Landon Hancock is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Kent State University's Center for Applied Conflict Management. He began working with the Local Zones of Peace project while completing his Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He was visiting faculty at the University of Baltimore's Center for Negotiations and Conflict Management and has taught courses for both ICAR and American University on conflict resolution, peacebuilding and conflict research. His work has appeared in journals like International Studies Perspectives and Civil Wars and in 2003