Research Team

Research Team

FLIA Scholars and Research Fellows

Global Research Teams that Aim to Make a Real Difference

FLIA Scholars

FLIA Scholars are experts who join FLIA by invitation, recommendation and request. They join or lead research projects, attend FLIA programs and events, and and offer academic support.

Research Fellows

FLIA Research Fellows take organizing roles in FLIA research projects under the direction of FLIA Scholars. They also assist FLIA Scholars in designing research plans and timelines, as well as produce research reports.

Research Assistants

FLIA Research Assistants identify important topics in the field, summarize key academic work and practical information, and assist FLIA Scholars and Research Fellows in conducting research.

Inaugural FLIA Scholars

Passionately committed to improving the academic communication and cooperation at the intersection of law and international affairs.

Larry Backer (the U.S.)

Professor Larry Catá Backer is a Board Member of FLIA. He is the W. Richard and Mary Eshelman Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law & International Affairs at the Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on governance related issues of globalization and the constitutional theories of public and private governance, with a focus on institutional frameworks where public and private law systems converge. He is particularly interested in transnational problem solving through law, broadly defined, including issues of corporate social responsibility, the relationship between state-based regulation and transnational systems of “soft” regulation, state participation in private markets and the emerging problems of polycentricity where multiple systems might be simultaneously applied to a single issue or event, and problems of translation between Western and Marxist Leninist constitutional systems. 

Duoqi Xu (China)

Professor Duoqi Xu is a Board Member of FLIA, a FLIA Scholar, and a Program Director. Professor Xu’s research interests include Financial law, Tax law and Fintech legal issues. She has published more than 70 articles on CSSCI Journals including Social Sciences in China, China Legal Science (English version), Studies in Law and Business, the Science of Law, Legal Science, Law Review, Jurist, Economic Law Forum, Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Journal of Wuhan University. A substantial number of those articles are fully reprinted by Xinhua Digest, China University Academic Abstract, China Legal Science Briefing and Renmin University of China Reprinted Materials. She has published articles on oversea journals including Tax Notes International, Frontiers of Chinese Law and Financial and Economic Yuedan Law Review (Taiwan), and is the independent author of two books and one translation work. She has hosted almost 10 provincial projects including two Projects of the National Social Science Foundation of China Legal Research in Commercial Banks—Actual Conflicts and Law Integration of Credit Assets Securitization(finished) and Licenses Charting and Market Supervision of Internet Finance.

Douglas Castro (Brazil)

Professor Douglas Castro is a FLIA Scholar. He did his Post-Doc fellowship in International Economic Law at São Paulo School of Law-FGV. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Sciences and Master in International Law from São Paulo University and LLM in International Law at Brigham Young University in the United States. He is a professor of International Law and Relations and senior researcher of the CNPQ Group Research “The Critics and the Law” (UNIP-São Paulo). CV Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/4705266553541759 SSRN Author Page: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2358659

Flora Sapio (Italy)

Dr. Flora Sapio (Habilitated Associate Professor) is a Board Member of FLIA and a FLIA Scholar. She is internationally reknown for her sophisticated analyses of themes in China studies ranging from legal theory to politics, from economy and society to political communication, from criminal law to social organizations. Her mixed intellectual background, and life experiences in China, the United States, Europe, and Australia have shaped her perspective on the most diverse topics. She is the author or editor of China: The Justice Experience (Cambridge University Press, 2017), Legal Reforms and Deprivation of Liberty in China (Routledge, 2016), The Politics of Law and Stability in China (Edward Elgar, 2014), Sovereign Power and the Law in China (Brill, 2010), besides several articles and commentaries on contemporary issues. She has been very well recogenized by her research on China's social credit system. 

Shiping Liao (China)

Professor Liao Shiping is a Board Member of FLIA. He is now associate professor in Law School of Beijing Normal University. He focuses on many topics on international law, including the law of the sea, the law of the treaties, international humanitarian law, the jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals, international investment law and international trade law. He serves as legal advisor for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China, and State Oceanic Administration for years. He also serves as judge for various international law moot competitions, including JESSUP, ELSA WTO, Manfred Lachs Moot of Space Law, Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, International Criminal Court Moot and IHL Moot in Chinese domestic round, Asia-Pacific regional round and World Final Round.

