Patricia Shafer
Chief Catalyst and Executive Director of Mothering Across Continents, an international nonprofit organization that develops innovative, replicable, scalable, and sustainable education projects in some of the world’s most challenging regions.
Patricia is one of more than 1,500 Rotary Peace Fellows worldwide, selected for her extensive nonprofit and consulting work, particularly across East Africa. For her work in South Sudan, she was nominated for a UNESCO prize for girls’ and women’s literacy and, in 2022, received the Melanie Greenberg Award for Excellence in U.S. Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding.
Patricia is also Executive Director of the international nonprofit organization NewGen Peacebuilders and the associated Youth & Peace in Action initiative. She serves as Senior Fellow for Peace Education at Washington, DC-based Alliance for Peacebuilding and Global Ambassador with the Institute for Economics & Peace. In these roles, Patricia’s focus is on leadership for the design and delivery of peace education, training and mentoring programs that integrate leadership development, project management, and conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding. As of 2023, participants in 12 states in the US and 18 countries have participated and received certifications with a goal of “making learning to be a peacebuilder a rite of passage for everyone, everywhere.”
Previously, Patricia held senior positions in change management and communications in two global Fortune 100 companies. She holds a MSc in Consulting and Coaching for Change – a joint venture of Oxford University, UK, and HEC France; MBA, Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management; and MA in Journalism from The Ohio State University.
A recognized leader in global peace education, Patricia Shafer has spent over a decade demonstrating how community-driven action can transform lives. From working with the Lost Boys of Sudan to establishing schools in South Sudan and Rwanda, her work reflects the power of local engagement to create global impact. Patricia is a compelling storyteller who has spoken at the University of North Alabama and at Rotary International conferences.
Sample Speaking Topics:
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How community-based support—from schools to service groups—has helped build classrooms and expand access to clean water in East Africa through the Any1Can project.
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Insights from NewGen Peacebuilders, equipping youth with practical conflict-resolution and leadership skills for a connected world.
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Why investing in girls’ education, hygiene, and teacher training is one of the most effective ways to strengthen long-term community stability.