--- title: "Dean's Message: Kroc School Alumni Give Real-world Meaning to the Word “Courage”" description: Dean Patricia Marquez discusses the importance of investing in peace and justice education amidst the pandemic. She sheds light to the projects of the Kroc School Alumni Honorees. --- [Skip Navigation](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/peace/the-innovating-peace-blog/deans-message-kroc-school-alumni-give-real-world-meaning-to-the-word-courage#main) [![University of San Diego](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Branding%20Assets/logo-usd.png)](https://www.sandiego.edu/) [Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/) - [About](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/) Learn more about Kroc School history, faculty, events and more. 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[Academics Overview](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/) GETTING STARTED - [MS in Conflict Management and Resolution](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ms-conflict-management-resolution/) - [MS in Humanitarian Action](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ms-humanitarian-action/) - [MA in Social Innovation](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-social-innovation/) - [MA in Peace and Justice](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-peace-and-justice/) - [JD/MA in Law and Peace and Justice](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/jd-mapj-dual-degree/) - [MA in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-restorative-justice/) - [Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership Certificate](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/restorative-justice-certificate/) - [Career Development](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/current-students/career-development.php) - [Admission Requirements](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/admission-requirements.php) - [Experiential Learning](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/current-students/experiential-learning.php) - [Undergrad Opportunities](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/undergraduate-opportunities.php) - [Certificates](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/certificates.php) - [Security Studies Concentration](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/security-studies-concentration.php) - [Fellowships](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/fellowships.php) ![nav-academics](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Photos/nav-academics.jpg) - [Students & Alumni](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/) Providing resources and connections to Kroc School students and alumni. 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[About Overview](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/) GETTING STARTED - [Faculty, Staff and Board](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/directory.php) - [Signature Events](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/signature-events/) - [Giving](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/giving.php) - [Contact Us](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/contact-us.php) - [Kroc IPJ Building](https://www.sandiego.edu/scheduling/venues/) - [Partnerships](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/about/partnerships.php) ![nav-about](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Photos/nav-about.jpg) - [Academics](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/) Training courageous doers for the work of peacebuilding, social innovation and conflict resolution. [Academics Overview](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/) GETTING STARTED - [MS in Conflict Management and Resolution](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ms-conflict-management-resolution/) - [MS in Humanitarian Action](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ms-humanitarian-action/) - [MA in Social Innovation](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-social-innovation/) - [MA in Peace and Justice](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-peace-and-justice/) - [JD/MA in Law and Peace and Justice](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/jd-mapj-dual-degree/) - [MA in Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/ma-restorative-justice/) - [Restorative Justice Facilitation and Leadership Certificate](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/restorative-justice-certificate/) - [Career Development](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/current-students/career-development.php) - [Admission Requirements](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/admission-requirements.php) - [Experiential Learning](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/current-students/experiential-learning.php) - [Undergrad Opportunities](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/undergraduate-opportunities.php) - [Certificates](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/certificates.php) - [Security Studies Concentration](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/security-studies-concentration.php) - [Fellowships](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/fellowships.php) ![nav-academics](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Photos/nav-academics.jpg) - [Students & Alumni](https://www.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/) Providing resources and connections to Kroc School students and alumni. 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Kroc School of Peace Studies.* There is no better time than this one to invest in peace and justice education. With the ongoing pandemic, the unfolding political, racial and socio-economic conflicts in this nation, and rising global tensions, we need more professional changemakers and peacebuilders who can work effectively with diverse communities to build tolerance, social justice and prosperity. We need imaginative problem solvers who work toward big accomplishments.  At the University of San Diego’s Kroc School we have been preparing professionals of peace and justice since 2002. Our alumni are working in diverse communities and organizations around the world, making a BIG difference by creating positive change. If you believe like we do in the transformative power of peace and justice education, learn more about our [Kroc School Alumni Honorees](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/peace/students-and-alumni/alumni/honors.php). Their projects are diverse, spanning issues from leading disarmament initiatives in Colombia to eliminating piracy on the eastern shores of Africa; from lobbying for immigration reform in the U.S. to expanding women’s empowerment worldwide. These changemakers are forging a path forward toward a future that is better than the present by tackling the most important challenges we are facing in the 21st century and showing through results what social change looks like. Kroc School alumni give real-world meaning to the word “courage”.    [Join us](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/peace/academics/) to learn how anyone can pursue careers to build a better world and succeed.   ## Contact: Justin Prugh [jprugh@sandiego.edu](mailto:jprugh@sandiego.edu) (619) 260-7573 ![Kroc School](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/USD-SPS-logo-reverse-3.png) About the Author [Kroc School](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/peace/the-innovating-peace-blog/author/kroc-school) The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies (Kroc School) at the University of San Diego is the global hub for peacebuilding and social innovation. Founded in 2007, the Kroc School equips the next generation of innovative changemakers to shape more peaceful and just societies. We offer master's degrees in peace and justice, social innovation, humanitarian action, conflict management and resolution, and a dual degree in peace and law — programs that have attracted diverse and dynamic students from more than 50 countries. In addition to our graduate programs, the Kroc School is home to the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (Kroc IPJ). Founded in 2001, the Institute supports positive change beyond the classroom. Through groundbreaking research, experiential learning, and forward-thinking programs, the Kroc School and Kroc IPJ are shaping a future in which peaceful co-existence is the new normal. ![](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Photos/rmi-hex.svg) ## Request More Information Please complete the form below to learn more about the Kroc School graduate programs. We will email you more information regarding each of our programs. If you would like to receive a program guide for a specific degree, please select a program. ![](https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/hubfs/KROC/%5BKROC%5D%20Photos/rmi-hex.svg) ### Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies [Joan B. 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