Bio

Dr. Lisa Gibson is serving as an Assistant Professor in the school of International Relations and Development. Dr. Gibson received her PhD in International Relations from the University of Nottingham where she researched how friendship can be a bridge to peace between countries that have a history of conflict by looking at a case study of relations between Libya and America. Dr. Gibson also has a Juris Doctor degree in law from Western Michigan University and spent several years working for nonprofits doing public policy and conflict resolution work before moving into academia. She also has an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Lancaster University where she received the Richardson Institute Prize for best dissertation for Peace and Conflict Studies and a BA in Political Science from Alma College. She has taught in China, the US and UK at the university level and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr. Gibson’s research sits at the intersection of International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies. She is interested in the role of citizens in promoting peaceful relations within the international arena and has a special interest in understanding how identity narratives contribute to conflict and how reframing narratives can help to foster peace.