Education

B.A. in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies, Goshen College, 2015

Master of Public Affairs, Indiana University, 2021

Biography

Eva joined the staff of the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) in July 2021. As Director of Education & Training, Eva focuses on the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of all education and training courses, workshops, and programs offered by KIPCOR. She coordinates each of these community learning opportunities in collaboration with contract facilitators, Bethel College faculty and staff, and other community partners.

Eva is an experienced practitioner who has facilitated large and small groups, mediated conflicts between individuals, and designed and implemented processes for transforming conflict and managing difference. Through her work, Eva has worked closely with justice system partners including courts, judges, and attorneys, as well as collaborating with school administrators to build more restorative options for youth and their families to both prevent and respond to community harms. She has also coordinated and facilitated restorative processes and implicit bias trainings for other community groups and organizations.

Prior to her role at KIPCOR, Eva finished her Master of Public Affairs degree with a concentration in Nonprofit Management at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, IN. Eva first discovered restorative justice in high school, using the topic for her senior research paper. Following this initial exposure to the field of restorative practices, she studied Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies at Goshen College (Goshen, IN) and has since worked in a variety of roles including: program coordinator at the Center for Restorative Programs (Alamosa, CO), volunteer mediator at the Center for Community Justice (Elkhart, IN), adjunct instructor for the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program at Goshen College, contract facilitator at Peace Learning Center (Indianapolis, IN), and graduate teaching assistant for a graduate-level Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution course at IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Outside of these roles, Eva has dabbled in other work, including as an archival assistant for Mennonite Church USA and as a floral designer.

Through these and other life experiences, Eva strives to embrace creativity, storytelling, and a willingness to grow and learn (even when it’s difficult) in all aspects of her work. She also loves playing board games with family and friends, occasional watercoloring, and cooking and eating delicious meals with her partner Sam.