James Patton

Biography

James Patton is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Religion and Peacebuilding and a Founding Partner of Lead Integrity Consulting. He has worked in the intersection of religion and conflict transformation, reconciliation, and economic development for 25 years in 40 countries, including facilitating: reconciliation with women of faith and former combatants in Colombia; Cambodian Buddhists’ role in post-genocide social cohesion; violent extremism prevention in Kenya, and; tolerance reforms in education in Saudi Arabia. James has led non-profits and served in the U.S. Department of State and USAID’s Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation. His advisory roles include the Department of State Working Group on Religion and Foreign Policy, the United Nations Multi-Faith Advisory Council, and the G20 Interfaith Forum. He is a Lifetime Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and an Advisory Council Member for the Rumi Forum and the Center for Women, Faith, and Leadership. James has authored policy and practitioner texts, including co-authoring the U.S. Institute of Peace publication, Religion and Conflict Guide Series: Religion and Reconciliation. He holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard and a Master of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School.