International Affairs and Leadership Faculty | School of Politics and Global Studies

Faculty of the MA in International Affairs and Leadership program include ambassadors, military general officers, and experts in their respective fields. Students have direct access to faculty with first-hand experience and expertise in areas of diplomacy, character-driven leadership, ethics, foreign affairs, intelligence, national security, and economics.

Program Director

Ambassador Roderick Moore

Professor of Practice
Three decades of experience as a diplomat, leader, manager, teacher, and consultant.
Teaches: Human Rights and Realpolitik
Full bio

Program Support Staff

Ashley Wright
Department: ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
Title: Program Coordinator Sr

Jenna Roelle
Department: SPGS
Title: Graduate Coordinator

The faculty within the School of Politics and Global Studies and the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab work very closely with graduate students. The following faculty are associated with the MA in International Affairs and Leadership.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley (ret.)

Special Advisor to the President
More than 36 years of active military service, and was serving as Commanding General, U.S. Army Accessions Command.
Teaches: Character-Driven Leadership, Applied International Leadership: Case Studies
Full bio

Ambassador Edward B. O’Donnell

Distinguished Fellow
33 year career in the U.S. Foreign Service serving in Latin America, German-speaking Europe and other positions in Washington, D.C.
Teaches: U.S. Diplomacy in Action, The Holocaust and World War II Today, Genocide Prevention, International Negotiations: Trust but Verify
Full bio

Ambassador Michael Polt

Ambassador-in-Residence, Professor of Practice
35-year diplomatic career holding assignments as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia and to Serbia and Montenegro.
Teaches: Character-Driven Leadership, Applied International Leadership: Case Studies
Full bio

Ambassador David Johnson

Distinguished Fellow
33-years of service as a career diplomat. Former Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE
Teaches: The Making of U.S. National Security Policy
Full bio

Ambassador Catherine Novelli

Distinguished Fellow
Former Under Secretary of State with over 30 years in the field of international trade policy
Teaches: Key Issues in Today's Global Economy
Full bio

Ambassador William Heidt

Distinguished Fellow
A career economic officer and served as U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia
Teaches: Key Issues in Today's Global Economy
Full bio

Chaplain Margaret Kibben

Distinguished Fellow
Retired Navy Rear Admiral with 35 years of experience and presently serving as the 61st Chaplain of the House of Representatives.
Teaches: Religion and Diplomacy
Full bio

William Deere

Distinguished Fellow
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and serves as Senior Congressional Advisor to the Washington, DC office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)
Teaches: The Role of Congress in U.S. Foreign Policy
Full bio

Ambassador Kurt Volker

Distinguished Fellow
Leading expert in U.S. foreign and national security policy with 35 years of experience in a variety of government, academic, and private sector capacities. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations
Teaches: Transatlantic Relations: Does Europe Still Matter?
Full bio

Caroline Lynch

Distinguished Fellow
Founder and owner of Copper Hill Strategies, LLC, providing client-focused government relations, strategic planning, legislative, and business development services.
Teaches: The Dark Side of Foreign Policy
Full bio

Ambassador Peter Romero

Distinguished Fellow
As a career US diplomat, entrepreneur, professor and lecturer, Ambassador Romero specializes in conflict mitigation for private companies and individuals overseas.
Full bio

Ambassador Charles Ray

Distinguished Fellow
Retired US Army Major and former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Cambodia.
Full bio