Staff

Liora R. Herman, Marketing & Outreach Manager

Ms. Herman is an integral part of the Peace X Peace team. She has played many important roles.  Most recently, Ms. Herman was the Membership Coordinator.  As part of the Membership Team she coordinated the development, implementation, and administration of member communications, recruitment and retention campaigns.  In particular, she played a significant role in Peace X Peace's university outreach.

Ms. Herman has also been Program Associate, where her creativity, ability to muti-task, and vision for peace expanded on a daily basis.  She focused her energy on building a foundation for dynamic programs that excite and unite.  Prior to that, Ms. Herman served as the Office Manager/Executive Assitant where she provided organizational and administrative support to all Peace X Peace team members.

Liora is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies and a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. Although her specialty is the Middle East, she has also spent a significant amount of time studying conflict in Africa and South America. She is proficient in Hebrew and Spanish and has traveled to many nations where knowledge of these languages came into play. She is excited to be with Peace X Peace under the new leadership of Molly Mayfield Barbee and looks forward to all the wonderful changes that are soon to come.

To reach Ms. Herman, email liora@peacexpeace.org.

Mary L. Liepold, Editor-in-Chief

Mary Liston Liepold, Ph.D., has 30 years of experience writing and editing a wide range of materials for national nonprofits, federal and state agencies, and individual authors, and 10 years raising funds for major nonprofits. Before coming to Peace X Peace Dr. Liepold spent 14 years at the Child Welfare League of America, where she developed and for eight years edited the magazine Children's Voice. From 2000 through 2005 she wrote speeches for CWLA President Shay Bilchik while raising several million dollars in federal and foundation grants and developing the organization's first individual giving program.

Mary earned her doctorate in American Literature and Linguistics from the Catholic University of America. Mother of four, grandmother of four, and a daycare mom for 15 happy years before joining the salaried workforce, Dr. Liepold believes with Gandhi that if we want peace, we have to begin with the children. She also believes that if the people lead, the leaders will follow, and she lives that maxim daily at Peace X Peace.

To reach Dr. Liepold, email maryl@peacexpeace.org.

Alicia Simoni, Community Manager and Staff Writer

Ms. Alicia Simoni handles contrubutions for our many e-media projects and enriches  the organization's mission of intercultural learning and peace action by managing our online community. She also a rock star writer. Over the past 10 years, Alicia has dedicated her career and research to women's issues and peacebuilding efforts. Before coming to Peace X Peace, Alicia supported the implementation of relief and development programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan at International Medical Corps. She has significant experience in the design, implementation, and assessment of programs for women survivors of war.

In addition to several years of experience with the international nonprofit Women for Women International, Alicia has also served as a writer for the Women PeaceMaker Program at the University of San Diego, where she documented the life story and peacebuilding work of a South African woman. She has extensive international experience, including time in Afghanistan, Uganda, and Northern Ireland. She holds an MA in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame's Kroc Institute and is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she studied anthropology and women's studies.

To reach Ms. Simoni, email alicia@peacexpeace.org.