Mimi Gerstbauer

Dr. Mimi Gerstbauer is Professor in Political Science, African Studies, and Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies (LALACS), and Co-director of Peace Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she has taught since 2001. She holds a B.A. summa cum laude from Wheaton College (IL), and both an M.A. in Peace Studies and a Ph.D. in Government from the University of Notre Dame.

Her research examines:

• Peacebuilding mechanisms through NGOs and faith-based actors
• Post-conflict reconciliation processes
• Role of forgiveness/apologies in international politics
• Latin American political dynamics and developing nations

Publications focus on NGO operations, transnational peacebuilding, and reconciliation, with regional expertise in Colombia, Nicaragua, and post-communist Europe.

Awards:

• Fulbright Scholar (Poland, 2015)

She directs study-abroad programs including Community Peacebuilding in Colombia (2023) and previously taught at Kansai Gaidai University (Japan).