Our People

Our work is powered by our people — from principal investigators and students to staff and affiliated researchers. Learn more about our team below.

GRI Leadership

	Michael J. Tierney, Director About: Mike Tierney teaches and does research on international organizations, international political economy, Chinese foreign aid, and the theory-practice divide in international relations. For years he has been doing research on a book about the culture and political economy of beer, but it seems that project always requires additional field work. Visit website. [[w\|mjtier,Email Mike.]] Social Media: @MikeTierneyIR; LinkedIn; Facebook Favorite Restaurant: Casa Pearl
	David Trichler, GRI Associate Director About: David works with research labs and internal and external partners to bring the best of the academia to current global policy challenges. Responsible for strategic planning, external engagement, and cross-cutting initiatives. Former Joint Staff / USAID, current CFR Term Member. Father to three young girls who love dogs, ice cream, and their parents, in that order. [[w\|dmtrichler,Email David.]] Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place on Campus: The running trails behind Lake Matoaka.
	Kira Allmann, Ph.D., Director of Partnerships & Communications About: Kira leads GRI's strategic direction in public, private, charitable, and research partnerships, and she oversees the communications and multi-media portfolio for the Institute. She also facilitates research-policy collaborations and impact. As a digital anthropologist, her academic research explores the lived experience of digital inequality, with a focus on alternative ownership models for internet infrastructure and ISPs, such as cooperative or community-owned internet networks. Visit website. Social Media: LinkedIn
	Hayley Janak, Director of Finance and Administration About: Hayley is responsible for the management and oversight of fiscal and administrative operations. She works closely with GRI staff, project directors, and counterparts throughout the University to manage day-to-day functions at GRI. She aims to advance GRI's goals and vision by establishing administrative and operational efficiencies in the areas of procurement, fiscal management, human resources, and beyond. Favorite Restaurant: Grain in Norfolk
	Ryan A. Musto, Director of Forums and Research Initiatives Ryan provides intellectual leadership to a variety of GRI research initiatives and leads the conceptual development and coordination of forums that integrate academic and policy audiences. By training, Ryan is a U.S. and Latin American diplomatic historian with concentrations in nuclear and Cold War international history. He is currently writing a book on the international history of nuclear weapon free zones. [[w\|ramusto,Email Ryan.]] Social Media: @RyanAMusto Fun Fact: I was an NCAA athlete in men's indoor volleyball.

GRI Staff

	Jawaly Coriano, Financial and Business Analytics Manager About: Jawaly serves as Financial & Business Analytical Manager, and provides accounting support. She is accountable for preparation and submission of all Labor Allocations related to AidData projects. In addition she provides assistance regarding budgets, travel and allowable purchases. Jawaly has more than 25 years of experience in the GRANT sectors. Favorite GRI Memory: I enjoy every GRI event; however, the Shark Tank is one of my heart treasure.
	John Custer, AidData Deputy Director, Communications and Data Analytics About: John Custer is AidData's Deputy Director of Communications and Data Analytics and a member of AidData's Partnerships and Communications team. This team supports AidData.org, its blog, data visualizations, interactive dashboards, and flagship reports through writing, editing, graphic design, data wrangling, and front end development. Visit website.
	Anne-Lise Gere, HR Consultant About: Anne-Lise is an HR professional with an international background (Europe / US). Worked as an independent consultant for 11 years before joining GRI in February 2023. HR Generalist with particular interests in employee relations, compensation and talent acquisition. Visit website. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Book or Movie: Reader of The New Yorker magazine for over 20 years
	Kim Gray, Associate Director of Advancement About: A member of the Regional Advancement Team, Kim focuses on sustainability for GRI so that it may advance world-class applied research and train future global leaders for generations to come. Her role involves helping individuals, corporations and foundations ensure that their charitable giving empowers William & Mary students and faculty to make a difference in the world. Favorite Place to Travel: Tokyo. I would visit every year if I could, and it still wouldn't be enough time to explore all the things I'd like to see.
	Kelly Houck, Senior Program Manager of Student Initiatives About: Kelly engages students across campus to get them involved with GRI by connecting them with research experiences, internships, and career prep opportunities. Kelly oversees the Summer Fellows Program and works closely on other student-focused projects like the Global Scholars Program. Hobbies: Reading nonfiction books about nature, watching Star Trek, and going on hikes with my husband. Social Media: LinkedIn
	Mark Patterson, Finance and Administrative Specialist About: Mark provides operational and fiscal support for staff, faculty, students, and affiliates of GRI. He works with AP, Procurement, IT, Travel, HR, and the OSP on campus to provide a wide range of direct support to GRI. Favorite Restaurant: Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs
	Sarina Patterson, AidData Communications Specialist About: Sarina is AidData's Communications Associate, working to increase the lab's reach and visibility by publicizing and promoting its unique activities. Sarina writes for and edits AidData's blog, The First Tranche, creates content for its social media and web presence, edits flagship reports, and produces data visualizations, maps, and interactive dashboards. Social Media: Twitter; LinkedIn; Facebook Hobbies: Reading, cross stitching and embroidery, hiking, and scuba diving
	Martha Reilly, Senior Communications Specialist About: Martha communicates key findings from GRI's research to a range of audiences and stakeholders through newsletters, reports, social media campaigns, news articles, and more. She also supports grant writing and media pitching efforts, manages the website, and promotes GRI opportunities to relevant departments on campus. Hobbies: Watching Dancing With the Stars
	Candice Vinson, M.A., Program Manager for Research Initiatives About: Candice's work focuses bringing GRI research to a variety of audiences and stakeholders - from engaging high level US decision makers at the Gates Forum to research professors giving talks at local bars. The work done at GRI is highly valuable, and Candice has a passion for leading initiatives that share our findings to as many people as possible while fostering ideation and collaboration along the way. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place on Campus: Zable Stadium during evening graduation. The Williamsburg sunset on the graduates and their families is deeply beautiful!
	Alex Wooley, Partnerships and Communications Director, AidData About: Alex leads AidData's strategic partnership-building and fundraising, as well as overseeing all external communications. None of this would be possible without his wonderful five-person Partnerships and Communications team. Visit website. [[aiddata\|awooley,Email Alex.]] Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite GRI Memory: In 2019, biking the full length of the C&O Canal trail with GRI boss Mike Tierney.

