Sarah Hamm is a current graduate student at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, pursing her master’s degree in International Public Policy. Before attending the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Sarah graduated with distinction from Queen’s University, earning an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as well as a Certificate of Law.

In the final year of her undergraduate program, Sarah had the opportunity to complete an Honours Thesis. Her thesis explored the gap between the feminist vision of UNSCR 1325 and its actual implementation 20 years later. Focusing specifically on Rwanda, Kenya, and Burundi, she examined the gender disparities that have hindered these regions from fully achieving the resolution’s objectives.

Outside of academia, Sarah gained professional experience as an Intern at the Office of the City Clerk for Kingston’s municipal government. She worked as a Policy Assistant, where she conducted research on council remuneration and the barriers to equitable participation in municipal elections, providing recommendations to increase participation from equity-seeking and equity-deserving groups in local governance.

Sarah is particularly interested in understanding conflict as a gendered phenomenon, exploring how war reshapes gender relations and positions women in roles as both victims and agents of change. Her interest extends to feminist approaches to peacekeeping, which seek to address the social and gender inequalities that are deepened by conflict.

After the completion of the MIPP program, Sarah hopes to take her research interests and all she has learned to focus her professional career on addressing gender-based inequalities within international law and policy, particularly in conflict and post-conflict societies.