Peace Programs

Conflict Resolution

Hrair Balian, Director

Hrair Balian joined The Carter Center in 2008 as director of the Conflict Resolution Program. Mr. Balian oversees the Program's efforts to monitor conflicts around the world and work with other Carter Center programs on human rights, democracy, the Americas, China, and health.

Mr. Balian most recently served as director for the office of the U.N. Secretary-General's High Representative for the Elections in Cote d'Ivoire, where he focused on facilitating and certifying democratic elections. Actively involved in crisis mitigation, Mr. Balian assisted in overcoming major political impediments and helped pave the way for political agreement and eventual elections.

He led field activities in Bosnia for the International Crisis Group between 1996-1998, specifically focusing on early warning of conflict resumption and promotion of sustainable stability. At the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, he directed electoral assistance and observation programs. He also developed programs to mitigate long-standing differences between authorities of participating states and opposition leaders. 

Mr. Balian received his juris doctor degree from Golden Gate University. He is fluent in English, French, and Armenian, with a basic understanding of Arabic.

Tom Crick, Associate Director

Mr. Crick joined the Center in 1994, first as a research assistant in the Conflict Resolution Program, becoming executive assistant to the director of the Peace Programs, assistant director of the Center's China Village Elections Project, and is now associate director of the Conflict Resolution Program. Mr. Crick has worked on numerous Carter Center election and conflict resolution projects, primarily in Africa, including the Carter Center-brokered 1995 Guinea worm cease-fire in Sudan, the Great Lakes peace initiative from 1995-1997, and the Center's mediation between Sudan and Uganda. Most recently, his work has concentrated on peace-building issues in Liberia.

Mr. Crick received his bachelor's degree from Bristol University, his master's degree from the Queen's University of Belfast, and has conducted doctoral research at the London School of Economics and at Emory University. Prior to joining the Center, he lectured in political science at a number of polytechnics in the United Kingdom and worked as a journalist and as a project leader at an interdenominational youth project in Northern Ireland. Mr. Crick is a licensed mediator in the state of Georgia.

Nathan Stock, Assistant Director

Nathan Stock joined The Carter Center in 2008 as assistant director of the Conflict Resolution Program, with a focus on Middle East issues.

Before coming to the Center, he spent two years implementing a civil society strengthening program in Afghanistan, where he led the effort to establish a sustainable network of local NGOs capable of providing capacity building assistance to grassroots civil society organizations throughout the country.  He spent two years in the Gaza Strip, working with a Palestinian NGO to fundraise and design conflict resolution programs targeting the Palestinian community. He has also taught English in Palestine and China. 

Mr. Stock holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Colgate University and a master's degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University's School of International Service. He speaks varying degrees of Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, and Dari.

Josephus (Jose) Tenga, Assistant Director

As assistant director, Jose Tenga works primarily on the Carter Center's projects in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. He has extensive experience in the area of development project management and conflict resolution, including more than 25 years of professional and field experience with multiple U.N. missions in conflict regions of Africa.

After receiving his undergraduate degree in 1978, he spent several years working in commercial banking. His experience in financing rural credit initiatives sparked an interest in development and his first-hand experience in regions of conflict cemented an interest in conflict resolution.

Mr. Tenga holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Sierra Leone, a graduate certificate in international peace and conflict resolution from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a graduate certificate in strategic project management from the University of Calgary and, as a Rotary World Peace Scholar, a master's degree in international development policy from Duke University.

Cassandra Grant, Program Assistant

Ms. Grant is responsible for creating and managing program budgets, providing administrative and logistical support for the program, and coordinating with local and international partners to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the program. She has served on Carter Center missions in Venezuela.

Prior to coming to the Center, she served as administrative officer for The National Training Agency of Jamaica, where she coordinated the application and testing process for new recruits and managed the fiscal and administration functions of the organization for the northeastern region of the island. She also has worked with the National Development Foundation of Jamaica, a financial institution providing loans to small businesses.

Ms. Grant holds a bachelor's degree in management from Nova Southeastern University in Florida and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.