Pamina Firchow

Pamina Firchow is an Associate Professor at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management, where she teaches graduate students and conducts research at the intersection of peacebuilding, transitional justice, and participatory research methodologies. Previously, she held faculty positions at George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, where she served as Associate Director of the PhD program in Peace Studies.

Education:

• PhD in Development Studies, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
• MSc in Comparative Politics, London School of Economics and Political Science
• MA in International Relations & Peace and Conflict Studies, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires (Rotary Peace Scholar)
• B.A., Carleton College

Dr. Firchow's research focuses on the politics of knowledge creation in international aid, particularly examining how local communities affected by mass violence can be included in measurement and evaluation processes. She is especially interested in participatory statistics and mixed method research, serving as Founding Executive Director of the Everyday Peace Indicators initiative, which develops community-generated indicators of peace. Her work challenges traditional top-down approaches to peacebuilding evaluation and advocates for more inclusive, locally grounded methodologies that center community voices in post-conflict settings.

An analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent themes across her scholarly output, with particular emphasis on bottom-up approaches to measuring peace, the politics of data in conflict settings, and the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms. Her work demonstrates a clear trajectory from theoretical exploration of participatory methodologies to practical applications in field settings, particularly in Colombia and Uganda. She frequently collaborates with researchers across disciplines, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to peacebuilding research.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Award (2020) for 'Reclaiming Everyday Peace'
• Senior Jennings Randolph Fellow at US Institute of Peace (2016)
• Jean Monnet Fellowship at European University Institute (2019)
• Fulbright Scholar to Colombia (2020)

Dr. Firchow has successfully secured funding from numerous prestigious sources including the National Science Foundation, United States Institute of Peace, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Humanity United. She serves as a consultant to international organizations including the UN, World Bank, International Alert, and Conciliation Resources. Her scholarly-practitioner approach bridges academic research and real-world peacebuilding applications, resulting in impactful contributions to both theory and practice in the field.

As Founding Executive Director of Everyday Peace Indicators, she leads a major research program and 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to participatory research and evaluation in conflict-affected settings. This initiative represents a significant contribution to the field by creating practical tools that enable communities to define and measure peace on their own terms.