John Hunter (the U.S.)

 

John W. Hunter is a FLIA Advisory Committee Member and a FLIA Scholar. He is telecommunications lawyer in Washington, DC, having served in multiple positions in both the private sector and in federal, state and local government. He now is Chief Policy Counsel for wireline competition at the Federal Communications Commission. He previously served as Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Advisor to an FCC Commissioner and as Counsel to a U.S. House of Representatives Committee and to a Member of Congress. He was Chairman of the Virginia Public Broadcasting Board under three Governors, a position requiring confirmation by the Virginia General Assembly, and a Commissioner of the Fairfax County, Virginia Planning Commission. In the private sector in both law firms and a national trade association, Mr. Hunter represented telecommunications companies, including local exchange, wireless, interexchange and international carriers, broadcasters, cable companies and equipment manufacturers. Mr. Hunter holds a Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Albion College. He is an honorary member of the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service at Albion College and actively supports current students and alumni of the Ford Institute.

Mark Poustie (the U.K.)

Professor Mark Poustie is a Board Member of FLIA. He served at the University of Strathclyde as Head of the Law School from 2007-2013 and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, in charge of international affairs from 2013-2015. At the same time, Professor Poustie was very successful in his academic field. He has conducted significant research in the area of environmental law, land law, urban planning law, and EU law, with considerable impact on the international scene. Also, Professor Poustie was an active practitioner, who was involved in the governmental policy-making process. He was appointed as a part-time Oriental Scholar at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) from 2014-2016 before taking up a full-time Thousand Talents Scholar post at SUFE from 2016. He teaches and researches areas of environmental law, EU law and common law at SUFE.

Jitendra Kumar (India)

Professor Jitendra Kumar is a FLIA Scholar. He is a professor at National Law University (Mumbai, India), a consultant and international unclear liability Expert, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, Vienna, Austria), a member at the International School of Nuclear Law Supervisory Board (ISNL Board, Montpelier, France), and Faculty at the Nuclear Law Institute (NLI, IAEA, Vienna, Austria), etc.He is a recognized international expert, experienced academic, arbitrator and qualified legal professional with proven ability to deliver effective legal solutions in challenging multicultural environments based on sound academic background and professional experience at the Bar, Industry (Corporate, Insurance, Finance, Healthcare, Scientific Research and Energy Sectors), Educational Bodies (Teaching, Training and Educational Administration at National as well as International Institutions of Advanced Learning and Research), National Government as well as International Institutions. 

 

FLIA Research Fellows

Present new ideas and young perspectives, and address the voice of the rising generation