GRI Lab Directors & Researchers

	Ariel BenYishay, AidData Chief Economist and Research & Evaluation Unit Director About: Ariel is AidData’s Chief Economist and Associate Professor of Economics at William & Mary. Ariel has served as the principal investigator on a variety of large-scale experiments in developing countries, including Malawi, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands. Visit website. [[aiddata\|abenyishay,Email Ariel.]] Social Media: @ariel_benyishay Hobbies: I'm an avid distance runner, often pushing my daughter in a jogging stroller with my son pacing me on his bike.
	Shreya Bhattacharya, Senior Research Analyst, Digital Inclusion & Governance Lab About: Shreya graduated with a doctoral degree in Economics from the University of Houston in May 2020. Shreya's research interests are in the fields of Development Economics, Urban Economics, Political Economy and Behavioral Economics. Visit website. Social Media: @ShreyaBEcon, LinkedIn Favorite restaurant: Jinya Ramen Bar in Houston and DC
	Irene Entringer Garcia Blanes, TRIP Senior Project Manager About: Irene is the senior project manager on the TRIP team, where she helps manage the day-to-day research activities of TRIP in its efforts to "bridge the gap" between the study and practice of international relations. Social Media: Twitter: @EntringerIrene Hobbies: If its warm outside you can find me walking or hiking around.
	Bryan Burgess, AidData Program Manager About: Bryan works at the intersection of financing and policy toward the Sustainable Development Agenda, tracking the alignment of donors' stated priorities and their follow-through. He has also worked on tracking opaque resource flows to civil society actors and on improving the data available to advocates and donors working with refugee, displaced, and trafficked populations. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere by Amtrak. There's no better way to take in the parts of America that lie hidden from the major highway arteries.
	Samantha Custer, Director of Policy Analysis, AidData About: Samantha Custer leads an interdisciplinary research team at AidData, a research lab based at William & Mary, which produces insightful international affairs analysis that is academically rigorous and policy relevant. A driving motivation for her work is to find new ways to quantify concepts, activities, and trends that are historically opaque or difficult-to-measure. Her research focuses on topics such as: measuring perceptions of development partners and assessing external influence in domestic policy. Visit *website.* [[aiddata\|sjcuster,Email Samantha.]] Social Media: @samanthajcuster; LinkedIn
	Jessica Trisko Darden, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University About: Dr. Trisko Darden researches political violence and efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism. Her book "Aiding and Abetting: US Foreign Assistance and State Violence," explores the consequences of US foreign aid policy for human rights in aid recipient countries. Two other books, "Insurgent Women: Female Combatants in Civil Wars" and "Women as War Criminals: Gender, Agency, and Justice" examine women as agents of political violence. Trisko Darden is director of GRI's Security and Foreign Policy Initiative. Visit website. Social Media: @triskodarden Hobbies: I hope to run an Alpaca farm, someday.
	Carrie Dolan, Assistant Professor in Kinesiology; Director of Ignite About: Ignite is a multidisciplinary research lab using data and science to maximize the health of people in resource-limited settings. Ignite's research is grounded in a well-established framework for evidenced-based global health. The Ignite lab focuses on the effective, efficient, and equitable distribution of global health resources, especially among women and children. Visit *website.* [[w\|cbdolan,Email Carrie.]] Social Media: @CarrieBDolan Hobbies: running, hiking, yoga, SCUBA diving...anything outside
	Brooke Escobar, AidData Associate Director, Tracking Underreported Financial Flows About: Brooke works with the Tracking Underreported Financial Flows (TUFF) team to systematically collect and classify information on Official Finance activities by opaque donors. The team's largest project is currently producing a dataset from 2000-2019 that sheds light on China's lending and granting activities globally. Visit website. Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere! I love to travel to see new things and enjoy time spent with family.
	Rory Fedorochko, AidData Junior Program Manager About: As a member of the Chinese Development Finance team at AidData, Rory Fedorochko works to advance the world's knowledge of China's financial flows with the rest of world. Rory is particularly interested in China's financial relations with high-income countries and how subnational and corporate actors affect Chinese development finance. Favorite book or movie: Jurassic Park
	Seth Goodman, AidData Research Scientist About: As a member of AidData's Research & Evaluation Unit, Seth utilizes convolutional neural networks and other machine learning techniques to produce estimates of development indicators based on satellite imagery and other geospatial data. Seth also developed GeoQuery, AidData’s free spatial data platform, which enables individuals and organizations without significant computing power or data science expertise to freely find and aggregate satellite, economic, health, conflict, and other geospatial data into a single, simple-to-use spreadsheet file. Visit website. Favorite Place on Campus: The trails around Lake Matoaka are a great place to go for a run or walk; and lets you feel like you are deep in the forest despite being just minutes from central campus.
	Jacob Hall, AidData Data Analyst About: With the Research and Evaluation Unit at AidData, Jacob develops geospatial data pipelines that support colleagues, partnered agencies, and GeoQuery users in understanding geographical areas of interest. Jacob's work ranges from manual satellite imagery analysis to training machine learning models that estimate development indicators. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place on Campus: I love exploring the trails deep in Matoaka Woods.
	Jillian Harrison, Junior Program Manager, Ignite About: Jillian is a Junior Program Manager for the Ignite global health research lab at GRI. In her capacity, she supports Ignite's research initiatives and manages and mentors a team of students working on projects at the intersection of health and international development. She is interested in researching barriers to health literacy and access to healthcare in resource-limited settings, as well as immunology and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Visit website. Social Media: LinkedIn Hobbies: Reading (preferably outdoors), drawing/painting, coffee roasting, aviation (earned my private pilot license in 2020).
	Ana Horigoshi, AidData Senior Research Analyst About: Ana conducts policy-oriented quantitative analysis on a number of topics in development economics. Her primary research interests are governance, political economy, and development financing. Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere new!
