking Practice at the Carter School.
Applications will be accepted until November 15, 2025.
The Mitchell Fellowship funds enable the Mitchell Fellow to travel to and live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area for a period of one or more months, collaborate with the faculty and students at the Carter School, and become involved in teaching and learning at CPP and the School. Mitchell Fellows help to enrich the experience of students by offering real-time examples of practical peacemaking and its opportunities, problems and pitfalls.
Application Instructions
Applicants are:
- Practicing peacemakers. They can be mediators, facilitators, religious leaders, ombudspersons, scholar-practitioners of conflict resolution and closely related areas of practice.
- Willing to come in-person to the Washington DC metropolitan area for at least one month.
- Required to speak and write about their experience, sharing their insights with the CPP and Carter School community.
- Comfortable communicating in English.
- Able to demonstrate either five or more years of peacemaking experience or completion of a bachelor’s degree and two or more years of peacemaking experience.
We are particularly interested in applicants whose long-term focus of practitioner engagement has been in the Global South.
Applicants are asked to apply here with one PDF that includes each of the following elements:
- Summary Page: Include the applicant’s name and contact information including home address, e-mail address, phone number, proposed fellowship dates, and the total proposed budget.
- Practitioner Statement (three pages maximum): Description of the applicant’s practitioner experience and the questions they wish to explore during a period of residency at CPP at the Carter School. Applicants must also include responses to the following questions as part of their Practitioner Statement: What motivates the applicant to become a Mitchell Fellow? Are there particular people at the Carter School that the Fellow wishes to meet with? What speaking and writing does the Fellow plan? What are the expected results of the fellowship?
- Budget: A brief budget for the fellowship, including all necessary costs such as: travel to and from Northern Virginia from the applicant’s home; visa application expenses (if applicable); anticipated living expenses in the Washington, DC metropolitan area including lodging and per diem; travel health insurance for the proposed residency period, and any other costs necessary for the proposed fellowship. Budgets should not exceed $15,000, and preference may be given to lower-cost applications. Mitchell Fellows are offered a desk space at the Carter School (Arlington, VA) and access to university email and libraries. Please note: As part of the review process, preliminary budgets may be discussed with finalists to ensure needs and costs align appropriately, with consideration of university-requirements and project specific costs.
- Timeline: A brief explanation of the preferred timeline for the fellowship. For how many days/weeks/months will the fellow plan to be in residence at the Carter School? What are the proposed dates? Preference may be given to applications that include some period of residency between September to mid-December or between February to mid-May, as these are the most active times of the university academic calendar. Applicants in this application cycle should plan to complete their fellowship residency by the end of 2026.
- Letters of recommendation: Applicants must arrange for two colleagues, each familiar with the applicant’s practitioner work, to submit recommendation letters directly to cppgmu@gmu.edu by November 15, 2025.
The deadline for receipt of applications is November 15, 2025. Online interviews may be scheduled for finalists between late November and early December 2025. Selection is expected to be completed by end of December 2025. Residency dates may be proposed for any time in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the previous recipients of the Fellowship?
This is the inaugural cohort of the Christopher R. Mitchell Visiting Practitioner Fellowship. As such, there are no previous recipients. Future fellows will help shape the tradition of this new initiative, which seeks to honor Dr. Mitchell’s legacy of bridging theory and practice in peace work.
When are reference letters due?
All reference letters must be received by the November 15, 2025 application deadline, together with the rest of the application materials. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to their referees early to ensure letters are submitted on time.
How is “peacemaking practice” defined for the purpose of this Fellowship?
We adopt a broad and inclusive understanding of peacemaking practice. The Fellowship recognizes that peacebuilding, peacemaking, reconciliation, mediation, and other forms of peace practice are deeply interconnected. We are particularly interested in applicants who bring substantial practical experience in transforming conflict, fostering dialogue, or building relationships across divides.
What kind of practitioners are eligible to apply?
The Fellowship is intended for practitioners with a substantial, established record of professional engagement in peace practice. Individuals pursuing graduate degrees or other advanced studies may be eligible if they can demonstrate significant professional practice experience relevant to the Fellowship’s aims.
Is there a specific budget template applicants should use?
There is no prescribed budget template. Applicants may use any format they prefer, as long as the budget:
- Clearly identifies categories of expenses (e.g., travel, materials, living stipends, etc.), and
- Provides calculations showing how totals were determined for each line item.
What is the expected duration of the Fellowship?
The Fellowship is designed as a visiting practitioner residency with a defined period of engagement at the Carter School. Specific timelines and duration details are provided in the call for applications, and may vary depending on project scope and institutional coordination.
What are the expected outcomes or deliverables?
Fellows are expected to engage with the Carter School community, contribute to shared learning and reflection, and produce an output that captures and shares insights from their practice. This could take the form of a public talk, a written reflection, a workshop, or another format agreed upon with the Fellowship committee.
Is there a preferred thematic or geographic focus?
No. The Fellowship welcomes applications from practitioners working across all regions and thematic areas related to peace and conflict. We value diverse experiences, contexts, and approaches to peace practice.
If you have additional questions that are not answered in the call for applications or this FAQ, please reach out to us at cppgmu@gmu.edu.