Saint Leo is part of the third cohort of institutions to receive the distinction, joining about 50 universities in the United States and Europe selected from more than 700 eligible honors programs and colleges.

“Being named a Partner in Peace is an incredible honor for our Honors Program and places Saint Leo in prestigious company,” said Dr. Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University. “It strengthens our commitment to global engagement, reflects the kind of scholarship we want our students to pursue, and reinforces the core values embedded throughout our academic programs.”

The university's selection was based on a new Honors course, HON 361: Democracy, Technology, and the Nobel Peace Prize, proposed and taught by Dr. Dan DuBois, associate professor of history and international studies and director of the Honors Program. The course will be offered for the first time in spring 2027.

"The Partners in Peace designation brings formal affiliation with one of the most consequential international organizations in history to Saint Leo. Honors students are now positioned to engage in topics of global significance through a structured educational exchange with the Nobel Peace Center and with the backing of the National Collegiate Honors Council,” said DuBois. “As Honors Director, I am humbled to oversee this new partnership and grateful for the opportunity to embed the ideals of Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Peace Prize in the curriculum of our Honors students."

Through Partners in Peace, participating honors programs develop curricular and co-curricular projects inspired by the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates. At Saint Leo, HON 361 will focus on 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado and examine the intersection of democracy, technology, and civic resistance in her efforts to advance free and fair elections in Venezuela.

As part of the course, Saint Leo students will conduct a community oral history project with members of Tampa Bay’s Venezuelan diaspora, documenting firsthand accounts and perspectives that have shaped the region’s Venezuelan community. This work will allow students to put their study of democracy, civic engagement, and political change into practice by connecting classroom concepts to lived experiences.

Saint Leo University will receive formal recognition as a Partner in Peace at the NCHC Annual Conference in November 2027, following the completion of HON 361 and its associated project.

Learn more about Saint Leo’s Honors Program at saintleo.edu/academics/honors-program.

About Saint Leo University:

Founded in 1889 by the Order of Saint Benedict, Saint Leo University is the oldest Catholic university in Florida and one of the largest Catholic universities in the Southeast. As a liberal arts-based institution, it serves students through its residential campus in St. Leo, Florida, online programs, and education centers nationwide. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across a broad range of disciplines. Saint Leo University is committed to academic excellence and innovation, advancing students’ professional success while fostering ethical leadership and service to others. Learn more at saintleo.edu.