Meet The Staff

Chelsea Cornwell holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut and a master’s in disaster resilience leadership from Tulane University. She is currently working as a JSOCCP-certified clinician with juveniles in a residential treatment program to address inappropriate sexual behaviors with an accountability and strengths-based perspective. Her professional background includes work as a sexual assault victim advocate, AmeriCorps member working with educational programs for youth, and NGO representative to the United Nations on behalf of the International Association of Schools of Social Work as an intern. Chelsea came to the Forage Center as a program participant in 2016 and joined the program staff in 2017. She has served as controller/evaluator and exercise director with the education & training committee.

Christy McGuire is a learning scientist and lifelong learner. She is currently Community Engagement Program Manager with the Center for Urban Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Her 2021 Ed.D. dissertation research focused on white teachers’ beliefs about discussing race and racism in the classroom. Since earning a Ph.D. in cognitive and experimental psychology from Georgia Tech in 2001, Christy has worked in various education-related workspaces, including an international nonprofit and national for-profit, as well as co-founding an educational technology startup. Christy participated in the 2018 Forage Center training at LaRoche College, then returned in 2018 as a role player and member of the education & training committee. She is particularly interested in collaborating with educators around racial equity and culturally relevant pedagogy, as well as in exploring humans’ various ways of knowing.

Heather Payne is a Program Management and Learning and Development professional with a strong background in designing, implementing, and coordinating programs for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and vulnerable populations. She has extensive experience leading national and international training programs. Previously, she served as a Training Manager at a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention, where she developed trauma-informed care crisis counselor training. Additionally, Heather worked as an online trainer for unarmed civilian protection with the DC Peace Team, empowering individuals to navigate conflict situations nonviolently. Heather’s career includes extensive humanitarian work in South Sudan, Lebanon, and India, where she collaborated with local civil society organizations on educational and vocational projects for women, youth, and children. Her work in conflict and post-conflict settings centered on community protection, gender-based violence prevention, and child protection. She also has experience working with youth in correctional facilities, teaching, and data collection. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

Jess Bonnan-White is a security studies scholar and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in homeland security, conflict resolution, peace studies, criminological theory, humanitarian history, and emergency management. Her work has been published in Contemporary Justice Review, PLOS Currents Disasters, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Peace Review, Agriculture and Human Values, Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education, Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the International Association for Emergency Management Bulletin. Jess is also the recipient of an International Peace Research Association Foundation research grant for her recent work on policing in Northern Ireland. With domestic and international research and practice experience, her scholarship explores community dynamics, conflict analysis, and governmental response to public crisis. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from Northern Illinois University and the University of Iowa, respectively, as well as a postgraduate certificate in conflict and peace studies from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She also volunteers with the American Red Cross New Jersey Region as a volunteer for the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services programs as the regional lead for the International Humanitarian Law Instruction Program.

Lena Choudhary, J.D., M.S., R.N., is a professor of nursing at Montgomery College. They have been teaching for over eight years. Their content focus is on legal and ethical issues in nursing along with worksite environments, particularly lateral violence or bullying in the nursing profession. They have presented at numerous conferences and faculty and student forums on this topic. They have taught at the undergraduate and graduate level as well. Lena’s specialty is in public health nursing, particularly vulnerable populations, domestic and international. They've worked for and supported the Forage Center's live training simulations for over 10 years with their continued professional development in nursing simulation, which has grown in use tremendously in the last decade.

Logan Varker is a graduate student at George Mason University's Conflict Analysis and Resolution program. He graduated with full honors from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in International and Global Studies and a minor in Spanish language, and is an alum of the Forage Center's Coastal Promise full-immersion disaster simulation in Fall 2019. Logan is interested in pursuing a new political discourse through his studies at George Mason, which would include establishing durable relationships and dialogues between politically polarized groups.

Ninette Irabaruta is Senior Director, Community Engagement and Outreach at United Way of Southern Maine. Ninette is also contracted by Maine Community Foundation, where she coordinates the Investing in Leaders of Color program that focuses on building the field of people and organizations working to promote and increase racial equity in Maine. Previously, she served as global manager for The Nourishment Economies Coalition, where she worked on a two-year project with indigenous communities across North America, all while bringing in new business opportunities and donors. She supported research and outreach with the Mental Health & Racial Equity project at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She also developed workshops to help cultivate young talent in U.S. immigrants and underserved communities on leadership, cross-cultural communication, social justice, and civic engagement. A native of Burundi in Central-East Africa, Ninette moved to the United States in 2012. Ninette holds a B.A. degree in political science from Saint Joseph's College of Maine and an M.A. degree in sustainable international development from Brandeis University.

