Tatsushi Arai, Ph.D.

Sergio Vieira de Mello Endowed Visiting Chair in the Practice of Post-Conflict Diplomacy
School of Diplomacy and International Relations

Dr. Tatsushi Arai holds a doctorate in conflict resolution and has worked over the past twenty years as a mediator, dialogue facilitator, adviser, trainer, and peace researcher in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the United States. His recent activities include training Syrian, Lebanese, Turkish, Afghan, Pakistani, and Nepali government and civil society professionals in mediation and conflict resolution skills; training diplomats from the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; facilitating interfaith dialogues and government-civil society exchanges in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the broader Asia-Pacific context; convening problem-solving workshops on the Taiwan Strait as well as on the East China Sea; working with Nigerian civil society leaders and government agencies to establish a sustainable platform of reintegration and reconciliation support for rehabilitated former Boko Haram members, and providing an advisory role in Rwandan-led initiatives for community-based healing and reconciliation. In addition, drawing upon the diverse institutional partnerships and venues in the United States and other countries, he has regularly trained and advised civilian government, military, police, and peacekeeping professionals, civil society and religious leaders, and representatives of international organizations. Dr. Arai is a Professor of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation at the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Vermont and currently serves as a United Nations Senior Mediation Adviser on a when-actually-employed basis. He previously taught international relations at the National University of Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. Dr. Arai is the author of many publications including Creativity and Conflict Resolution: Alternative Pathways to Peace. He is a Japanese citizen and currently lives in Massachusetts.