About ACLED

Tom Hart is the Senior Desk Manager with ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2016. He currently oversees the Research Desk teams and projects, including both weekly and supplemental data production. He previously led the creation and expansion of the Methodology department. Tom received his BA in International History, and Politics from Carleton University in Ottawa, where he focused on colonial relationships, intercultural interaction, and geocultural perspectives. Tom is fluent in English and French.

Dr. Katayoun Kishi is the Head of Data at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2019. She manages the storing, organizing and improvement of ACLED data, oversees the weekly publication of data, advises on new approaches to improving data collection and management, and leads ACLED's data science initiatives. Dr. Kishi holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland with a concentration in comparative politics and quantitative methodology. She previously held positions at Pew Research Center and the United States Institute of Peace. She is fluent in English, Farsi and basic French.

Lennart Landman is the Senior Methodology Manager at ACLED, overseeing methodology, quality assurance, and training across all regions. He previously worked as a researcher on European security and defence issues for the Clingendael Institute in The Hague. He holds an MA in International Relations and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Groningen.

Franziska Pfadt is the Research Desk Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2018, and currently coordinates ACLED's regional research desks, overseeing staffing, reporting, and task allocations. Franziska holds an LLM in International Law from Leiden University and a BA in Political Science and Law. Prior to joining ACLED, she worked in several non-profit organizations acquiring extensive experience in process and knowledge management.

Charles Vannice is the Training Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since 2010, originally hired as an Africa researcher. He currently coordinates methodological training for all new and current researchers, as well as for ACLED’s external partners. Charles holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Central Missouri and a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His interests include insurgency and politically driven conflict with a focus on East Africa and Nigeria. Charles’ past research includes work with the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of Kansas, where his focus was on the Indian sub-continent and Afghanistan.

Elliott Bynum is ACLED’s Asia Pacific Regional Specialist. She has been with ACLED since September 2017, initially as a Myanmar researcher, then as the research manager for ACLED’s Southeast Asia desk. She also has held analysis and research coordinator positions at ACLED prior to her current role. Elliott has an MA in Social Justice and Human Rights from Arizona State University and a BA in International Affairs from the George Washington University. She previously worked as a researcher with local human rights organizations on the Thailand-Myanmar border and as a teacher in Myanmar. Her research focuses on political violence and protest in Myanmar.

Danyal Kamal is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2015, originally hired as a South Asia researcher. He currently leads the quality assurance team and coordinates data review training across all regions. Danyal holds a BA in General Management from Michigan State University. Danyal has over 10 years of experience working with different non-profit/non-government organizations and has research experience in the fields of governance, radicalization and minority rights in Pakistan.

Fiona Wong is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2019, starting as an East Asia Researcher. In her current role, she coordinates the development and upkeep of methodology guidelines. She holds an MA in Human Rights and Democratization. Fiona has experience working with public policy think tanks and international human rights organizations.

Timothy Lay is the Analysis Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2018. He leads the Analysis department at ACLED, overseeing the production of analysis outputs. Tim holds an MA in International Relations (International Humanitarian Action) from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and a BLS with Honors in Asian Studies from the University of Sydney. He has previously held positions on the South Asia desk and managed the Africa desk at ACLED.

Rachel Goodman is the Data Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since June 2020. She assists in the management of ACLED's dataset and oversees projects relating to data quality, data literacy, and internal data pipelines. Rachel holds an M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver and a B.A. in Political Science, International Studies, and Spanish from the University of Idaho. She previously worked at the Center on Human Rights Education and has experience researching a variety of political violence topics, including genocide, civil war, and disarmament.

Mariah Elliott is the Data Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since July 2020, previously as a researcher for the US desk. As the Data Officer, she processes and uploads all ACLED data on a weekly basis as well as supports other data management processes at ACLED. Mariah holds degrees in International Affairs and Arabic from the University of Georgia and has experience supporting different data projects, specifically related to the mapping of the Syrian conflict and the measurement of subnational levels of repression globally.

Josh Satre is a Research Analyst at ACLED and has been with the organization since August 2020. He supports the organization by providing quantitative analysis and producing data visualizations for ACLED. Josh holds an MA in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration with a concentration in quantitative methods from the Josef Korbel School at the University of Denver and a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College. Josh has over six years of experience working with different non-profit organizations.

Ameneh Mehvar is a Middle East Regional Specialist at ACLED and has been with the organization since May 2018. She holds a PhD in International Relations and a master’s degree in Middle East and Central Asian Security from the University of St Andrews. Her research interests include political psychology, security studies, and the international politics of the Middle East. Ameneh is fluent in Persian, English and German, and has a working knowledge of Arabic.