	Jeff Kaplow, Assistant Professor of Government, Director of NukeLab About: Jeff Kaplow's teaching and research focuses on the causes and consequences of nuclear proliferation, the drivers of international and civil conflict, and the effect of institutions on international security. As Director of NukeLab at GRI, Jeff works with undergraduates to apply social science theory and methods to policy relevant issues in nuclear security. Visit website. [[w\|jkaplow,Email Jeff.]] Favorite Place on Campus: The parking enforcement office. They love me there!
	Rodney Knight, AidData Deputy Director of Research About: Dr. Rodney Knight is Deputy Director of Research of AidData's Policy and Analysis Unit. He leads a team of analysts who collect data and conduct research on public policy, development aid effectiveness, public diplomacy, energy security, and media freedom and resilience.
	Brook Lautenslager, AidData Deputy Director, Data Analytics About: Brook works with teams within AidData to streamline their data collection process using software development solutions. She also works with teams to build various external dashboards, websites and decision support tools for various customers. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place to Travel: Anywhere warm, preferably on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean.
	Ammar A. Malik, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, AidData Dr. Ammar A. Malik is Senior Research Scientist at AidData, where he leads the Tracking Underreported Financial Flows program that uses pioneering methods to track and analyze underreported financial flows from non-traditional donors to developing countries. He is also a 2023-2024 Wilson China Fellow working on “Crossroads of Regret: Unveiling Asia's Belt & Road Dilemma.” Visit *website.* [[aiddata\|amalik,Email Ammar.]] Social Media: @MalikAmmar; LinkedIn Hobbies: I am an ardent fan of cricket, and regularly play for local clubs during the summer season.
	Kelsey Marshall, AidData Program Manager About: Kelsey works on identifying gaps between the development goals of leaders in low- and middle-income countries and international donors backing those projects. Her primary responsibilities include assisting in data collection efforts, managing research assistants, and finding ways to improve the LTL sampling frame. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Movie: Pleasantville (1998), featuring a young Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon.
	Divya Grace Mathew, AidData Senior Policy Specialist About: Divya works with the Policy Analysis Unit at AidData. She researches and analyses data on threats to the civic space, both domestic and foreign, in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. She also studies the US and China's public diplomacy efforts in South and Central Asia. Favorite Place on Campus: Any of the window reading nooks on the 4th floor of Tyler Hall
	Carly Muir, AidData Geospatial Analyst About: Carly has a PhD in Geography, with specializations in climatology and sustainable agriculture. Carly's research is interdisciplinary and uses spatial analysis to examine dynamics of human-environment interaction, specifically related to climate change. The overarching goal of this work is to employ geospatial techniques for improving synergies between agricultural production and ecological sustainability. Visit website. Hobbies: Traveling, gardening, and baking
	Sethu Nguna, Training and Instructional Design Manager, AidData About: My role at GRI is the design and development of training interventions geared at expanding the work done by GRI labs to a larger audience. Favorite Place to Travel: There's a small beach town called Swakopsmund in Namibia where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. Beautiful is an understatement
	Amy Oakes, Associate Professor of Government and Co-Director, Project on International Peace and Security About: Through the Project on International Peace and Security, an undergraduate security-focused think tank, Amy and her co-director guide students through the process of crafting fresh approaches to addressing emerging foreign policy challenges. Amy is constantly astonished by the creativity of PIPS students--who would have thought about the geopolitics of sand? Or anticipated so well the security threat from deep fakes and disinformation on social media. Visit website. [[w\|acoake,Email Amy.]] Social Media: Facebook Hobbies: I'm learning how to a fly a plane!
	Julius Nyerere Odhiambo, Ignite Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Health Sciences About: Julius Nyerere Odhiambo is a GRI postdoctoral researcher working with Ignite. His research focus has been in the spatial epidemiology domain, which focuses on quantifying the joint burden of disease, health outcomes, and their associated determinants at policy-relevant thresholds, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Visit website. Social Media: @JuliusNJulius
	Katherine Nolan, AidData Research Scientist About: Katherine Nolan is a Senior Research Analyst at AidData where she implements impact evaluations on a variety of topics including health, gender, and governance. She designs, manages, and oversees in-country evaluations across Africa and Asia. Visit website. Hobbies: Horse back riding, paddle boarding, and soccer
	Brad Parks, Executive Director, AidData About: My work lies at the intersection of international development research and policy. At AidData, I lead a team of 35 program evaluators, policy analysts, and media and communication professionals who work with governments and international organizations to improve the ways in which overseas investments are targeted, monitored, and evaluated. Visit website. [[aiddata\|bparks,Email Brad.]] Social Media: @AidData Parks CV
	Sue Peterson, Co-Director of the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project (TRIP) About: Sue Peterson received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University and her PhD from Columbia University. She teaches courses on international security and US foreign policy. In 2020 she co-authored Bridging the Theory-Practice Divide in International Relations with fellow government faculty. Sue's research interests include International Relations; International Security; Comparative Foreign Policy; and Global Health. Visit website. [[w\|smpete,Email Sue.]]
	Paula M. Pickering, Richard S. Perles Professor of Government and ABC Project Director About: Paula’s research focuses on the impact of aid for peacebuilding, local governance, and civic engagement in South Eastern Europe, as well as the link between information and local accountability in Uganda. Through her mentorship of students in The American-Bosnian Collaboration (ABC) Project, she conducts collaborative research assessing informal educational activities that promote inter-cultural communication skills. Visit website. [[w\|pmpick,Email Paula.]] Favorite GRI Memory: Reconnecting with ABC Project alumni at GRI homecoming BBQs
	Ryan Powers, Co-Director of the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project and Visiting Scholar Affiliate About: Ryan studies the domestic politics of International cooperation and compliance, reputation and status, and public opinion on foreign policy. In addition, he is a co-Principal Investigator on the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project. Visit website. Social Media: @rmpowers