Aisi Zhang
Research Fellow
Aisi Zhang earned her J.S.D. degree from University of Illinois College of Law. Her advisor, Jamelle Sharpe, is the Associate Dean of the Law School, and a nationally recognized scholar in the areas of administrative law and federal court jurisdiction. Aisi’s research focuses on Chinese constitutional law and public choice theory. The tentative topic of her dissertation is “The Feasibility of Establishing Constitutional Review in Modern China”. Aisi finished her LL.M degree at University of Illinois College of Law and LL.B. degree at East China University of Political Science and Law. She worked as a translator in China Executive Leadership Programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Antonio Angotti
Research Fellow
Mr. Angotti is a linced attorney in Italy. He obtained him Bachelor and Master’s degree in Law in Florence, Italy, in 2012, and his LL.M degree in the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law in the US in 2015. He spent for a year in Brussels, Belgium, where he worked with Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF), an international non-governmental organization, researching on the status of access to justice in several African and Eastern Asian countries, contributing to the work of UNODC and UNDESA through their collaboration with ASF.
Di Li
Research Fellow
Di Li is a Ph.D Candidate in Middlesex University, supervised by Professor William A. Schabas OC MRIA. His study is funded by the State Scholarship Fund of China. His current study area is international criminal law. Meanwhile he is interested in international relations based on international law principles. His other publications include: The theoretical relationship between the Attempt and Elements of Crime in Chinese Criminal Law, The analysis for the application of death penalty in modern criminal law in China, and The verification and remedies in judicial procedure for the victims of environmental crimes.
Sungyong Kang
Research Fellow
Sungyong Kang eceived his Bachelor’s degree at Korea National Police University with four years of full scholarship, his LLM in traditional law as a Korean government sponsored scholar at NYU School of Lawa, and his SJD at Fordham Law School. He also earned his masters in international relations from Seoul National University. He worked for Korean National Police Agency for 8 years. He also has work experiences with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and Int’s Center For Missing and Exploited Children. His main research area is criminal and administrative law, both domestic and international, in relation to deter white collar crimes.
Yixuan Zeng
Research Fellow
Yixuan Zeng is currently working as Research Fellow and Assistant to the President at FLIA. Her research focuses on East Asian Study, international diplomacy and development policy. She holds the Master degree in International Affairs from the Pennsylvania State University in 2017. She also worked as a graduate intern in Global Programs at the Pennsylvania State University. Previously, she received Bachelor degree in Philosophy from Sun Yat-Sen University in 2015. During her study at Sun Yat-Sen University, she worked as journalist intern at New Express, a daily newspaper in China. she also volunteered as elementary school instructor in Thailand.
Miaoqiang Dai
Research Fellow
Miaoqiang Dai is a Master of International Affairs ’19 candidate. Being honored with the College Graduate Excellence Award of Shanghai, he graduated and gained his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics in June 2017. He also studied political science at Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defénse in Paris, France as an exchange student in 2015. His researches focus on international investment, multinational corporations, and related areas. In recent years, he participated in a wide range of intern programs including a fund management company, a commercial bank, a property insurance company, and an M&A financial service company.
Doris Li
Research Fellow
Doris Li is a current student at Wellesley College completing her degree in political science and technology policy. She will be abroad at Oxford University next year, studying the intersections of media, technology, and politics in the UK and European Union. Outside of academics, she has volunteered at Harvard Law School’s Legal Services Center, assisting attorneys who provide pro bono services to the community. Her main interests are helping people protect their data, Internet policy, and writing/performing poems with puns.
Ryan Thomas Walker
Research Fellow
