Alum Kyle Cristafalo

Want to hear about the real experiences of PACS alum? What exactly does one do with a PACS major or minor? After contacting some alum we want to make this information and encouragement open to you. Today’s profile comes from Kyle Cristafalo. Kyle graduated from Messiah in May of 2009 and had a major in Peace and Conflict Studies. That’s before it was an official major, so Kyle is one of those people we can thank for paving the road for the PACS major. Right after graduating, Kyle spent 10 months with Mennonite Central Committee in Israel-Palestine. He worked at a non-profit and volunteered with organizations that brought Israelis and Palestinians together to help transform the conflict. After returning back to the US Kyle participated in a domestic year of service with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. He focused on anti-hunger and poverty issues as well as immigration. Kyle says that his PACS major was really helpful in teaching  him the importance of working locally in the US as well as abroad. Currently Kyle is finishing his second year of graduate school at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, GA where he is earning his Master of Divinity degree. He is continuing his studies from Messiah by concentrating in Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation. Kyle still uses the material he learned at Messiah and has found it completely relevant to all he has done. We wish Kyle good luck with finishing graduate school and we thank him for truly engaging in the world around him!

Alum Alison Climenhaga Fitchett

Want to hear about the real experiences of PACS alum? What exactly does one do with a PACS major or minor? After contacting some alum we want to make this information and encouragement open to you. Today’s profile is on Alison Climenhaga Fitchett a graduate from May of 2009, who had a minor in PACS. Since graduating she has been busy pursuing graduate studies. In 2011 she graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Master of Theological Studies degree in systematic theology. She then spent a year working at Kern Road Mennonite Church in Indiana. Last fall Alison returned to Notre Dame for graduate studies. She is enrolled in a theology Ph.D. program called the World Religions and World Church program. Her primary interests are inculturation, inter-religious dialogue, and Christian-Muslim relations Africa. Alison says that her minor in PACS has shaped how she thinks about her faith and provided a foundation for organizing her theological priorities. We certainly congratulate Alison for her success and wish her the best as she earns her Ph.D!

PACS HAS A NEW WEBSITE

Check it out! It has anything and everything you could possibly need to learn about the Peace and Conflict Studies program here at Messiah, plus other great resources!!

http://www.messiah.edu/departments/peace-conflict/