Leymah Gbowee

Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian peace activist, is widely recognized for leading the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, a women's non-violent peace movement. Her commitment to peace was acknowledged globally when she was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, an honor she shared with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tawakkul Karman. Gbowee holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, further solidifying her expertise in peacebuilding. She is also known for her significant role in the documentary film "Pray the Devil Back to Hell."

As the founder and president of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, Gbowee has been instrumental in providing educational and leadership opportunities for girls, women, and youth in Liberia. She has served as the executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa and was a founding member of the Women in Peacebuilding Program/West African Network for Peacebuilding. Her commitment to social justice has been recognized by prestigious institutions such as Barnard College of Columbia University, where she served as a Distinguished Fellow in Social Justice from 2013 to 2015. Gbowee also contributes to The Daily Beast and has been involved in various peacebuilding initiatives, including the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding and the Women in Peacebuilding Network.

Aside from her peacebuilding efforts, Gbowee's influence extends to the academic sector. She was an executive director of the Women of Peace and Security Program at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, as of April 2017. She has spoken internationally to advance women's rights, and peace and security, including at a 2016 protest march by Women Wage Peace in Israel. A co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, she played a crucial role in ending 14 years of warfare in Liberia and has made significant public appearances, including speaking engagements at international conferences. She has also authored several books and papers on peacebuilding and women's roles in peace processes.