Ryan Walker is a Postgraduate student at Keele University in the UK, set to earn his LLM in International Law in September 2018. While the LLM program is broad and focuses on many different aspects of International Law, Ryan’s master’s thesis focuses on the United Nations and International Organization Law, or lack thereof. He also enjoys Humanitarian Law, Diplomacy, and Human Rights Laws. In 2016 he previously earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Political Science from Old Dominion University in the US. Through his studies, Ryan has found interest in US-Russia Relations, State and International Organisation violations of International Law, and Diplomacy of States. In the future he hopes to work in foreign policy to help promote international law within the US.
Chien-Hui Weng
Research Fellow
Chien-Hui Weng works as the Deputy Director of Operations and the Research Fellow in FLIA. She is studying for a Master of International Affairs and a Graduate Certificate of Applied Statistics’ at Pennsylvania State University. Currently, she works as a teaching assistant in grad school, and as a research assistant for the Associate Dean of Penn State’s International Programs. She obtained her BSocSc (Hons) in Public Policy and Management at City University of Hong Kong. She attended several exchange programs to study economics, management, and development policy, including a one-term program at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom and a two-term program at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherland. Previously, she did an Internship as a Research Fellows in SynergyNet, a think tank in Hong Kong that directly respond to the (ex-)Head of the Legislative Council of HKSAR. Her research interests include international economics, international development, trade policy and development policy.
Zubayr Fentas
Research Fellow
Zubayr Fentas is currently working as a research fellow at FLIA. In 2016, he graduated from The George Washington University with his Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in International Environmental Studies. He has completed internships with The Solar Foundation and Partnership for Global Security. He has written academic papers on Chinese-U.S relations and U.S-North Korea nuclear capabilities. He has also written a paper on Chinese nuclear and technology exports in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative. His areas of interest include international affairs, climate change policy, and sustainability.
Luke MAGINNESS
Research Fellow
Luke is from Belfast, Ireland and he describes himself as an optimist. He has previous experience working in the humanitarian and legal sectors, offering protective aid to some of the most vulnerable individuals including gender-based violence victims, refugees and internally displaced individuals in Kenya and Libya. He is admitted to the Bar of New York as an Attorney-At-Law. He has lived in North Africa, East Africa, and China, with experience in both Protection and Education. He fits the criteria for well-adjusted and adaptable. He has experience in the UNHCR in Libya and works as a Resettlement Officer in Kenya. He has also worked in a law firm in Belfast and I am familiar with EU/UN policy and is knowledgeable about the EU/UN institutions. In Kenya, he served the most vulnerable Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Urban Nairobi. He conducted Resettlement interviews, created RRFs, conducted assessments and participated in case processing for the resettlement process. In China, he is currently working as a PE Teacher in a High School. This is a different intensity to the environment he experienced in Libya and Kenya, but he has learned many new and transferable skills. In his free time, he likes to create stencil artwork and he is particularly interested in creating images of divisive people in world politics and popular culture. He loves football and would like to someday become a full-time spear fisherman.
Natnael Tsegaw
Research Fellow
Natnael Tsegaw is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland. He majored in Government and Politics with a minor in Professional Writing. Natnael’s interests are largely focused on international affairs. This includes learning about different cultures, histories, and of the relations among different countries across the world. His experience with research normally deals with issues relating to policy, more so on the international level, but some domestic as well. Natnael’s goal now is to work in diplomacy, as he wants to be a part of a global system that can help to create understanding and awareness across cultures.
Francisco Falsetti Xavier
Research Fellow and Regional Director
Francisco Falsetti Xavier works as a Research Fellow and Regional Director in FLIA. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Faculdades de Campinas (FACAMP), Campinas – São Paulo State – Brazil. He also earned a Master’s degree in International Relations (2011-2014) at FACAMP and a Master’s degree in International Relations (2015-2017) at Jilin University, Changchun, China. He was the Co-founder and Public Relations Manager of the IRhub.org project during his experience in China. His research interests include Security Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis.

