Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution

Alexis Lyras, Ph.D.

Dr. Alexis Lyras is the new HM King Abdullah II of Jordan Generations For Peace Research Fellow at Georgetown University’s Conflict Resolution Program. Dr. Lyras will focus his research on sport for Peace-building with an emphasis on Olympic education and developing innovative approaches to peace policy, governance, strategic planning and impact assessment.

Dr. Lyras is an International Olympic Committee scholar with the Olympic Solidarity, and has a distinguished record in the field of sport for development and peace. He is one of only a few scholars in the field whose youth sport for development and peace research bridges theory and sport practice. He initiated a number of Sport for Peace-Building projects in local, regional and global communities. Dr. Lyras’ projects include the Doves Olympic Movement, International Sport for Peace and Development Association, Sport for Development Global Initiative and Louisville and Global I.D.E.A.L.S.

Dr. Lyras’ area of expertise is the integration of organizational, cultural and educational aspects of sport for development and peace. He has consulted for national sport development federations, civil society organizations and universities in Greece, Cyprus, Africa, Monaco, the USA and the Caribbean. He has experience developing and assessing curriculum, implementing and evaluating youth sport programs, coaching for professional leagues, and serving as a policy advisor and program auditor.

Dr. Lyras brings a strong research and impact assessment background to his fellowship work. As a grantee and Principal Investigator, he has received more than $500,000 in funding from the Cyprus Research Foundation, the I.O.C., E.U., the U.N.D.P. and the U.S.A.I.D. to implement cross-cultural youth educational sport for peace-building initiatives and more than $2,000,000 in collaborative projects focusing on youth engagement, peace and at risk youth prevention programs. Dr. Lyras’ research oriented programs facilitated effective evidenced-based policies, programs and structures through a number of Youth Sport for Development and Peace Programs and Stakeholders Training Models that emphasize the use of Olympic Education for positive personal development and social change as defined by the UN Millennium Development Goals and the EU White Paper on Sport (e.g. conflict resolution, inter-ethnic tolerance, social inclusion, gender equality and disability, health and education).

Dr. Lyras also works with the International Olympic Academy in Olympia, Greece, the Muhammad Ali Center, the University of Botswana, the University of West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago for projects and initiatives related to Olympism, peace and justice.