The mission of the Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace is to promote peaceful relations among adversarial nations through cooperation on programs of mutual benefit and interest.

The Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace was established by San Diego State University Foundation because of the generosity and foresight of Fred J. Hansen. San Diego State University Research Foundation received the first grant from the Fred J. Hansen Trust in 1979 and formed the Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace. Since then, the Hansen Institute has received annual grants.

Early programs leveraged grant funds from USAID or other governmental agencies. The technical focus was peace-building through agriculture in the Middle East region. The largest programs involved Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan. However, many other countries in the Middle East and South Asia have participated in Hansen Institute funded conferences, workshops, research studies and cooperative cross-border programs.

In 2009, the Hansen Institute became part of the Entrepreneurial Management Center, College of Business at San Diego State University. Peace-building through economic collaborations will continue with a new emphasis on entrepreneurship. Our current program, Entrepreneurs for Peace, involves engaging agri-business entrepreneurs for peace in the Middle East. Future programs will engage the engines of economic growth through collaboration of entrepreneurs in agriculture, business, trade and commerce.

The modest funds of the Hansen Institute will continue to be leveraged with other sources of private and public support through donations, cooperative agreements and grant opportunities.

If you would like more information on the Hansen Institute or would like to become involved with our entrepreneurial peace initiatives, please contact Dr. Bonnie A. Stewart, Executive Director, Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace at bstewart@foundation.sdsu.edu.