Exclusive: Interview with Nino Burjanadze, the 2026 Recipient of the Holly Maguigan Peace With Justice Award
We sat down with Nino Burjanadze, this year’s recipient of the Holly Maguigan Peace With Justice Award, one of four awards presented at the Peace Action Fund of New York State’s 2026 William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Peacemaker Awards. As a recent alumna of the PAFNYS Campus Organizing program, Nino reflected on her peace organizing, personal values, and plans for the future.
How did you get into peace organizing?
“I think the better question is why did I get into peace organizing. Being from the country of Georgia played a huge role in my interest in international affairs and how I generally understood the world. Learning about young people not being able to get an education during times of conflict and other political and social issues connected to my region brought a level of awareness to my life. I began to think, ‘what can I do to make change happen?’ That’s why I decided to study political science. I have worked with UNICEF and served as the Georgian Youth Representative. In this role, I helped work on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since that experience, my passion for working with young people has grown. Especially since coming to the United States for my studies, I’ve realized the importance of students being aware of global issues. When the war in Ukraine began and dramatically affected the geopolitical landscape, especially in my home region, I was inspired to organize and foster this awareness for other students around me. Making a change sounds grand, but comes from coming together in community. That’s how I came across PAFNYS. When I read the description, I thought how this organization stood exactly for what I stood for, and I wanted Adelphi University to have a chapter.”
As a student organizer, what were your greatest challenges and accomplishments?
“One of the greatest challenges of organizing at Adelphi was navigating my place as an international student and expressing my beliefs and values. As a peace activist, it’s challenging to be passionate and strong while also being empathetic and open to different perspectives. Particularly as a young undergraduate student, I struggled trying to be all of those things at once. Despite that, I wanted to give Adelphi students a platform to discuss issues, whether about Gaza, Ukraine, being an international student, or social justice issues in our community; in that way, I gained so much as a student organizer.
I organized webinars and discussions with experts and students, making myself a person on campus who can inform other people and advocate for changes in my community and the world—at least being a voice. Since I graduated, Adelphi University Peace Action is still going strong and is in great hands. Leaving behind work that I started based on my own interests and passion and directing it towards advocacy, and now seeing students taking that and going forward with it, is something that makes me so happy. I want to be a mentor and support system to those students as they continue to organize. I still go on campus to Adelphi and meet up with students at events!”
What was your experience like going to Japan as a PAFNYS organizer?
“Last year, I was selected to represent PAFNYS at the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, which happens each year in the same week as the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My role was to talk about student organizing in the U.S., as well as growing up in Georgia, especially during the war. At the conference, I learned so many things from the experiences shared, particularly those from hibakusha. It was really rewarding to connect with peace activists much older than me still on this path; the stories I heard in Japan still inspire my work every day. While I was there, I also gathered dozens of signatures on the streets, calling for Japan to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). To do this work on ground was really touching; it’s great to speak at and go to expert panels and ‘feel fancy’, but to me, grassroots organizing is the most important part of making change.
As a guest of Shinfujin, the New Japan Women’s Association, I was the main speaker at their Women’s Conference. I got a chance to meet a 94-year-old hibakusha, and I still get emotional thinking about her testimony; that day changed my life because I learned so much about the world, myself, and what I want to advocate for. I got to actually participate with a lot of young people in peace panels, meeting many international organizers. It was so meaningful being part of these conversations. In continuing my work with the UN, I have since made sure to emphasize nuclear disarmament and the importance of young people in the disarmament movement.”
This award is named for the late Holly Maguigan, a trailblazer in the field of criminal defense law and educator who changed America’s understanding of how the law should treat survivors of domestic violence. In what ways do you connect with her story?
“Holly was one of the first defenders of women experiencing domestic violence, and challenged the legal system. That inspires me to be the first one to speak up about something I don’t like. During the time of her career, women were so often not seen as change makers; despite that, she left behind a legacy that is incredibly admirable and inspiring. I am beyond honored to be a recipient of an award named after the woman who advocated for women’s justice and peace. When you experience having your voice heard as a survivor, you really find peace with justice. She also emphasized the importance of education in addressing systematic change. As a Master’s student at Columbia University, I want to constantly challenge myself to show up as an informed advocate. Especially nowadays with fake news and AI, it’s hard to find the actual truth.”
When you think of peace and justice, what do you envision for the future?
“The first thing that comes to mind is when I was an Adelphi student organizer for an event called “Collective Liberation”, which is a movement started by a Palestinian and an Israeli peace activist. Their focus of the movement emphasized: in order for me to be liberated, you have to be liberated. There is no separation within our struggle because we depend on each other. Growing up with a regional neighbor constantly seeking to oppress Georgia, even killing my great grandfather, it is hard to accept this. However, in my conversations with fellow peace organizers, I came to realize that Russian people also must be liberated in order to bring peace to the whole region. As a future conflict resolution practitioner, my approach is not only to resolve a conflict from one side, but to also find common ground and realize our interconnectedness. That is how I see the world in terms of peace and justice: organizing with unity, inclusion, and love in my heart. That is my philosophy.”
What are you up to now?
“I am a Master’s student at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, studying conflict negotiation and resolution. I knew I wanted to pursue this program 5 years ago, and today it really informs my peace work. I see myself as someone who wants to work in conflict zones and advocate for international human rights. Once I finish the program, I hope to become a diplomat in Georgia and focus on issues within the region. For now, I am just trying to get my foot in the door and learn how everything works. Regardless of where I end up, I know I want to stay in the world of peace and security. Right now, I am doing a lot of work with Georgian students and advocacy on my campus. I am currently starting a debate school for Georgian students, as well. It's exciting to give back to my community, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my studies at Columbia.”
Anything else you want to say?
“I want to express gratitude to Margaret, because she was the first Peace Action member I ever met, and she made me feel comfortable starting as a student organizer. I also want to thank Emily [Rubino, the former PANYS/PAFNYS Executive Director], who also served as a mentor. I want to extend my gratitude to the entire Peace Action NYS and Peace Action network, as well as Shinfujin. Forming relationships with other peace activists is really important to me. Finally, a huge thank you to Holly Maguigan’s family for continuing this award, which helps keep her important legacy alive. I hope to carry on what she started, maybe not in the same field, but knowing there is no peace without justice.”
The Holly Maguigan Peace With Justice Award is an annual honor given to a recent alumnus of the Peace Action Fund of New York State’s Campus Organizing program, as part of our William Sloane Coffin, Jr. Peacemaker Awards. You can attend the October 5, 2026 gala by purchasing in-person or livestream tickets here. Please also consider supporting our student organizers by making a tax-deductible donation today.
