Columbia College joins Global ‘Partners in Peace’ initiative with NCHC and Nobel Peace Center
December 12, 2024
Columbia College is honored to join the inaugural Partners in Peace cohort, an initiative launched by the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) in partnership with the Nobel Peace Center. This program recognizes NCHC member institutions for their efforts in creating, implementing, and assessing honors-level curricular and co-curricular projects that highlight the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
Since 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to individuals and organizations that advance peace, as outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will. These efforts include fostering fraternity among nations, reducing standing armies, and promoting peace congresses. The Partners in Peace initiative encourages college students to explore the lives and achievements of peace laureates, fostering understanding of the leadership strategies needed to build peaceful communities. Beyond studying these figures, students are challenged to “think globally, act locally” by applying insights from laureates to positively impact their campuses and communities.
“We are beyond proud that our nationally acclaimed Honors Program—particularly a student-led project addressing health disparities in the 29203 zip code—has received this prestigious recognition,” said Dr. John H. Dozier, President of Columbia College. “Our institution has long recognized the profound impact and essential value of the work our students contribute to the local community. Being acknowledged by esteemed organizations such as the Nobel Peace Center and the National Collegiate Honors Council, and being one of only 16 colleges in the nation to be recognized with this honor, underscores the significance of their efforts, and we consider this honor a remarkable milestone.”
The NCHC’s International Education Committee, the originator of the Partners in Peace initiative, proudly recognizes Columbia College as part of the 2024-2025 inaugural cohort. Dr. Marlee Marsh, Director of the Dr. John Zubizarreta Honors Program and Professor of Biology at Columbia College, received symbolic recognition of the institution’s commitment to establish a curricular or co-curricular project during the 59th Annual NCHC Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, November 1. Jørgen Frydnes, chair and youngest member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, participated in the awards ceremony.
Dr. Eddie Weller, President of the NCHC, commented:
“NCHC is deeply honored to collaborate with the Nobel Peace Center and these institutions. This monumental program enables colleges and universities to offer transformative courses and activities that impact not only student lives but also their surrounding communities. By drawing inspiration from Nobel Peace Prize laureates, these projects encourage our students to embrace peace and act as change-makers for their generation.
Can there be a higher calling than peace? I think not.”
For more information about Partners in Peace and this collaborative effort, visit the National Collegiate Honors Council website or contact Dr. Kevin W. Dean, Coordinator – Partners in Peace, at [email protected].
About Columbia College
Founded in 1854, Columbia College educates women and men to build successful careers and live lives of impact. The College’s liberal arts foundation ensures that students learn to think critically, develop their curiosity, and nurture a love for learning. With a 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Columbia College students benefit from individualized support, engaged instruction, and personal mentorship. With more than 30 undergraduate programs and eight graduate programs, students can discover and pursue their passion and purpose.
About the National Collegiate Honors Council
Founded in 1966, the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is a unique educational organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the community of educational institutions, professionals, and students engaged in honors education worldwide. With nearly 700 member institutions and several hundred individual members, NCHC serves over 330,000 honors students. NCHC offers resources, training opportunities, and events that strengthen honors programs and their curricula, providing students access to scholarships and exclusive events.
About the Nobel Peace Center
The Nobel Peace Center serves as the public face of the Nobel Peace Prize, leveraging the laureates’ ideas, work, and causes to inspire actions for peace. Through exhibitions, guided tours, events, educational programs, and digital content, the Nobel Peace Center highlights the work of laureates, promotes knowledge and skills, and facilitates international engagement. Each year, over 200,000 people, including more than 700 school groups, visit the Center, which also reaches a global audience through its digital programs.
