Meet the Team

Co-founded and co-led by Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod and Jeff Bachman, the Mass Atrocity Research Initiative (MARI) uses a critical approach to research mass atrocities to provide rigorous academic understanding of the socio-political factors leading to atrocities while delivering policy-related recommendations to improve our political and legal system. Its first two projects: the Mass Atrocity Accountability Project (MAAP) and the United States Atrocities Accountability Project (USAAP) aims to understand how political narratives and actions increase the probability of mass violence occurring.

Have an inquiry about our activities? Reach out to mari_sis@american.edu.

Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod Professorial Lecturer and Department Chair, Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations SIS | Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations

Dr. Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod is a scholar-activist specializing in genocide studies and the intersection of Diaspora consciousness and social mobilization. She is the author of Narratives of Victim…

Ìý kuraduse@american.edu

Jeff Bachman Associate Professor SIS | Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations

Jeff Bachman is an Associate Professor with a focus on genocide, political violence, and human rights. He is also the Director of the 17³Ô¹ÏÔÚÏß International Relations Society. Additionally,…

Ìý bachman@american.edu

Ìý (202) 885-6826

Student Fellows

Paula DurantPaula Durant(she/her)

Paula Durant is a second year M.A. student in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights Program and is currently President of the Society for Peace, Ethics and Human Rights. Paula received her undergraduate degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Legal Studies from Keene State College.

Bryn GillelenBryn Gillelen(she/they)

Bryn is an International Peace and Conflict Resolution MA student at 17³Ô¹ÏÔÚÏß, passionate about peace building and hoping to find ways to track and hold accountable US involvement in international conflicts.

Hayden JonesHayden Jones(she/her)

Hayden is a current senior studying International Relations and Religious Studies at 17³Ô¹ÏÔÚÏß focusing on conflict resolution and human rights studies.

Casey MorseCasey Morse(she/her)

Casey is a second-year M.A. student studying Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights. Her degree is concentrated in Peace and Conflict Resolution, and she is completing the certificate program for Humanitarian Policy and Practice. This past Summer, she worked on a practicum for peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.ÌýShe is excited to be working on both the MAAP and USAAP for MARI.

Jocelyn ParkerJocelyn Parker(she/her)

Jocelyn is a first generation undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's in International Relations with a Europe/Eurasia Regional Focus, and a Thematic Area of Foreign Policy, National Security and Global Comparative Governances with a minor in Public Administration and Policy. She aspires to be a US Political Foreign Service Officer and Lawyer.

Neermala PersaudNeermala Persaud(she/her)

As a student in the EPHR program, Neermala is deeply committed to examining the factors that lead to the underreporting, denial, and neglect of mass atrocities, with the goal of understanding and challenging these injustices from a human rights perspective.

Livia ShiroishiLivia Shiroishi(she/her)

Livia is a senior studying International Relations and Communications with a concentration in justice and human rights studies. She is passionate about accountability measures and rehabilitation surrounding mass atrocity and is excited to pursue that passion through MARI.