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NSA Department Welcomes Three New Professors
U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Michael Ehrlich

NSA Department Welcomes Three New Professors

By MC2 Michael Ehrlich

NPS recently welcomed three new professors to the National Security Affairs (NSA) department. Dr. Christopher Darnton, left, Dr. Emily Meierding, middle, and Dr. Afshon Ostovar are each poised to teach within their specific fields in the NSA department.

Meierding earned her Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago, and during her final year was a pre-doctoral fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. After that, she was an Assistant Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

"I like the idea of being at an institution that combines academic and government work, so I can contribute to both worlds," said Meierding. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to teach students who will have a direct impact on U.S. foreign policy. In addition, the NSA department is an exceptional community of security scholars and by participating in programs like the Energy Academic Group; I can work with researchers working on my topic, across different scholarly fields."

Ostovar has traveled to and studied the Middle East for nearly twenty years. With a focus on armed political groups in the region, he has worked to support the Department of Defense and federal government on issues related to Middle East security.

"I believe that the combination of both my personal research and professional background has given me a solid and unique foundation on which to build at NPS," said Ostovar. "NPS is one of the only places, and the best place, where one can pursue a serious academic research program while also supporting the development of future military leadership."

Darnton has already started teaching an intro course to international relations, and this fall will teach courses in Brazilian foreign policy and U.S. National Security Decision Making. Having earned his Ph.D. in the politics department at Princeton and has taught at several other institutions. Darnton feels that there are significant differences between NPS and his previous teaching positions.

"It's different because on one hand its graduate teaching, but from what I have taught before the classes were large … striking a balance of how to get the most productive discussion and what background you need to provide for lecture as a faculty member has been a pleasure here," said Darnton. "My students seem quite motivated, they know what they are looking to do … as a result they are coming to learn, which is very exciting as a faculty member.

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July 2016

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