Sydna Cooper is a graduate from George Mason University receiving her master's of social work and master's of conflict analysis and resolution. Prior to graduate school, Sydna worked as a crisis counselor and an advocate for victims and survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and harassment. She currently works in alternative dispute resolution providing mediation services and development support for workshops and training on communication and conflict resolution skills. In 2015, Sydna was a participant of the Forage Center's Atlantic Promise simulation and returned in 2016 to work as a controller/evaluator of the program.

Will earned their M.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies with a concentration in International Peace Development in 2015, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Their research interests revolve around queer education policy, peer education ethics, curriculum development, and residential colleges. They are a Certified Peer Educator Trainer through NASPA, where they train undergraduate students in various leadership and health-related competencies in an effort to create critical and long-lasting community change. Will is currently a graduate assistant working with peer education techniques and student development with Grogan Residential College, housed at UNCG. Will first participated in a simulation with the Forage Center back in Spring 2014 and has returned three times to serve as an embedded in-role mentor and controller/evaluator for the other simulations.

Naomi Davis is a peace practitioner with a strong background in peacebuilding and development, holding a Bachelor's from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master's in Peace and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University. She uses an intersectional and relational approach in her work, which spans root cause analysis, violence prevention, community organizing, relational fundraising, restorative justice, refugee and immigrant support, global peace research, and community conflict analysis. Naomi is committed to transformative justice and believes in the dignity and healing of all individuals. Since gaining a headstart in community college and engaging as a 2023-2024 Forage Center Fellow, she advocates for incorporating quality experiential learning into education at all levels.

Josh Price, a 2023 Forage Fellow, is pursuing an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, with a concentration in Global and Community Engagement and Peacebuilding at George Mason University Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, which he is slated to complete in May 2025. Concurrently, he contributes as a Recruitment Outreach Specialist for GMU’s College of Education and Human Development. Throughout his academic journey, Josh has analyzed and developed peacebuilding approaches to improve humanitarian stability and religious peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict, examined the structural violence associated with rising costs of higher education, and the intricacies of community restorative justice work. Josh's affinity for conflict resolution was ignited during his undergraduate years, where he earned a B.A. in Communications from GMU, complemented by a minor in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. In 2022, Josh's involvement with the Forage Center flourished when he participated in an humanitarian simulation. Underpinning his passion is a deep-rooted Christ-centered faith, guiding him to serve in areas where humanitarian relief intertwines with spiritual ministry. As time progresses, he is pursuing the prospect of taking his extensive experience and contributing to major global peacebuilding efforts.

Katreena Blazewicz, a 2022 Forage Center alum, is a dual degree Master’s student at George Mason University (GMU) in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Social Work. Katreena holds bachelor’s degrees from Northern Arizona University in Criminal Justice and Criminology, and Psychological Sciences. Katreena’s interest in peacebuilding, human rights, and empowerment was sparked during her work at a domestic violence and human trafficking shelter, which led her to become involved in a local anti-human trafficking coalition and work as a behavioral health technician in a mobile crisis unit. At GMU, she has undertaken a social service internship at the Tahirih Justice Center, a clinical trauma fellowship, and an internship at Arlington’s Department of Human Service Partner SHIFT program. Observing and participating in peacebuilding endeavors in Israel/Palestine and Jordan has further solidified her appreciation for the interplay between her dual fields. Katreena believes in the synergy of social work and conflict resolution for a brighter, more equitable future.

Chenqi Shi is a graduate from George Mason University's Carter School with a Master's in Conflict Analysis. Chenqi's research gravitates towards understanding the interdependence and inclinations of varying social strata and communities in today's complex societal fabric. Chenqi excels in dissecting conflicts through an eclectic blend of structured narrative techniques and offers keen insights into the global application of transitional justice. During Chenqi's tenure at GMU, a profound exploration into the intersections of national geopolitics, diplomacy, and defense policies with conflicts took shape. Chenqi astutely assessed the ripple effects of strategic decisions, tracing shifts from national to grassroots levels and their consequent regional developments. Notably, Chenqi's work delineates the intricate political and cultural tapestries of East Asia, identifying the cultural logic propelling these dynamics. Chenqi delivers innovative solutions tailored for these nations, navigating the precarious path from traditional governmental and judicial frameworks towards a more globalized paradigm.