Cal State LA has been selected as a member of 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 institutions for their efforts in creating, implementing, and assessing honors-level academic 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 Honors College at Cal State LA is truly thrilled to be part of the inaugural cohort of Partners in Peace,” said Kathy J. Cooke, director of the Honors College at Cal State LA. “This honor recognizes our commitment to student learning and making change on a global scale. We sent students to the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mexico last September, thanks to funds endowed in support of the Honors College by former President James M. Rosser. We also are building our curricular offerings in peace for 2025-26, providing Cal State LA students with the opportunity for deep study and research in approaches to peace.”
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.
The NCHC’s International Education Committee, the originator of the Partners in Peace initiative, recognized Cal State LA and other universities as part of the 2024-25 inaugural cohort during the 59th Annual NCHC Conference in Kansas City, Mo., this past fall.
Eddie Weller, president of the NCHC, said: “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 changemakers 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 Kevin W. Dean, coordinator of the Partners in Peace, at kdean@nchchonors.org.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
