Professor Gilda Parrella Brief Biography
Item
Title
Professor Gilda Parrella Brief Biography
Description
Professor Emerita School of Communication Loyola University of Chicago
In the interview, Parrella describes her involvement with the Peace Studies committee in the early 1990s in order to create a new program at Loyola University Chicago following affiliation with Mundelein College. Parrella has a research background in conflict resolution and participated in a group called Conflict Resolution Catalysts in the Soviet Union in 1990. Within the committee, she discusses the gender dynamic of the committee with the women more interested in material regarding mediation and resolving conflict, whereas the men were focused on coursework on power and authority. She also notes how men dominated the conversations. Of importance to her in forming the program was not simply to have a collection of classes under a header, but to have courses that worked towards making the world better. The university incorporated the minor into the curriculum in 1993. Parrella closes reflecting on reflecting on the importance of peace to her in relation to her work on conflict resolution in war and peace settings, stressing interpersonal relations and mediation.
In the interview, Parrella describes her involvement with the Peace Studies committee in the early 1990s in order to create a new program at Loyola University Chicago following affiliation with Mundelein College. Parrella has a research background in conflict resolution and participated in a group called Conflict Resolution Catalysts in the Soviet Union in 1990. Within the committee, she discusses the gender dynamic of the committee with the women more interested in material regarding mediation and resolving conflict, whereas the men were focused on coursework on power and authority. She also notes how men dominated the conversations. Of importance to her in forming the program was not simply to have a collection of classes under a header, but to have courses that worked towards making the world better. The university incorporated the minor into the curriculum in 1993. Parrella closes reflecting on reflecting on the importance of peace to her in relation to her work on conflict resolution in war and peace settings, stressing interpersonal relations and mediation.