Anika Binnendijk began her academic journey with a focus on neuroscience as an undergraduate at Princeton University, but soon realized her passions were most strongly aligned with international affairs.

Binnendijk, a professor of practice at Arizona State University, has been sharing her expertise on technological innovation for security and defense purposes with students earning their Master of Arts in global security (MAGS), an ASU Online degree program housed in the School of Politics and Global Studies.

The School of Politics and Global Studies and global security program takes pride in a faculty composed of skilled field experts.

"Anika is a brilliant member of the MAGS faculty whose work on the National Security Council, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the State Department’s Office of Policy Planning, and the RAND Corporation makes her uniquely qualified to support our student’s intellectual and career development,” said Daniel Rothenberg, professor of practice at ASU, co-director for the Center on the Future of War and of the global security master’s programs.

“She routinely receives the very highest teaching evaluations and is known for providing students with detailed and specific guidance and assistance.”

Becoming an expert in the field was important to Binnendijk, who went on to receive both her MALD and Ph.D. in international security studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

In addition to her teaching position, Binnendijk is an adjunct political scientist at the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges including in the defense and security spheres.

At RAND, Binnendijk has led a number of research projects, her favorite being brain-computer interface technology.

One of her most innovative projects included collaboration with neuroscientists and former military operators. Binnendijk and her RAND colleagues designed a game in which participants from relevant fields had to make decisions about the relative utility of brain-interface technologies in urban combat scenarios.

“I have always been very interested in the human brain,” Binnendijk said. “I took a different turn professionally, going into the national security sphere, so it was very exciting that RAND offered this opportunity to be able to once again delve into that space [neuroscience].”

Her eye for collaborative innovation was a pivotal factor in her interest in teaching at ASU.

“I was really attracted to ASU because of the breadth of its outreach and student body. I’ve also always admired the value that it places as an institution on research innovation,” Binnendijk said.

Binnendijk said the elements of her global security course, Emerging Technologies, and the Center on the Future of War explore critical topics at the cutting edge of an evolving security and defense environment.

“I see my time teaching at ASU as an opportunity to share some of the knowledge and expertise that I have developed during the course of my policy and research career,” Binnendijk said.

Binnendijk advises students who are passionate about their future to experiment with different jobs, narrow down your passions and give yourself time to deepen expertise.

"Anika brings a tremendous wealth of expertise and experience to ASU, the MA in Global Security program and the Center on the Future of War,” said Jeff Kubiak, professor of practice at ASU and co-director of the global security master’s program.

“From having a front-row seat to foreign policy decision making, to doing cutting edge research in technology and security, Anika brings powerful insights to her teaching."

Written by Peyton Tovey