Core Team
Patrick T. Hiller - Executive Director: Patrick T. Hiller holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University and a M.A. in Human Geography from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany. He is scholar-in-residence and adjunct instructor at the Conflict Resolution Department at Portland State University. Following an interdisciplinary approach, his work and research interests encompass conflict resolution, peace studies, environmental issues, ethnicity, human rights, nationalism, social justice, Mexico, Latin America, social/peace movements, identity formation, culture and conflict and migration. He studied and worked on those topics while living in Germany, Mexico and the United States.
His writings and research are almost exclusively related to the analysis of war and peace and social injustice and , most often in the form of structural violence and power dynamics with an emphasis on human dignity, solidarity among all peoples, equal participation of all peoples, the role of the governments and the promotion of peace.
Patrick is editor of the open-access, peer-reviewed journal Resistance Studies Magazine and member of the editorial team for the Peace and Conflict Studies Journal, member of the Governing Council of the International Peace Research Association, member of the Advisory Council of the organizations International Cities of Peace and PeaceVoice, member of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Peace Institute, as well as member of the Resistance Studies Network and the Peace and Justice Studies Association.
In his free time, Patrick enjoys the outdoors and is a committed triathlete. He lives in Hood River, Oregon with his wife and son.
Raymond (Ray) Guy Jubitz was a volunteer for 12 years with the International Executive Service Corps as its country director in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka where he gained an immense appreciation for cultural diversity and community investment. A graduate of the California Maritime Academy with an MBA from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Business, Ray spent many years in the maritime industry, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Ray and his wife now live in Portland. Ray has been the Executive Director of the Jubitz Family Foundation since its inception.
A native Oregonian, Al graduated from Beaverton High School in 1962, Yale University (BS) in 1966, and the University of Oregon School of Business (MBA) in 1968. Al and his wife Nancy have been married 45 years. They have three grown daughters and four grandchildren.
Al retired from the family business (Jubitz Corporation) after a career spanning 34 years. He is Past President and remains active in the Rotary Club of Portland and currently serves on the Board of the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. Al is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon, Class 20.
He also serves on the Leadership Councils of the Portland Children’s Museum, Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Environment Defense Fund in New York City. He is Director Emeritus of Morrison Child and Family Services and an emeritus trustee of Outward Bound Wilderness School.
Al is President and Founder of the Jubitz Family Foundation and has served as a director of two private start-up companies. His interests are in the areas of peace building, environmental stewardship, early childhood education, and building bridges out of poverty. He enjoys hiking, playing squash, and golf.
Erin Thomas - Program Manager: Erin has a B.A. in International Economic Development from The George Washington University and an M.A. in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina where where she was a member of the Rotary Peace Fellow inaugural class. Her diverse career includes education program management with Mercy Corps, experience in charitable giving for Federated Department Stores, coordination of political campaigns, and a half a decade working in Latin America in both government and NGO positions.
Erin has served as a Community Builder Fellow for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as an Urban Community Development Volunteer for Peace Corps in Ecuador and she received a Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations Fellowship where she worked on community banking issues.
Liz Thatcher - Executive Assistant: Liz joined the War Prevention Initiative core team in June of 2012. Before relocating to Portland, Liz spent 13 years in the financial services industry with RBC Wealth Management in Minneapolis. She was the grants administrator for RBC Foundation – USA for seven years, managing a variety of employee giving and volunteer programs and overseeing several hundred grant requests annually. Prior to joining the company’s foundation, Liz coordinated annual conferences and provided sales and marketing support for the wealth management consulting group. Liz has a B.A. in American Studies from Colby College.
