Our Team

Jonathan D. Greenberg

Director

Jonathan D. Greenberg co-founded the USF Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice with Dr. Clarence B. Jones, with whom he worked very closely since 2014, and he served as the institute’s Senior Associate Director and Scholar in Residence until Dr. Jones retired as director at the end of 2020.

Prior to his joining USF, Jonathan taught negotiation, conflict resolution, diplomacy and international law at Stanford Law School for thirty years as Lecturer in Law, Teaching Fellow and Director of International Graduate Studies; he concurrently served on the faculty of the Stanford University Program in Public Policy and participated as affiliated faculty with the Stanford Center for African Studies, the Stanford Center for Latin American Studies, and the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation. From 2014-2019, Jonathan served as Scholar in Residence at the law school’s Martin Daniel Gould Center for Conflict Resolution, where he directed the center’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research Project.

As a scholar in the conflict resolution field, Jonathan has published widely on Kingian nonviolence, restorative justice, international law, human rights and environmental history, including articles in Comparative Studies in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East (Duke), The Journal of International Affairs (Columbia), Harvard International Review, Stanford Law Review, Stanford Journal of International Law, and the Vanderbilt Journal of International Law. In the U.S. he has lectured and presented at conferences in universities throughout the United States and internationally, including at Escuela Superior de Administracion de Negocios (Universidad ESAN), Lima, Peru; Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City; the Mongolia Economic Forum, Ulaanbaator; Sophia University, Tokyo; and the World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva.

In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Jonathan served as associate counsel to the Canadian law firm Heenan Blaikie LLP (2005-2013), where he directed the firm’s International Dispute Resolution practice, and as Senior Advisor to the President of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands (2012-14). Jonathan served on the Board of Directors of Step Up on Second (Santa Monica, 2009-2020) a community-based organization providing permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless adults with mental illness in California and throughout the United States, and on the Board of Directors of Traveling Jewish Theatre (San Francisco, 1991-2000).

Gladys A. Perez, M.A.

Program Assistant

Email: gaperez5@usfca.edu

As the daughter of immigrant parents from Oaxaca, Mexico, Gladys A. Perez is a proud Bay Area resident, first-generation college graduate, and artist.

After completing her Bachelor’s in Sociology at USF, Gladys joined the administrative staff of the College of Arts & Sciences in 2015 where she helped foster community among faculty and students through supporting Latinx academic programs and events. Since then she has remained heavily involved in the university by serving as the staff advisor for the student club Latinas Unidas, being an active member of the Working Group to Support Undocumented Students, and providing support as a Process Advocate for the Bias Education and Resource Team (BERT).

A double-Don, Gladys completed her MA in International & Multicultural Education in the School of Education where her research interest included immigration, (counter) storytelling, and creative writing. She hopes to continue her work in higher education to help students explore their experiences through creative writing in order to create a more inclusive university community. Outside of USF, she pursues creative writing and painting to honor her immigrant and indigenous roots and enjoys tending to her indoor garden.

In addition to supporting ADEI, Gladys also supports the Office of Diversity Engagement and Community Outreach.

Barwendé Médard Sané, SJ

Jesuit Graduate Fellow

Email: bsane@dons.usfca.edu

Barwendé Médard Sané, SJ is a Jesuit Priest from Burkina Faso who graduated from Santa Clara University (CA) in 2013. Before receiving an S.T.L. and Th.M. in Social Ethics from Santa Clara, he earned degrees in Theology and Philosophy from African universities. He has fourteen years of experience in African conflict regions (Democratic Republic of Congo - Chad - Ivory Coast - Central Africa Republic), including five years as director of the University Catholic Centre of Bangui, Central African Republic. He helped address the political and religious crisis, which occurred in 2013, by founding two civil organizations: Le Réseau des Volontaires de la Paix and Le Conseil National de la Non-Violence Active. In 2018, the President of Central African Republic, Faustin Archange Touadera, awarded Barwendé the honorary medal for excellence in educational programs.

His research interests are in Pan-Africanism, revolutions and peace-building education. Barwendé is the author of four books largely exploring revolutions, human rights, positive change, and peace-building education:Révolution pour une Afrique Nouvelle, 151 Pyramides pour fonder les États-Unis d’Afrique, (Paris, l’Harmattan 2013), Réaliser les droits humains avec Martin Luther King, Jr., (Paris, l’Harmattan 2014); From the Inner Mountain to the Common Good with Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr., (Mauritius, Editions Croix du Salut, 2017); and Manuel d’éducation à la paix à l’usage des formateurs en Centrafrique, (Bangui, Éditions-jésuites-CCU, 2018). He is currently pursuing a doctorate in education at the School of Education, University of San Francisco (USF) and living in the USF Jesuit Community.

Mikayla Brown

Student Assistant

Mikayla Brown (she/they) is a sophomore double majoring in Communication Studies and Performing Arts and Social Justice originally from Denver, Colorado. They began their work at the Institute of Nonviolence and Social Justice during the pandemic and through transitioning to in-person work, they have deeply connected with the institute’s values and involvement in the community. They are also a fellow of the McCarthy Center’s program, Community Engaged Activists, which allows students an opportunity for immersion and internships in community work and education. Mikayla’s social justice passions for a reimagined just world is uplifting Black, Brown, and Indigenous voices, seeking food and shelter security for all, equitable access to resources- including education, for underserved communities, and healing the planet through environmental justice and music. She is singer-songwriter and instrumentalist that strives to use her voice as a way to engage, enlighten and uplift anyone who listens. Outside of school and music, Mikayla enjoys being out in nature, spending time with loved ones and pets, yoga, and meditation!

Kemelyn Hernandez-Alvarado

Student Assistant

My name is Kemelyn Hernandez-Alvarado, I am a First-Gen. American originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I am a 2nd-year Politics Major with a Minor in Criminal Justice Studies. I hope to have some influence in future legislation by becoming a politician or judge. I like being involved in the community and performing acts of service. A few hobbies and interests are creating graphics, listening to music, and reading, not to mention discovering all the great places to eat in SF.