	Philip Roessler, Margaret Hamilton Associate Professor of Government and Director, Africa Research Center and Director, Digital Inclusion and Governance Lab About: Philip Roessler is the Margaret Hamilton Associate Professor of Government and Director of the Africa Research Center at William & Mary. His research focuses on conflict, long-run development, mobile technology, and African politics. He is the author of Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa and co-author of Why Comrades Go to War. Visit website. [[w\|proessler,Email Phil.]] Social Media: @philip_roessler Favorite Place to Travel: Swiss alps--we even named our dog, Eiger, after one of the peaks
	Asad Sami, AidData Program Manager About: Asad co-leads analytical research on foreign aid, debt, and other investment flows from emerging country donors, such as GCC countries and China, to the world. He also drives AidData's engagements with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit website. Favorite Place on Campus: Tennis courts
	Rachel Sayers, AidData Senior Research Scientist About: Rachel combines econometric and GIS analysis methods to design and conduct rigorous evaluations with an emphasis on causal identification. Her primary research interests are labor markets, human capital, household bargaining, and gender. Hobbies: Hiking with my dogs
	Kunwar K. Singh, AidData Senior Geospatial Scientist About: Dr. Kunwar K. Singh is a Senior Geospatial Scientist at AidData and an Affiliate Faculty at the Center for Geospatial Analysis at William & Mary. His research is at the nexus of land change and geospatial sciences where he investigates how the terrestrial system can support future land conversions and resource consumption under a changing climate. He uses geospatial data and technologies supplemented with data from ground observations and weather stations to develop workflows for large spatiotemporal data processing, assess broad-scale land change and its implications to natural resources, and measure outcomes of new adaptations to diminishing natural resources. He also serves as a science advisor to the NASA DEVELOP program at the Center for Geospatial Research at the University of Georgia. Visi Social Media: LinkedIn, GoogleScholar Hobbies: Photography, yoga, bonsai
	Dennis Alcides Velazco Smith, Lecturer of Government and Co-Director, Project on International Peace and Security About: Dennis A. Velazco Smith is co-director of William & Mary’s Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS), an undergraduate think tank that produces rigorous and original international security analysis for the U.S. national security community. Dennis's research interests include: strategic studies, emerging technologies and national security, coercion, and regime stability. Visit website. [[w\|dasmi2,Email Dennis.]] Favorite Restaurants: Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! in Chicago (Awesome Spanish Tapas), Agora in Washington, DC. (Awesome Turkish Meze), and The Helmand in Baltimore (To die for Afghan Food)
	Jonathan A. Solis, AidData Senior Research Analyst About: Jonathan studies media systems in developing and democratizing countries. His work specifically focuses on media freedom, media resilience, and the physical integrity of journalists and media personnel. Social Media: LinkedIn Hobbies: I've played Capoeira for 10 years (Grupo Arte Reviver). My back flip is halfway there. O capoeirista não cai, mas se um dia ele cai, cai bem...
	Kyra Solomon, AidData Program Manager About: Kyra Solomon supports the Tracking Underreported Financial Flows team at AidData by conducting data quality assurance, managing research assistants, and contributing to data analysis. Kyra was selected as a 2019 Boren Scholar to China and graduated from William & Mary with a BA in International Relations and Economics. Her research interests include U.S.-China relations, international security, global development, and media. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place to Travel: I love to travel anywhere I can take interesting photos and that is warm.
	Lydia Vlasto, AidData Junior Program Manager About: Lydia is a Junior Program Manager on AidData's Chinese Development Finance Program. She supports the team in tracking underreported financial flows by conducting data quality assurance, managing research assistants, and contributing to data analysis. Social Media: LinkedIn Hobbies: Cycling and TTRPGs
	Katherine Walsh, AidData Senior Program Manager About: Katherine Walsh is a Program Manager for the Transparent Development Footprints team at AidData, an international development research lab at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute. She supports the team in tracking underreported financial flows from non-traditional donor countries through project and client management, supervising staff and student team members, conducting quality assurance, and contributing to data analysis. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
	Fei Wang, AidData Junior Program Manager About: Fei Wang is a Junior Program Manager on AidData's Chinese Development Finance Program. She supports the team in tracking underreported financial flows by conducting data quality assurance, managing research assistants, and contributing to data analysis. Hobbies: I like reading, writing, messing with film cameras, and want to learn weaving really bad.
	Jessica Wells, AidData Senior Program Manager About: Jessica manages research collaborations with USAID, the Hewlett Foundation, and other agencies. In particular, she has worked on projects exploring women's empowerment and violence against children, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hobbies: Outside of work, Jessica coaches a youth water polo team and enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family.
	Sheng Zhang, AidData Research Analyst About: Sheng is a Junior Program Manager in the Transparent Development Footprints program at AidData. He supports the team in tracking underreported financial flows by conducting research and data quality assurance, recruiting and managing research assistants, and contributing to data analysis. He holds an MA in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Economics from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Favorite Place on Campus: Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre at Lake Matoaka
	Wanqi (Angie) Zhu, AidData Junior Data Analyst About: Wanqi (Angie) Zhu is a Junior Data Analyst with AidData's Research & Evaluation Unit. She supports the team in creating household and village-level surveys, remotely overseeing fieldwork, cleaning data, and conducting data analysis. Her responsibilities also include award management for Randomized Control Trials, Geospatial Impact Evaluations and other research projects. Social Media: LinkedIn Hobbies: Playing pipa (Chinese lute), traveling, and photography
	Dr. Kelebogile Zvobgo, Assistant Professor of Government and Director of the International Justice Lab About: Dr. Zvobgo's research broadly engages questions in human rights, transitional justice, and international law. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in the International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Human Rights, PS: Political Science & Politics, Journal of Political Science Education, and in Foreign Policy Magazine and The Washington Post. Her work has been recognized in the U.S. and abroad, winning multiple awards. Visit *website.* [[w\|kzvobgo,Email Kelebogile.]] Social Media: @kelly_zvobgo Hobbies: I am an avid traveler and gourmand.