Research Assistants

Mengchen Wang
Research Assistant
Mengchen Wang earned her Master’s degree in International Affairs and Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Pennsylvania State University. Her academic interest is international relations and affairs with a focus on the Asian related issues covering international politics and economics, international education, energy and environment, and charity, and conducted a research on “Chinese and American reactions to Japanese first bullet train in 1960s”. She also worked as a teaching assistant and student ambassador in school. Previously, she did an internship as an Academic Consultant in Wholeren Education, a multinational education company that provides diverse services to international students.
Prajakta Gupte
Research Assistant
Prajakta Rajeev Gupte is currently working as a research intern in FLIA. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University’s School of International Affairs with Master’s in International Affairs. At Penn State, her area of specialization was international security in South and Southeast Asia. Her research interests include regime change in Myanmar and North Korea, India-China and India-Burma relations, child soldiering and war crimes. She is currently doing an internship with TV Asahi in Washington D.C. covering US political and military news to broadcast in Japan.
Yuanchao Bi
Research Assistant
Yuanchao Bi obtained his LLB degree with first class honours at City University of Hong Kong. He is pursuing his LLM study at London School of Economics, specializing in international business law and public international law. He aims to become an international academic lawyer qualified in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the state of New York. He has working experience at international, Chinese and Hong Kong law firms, and with professors at City University. Before his postgraduate legal education, Yuanchao studied and researched in Australia, Germany and Britain. His research interests include comparative contract law, public international law and product liability.
Anni Li
Research Assistant
Annie Li is a Research Assistant at FLIA. She graduated from Brandeis University in B.A., summa cum laude, as the sole recipient of 2017 International and Global Studies Award for Global Citizenship. She defended her senior thesis, “The Legacy of South China Sea: An Introduction of PCA Ruling in a Historical and Political Context,” with high honors. This thesis also received the Lester Martin Foundation Award for the Best Senior Thesis on a Legal Studies Topic. She is currently pursuing a J.D. degree in the United States.
Lingbo Wang
Research Assistant
Lingbo Wang is a Phd candidate in Wuhan University. Previously, she attended the exchange program to Cambridge. Her research focuses on international air law and space law. She was trained for moot court competition for many times and took part in the Jessup Moot Court Competition in 2014 and 2016 respectively, and the Law of the Sea Moot Court Competition in 2017, rewarded as the best oralist. She also served as Chinese Youth Delegation to attend COP23 of UNFCCC.
Edgar Mutta
Research Assistant
Edgar Mutta is currently working as Research Assistant and Program Coordinator intern. As a research assistant, He focuses on International Law, Conflict and Security, Terrorism and International Relations. As a Program Coordinator, Edgar works and collaborates with other colleagues to design and coordinate the Simulation for Law and International Affairs Program. He holds master’s degree in international law, Security and Terrorism for the University of Nottingham. Previously, he received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. During his stay at both universities, Edgar had the privilege to intern in the Department of Political Science, Defense Foreign Relations Department at the Tanzania People’s Defense Force Headquarters and volunteered in different educational programs.
Yana Yaremchuk
Research Assistant
Yana is from Ukraine and recently graduated from Lindenwood University with her second Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs and a Minor in Political Science. Her first Bachelor’s degree in Political Science Yana earned from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University in Ukraine. In addition to her educational background, Yana had one practical training/internship with the university in Ukraine at a political party "Pora." Also, she has had an opportunity to intern at U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization in Washington, D.C. In March 2017, Yana participated in the 2017 Student Research Conference at Lindenwood University, where she presented her research on the South China Sea Dispute.
Shan Liu
Research Assistant
Shan Liu is currently working as a Research Assistant at FLIA. Her academic research direction is civil and commercial law. She is also good at public policy research. In 2016, she applied for a national research project and published an academic paper: The Practice Path of Ecological Environmental Governance in Mining Cities——A case study of comprehensive management of coal mining subsidence in Huainan City It is worth mentioning that the policy proposed in her academic paper was put into practice by the Huainan Municipal Government of Anhui Province as an environmental governance policy.
Kyleleigh Patterson
Research Assistant and Negotiation Specialist
Kyleleigh Patterson is currently working as a research intern and negotiation specialist with FLIA. She is a current candidate for her Master’s of International Affairs through Pennsylvanian State University’s School of International Affairs. At Penn State, her area of concentration is conflict resolution. Her areas of interest include international law, humanitarian rights, migration, and international criminal justice reform. In 2012, she graduated from Ferris State University with her Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice and continued her studies in French at Wayne State University the same year. She has previously translated documents for Detroit Immigration Court and has completed internships with local law enforcement agencies and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She recently returned to school after working for the past four years as a legal secretary in family law for the local government.
