Eva Malisius

Dr. Eva Malisius is a settler and newcomer, and uninvited guest on the territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples since October 2012 when she joined RRU’s core faculty as a conflict engagement specialist with a wide range of international experience related to facilitating dialogue in divided communities. Dr. Malisius is passionate about bringing people together and focuses on increasing conflict competencies by working with individuals, teams, and communities. She shares her innovative approach to constructive conflict engagement by providing transformative learning spaces for graduate students, leaders, peace professionals, government and aid agency officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations.

Dr. Malisius has worked with decision-makers and community members at all levels from the local to the international, always advocating constructive conflict engagement approaches in her native Germany, in other parts of Europe, in North America and in Asia. Her research interests include constructive conflict engagement, leadership and decision-making in complex and diverse settings, human rights and global justice, as well as transformative learning and teaching. 

Before joining RRU’s School of Humanitarian Studies in 2012, Dr. Malisius was based in Berlin, Germany where she co-founded an NGO that uses mediation as a tool for dialogue in post-conflict societies in tailor-made processes that include capacity building and problem-solving workshops (CSSP Berlin Center for Integrative Mediation). She has also worked at NATO Headquarters in Brussels as international staff, a German TV correspondents office in Brussels (ZDF), and at the German Bundestag. Dr. Malisius serves on various boards, including currently as Vice-President of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of BC (ADRBC), and previously as Secretary for Victoria German School and as Secretary of CSSP Berlin Center for Integrative Mediation. 

During her time at RRU Dr. Malisius has served on various committees, as elected faculty on Academic Council for several terms, is a member of the Research Ethics Board and Curriculum Committee, and previously served on Admissions Committee. She is currently chair of the University Continuing and Promotions Committee (UCPC), and co-chair of the Salary Anomaly and EDI committee (SAEDI), and is an active member of RRUFA. Dr. Malisius has served as program head of the BA in Justice Studies programs, coordinator for the School of Humanitarian Studies’ graduate pathways, and program head for the Conflict Analysis and Management graduate programs.

Dr. Malisius holds a PhD (2011) and Master of Arts (2000) in International Relations from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies (UK). Her doctoral research focused on norms and values in the regulation of human cloning and stem cell research. She studied Political Science, Modern History and Public Law at the University of Freiburg (Germany) with an exchange year at Michigan State University (USA). In 2022 she graduated with a Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University. Dr. Malisius is certified in mediation, arbitration, cultural intelligence, supervision, conflict coaching and holds further credentials related to conflict engagement practice. In 2015, Dr. Malisius was honoured with Royal Roads’ Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award.