GRI Post-Doctoral Fellows

	Giuseppe Paparella, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Security and Foreign Policy About: Giuseppe's research agenda focuses on American diplomacy and statecraft in the Asia-Pacific, the relationship between nationalism and foreign policy, and applied history. His work has been published in the International History Review, National Identities, Diplomacy and Statecraft, and the Strategy Bridge. Visit website. Social Media: @giuspaparella Favorite Restaurant: Gees in Oxford
	Kyuri Park, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Security and Foreign Policy About: Kyuri’s research lies primarily in international security and cooperation, with a regional focus on East Asia. She is particularly interested in theorizing and examining the interaction between great and non-great powers (small and middle powers) in the region and drawing out the implications for alliance politics and peace and stability in East Asia. Visit website. Social Media: @curiouskyuri Hobbies: Rock-Climbing, LEGO, and Surfing
	Adriana Rudling, Post-Doctoral Fellow, International Justice Lab About: Dr. Adriana Rudling is a post-doctoral fellow at the International Justice Lab. Her research interests center on the interactions between victims of massive and systematic human rights violations and the measures and state bureaucracies have established in (post-)transitional societies to respond to these harms in Latin America, primarily in Colombia and Panama. Social Media: @AdrianaRudling, LinkedIn Favorite Restaurant: I'll take anything Peruvian any day.
	Sara Sayedi, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Nepal Water Initiative Sara is a postdoctoral fellow researching water resources in Nepal. She conducts geospatial analysis for the Nepal Water Initiative (NWI). Sara's background is in environmental science and management. Prior to W&M, she earned her Ph.D. in wildlife and wildland conservation, where she used expert assessment methods to evaluate the risks of climate change on various Earth systems, such as the permafrost carbon feedback.
	Nara Sritharan, Post-Doctoral Fellow About: My research has been on the geospatial aid allocation and the effects it has on peace consolidation in post-conflict environments. My future research will be on non-traditional donors' impact in the Global South. Visit website. Social Media: @Nara_Sritharan Hobbies: Learning Spanish and traveling.
	Samuel Weldeegzie, Post-Doctoral Fellow About: Samuel Weldeegzie is a post-doctoral fellow at GRI where he teaches Econometrics and does research on urbanization and labour market outcomes in Africa. Samuel holds a B.A. Economics from Jimma University, Ethiopia and an M.A. Economics of Development from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Prior to William and Mary, Samuel received his Ph.D. in Economics from the Australian National University. He has examined the long run effect of conflict on human capital in Ethiopia and is broadly interested in areas of development and labour economics. Visit website. Hobbies: I like hiking, playing squash and badminton.

GRI Research Affiliates

	Luis Baldomero-Quintana, Assistant Professor of Economics About: Luis does research on International Trade and Development Economics. He uses geospatial and administrative data for the calibration of economics models to answer policy relevant economic research questions. He is also interested in urban and macroeconomic issues in developing countries. Visit website. Favorite Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
	Eric Brown, Senior Research Scientist About: Eric Brown is a Senior Research Scientist at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute, where he studies world politics, history, and security policy. Since joining GRI in 2022, he has been writing on Asia and developing new research and educational initiatives. He’s also faculty guide to the Geopolitics of Technology Initiative. From 2004-2022, Brown was a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. There, he directed research and other programs on China, India, the Middle East and Central Asia, the Himalayas, and the Indo-Pacific, and on U.S. diplomacy and strategy. Brown serves on the governing board of the American University of Iraq at Sulaimani.
	Tingting (Rachel) Chung, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Analytics About: Dr. Tingting (Rachel) Chung, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Analytics, studies technology and fraud with support from ACFE Research Institute (ARI), Blockchain Lab of William & Mary, and National Security Agency. Her awards include IBM Faculty Award, and Faculty Excellence Award from the MSBA program at William & Mary. Visit website. Hobbies: cooking
	Zach Conrad, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, GRI Faculty Affiliate About: Zach's team combines methods from epidemiology and data science to understand how food choices influence the four domains of sustainability: health, environment, economy, and society. The team's goal is to evaluate the trade-offs and synergies between these domains so consumers, clinicians, and policymakers have the tools they need to support our biological and social systems. Visit personal website and W&M webpage. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place to Travel: North Dakota
	Shahrokh Fardoust, Research Professor About: Dr. Fardoust has more than 30 years’ experience in crafting economic development policy and analyzing the global economy and prospects. From 2008 to 2011, he was director of strategy and operations for development economics at the World Bank, where he contributed to the research and policy priorities of the chief economist and ensured the operational relevance of the Bank's research. Twitter: @sfardoust