Aryan Azimi
Research Intern
Aryan Azimi is currently working as a research intern at FLIA. He is a current 2019 Juris Doctor candidate at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. At Catholic, Aryan focuses on public international law and national security law, and is a member of both the International Law Student Association and the Military and National Security Law Student Association. His areas of interest include diplomacy, multilateral treaties, the Middle East peace process, global counterterrorism efforts, and international humanitarian law. In 2016 Aryan graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a minor in History. His previous academic works include writings on the legality of the use of drone strikes under international law, comparing Hezbollah and Hamas, global anti-money laundering initiatives, and covert military activity between the United States and Iran.
Nan Hao
Research Intern
Hao Nan is a master student on public policy with full scholarship from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. As a scholarly practitioner, Hao Nan once worked in intergovernmental, non-governmental and academic organisations during his gap years after obtaining his dual bachelor's degrees on English and Diplomatic Studies in 2016. As a practical scholar, he has produced several papers in Chinese and foreign journals both in Chinese and English. He was also involved in producing several books including Case Studies Collection on Chinese Citizens and Institutions' Overseas Risk-Preventing (chapter writer, pending), Practical Affairs of International Conference (chapter writer, textbook, Peking University Press), Interesting Diplomatic Studies: From Marriage to Diplomacy (chapter writer, pending), and China and Brazil: Development and Focus (chapter translator, bilingual paper collection, Current Affairs Press). His efforts were rewarded with Youth Inventor Award (Mongolian Youth Federation, Asia-Europe Meeting), Best Delegation of China Model United Nations Conference (UN Association, China), Second Prize of National Contest for Foreign Etiquette (Protocol Department of China Foreign Ministry), Second Prize of National Contest of Original Poems (Bohai University). Delegating his affiliation or Chinese youth students, he participated in Asia-Europe Summit (2016, Ulaanbaatar)，UN Climate Change Conference (2015, Paris), UN Department of Public Information and NGO Conference (2016, Gyeongju). He is now pursuing an academic career with focuses on security of Chinese overseas interests particularly in Southeast Asia (ASEAN).
Oluwayemisi (Kehinde) Winful
Research Intern
Oluwayemisi (Kehinde) Winful is a recent (2016-2018) graduate from The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), where she received her MA in International Development with a major in human security. Kehinde’s policy concerns include: water policy, sustainability, and management, corruption, the promotion of good governance, environmental policies, and the intersections of international law and development. Prior to her MA, Kehinde received a BA in English and a BS in psychology from Loyola University Chicago (2012-2016). Kehinde is particularly interested in the environmental implications of the Belt and Road Initiative in China and other participating countries.
Yuhan Nan
Research Intern
Yuhan Nan is a graduate from McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, focusing on international development, economic policies, and social policies. Previously, She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Renmin University of China, majored in Sociology. She worked as an intern at research institutes and international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme China Office, Institute of China’s Economic Reform & Development, and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Zhuorong Li
Research Intern
Zhuorong LI is a research intern at FLIA and pursuing her double master’s in management in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Yale University. Previously, she gained a bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Trade at Beijing Foreign Studies University. She has various internship experience across different industries including consulting, manufacturing, consumer goods, retail banking, Internet and education. Her academic interest mainly focuses on the international economics and trade, and global business.
Kimberly Huang
Research Intern
Kimberly Huang is a current Bachelor’s and Master’s student of International Relations and Politic at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research interests include international diplomacy and territorial disputes. In the past, she has had the opportunity to intern at the US Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the International Development Law Organization, where she did research on the rule of law in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ponsawan (Gift) Watanasathorn
Social Media Coordinator
Ponsawan (Gift) Watanasathorn is an M.A. graduate from the Johns Hopkins University School Advanced International Studies, where she focused her studies on international law and development, led the International Law Society, and participated in the International Human Rights Clinic. She previously interned with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Washington, DC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Bangkok Regional Hub. Gift is pursuing a career at the intersection of law and international development. She is passionate about advocating for human rights and promoting sustainable development.
Katalina Ruth Khoury
Research Assistant
Katalina Khoury is a graduate student at American University studying Public Anthropology (’20). Previously, she has interned for non-profits and research institutions in Washington, DC. She is most interested in social justice issues and her research interests include displacement, gentrification, development issues, social movements, and public health.
Jung Seob (Scott) Kim
Research Assistant
