Blog – HJ International

A Selection of Spring 2026 Courses

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HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership is proud to present the courses for the Winter Intensive and Spring 2026. For a brief video overview of each course click here. View HJI Spring 2026 and Winter Intensive Courses here!

Holiday Gathering for Faculty and Staff

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On December 22, HJI faculty and staff gathered on campus for our annual holiday luncheon. It was a wonderful opportunity for connection, allowing us to pause and celebrate the year’s collective achievements. Between the delicious catered meal and a lively holiday gift exchange, the room was filled with the spirit of the season. As we look back on a successful year, HJI extends a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team. We look forward to everything we will achieve together as we move into 2026.

Alumna Spotlight – Mika Deshotel

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Mika Deshotel | Doctor of Ministry, 2025 | Bridgeport, Connecticut What inspired you to apply to HJI and your program? What do you most appreciate about being a student at HJI? I began taking classes as a non-degree student in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. I was a pastor and saw this as my chance to receive formal religious education to better serve my community. Later, in 2022 when I completed my time in full-time ministry, I felt called to apply for the DMin program, as a next step for me to increase my capacity to serve God in a bigger way. I...

SDG 4 : Global and Regional Perspectives and Pathways toward 2030

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Together with the Research Institute for the Integration of World Thought (RIIWT), HJI co-hosted a special program, focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education, entitled “SDG 4 : Global and Regional Perspectives and Pathways toward 2030.″ Ambassador Mario L. de Leon Jr (Ret) of the Philippines highlighted the importance and various issues on education and Dr. Thomas Ward, Professor of Peace and Development Studies, HJI, followed with his response. Dr. Claude Perrottet, president of RIIWT, moderated the event. This insightful program...

Faculty Roundtable “True Parents in America: A Chronology, 1965-2025”

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HJI held its Faculty Roundtable Series on Thursday, December 4, and featured Distinguished Professor of Historical Studies at HJI, Dr. Michael Mickler as he shared with us his work and his team upon completing a chronology of True Parents in America 1965-2025. Dr. Franco Famularo, Chair of the HJI Board of Trustees and HJI Alumni, Mr. Michael McDevitt, Director of HJ East Garden Museum and Ms. Tal Zorer, Executive Assistant to the President of FFWPU-USA added their comments and perspectives about the project of preserving the history of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han in...

Fourth Annual Research Day

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HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership held its 4th Annual Research Day on Thursday, November 20, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, and guests for an inspiring evening of scholarship and dialogue. The program featured keynote speaker Dr. James Rodgers Fleming, HJI’s most widely published alumnus and a world-renowned historian of science and public policy scholar. Dr. Fleming shared key insights from his decades of research on climate change, offering a thoughtful look at its historical development and policy implications. Attendees also explored a...

Student Spotlight – Robert Duffy

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What inspired you to apply to HJI and your program? What do you most appreciate about being a student at HJI? Rev. Moon invited me to attend HJI (UTS at the time) in 1991, but I was unable to at that time due to family concerns. I had given up my university education to be fully active as a UC member in the 1970s, but I always wanted to complete my studies. With my children grown up and established, I sought to fulfill that long-neglected wish in religious studies, a zone of interest I had spent my adult life in. As an HJI student, I have the pleasure of learning from the highest level...

Bitter Winter Article by Dr. Thomas Ward

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Revisiting a Forgotten Alliance: Kim Dae Jung, the Moons and Korea’s Democratic Journey On March 18, 2010, at a special event held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York entitled “Honoring a Legacy of Peace at the United Nations,” Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han, presided over a memorial ceremony recognizing eight historic figures who had passed away between 2007 and 2010. Among those honored was President Kim Dae Jung, a leading architect of Korea’s democracy and a pivotal figure in ending the era of military authoritarianism. Read more…

Leaders of the African Diaspora Community Honored at HJI

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On November 15, 2025, the National Day of Peace in Côte d’Ivoire, the Universal Peace Federation–USA, in partnership with Women for Peace in Africa, honored three outstanding leaders of the African diaspora community during a special ceremony held at the new campus of HJ International in Manhattan. Three dynamic young Africans received the Ambassador for Peace certificate in recognition of their service, leadership, and commitment to promoting peace within their communities. Mr. Bakary “Bouba” Kida, Manager at American Express and Founder of...