Lesley Pruitt is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash University, where she is on the steering committee of Monash GPS (Gender, Peace and Security). Lesley’s research focuses on recognizing and enhancing youth participation in politics and peacebuilding and advancing gender equity in efforts aimed at pursuing peace and security.

Lesley worked in the US Congress before moving to Australia to complete her postgraduate studies. A Truman Scholar and Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Lesley received her Master of International Studies: Peace & Conflict Resolution & her PhD from the University of Queensland. Prior to joining Monash, Lesley held academic appointments at the University of Melbourne, Victoria University, and RMIT University. In 2012 she also served as a visiting research fellow at George Mason University’s Peacekeeping Operations Policy Program in Washington, DC.

Her latest book, The Women in Blue Helmets: Gender, Policing & the UN’s First All-Female Peacekeeping Unit is available through the University of California Press. Earlier works include her book, Youth Peacebuilding: Music, Gender & Change, available through SUNY Press. She is also an author of the recently released book Young People, Citizenship and Political Participation: Combatting Civic Deficit? (2017, Rowman and Littlefield).