	Kathryn H. Floyd, Director, GRI e-internship Program and Director, Whole of Government Center of Excellence About: Our virtual or e-internship program links students from Williamsburg or their homes with national security and foreign affairs organizations all over the world. During the regular academic year, students can devote 10 hours a week to this internship and more during the summer. Whether research, communications, or some other activity, our students are here to be stars! Visit website. Social Media: @khfloyd and LinkedIn Hobbies: Adoring my French bulldog, gardening for bees and butterflies, and reading fiction
	Sharan Grewal, Assistant Professor of Government About: Sharan is a political scientist with expertise on the Middle East and North Africa. His research interests include revolutions, democratization, security studies, and political Islam. He has published in academic journals like the American Political Science Review and policy outlets like Brookings, Carnegie, Foreign Policy, and the Washington Post. Visit website. Social Media: @sh_grewal Favorite Restaurant: Il Canale pizza in Washington DC
	Stephen E. Hanson, Lettie Pate Evans Professor of Government About: Stephen E. Hanson is a specialist in Russian, Soviet, and post-communist politics. He has written, edited, or collaborated on numerous scholarly articles and six books, including Time and Revolution: Marxism and the Design of Soviet Institutions. Visit website. Favorite Place on Campus: The Wren Vista overlooking the Sunken Garden
	Marcus Holmes, Associate Professor of Government About: Professor Holmes is interested in diplomacy, particularly strategies relating to conflict reduction and trust-building. He uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining political science with psychology, sociology, and neuroscience, to better understand the conditions under which leaders build productive relationships with one another. Visit website. Social Media: @prof_mholmes Favorite GRI Memory: My book workshop!
	Margaret Hu, Taylor Reveley Research Professor and Professor of Law, W&M Law School About: Margaret Hu is the Taylor Reveley Research Professor and Professor of Law, and Director of the Digital Democracy Lab, at William & Mary (W&M) Law School. She is a Faculty Affiliate with the Global Research Institute and Data Science at W&M, and a Research Affiliate with Pennsylvania State University’s Institute for Computational and Data Sciences. Her research focuses on the intersection of civil rights, national security, cybersurveillance, and AI. She is author of several notable works, including Algorithmic Jim Crow and Biometrics and an AI Bill of Rights, and editor of Pandemic Surveillance: Privacy, Security, and Ethics (Elgar Publishing 2022). She previously served as Special Policy Counsel in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She holds degrees from the University of Kansas and Duke Law School.
	Peyman Jafari, Assistant Professor of History and International Relations About: Peyman Jafari's research focuses on three areas: the role of energy and extractivism in the transformation of societies and ecologies; the international relations of Iran; the role of social movements and revolutions, with a particular focus on labor. He is an Assistant Professor of History and International Relations at William & Mary. Visit website. Favorite Place on Campus: Matoaka Trails Social Media: @JafariPeyman
	Alex Joosse, Associate Teaching Professor in W&M Public Policy About: I use the method of social network analysis to uncover interesting structures within national and global networks, be they Chinese development aid networks or collaborative networks between local nonprofits. As a policy person, my research is driven by a desire to have practical impact. Social Media: @Alexandra_PoJo Favorite Place to Travel: My favorite city is Berlin — I love the history, the beer, and the people!
	Donald F. Larson About: Donald F. Larson is an independent researcher and founder of the International Institute for Development and Environmental Studies. He has worked with governments on policy issues in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and the South Pacific. Don was also part of a World Bank team that launched the first climate-finance fund, the Prototype Carbon Fund, in 1999. Visit website.
	Mitchell B. Reiss, Ambassador (ret.), Visiting Fellow Affiliate About: Traditionally, Mitchell's work has focused on arms control and nuclear proliferation. Recently, he has been researching and writing on the future of US-China relations. Hobbies: Golf and tennis.
	Admasu Shiferaw, Associate Professor of Economics About: Prof. Shiferaw is a development economist with research interests in the behavior and performance of firms in Sub-Saharan Africa. His recent research also examines the dynamics of job and worker reallocation across firms, and the implications of labor market regulations and social protection programs on these processes. Visit website. Favorite Restaurant: Baker's Crust
	Troy Wiipongwii, GRI Research Affiliate About: Troy is an affiliated faculty of the Global Research Institute (GRI) at W&M, and he is a Ph.D. candidate in Data Science. His research interests include decentralized technologies, Web3.0, machine learning, Indigenous food systems, sustainable food systems, sustainable hospitality, and tourism. Social Media: @twiipongwii
	Yu Amy Xia, Associate Professor of Business Analytics About: Dr. Yu Amy Xia is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics in Mason School of Business of William and Mary. Her recent research projects focus on the integration of emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI into supply chain management to increase operation efficiency and mitigate supply chain risk. Visit website. Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump

