Scholarships

The Lida Orzeck Endowed Scholarship supports doctoral degree students in the Social-Organizational Psychology Program. Preference is given to students conducting research in conflict resolution and/or who express an interest in the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution.

The Roy and Deborah Lewicki Scholarship Fund supports doctoral degree students in the Social-Organizational Psychology Program. The scholarship honors TC Professor Emeritus Morton Deutsch, and will be awarded to students conducting research in the field of conflict resolution or social justice, with a preference for those focusing their research in the greater New York area.

The late Morton Deutsch launched the field of conflict resolution during the Cold War, on the premise that cooperation brings opponents to a common ground, while competition undermines trust. Deutsch believed that while humans may continue to engage in violence and war, such conflict is not inevitable. The Morton Deutsch Endowed Fellowship Fund provides ongoing support for students in TC’s Social and Organizational Psychology program who are studying conflict resolution.

The James L. Williams Endowed Fellowship Fund provides support for students who are studying conflict resolution at the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (MD-ICCCR) at Teachers College, Columbia University. The fellowship honors the late James L. Williams, a long-time associate of the MD-ICCCR. James previously served as co-Associate-Director of the Center and was a beloved and innovative instructor, establishing or contributing to the development of several of the Center’s early courses in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. James was also a highly respected consultant, working with educational institutions, businesses and other non-profit organizations on issues of leadership, diversity, conflict and change. His impact on the Center was foundational and formative.

Lida Orzeck Fellowship

Lan Phan

Lan Phan is a current doctoral student in the Social-Organizational Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She focuses her research on cross-cultural adaptivity, nonhierarchical settings, and informal power in the field of conflict resolution. Before entering the program, Lan worked and fostered long-term partnerships that spanned from Haiti, the U.S., China, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, to her home country - Vietnam. Informed by her international work experiences, Lan dedicated her time navigating the intersectionality of her identities and the balance between taking up and creating spaces to empower discourse

 Lida Orzeck Fellowship

 Alexandria Frank

Alexandria Frank is an incoming doctoral student in the Social-Organizational Psychology progtam at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is particularly interested in analyzing narratives of marginalized individuals in the workplace. Alexandria hopes to utilize her doctoral degree and research in the workplace to make equitable policies that serve the health and well-being of historically underserved employees based on qualitative and quantitative data. After graduating summa cum laude from Howard University in 2021 with her B.S. in Psychology, Alexandria taught Latin at a New England boarding school. She carries that love of language and knowledge-sharing into all her academic pursuits.

Roy and Deborah Lewicki Fellowship

Arisa Viddayakorn

Arisa Viddayakorn is entering as a first year doctoral student in the Social Organizational Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Arisa was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. She received a B.S. in Finance and Information Systems and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. Her previous research was focused on helping students develop their purpose and navigate through different stages of life. At Teachers College, Arisa is looking to further explore her research interests in conflict resolution and organizations centered around social justice.

Morton Deutsch Fellowship

 Nicole M. Borunda

Nicole M. Borunda is pursuing their PhD in Social Organizational Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Nicole is curious about dissonance points in organizations that impede a group's ability to reach their stated goals at multiple levels, particularly in the context of social justice. As a new member of the MD-ICCCR team, Nicole brings more than a decade of communications and fundraising experience in the social sector. Their work is greatly informed by healing justice, liberation psychology, Ecological Systems Theory, Indigenous worldview and systems psychodynamics. Nicole seeks to create a world with more joy and justice. 

James L. Williams Fellowship

 Melissa Mannis

Melissa is a certified mediator, linguist and conflict specialist, experienced in program & partnership development. Having worked for ten years in both the private & public sectors, within the Middle East region, studying the languages and cultures that define it, Melissa is especially passionate about strategic development across diverse, often contentious lines, and believes uplifting our collective human experiences is central to a just, thriving, resilient world.

Throughout her work and studies, Melissa took special interest in promoting thoughtful integration of technology into peacebuilding programs and social impact ventures. Currently, Melissa serves as Advisor to the University for Peace (UPEACE) NY Mission to the United Nations and she is a Founding Member and Director of the Peace Innovation Initiative, in partnership with UPEACE, with a mission to create and enable a global practice of peace through innovation. Melissa is a PhD candidate in Applied Anthropology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She pursued her M.A. in Peace and Conflict Management at the University of Haifa, and she holds a B.A. in Arabic and Sociology from Georgetown University. Melissa is committed to harnessing new technology for conflict transformation, collaborative leadership, and the right to self-determination for all people.