Ashik KC is a Methodology Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018, originally hired as a Pakistan researcher. As part of the Methodology team, he currently oversees application of actors, categorization of actors and several methodology projects to enhance ACLED's data usage in analysis. Ashik holds a PhD in Political Science from University of Warsaw, and an MA in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University. Ashik has over ten years of combined experience of desk and field research in violent political and ethnic conflicts in Nepal, South Asia, South Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova. His research interests include ethno-territorial conflicts and the role of regional organizations in conflict resolution.

Laura Sorica is a Research Manager at ACLED's East Asia Pacific desk and has been with the organization since August 2019. She is currently overseeing political violence and protests in the East Asia Pacific region, including in Japan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, East Timor and throughout Oceania. Laura holds an MA in International and Advanced Japanese Studies and two BAs, one in Political Science and one in Linguistics. Her previous experiences include working in the private sector, the Romanian Embassy in Tokyo, and as an academic researcher in Japan working on security policy.

Bhavani Castro is the South America Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since 2018. She oversees the collection of data on political violence and demonstrations in the South America region and is responsible for managing the team members. She holds an MA in International Security from the Institut d´Études Politiques de Paris – Sciences Po Paris, and a BA in International Relations from the University of São Paulo. Her research interests include ethno-nationalist conflicts, communal violence, organized crime groups, and non-state armed groups and gender. She is fluent in Portuguese, English, and French.

Maria Fernanda Arocha is the Central America Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. She currently leads the Central American desk, managing the coding team, supporting the review of data quality, and assisting in data analysis. María Fernanda holds a Master’s degree in Peace, Conflict, and Development from the University of Bradford and a B.A. in Political Science from Javeriana University. Her research interests are related to organized crime dynamics, security policies, and their impacts on development conditions in Latin America.

Hangyu Lee is an East Asia Pacific Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2020. Hangyu currently manages several countries for the East Asia Pacific research desk. He holds a BA in Global Communication and Culture and an MA in Global Studies from Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg and Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. His research interests include political polarization in South Korea and the role of social media in politics. He is fluent in Korean, English, and Spanish.

Elham Kazemi is a Senior Research Associate at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2018, originally hired as a North Africa researcher. She is currently a collaborator on the LASER project and supervises the Africa conflict observatories. Elham holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine, and an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame. Elham has over six years of research experience working on conflict and political violence.

Myung-Gyun Lim is the Research Manager of the North America desk at ACLED. Previously, he managed the ACLED's Oceania and Canada expansion project, and worked at the North America and East Asia desks as Assistant Research Manager and Researcher respectively. His research interest centers on the effects of threat inflation on inter-state conflicts.

Olha Polishchuk is the Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018, originally hired as the Ukraine Researcher. Currently, she manages a team of researchers covering countries across Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia and oversees the dataset and analysis work for the region. Olha holds an LLM in Law of the Sea from the Arctic University of Norway, an LLM in Human Rights Law with International Law from the University of Kent, and a bachelor's degree from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She has experience working in the private law sector, with Ukrainian government institutions, and human rights NGOs.

Giulia Bernardi is the Western Europe Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2019. She was originally hired as the Italy researcher. She currently coordinates the management of the Western Europe desk and the publishing of its data on a weekly basis. Giulia holds a double MA in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master's in International Relations from KIMEP University, Almaty. Before joining ACLED, she had experience in the field of journalism and research in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Giulia is fluent in Italian, English and Russian.

Muaz Al Abdullah is a Middle East Research Manager ACLED overseeing Syria, Iraq and Iran and has been with the organization since June 2017.  Muaz holds an MA in Political Science and International Relations and has over eight years of experience working with different non-profit organizations and providing security analysis to organizations implementing projects in Syria. His research focuses on reconstruction efforts in the transitional/post war phase in Syria.

Salma Eissa is a Middle East Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2017. Salma has an MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She has over 10 years of experience in the Egyptian civil society and research and academia sectors and has a keen interest in political analysis and trends and patterns of political violence in the MENA region. She is fluent in Arabic and English.

María Fernanda Arocha is the Central America Research Manager at ACLED. She holds a master’s degree in Peace, Conflict, and Development from the University of Bradford and a BA in Political Science. Her research interests are related to organized crime dynamics, security policies, and their impacts on development conditions, especially in the Latin American region.

Dr. Dan Watson is Senior Researcher for Sudan and South Sudan at ACLED and has been with the organization since mid-2018. He oversees coding, research, and analysis on the two Sudans. He has an MA in Conflict, Development and Security from the University of Leeds, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Sussex, where he also works.

Susanna Deetlefs is an Africa Research Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since January 2019, starting as a Southern Africa researcher. She currently leads the day-to-day management of the East and Southern Africa regions of the Africa desk.  She holds an MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding from Durham University, United Kingdom, and an MA in Security Studies from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Susanna has over four years of experience working with different organizations, focusing on gendered security, peacebuilding, political violence, transnational organized crime, and research on child soldiers.

