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Photograph of Joseph Groves

Joseph Groves Adjunct Professor School of International Service

Degrees
PhD, MPhil, MA, Yale University, MDiv, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, BA, Georgia Institute of Technology

Bio
Dr. Joseph Groves formerly served as a professor of religious studies and the director of peace and conflict studies at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, for 20 years and is a founding member of and continues to work with the Beloved Community Center, the Jubilee Institute, the Peace and Justice Network, and the Friends of the Greensboro Poor Peoples' Organization in Greensboro. He has recently retired as Director of Interfaith Peace-Builders, which he helped found as a program of the Fellowship of Reconciliation and then as an independent organization.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

       
  • "Revisiting Self-Suffering: From Gandhi and King to Contemporary Nonviolence," in Nonviolence for the Third Millennium. Simon Harak, Ed. Mercer Press, 2000. First presented as a paper for Religion, Peace, and War Group, AAR Annual Meeting, 1997.
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  • "The Story of the Greensboro Kmart Workers: Moving Towards Authentic Community." Co-authored analysis for public distribution, 1996.
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  • Actualization and Interpretation in the Old Testament.  Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series.  Atlanta:  Scholars Press, 1987.
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  • "The Arabs:  A Living History." Major review article of a 10-part video series.  MESA Bulletin, 21:2 (1987), 259-63.

Executive Experience

       
  • American Academy of Religion (AAR), 1973-present.
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  • Religion, Peace and War Group of the AAR: co-chair, 1989-95; Steering Committee, 1988-99; Founding member, 1983.
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  • Southeast Regional Middle East and Islamic Studies Seminar (SERMEISS): 1980-present: Executive Committee, 1985-87; Program Committee, 1983-85; By-Laws Committee, 1982-83.
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  • Middle East Studies Association, 1980-present.
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  • Consortium on Peace Research, Education, and Development (COPRED): 1993-present.

Professional Presentations

       
  • “Nonviolent Resistance: Strategy and Spirit.” 3-day skills workshop for the International Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, April, 2002.
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  • “From Civil Rights to the Intifada: Case Studies in Nonviolent Resistance.” 3-day skills workshop for the International Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, April, 2001.
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  • “Beyond Fight or Flight: Social and Psychological Roots of Nonviolent Resistance.” Presentation to Resource Center for Nonviolence Staff and Steering Committee, 1996.
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  • "Racial Justice in a Post-Civil Rights Context: The Case of the Greensboro Kmart Boycott.” Presentation to Resource Center for Nonviolence Staff and Steering Committee, 1996.
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  • “Violence and Nonviolence in Hebron: Christian Peacemakers Teams and Jewish Settlers.” Report on Palestinian Resistance on Current Events Panel, SERMEISS Conference, 1995.
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  • “Concrete Responses to Violence:  Buddhist, Liberationist, and Feminist Perspectives.” Moderator for Religion, Peace, and War Group Panel, AAR Annual Meeting, 1994.
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  • "Seeds of Violence in the School and in the Home: Analysis and Critique from a Religious Perspective.” Moderator for Religion, Peace, and War Group Panel, AAR Annual Meeting, 1993.
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  • “Religious Perspectives on Conflict in the Persian Gulf.” Moderator for Religion, Peace, and War Group Panel, AAR Annual Meeting, 1991.
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  • “Religion and Peace in a Cold War Era?” Moderator for Religion, Peace, and War Group Panel, AAR Annual Meeting, 1990.
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  • “Violence and Nonviolence:  Reflections on the Palestinian Intifada in the Wake of Rishon Letzion.”  Paper delivered at SERMEISS, September, 1990.