Maria Hadjipavlou (2010 ISSRPL)

Maria Hadjipavlou is Assistant Professor at the Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus. She holds a Ph.D in Social and Political Change, Boston University, U.S.A (1987). She was a visiting scholar at the school of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University (1996-97), where with Dr. Andrea Bartoli founded the Center of International Conflict Resolution (CICR)and she continues to be a senior research associate and supervisor to graduate students. She has facilitated and designed numerous conflict resolution workshops among different social groups from both Cypriot communities, including: the Cyprus Peace Center (1999-2008), Cypriot Women’s NGO, “Hands Across the Divide” (2001) and WINPEACE (Women’s Initiatives for Peace, Greece and Turkey) for youth educational camps. She has published widely in the areas of conflict resolution, the Cyprus conflict, women and peace, ethnic stereotypes, the ‘crossings’, etc. She has recently coordinated a pioneer research project on “Women in All Cypriot Communities” and a Report was published on these finding in English, Greek and Turkish. (2004). This project was funded by the European Union. She has coordinated the youth camp “Coexistence and Diversity Matter” funded by UNDP-ACT, 2006. Her book, titled “Women and Change in Cyprus: Feminisms, and Gender in Conflict.”, I.B. Tauris Press , 2010. Her research interests include international conflict resolution, gender and conflict, feminist theory and memory and reconciliation.

Stavros Karayanni (2010 ISSRPL)

Stavros was born in Cyprus and pursued English studies in Canada on a Commonwealth scholarship. He has published widely on culture, gender, and sexuality in the Middle East with belly dance being the main focus of his intellectual interest and an artistic passion. His book Dancing Fear and Desire: Race, Sexuality and Imperial Politics in Middle Eastern Dance(Wilfrid Laurier UP 2004, reprinted 2005, 2007) reveals the intricate ways in which the present tradition of this controversial dance has been shaped by Eurocentric models that define and control identity performance. Stavros has broken new ground for belly dance by incorporating it in his presentation of academic papers at international conferences. He teaches English Literature and Cultural Theory in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at European University Cyprus.

Christiana Karayianni (2010 ISSRPL)

Christiana Karayianni, born in Cyprus, is a PhD candidate in Media & Cultural Studies at University of Sussex, UK. She received her BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from University of the West of England and continued her education in London at the University of the Arts, London College of Communication, from where she received an MA with concentration in Interactive Media. Concurrently with her PhD research Christiana is teaching courses related to Media, Communication and Design at Frederick University in Cyprus.

Dilek Latif (2010 ISSRPL)

Dilek Latif is lecturer in international relations department at Near East University in north Nicosia, Cyprus. She obtained PhD from Middle East Technical University on Peacebuilding in Ethnically Divided Societies with a focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. She was Fulbright Visiting Scholar in California State University— Dominguez Hills in Fall 2007. Her particular scholarly interest and publications lies in the area of peace studies, concentrating on strategies toward establishing peace and reconciliation in divided societies. She has been involved in internationally sponsored bi-communal peace projects in Cyprus as consultant, researcher and trainer.