	Michael J. Tierney, Director About: Mike Tierney teaches and does research on international organizations, international political economy, Chinese foreign aid, and the theory-practice divide in international relations. For years he has been doing research on a book about the culture and political economy of beer, but it seems that project always requires additional field work. Visit website. [[w\|mjtier,Email Mike.]] Social Media: @MikeTierneyIR; LinkedIn; Facebook Favorite Restaurant: Casa Pearl
	David Trichler, GRI Associate Director About: David works with research labs and internal and external partners to bring the best of the academia to current global policy challenges. Responsible for strategic planning, external engagement, and cross-cutting initiatives. Former Joint Staff / USAID, current CFR Term Member. Father to three young girls who love dogs, ice cream, and their parents, in that order. [[w\|dmtrichler,Email David.]] Social Media: LinkedIn Favorite Place on Campus: The running trails behind Lake Matoaka.
	Kira Allmann, Ph.D., Director of Partnerships & Communications About: Kira leads GRI's strategic direction in public, private, charitable, and research partnerships, and she oversees the communications and multi-media portfolio for the Institute. She also facilitates research-policy collaborations and impact. As a digital anthropologist, her academic research explores the lived experience of digital inequality, with a focus on alternative ownership models for internet infrastructure and ISPs, such as cooperative or community-owned internet networks. Visit website. Social Media: LinkedIn
	Hayley Janak, Director of Finance and Administration About: Hayley is responsible for the management and oversight of fiscal and administrative operations. She works closely with GRI staff, project directors, and counterparts throughout the University to manage day-to-day functions at GRI. She aims to advance GRI's goals and vision by establishing administrative and operational efficiencies in the areas of procurement, fiscal management, human resources, and beyond. Favorite Restaurant: Grain in Norfolk
	Ryan A. Musto, Director of Forums and Research Initiatives Ryan provides intellectual leadership to a variety of GRI research initiatives and leads the conceptual development and coordination of forums that integrate academic and policy audiences. By training, Ryan is a U.S. and Latin American diplomatic historian with concentrations in nuclear and Cold War international history. He is currently writing a book on the international history of nuclear weapon free zones. [[w\|ramusto,Email Ryan.]] Social Media: @RyanAMusto Fun Fact: I was an NCAA athlete in men's indoor volleyball.

