Peace A. Medie is a Ph.D. Candidate in Public and International Affairs at the University of
Pittsburgh. Her research interests include gender and security, postconflict state-building, and
civilian protection. Her dissertation addresses the variation in police officers responses to violent
crimes against women in Liberia. She investigates why police officers forward most rape cases
to court while allowing complainants to withdraw most cases of internal human trafficking and
aggravated assault. She examines how the violence experienced during the country’s civil war
as well as the efforts of international organizations and local women’s rights organizations have
influenced police behavior. This project is based on field research conducted in Liberia.
Peace is also conducting research on the varied strategies that civilians adopt to protect
themselves from violence during conflict. For this project, she has interviewed Ivorian and
Liberian refugees in Ghana. Her research has been supported by grants from the American
Political Science Association and the International Federation of University Women. Peace has
also held an International Fellowship from the American Association of University Women. She
was awarded the 2010 Graduate Student Paper Prize by the Women of Color Caucus of the
National Women’s Studies Association and the 2010-2011 Best Graduate Student Paper Prize
from the African Politics Conference Group. She holds a B.A. in Geography and Resource
Development from the University of Ghana and an M.A. in International Affairs from Ohio
University.