Jung Seob Kim is currently working full-time as a Legal Clerk at a civil defense litigation firm and work part-time as a Research Associate, Policy Writer, and Fellow. He received Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with two minors in Political Science and Pre-law. His areas of interest are international criminal justice, strategic intelligence studies, and, national security affairs. During his undergraduate, he received the first prestigious Jillian Smith internship from Arlington Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. District Court. As a civil leader, he also participated and graduated from FBI Citizens Academy.
Maya Thompson
Social Media Intern
Maya Thompson is a B.A. graduate from Salisbury University, where she focused her studies on communications and marketing management. She has had various internship experience with different industries including consulting, and management. Her academics focus on business and marketing, and she is very passionate about helping and making a difference in every way possible for a company.
Kathryn Jill Edgington
Research Assistant Intern
Jill Edgington is a current master’s student at George Washington University. She is studying International Affairs with a concentration in International Economic Development and a regional focus on Latin America. She has a B.S. from Centre College in Economics and Finance and Spanish. She has interned for the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and McCarthy Strategic Solutions, a Kentucky-based lobbying firm. Her research interests include drug trafficking and cartel violence, gender based-violence, women’s equality, and economic development in Latin America and Mexico in particular.
Valentine Hallard
Research Assistant Intern
Valentine Hallard is a french student who is currently pursuing a Master degree in “Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology” at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. Prior to anthropological studies, she obtained a bachelor in the European School of Political and Social Science in Lille, France, as well as a certificate in International Human Rights Law at King's College, London, England. In addition to her academic training, she has gained experience in human rights and research, by conducting anthropological and political analyses, writing papers and report and making research work through internships.
Yingzhou Mao
Research Assistant Intern
Yingzhou Mao is a research assistant intern. She received the Joint Degree in Bachelor of Laws and Finance from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 2018. She is currently studying for LL.M. in International and Comparative Law at The George Washington University Law School. She has been selected to the Chinese International Organization Talents Program, which equipped her with interest and understandings of international law and affairs. Through her experience in a famous law firm in Shanghai, she developed strong skills in researching and drafting legal documents.
Zoe Mize
Research Assistant Intern
Zoe Mize is a graduate of American University where she earned her B.A. in International Studies and minored in Mandarin Chinese. Her studies have focused on foreign policy, national security, and human rights law. As an undergraduate, she spent a semester at Peking University, where she developed an interest in U.S.-China relations. She previously worked as a research assistant at American University, aiding projects on international crises and cyber warfare.
Kathryn Jill Edgington
Research Assistant intern
Jill Edgington is a current master’s student at George Washington University. She is studying International Affairs with a concentration in International Economic Development and a regional focus on Latin America. She has a B.S. from Centre College in Economics and Finance and Spanish. She has interned for the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and McCarthy Strategic Solutions, a Kentucky-based lobbying firm. Her research interests include drug trafficking and cartel violence, gender based-violence, women’s equality, and economic development in Latin America and Mexico in particular.
Maya Thompson
Social Media Intern
Maya Thompson is an B.A. graduate from Salisbury University, where she focused her studies on communications and marketing management. She has had various internship experience with different industries including consulting, and management. Her academics focus on business and marketing, and she is very passionate about helping and making a difference in every way possible for a company.
Valentine Hallard
Research Assistant Intern
Valentine Hallard is French student who is currently pursuing a Master degree in “Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology” at the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. Prior to anthropological studies,she obtained a bachelor in the European School of Political and Social Science in Lille, France, as well as a certificate in International Human Rights Law at King's College, London, England. In addition to her academic training, she has gained experience in human rights and research, by conducting anthropological and political analyses, writing papers and report and making research work through internships.
Yingzhou Mao
Research Assistant Intern
Yingzhou Mao is a research assistant intern. She received the Joint Degree in Bachelor of Laws and Finance from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in 2018. She is currently studying for LL.M. in International and Comparative Law at The George Washington University Law School. She has been selected to the Chinese International Organization Talents Program, which equipped her with interest and understandings of international law and affairs. Through her experience in a famous law firm in Shanghai, she developed strong skills in researching and drafting legal documents.
Zoe Mize
Research Assistant Intern
Zoe Mize is a graduate of American University where she earned her B.A. in International Studies and minored in Mandarin Chinese. Her studies have focused on foreign policy, national security, and human rights law. As an undergraduate, she spent a semester at Peking University, where she developed an interest in U.S.-China relations. She previously worked as a research assistant at American University, aiding projects on international crises and cyber warfare.