Grace Galumje MPP ’26 spent years working with communities affected by conflict and displacement in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where she grew up. Those experiences shaped her commitment to peacebuilding and informed her research, including a paper recently published by Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Press examining the effects of ongoing violence on education and security.
Her paper, "Nigeria's Hidden War: The Jihadist Campaign Behind the ‘Farmer-Herder’ Label,” examines the conflict in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue states, challenging the characterization of violence in the region primarily as disputes between farmers and herders. Galumje explores the role of extremist groups in the conflict and the consequences for displaced communities, particularly children whose education has been disrupted. Her research also considers the implications for U.S. special operations strategy and offers recommendations for addressing the relationship between education and regional security.
Galumje continued exploring the relationship between education and conflict during her graduate studies at the School, where she specialized in international security and economic policy. As a fellow with the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative, she studied the effects of violent conflict on children's access to education in north-central Nigeria. Her research monograph, completed in March 2026 in partnership with the Institute of Public Leadership, became the foundation for her JSOU paper.
She presented her research at the School’s 2026 Research Day, where it caught the attention of CISSM Fellow Clyde Moore, a member of the U.S. special operations community, who recognized its relevance to national security policy and subsequently contacted JSOU Press to advocate for publication.
Galumje’s research draws on years of practical experience in conflict prevention and community peacebuilding. At the Plateau Peace Building Agency, she facilitated 34 dialogues between farming and herding communities, helped establish local peace committees and contributed to efforts that prevented violence in 14 communities. She also managed a U.S. Embassy-funded initiative that supported the return of more than 70 displaced families.
At SOS Children's Villages Nigeria, she coordinated a European Union-funded democratic governance program across six states and 12 local government areas. Her work included a school-based peace education program that trained 300 students and 24 teachers and established 12 peace clubs. She has also worked with the U.S. Institute of Peace and contributed to initiatives involving international organizations including GIZ, Mercy Corps and Search for Common Ground.
While at the School, Galumje also supported legislative advocacy through the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity, mobilizing students to engage with the Maryland General Assembly on education funding and juvenile justice reform. She was also a graduate fellow with the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area.
Following her Research Day presentation, Galumje worked with JSOU Press and peer reviewers throughout the summer to prepare her research for publication. The paper, released in October, is now available to the approximately 70,000 personnel in the U.S. Special Operations Forces community, as well as national defense strategists and researchers.
Galumje currently works as a development program assistant with the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area, supporting program development, fundraising and initiatives related to global affairs and education. Her work continues to reflect her commitment to understanding how conflict affects communities and advancing policies that support education, security and lasting peace.
