Professor Thomas J. Ward participated in the 2024 CESNUR Conference in Bordeaux from June 11 to 15. CESNUR (Centro Studi Sulle Nuove Religioni or Center for the Study of New Religions) is led by Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an Attorney by training with decades of experience in the study of new religions and the difficult paths that they must navigate to practice their faith in many countries around the world, including highly developed countries such as Japan and France, as well as less developed countries such as Afghanistan. Key New Religious Movement (NRM) scholars from around the...

by Dr. Michael Mickler, Distinguished Professor of Historical Studies —— It’s a joy to recall the remarkable contributions of Henry Christopher to Unification Theological Seminary, now HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership, and to the wider community.  Henry had a lengthy history with the Seminary. While a Belvedere workshop trainee in 1974, he was among the first assigned to rehab the Main Building of the newly purchased Barrytown property. I don’t know the full extent of his responsibilities, but he mentioned once that did electrical...

The Seonghwa (Memorial) Ceremony to commemorate Henry Christopher’s life will be held Wednesday, June 26 at 4:00 pm EDT at The Washington Times Building located at 3600 New York Ave., NE Washington, DC 20002. Those unable to attend in person are invited to join the ceremony on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/618147675. Passcode 2027. It is with a sad heart that HJI announces the passing of Henry Christopher, HJI graduate, long- time HJI staff member, and dear brother. Henry Christopher was born on January 20, 1947, in Bayshore, New York. His parents, Milton and...

Dr. Thomas G. Walsh To our esteemed members of the graduating class of 2024, congratulations. You make us proud. You’re the best! I listened to a speech delivered by our Founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, a few days ago in Munich, Germany. About 2500 members of Family Federation, along with many others from all walks of life, had gathered. During her speech, she proposed to the audience that we were living in a “golden age,” a great time to be alive. Perhaps she meant, as Dickens wrote, “the best of times, and the worst of times,” for she is deeply aware of the contemporary...

by Mrs. Mika Deshotel, Associate Dean of Student Life This year’s Commencement Ceremony was extra special for our students living nearby to the NYC campus, and who were able to gather for a special Meet and Greet luncheon before many of them took part in the graduation ceremony that day. The informal gathering was organized by the Office of Student Life for the purpose of inviting students to meet together in person, tour the campus, congratulate fellow classmates on their degrees, and recognize the Graduate Student Council for their contributions to the student community this year. We...

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate during HJI’s 2024 Commencement Ceremonies held on May 25 at 4 West 43rd St. Amb. DeTrani is the former Special Envoy for Six Party Talks with North Korea and the U.S. representative to the Korea Energy Development Organization. He is a moderator for the Washington Brief, a national security webinar, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Committee on North Korea and a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies. Amb. DeTrani has published and spoken publicly about North Korea,...

On Saturday, May 25, 2024, HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership (HJI) held its 48th Commencement in New York City to celebrate the class of 2024. Special remarks were offered by Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, Member of the Board of Trustees and Chair, World Christian Leadership Conference (WCLC), followed by Rev. Demian Dunkley, Member of the Board of Trustees, and Chairman and President, Family Federation USA.  Special Remarks – Dr. Ki Hoon Kim Special Remarks – Rev. Demian Dunkley In recognition for his international diplomacy and advocacy for...

HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership held its Third Annual Research Day Program at 7 PM on Tuesday May 14, 2024. This year’s research projects were represented by fourteen student submissions and six additional submissions from faculty and staff. Once again Dr. James Fleming, 1982 HJI Divinity Program Graduate and Charles A. Dana Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Emeritus at Colby College whose writings on the History of Science and Technology including Climate Change and Engineering have been published by Johns Hopkins University, MIT, Oxford...