Maria Stephan

Dr. Maria J. Stephan is Co-lead and Chief Organizer at The Horizons Project, which strengthens collaboration among US pro-democracy movements. An award-winning author and organizer, she studies nonviolent movements advancing human rights, democracy, and peace. She co-wrote Why Civil Resistance Works with Erica Chenoweth, winner of APSA's best book award and the Grawemeyer Award, among other books on democracy and nonviolent resistance. Previously, she founded the United State Institute of Peace Program on Nonviolent Action, served as lead foreign affairs officer at the State Department, co-directed the Atlantic Council's Future of Authoritarianism initiative, and led policy work at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. Maria holds a BA from Boston College and an MA/PhD from Tufts' Fletcher School. A Truman Scholar and Fulbright Scholar, she's a lifetime CFR member and a trainer with the Freedom Trainers. A native Vermonter, she currently resides in New York City.