Leah Aylward

Most recently, Leah was awarded a University of Queensland Research Scholarship and a University of Queensland International Research Award and commenced her doctoral studies in July 2008. She is currently working on her research project entitled: Development and Violence: rethinking the analytical framework.. She also works in the School of Political Science and International Studies as a research assistant and as a tutor. As a Rotary World Peace Fellow, Leah obtained her advanced M.A. in International Studies with a focus on Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University in Environmental Science and Public Policy with certificates in International Development, Latin American Studies, Spanish and Teaching. Leah has also spent a significant amount of time in Colombia as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar researching university involvement with community development and in Costa Rica as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying at EARTH University, which focuses on agricultural sciences and sustainable development of the humid tropics. Leah has carried out internships at the United Nations Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago, Chile; the Foundation New Era Galapagos in Ecuador and the Costa Rican Foundation for Sustainable Development. In the future, Leah hopes to teach and carry out research to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding surrounding issues of international development, inequality and their relationship to violent conflict and peace. Her specific region of interest is Latin America.