I’m an experienced consultant with a decade-long track record of blending rigorous scholarship, practitioner expertise, and innovative storytelling to support clients in advancing peace, developing programs, and conducting academic and applied research. Grounded in peacebuilding theory and practice, I specialize in education, gender, and storytelling. I’ve worked with universities, governments, and NGOs in these areas of focus across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. I’ve also written and edited multiple books, academic journal articles, and NGO reports on these topics, and my work has been featured on National Public Radio, Al Jazeera English, and in GQ.
I received my PhD in Peace, Conflict, and Education from the University of Cambridge (Gates Cambridge Scholar; Rotary Global Scholar), my MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford (Rotary Peace Fellow; Distinction), and my BA in Peace, War, and Defense from the UNC Chapel Hill (Phi Beta Kappa; Highest Distinction). I am also a certified interpersonal mediator (UK Mediation and AIM) and hold professional certificates in Conflict Resolution Theory, Conflict Resolution Applied Skills, and Conflict Sensitive Design and Analysis.
Prior to my research and consulting career, I co-founded and was Executive Director of a peace, arts, and education NGO and developed gender violence prevention programs for men at universities in the US. I also co-led multiple international peacebuilding and storytelling projects across the Middle East for NPR affiliate radio stations and in collaboration with the Academy Award-winning Empowerment Project. Creative storytelling is central to my work and can be essential component of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. I am an accomplished spoken word poet, including regional and national poetry slam championships, multiple TEDx talks, International Storytelling Centre features, and performances for world leaders.
Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt 2011. Sameer Abdel-Khalek.
In addition to my consulting work, I am a Senior Research Fellow at the Men’s Story Project, a gender justice and healthy masculinities NGO. I also currently hold three academic appointments. I am a Visiting Fellow at the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, a Visiting Scholar at George Mason University Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina Global Surgery Program.
William W. McInerney 