Dr. Al Fuertes

Dr. Al Fuertes was a recipient of the 2015 Spirit of King Award, the 2014 Oscar Mentoring Excellence Award, the 2008 GMU Teaching Excellence Award and the 2001 AT&T Asia-Pacific Leadership Award. Al is a field practitioner and consultant who specializes in community-based trauma healing as an integral component in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. He travels extensively around the world, particularly in places affected by war, armed conflict, and natural disaster. Al works with government, religious, military, and community leaders, as well as NGO development workers, school administrators, teachers, youth, refugees and internally displaced persons. He is the faculty director of the global education program in the Philippines, a 6-credit summer course in Human Trafficking, Environmental Issues, and Cultural Awareness through Mason's Center for Global Education (CGE), in Cambodia, a 3-credit winter course in Post Genocide, Community Development, and Spirituality, and another winter program in Rwanda, a 3-credit course in Genocide, Healing, and Reconciliation. Both winter programs are through the Social Action and Integrative Learning (SAIL). Al is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). He currently works as a covenant minister of UCC Wellspring in Centreville, VA. 

Education

Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University (2007)

M.A. in Peace Studies, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN (1997)

Bachelor of Theology, Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines (1990)

 

Current Research

Voluntary repatriation of Karen refugees back to Burma.

Prosecution and conviction of human trafficking cases in the Philippines.

Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, post-conflict.