Abigail Ruane is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California’s (USC’s) School of International Relations (B.A., Psychology, Cornell University, 2002; M.A., International Relations, USC, 2006). She is fascinated by opportunities for intercultural conflict resolution and has visited over 20 countries. Abigail has enjoyed assisting in teaching and researching about international conflict resolution and gender, and her dissertation studies how women’s rights have been negotiated in the United Nations. She has also advocated for student interests at USC, edited the Journal of Public and International Affairs, published in International Studies Perspectives, and interned in the US Senate and in conflict-resolution –focused nongovernmental organizations. After graduation, Abigail hopes to pursue a career that promotes public policy which enables more just conflict-resolution practices and greater security and opportunities for vulnerable people.