Wesley Hedden

Wesley Hedden (peace studies and sociology) is the founder of Sarus, an international nonprofit organization supporting youth peace leaders in Southeast Asia through peacebuilding exchange programs.

He earned his B.A. in Philosophy and Latin American Studies at Tulane University and an M.A. in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies at the Paññasastra University of Cambodia. Wesley was a Rotary Global Peace Fellow and East-West Center Asia-Pacific Leadership Fellow.

He spent 14 years in Southeast Asia and speaks Burmese, Khmer, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Wesley’s research explores the impact of social media on ethnic identity formation and interethnic conflict in Southeast Asia.