History of Peace Studies at Park

In 1988 the education committee of the Kansas City Interfaith Peace Alliance began work on a basic course in Peace Studies. Dr. Allen Lubert, a member of the committee, taught the first offering of the course: Introduction of Peace Studies. Charles Neff, who was then president of the peace alliance, negotiated the establishment of a Peace Studies Minor at Park College. Dr. Don Breckon, then president of Park College, enabled the approval of the program.

The Peace alliance under the leadership of Donald V. McClain began creation of additional courses. Steve Iliff created and taught a Conflict Resolution course and James A. Everett created and taught a Global Peace Issues course.

In 1990 Steve Iliff became the primary instructor. The Kansas City Stake of the Community of Christ established a Peace Studies Library Collection at Park College Mabee Library. McClain created and taught the History of Peace course in 1994 and 1995. In the Fall of 1995, with the move of Steve Iliff to Avila College, McClain took over the leadership of the Peace Studies program at Park College and further developed the program.  In 2004 Andrew Bolton took over the program upon Don’s retirement.

The Peace Studies program at Park University is the only such program in the Greater Kansas City area.           

 In January 1996 the Peace Works scholarship was established.  It now offers $900 for tuition and $100 for books and supplies to one qualifying student per semester/term.

PeaceWorks, a Kansas City group affiliated with the Washington-based Peace Action (formerly Sane/Freeze), is dedicated to ending the use of military power to achieve objectives when viable alternatives are available. PeaceWorks favors a halt to all testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons, space weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. PeaceWorks promotes a reordering of federal budget priorities so human needs are met.

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