Staff

Kit Miller, Director, (585) 463-3267, kmiller@admin.rochester.edu
Kit Miller serves as the director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Her prior position was as director/celebrator of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication in Oakland, California. In part after coming to understand through meditation about violence within the human heart and mind, Kit began learning about and organizing for nonviolence for the last 20 years in many capacities. She works on community projects related to restorative justice, sustainability and race as applications of nonviolence in Rochester.  Kit co-leads retreats each year in California and at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, working with activists from around the world.  She has 3 children and is amazed and grateful to have been happily married for 21 years.

George Payne, Peace and Justice Educator, (585) 463-3265, gpayne2@ur.rochester.edu
George Payne grew up in the Adirondack region of Northern New York. He currently lives with his wife Amy in the historic Plymouth- Exchange neighborhood in downtown Rochester, NY. George has degrees from St. John Fisher College, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, and Emory University (Candler School of Theology). Since his Freshman year in college he has worked as a social justice activist, first in Rochester as a homelessness advocate and then in Charlotte, N.C. and Atlanta, GA as a community organizer. Since 2009 he has served as Peace and Justice Educator with the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Among his trainings and certifications include the 5- Day Advanced Training in Kingian Nonviolence through the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) through the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) through Monroe Community College and the Sport in Society Program at Northeastern University, Interfaith Dialogue and Pluralism Education through the Hickey Center at Nazareth College, and Restorative Circles and Conflict Transformation through Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI). In addition to facilitating seminars and workshops on a regular basis, George teaches philosophy at nearby Finger Lakes Community College.

Shannon Richmond, Program Assistant, (585) 463-3266, srichmond@ur.rochester.edu
After many merry years of growing up outside of Portland, Oregon, Shannon attended Alfred University to receive a B.A. in Sociology, Criminal Justice Studies, and Violence Studies in 2008.  Studying the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Durban, South Africa sparked her interest in Restorative Justice and led her to the Gandhi Institute.  Since 2007, Shannon has facilitated Alternatives to Violence Project workshops in prisons and the community. She is also trained to facilitate Peace Circles, Community Conferencing, Restorative Circles, and the Work That Reconnects.  In the in-between moments, she enjoys contemplating paradoxes, creating art and music, and dancing in the kitchen.

Anna-Kristina Pfeifer, Research Scholar, (585) 463-3266, annakristina.pfeifer@gmail.com
Anna-Kristina Pfeifer serves as a Research Scholar and Videographer at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Her background is in Social Anthropology and Documentary filmmaking. Anna is originally from Germany and lived and studied in the UK the years before coming to Rochester. Anna holds a MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Manchester, a certificate in counselling skills from Manchester College and a diploma in Education for Peace from Trascend Peace University. Anna has been involved in social and environmental justice work for years writing for critical magazines, doing migrant solidarity work and co-organising a community garden project. Among her trainings and certifications are a 10- Day Facilitation Training in the Work that Reconnects with Joanna Macy, a 2- Day Training in Kingian Nonviolence through the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island, Community Conferencing and Peace Circles through Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI) and Restorative Circles through Dominic Barter. Anna understands nonviolence as a holistic way of navigating through life and is inspired to co-create a world based on nonviolent and regenerative principles. She is especially interested in Restorative Justice as an applied nonviolence practice. She is currently conducting an anthropological research of the impact of the Season for Nonviolence on youth participating in the Youth Activist Movement. She equally co-facilitates a participatory video project for youth activists in collaboration with RCTV and supports sessions in suspension rooms in different schools in Rochester.

Beverly Murrell-Frasier, Financial Administrator, (585) 463-3266

Beverly has handled the financial administration for non-profit organizations and universities for over 15 years. She holds a B.S. in Accounting, and a M.S. in Business Management. She’s also a trained diversity advocate, empowered to motivate individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds and origins to work collectively and collaboratively as a team. She offers ongoing expertise and support to many local community organizations.  In her spare time, Beverly enjoys singing and spending time with her husband and twin toddlers.

Anne Hunter, Intern, (585) 463-3266

Anne Hunter was born and raised at the Rochester Folk Art Guild in Middlesex New York and continues to live and work there while not at school. Anne studies philosophy at Smith College in Massachusetts as well as classical singing. She is also the captain of her varsity Equestrian team and enjoys riding horses whenever, wherever she can.
She was drawn to the Gandhi Institute because of her avid interest and utter belief in the power of effective and peaceful communication. Anne loves working with people and hopes that the tools she takes away from her time at the Institute will help her in the future with communication and conflict resolution.