GRI Leadership

Michael J. Tierney, Director

David Trichler, GRI Associate Director

Kira Allmann, Ph.D., Director of Partnerships & Communications

Hayley Janak, Director of Finance and Administration

Ryan A. Musto, Director of Forums and Research Initiatives

GRI Staff

Jawaly Coriano, Financial and Business Analytics Manager

John Custer, AidData Deputy Director, Communications and Data Analytics

Anne-Lise Gere, HR Consultant

Kim Gray, Associate Director of Advancement

Kelly Houck, Senior Program Manager of Student Initiatives

Mark Patterson, Finance and Administrative Specialist

Sarina Patterson, AidData Communications Specialist

Martha Reilly, Senior Communications Specialist

Candice Vinson, M.A., Program Manager for Research Initiatives

Alex Wooley, Partnerships and Communications Director, AidData

GRI Lab Directors & Researchers

Ariel BenYishay, AidData Chief Economist and Research & Evaluation Unit Director

Shreya Bhattacharya, Senior Research Analyst, Digital Inclusion & Governance Lab

Irene Entringer Garcia Blanes, TRIP Senior Project Manager

Bryan Burgess, AidData Program Manager

Samantha Custer, Director of Policy Analysis, AidData

Jessica Trisko Darden, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

Carrie Dolan, Assistant Professor in Kinesiology; Director of Ignite

Brooke Escobar, AidData Associate Director, Tracking Underreported Financial Flows

Rory Fedorochko, AidData Junior Program Manager

Seth Goodman, AidData Research Scientist

Jacob Hall, AidData Data Analyst

Jillian Harrison, Junior Program Manager, Ignite

Ana Horigoshi, AidData Senior Research Analyst

Jeff Kaplow, Assistant Professor of Government, Director of NukeLab

Rodney Knight, AidData Deputy Director of Research

Brook Lautenslager, AidData Deputy Director, Data Analytics

Ammar A. Malik, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, AidData

Kelsey Marshall, AidData Program Manager

Divya Grace Mathew, AidData Senior Policy Specialist

Carly Muir, AidData Geospatial Analyst

Sethu Nguna, Training and Instructional Design Manager, AidData

Amy Oakes, Associate Professor of Government and Co-Director, Project on International Peace and Security

Julius Nyerere Odhiambo, Ignite Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Health Sciences

Katherine Nolan, AidData Research Scientist

Brad Parks, Executive Director, AidData

Sue Peterson, Co-Director of the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project (TRIP)

Paula M. Pickering, Richard S. Perles Professor of Government and ABC Project Director

Ryan Powers, Co-Director of the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project and Visiting Scholar Affiliate

Philip Roessler, Margaret Hamilton Associate Professor of Government and Director, Africa Research Center and Director, Digital Inclusion and Governance Lab

Asad Sami, AidData Program Manager

Rachel Sayers, AidData Senior Research Scientist

Kunwar K. Singh, AidData Senior Geospatial Scientist

Dennis Alcides Velazco Smith, Lecturer of Government and Co-Director, Project on International Peace and Security

Jonathan A. Solis, AidData Senior Research Analyst

Kyra Solomon, AidData Program Manager

Lydia Vlasto, AidData Junior Program Manager

Katherine Walsh, AidData Senior Program Manager

Fei Wang, AidData Junior Program Manager

Jessica Wells, AidData Senior Program Manager

Sheng Zhang, AidData Research Analyst

Wanqi (Angie) Zhu, AidData Junior Data Analyst

Dr. Kelebogile Zvobgo, Assistant Professor of Government and Director of the International Justice Lab

GRI Post-Doctoral Fellows

Giuseppe Paparella, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Security and Foreign Policy

Kyuri Park, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Security and Foreign Policy

Adriana Rudling, Post-Doctoral Fellow, International Justice Lab

Sara Sayedi, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Nepal Water Initiative

Nara Sritharan, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Samuel Weldeegzie, Post-Doctoral Fellow

GRI Research Affiliates

Luis Baldomero-Quintana, Assistant Professor of Economics

Eric Brown, Senior Research Scientist

Tingting (Rachel) Chung, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Analytics

Zach Conrad, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, GRI Faculty Affiliate

Shahrokh Fardoust, Research Professor

Kathryn H. Floyd, Director, GRI e-internship Program and Director, Whole of Government Center of Excellence

Sharan Grewal, Assistant Professor of Government

Stephen E. Hanson, Lettie Pate Evans Professor of Government

Marcus Holmes, Associate Professor of Government

Margaret Hu, Taylor Reveley Research Professor and Professor of Law, W&M Law School

Peyman Jafari, Assistant Professor of History and International Relations

Alex Joosse, Associate Teaching Professor in W&M Public Policy