Kathleen Kuehnast: Building a More Peaceful World

Alumni of Notable Achievement recipient Kathleen Kuehnast (PhD ‘97, anthropology) studies the impacts of war and violent conflict on women and their communities, while also aiming to “make the invisible visible,” that is, recognizing the critical roles women play in building peace. Her work is in collaboration with practitioners, academics, and policymakers, where she works to find common ground and common languages among these distinct approaches to understanding women in war.

What brought you to the University of Minnesota and how did you end up studying what you did?

Since I was 10 years old, I wanted to become an anthropologist. At that time, there were very few female professional role models for girls, however, when I read about anthropologists like Jane Goodall and Margaret Mead in National Geographic magazines, I began to imagine my future. It took a long time for me to realize that dream, but at the age of 30, I started the PhD anthropology program at the University of Minnesota. It was the best decision of my life as it led me to two years of anthropological fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan, where I studied the impact of Soviet policies on women before and during the collapse of the Soviet Union. This research informs my current work, especially how rapidly the expectations and roles of women change during a crisis.

What do you do now? What energizes you about it?

For the past 17 years, I have had the privilege of working at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C., where I lead the portfolio on women, peace, and security. I am energized by learning from women around the world who find highly creative and unexpected pathways toward non-violent solutions in their countries. Working with grassroots women peacebuilders from conflict settings, such as Myanmar, Ukraine, Cameroon, Haiti, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues to be a humbling experience. Many women peacebuilders face extremely dangerous situations daily and yet they are fiercely tenacious and persistent in their efforts to bring peace to their communities and countries. 

My work also focuses on international and national policies, such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace, and Security Act of Congress, both seek to ensure that women are a part of every peace process and that their experiences of war are understood through a more inclusive lens. 

What was something special about your home department?

The University of Minnesota's anthropology department, and especially my advisor Professor Gloria Goodwin Raheja, set high standards and provided the state of the art in theory and practice, which I use in my work daily. The field of anthropology prepares an individual to see the whole of society, which is critical for an understanding of violent conflict.

If you could go back to your time in college, what advice would you give to yourself at that age?

Keep focused on your goal, but be open should doors open effortlessly to a new opportunity that was not originally a part of your plan.

What should current students understand about your profession if they are considering it for themselves?

Being an anthropologist in the field of conflict and peacebuilding means that most of the places I travel to and work in are difficult at best, and sometimes dangerous. But at the same time, I have worked with some of the most extraordinary people who have survived horrific violence and transformed their experiences into powerful actions toward healing their communities. Many of these most courageous frontline peacebuilders are women. Their lives and their pursuit of peace give me great hope every day.

This story was edited by Sally Adams, an undergraduate student in CLA.