Dr. Angela J. Lederach, assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University, will deliver the keynote address at Eastern Mennonite University’s Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 1 p.m. in Yoder Arena at the University Commons.
As a scholar-practitioner, she has engaged in over a decade of participatory research with grassroots peacebuilders in Colombia as they work to transform violent conflict, deepen possibilities for environmental justice, and cultivate a more just and livable world.
Her research focuses on community-based responses to transforming the interlocking dynamics of political and environmental violence.
She is the author of the award-winning book, Feel the Grass Grow: Ecologies of Slow Peace in Colombia (Stanford University Press, 2023). Alongside her father John Paul, she also co-authored the book When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation (Oxford University Press, 2010).
With a dual PhD in cultural anthropology and peace studies from the University of Notre Dame, Lederach has accompanied peacebuilding, environmental, and restorative justice initiatives in Sierra Leone, Philippines, Colombia, Bolivia, and the United States.
“I feel incredibly honored and, quite frankly, humbled to be chosen to speak at EMU’s Commencement,” Lederach said. “The faculty, students, and alumni at EMU have deeply shaped my own understanding of justice and peace, have inspired me to imagine and work toward cultivating more peaceful and dignified futures for collective life on this planet, and they form a vital part of the transnational community that has taught me what solidarity means in practice and which inspires me to engage in the everyday work of building peace amid ongoing violence.”
“By combining interdisciplinary scholarship with ethical inquiry, EMU has helped to nurture a distinctive community that spans the globe,” she added. “I am indebted to this community for my own formation, learning, and sense of grounded hope—and feel very honored to be asked to be part of this significant milestone for the graduating class.”
Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus said Dr. Lederach brings a rare depth of scholarship that bridges lived experience and critical inquiry. Her work explores how “slow peace” emerges through grassroots communities that reshape and sustain peace over time, even as she carries forward and reimagines a generational legacy in restorative justice and conflict transformation.
“In her work, she reminds us that peace is not only studied but practiced, offering our graduates a compelling vision of leadership that is thoughtful, courageous, and rooted in the daily work of building a more just and hopeful world,” Dycus said.
Rooted in the values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs and practices, Eastern Mennonite University offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary degrees that prepare students to serve and lead in a global context. A leader among faith-based universities, EMU was founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has a site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; students can study in person or online.
To livestream Dr. Lederach’s Commencement address, visit EMU’s Facebook page.
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