Aastha Kaul is a South Asia Research Manager at ACLED. She holds a BSc. in International Studies from the University of Surrey. Her previous experience includes work within the public policy sector. Her research interests include gender-based violence, particularly in armed conflict.

Luca Nevola is Middle East Regional Specialist at ACLED and has been in the organization since November 2018. He was originally hired as Yemen and KSA researcher and subsequently worked as Senior Researcher in MENA Religion and Repression. He currently produces analysis and coordinates research across the Middle East desks. Luca holds an MA and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Milano-Bicocca. He has conducted extensive fieldwork research in Yemen and works as a Yemen analyst for several research institutes focusing on elite politics, political Islam, minority groups, and tribal dynamics.

Ladd Serwat is one of the Research Managers at ACLED overseeing North and West Africa. Ladd has been with the organization since November 2018, originally hired as an Africa researcher. He is involved in team management, data review and analysis, as well as project representation. Ladd holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Sussex, an MSc in African Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in International Relations from Gonzaga University. Ladd has over ten years of experience working with different non-profit organizations and a particular research interest in land-related conflict.

Dr. Adriana Boersner Herrera is the Venezuela Senior Researcher at ACLED and has been in the organization since September 2018. She was originally hired as the coder for Venezuela within the Latin American desk. She is responsible for research on Venezuela. Dr. Boersner Herrera holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Missouri, an MA in Political Science from Universidad Simon Bolivar, and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Universidad Central de Venezuela. Adriana is also an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina Aiken with 10 years of experience working in academia and research regarding Venezuela.

Sandra Pellegrini is a Latin America Regional Specialist at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018. In her role, she supports the analysis of political violence and demonstrations across Latin America. Sandra holds an International Master in Russian, Central and East European Studies from the University of Glasgow and a Master of International Relations from KIMEP University Almaty. She has over six years of experience in conflict analysis, investigating political disorder in Latin America and the post-Soviet space.

Trey Billing is a Data Scientist at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2022. Dr. Billing holds a PhD in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, as well as a BA in Economics from the University of Dayton. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at The Ohio State University. Dr. Billing’s interests include conflict dynamics, computational social science, and causal inference.

Ciro Murillo is a Data Literacy Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since April 2022. He currently supports the data literacy strategy of the analysis department. Ciro holds a BA in Political Science and Government from Universidad del Norte (Colombia). Ciro has over three years of experience working on research about the Colombian conflict and information management support for humanitarian organizations.

Lucas Fagliano is a Data Literacy Officer at ACLED, and has been with the organization since April 2022. At ACLED he has worked alongside the Data Literacy team to provide trainings in data analysis and data management, including Excel, Tableau and R. Additionally, Lucas has supported the Data team in multiple tasks. Parallel to his work at ACLED, he is an independent researcher on International Relations and Strategic Studies, often employing computational methods to explore issues related to hybrid threats and grand strategy.

Matt Fluegel-Carew is ACLED’s Senior Programs Manager and has been with the organization since December 2013. He was originally hired as the ACLED’s West Africa Researcher and has previously worked as Research Manager for a number of the project’s regional desks, including South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and East Asia. He is currently responsible for ACLED’s program management, fundraising and development, and partner outreach. He also leads the Operations department, which oversees ACLED’s travel, procurement, digital office management, and risk planning and mitigation. Matt holds an MA in Geopolitics & Grand Strategy from the University of Sussex and a second MA in Eurasian Studies from Carleton University, with his research focusing on regional cooperation and conflict management. He has worked previously for Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Department National Defence, and for consulting firms specializing in policy development and political risk analysis.

Sam Jones is the Head of Communications at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. Sam oversees ACLED's strategic communications, public outreach, and user engagement. He earned his BA in Political Theory from Franklin & Marshall College and his MA in Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights from American University's School of International Service. Sam's research centers on political violence and protest movements, and he previously worked to document human rights violations in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Amanda is the Senior Finance Manager at ACLED, overseeing financial operations. She holds a BA in Business Administration with a Masters in Finance, Audit and Accounting. Amanda has experience in external audits both in Spain and Singapore and was previously a finance advisor focused on West Africa for a sexual reproductive health charity in London, United Kingdom. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and Catalan and French are her native languages. She is based in Barcelona, Spain.

Maya Maida Salkanovich is the Senior HR Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2018, originally hired as a Balkans researcher. She currently coordinates all HR matters and leads the HR department. Maya holds an MA in Democracy and Human Rights from the University of Bologna and the University of Sarajevo, and a BA in Psychology from Occidental College. Maya has over seven years of experience working with different non-profit organizations.

Daniela Pollmann is the Operations Coordinator at ACLED. Daniela holds a MA in Conflict, Security and Development from the University of Sussex with a focus on peace processes. She has previous work experience in the social sector in Uganda and India where her work focused on women empowerment, child protection, and anti-human trafficking. 

David Benoit is the Finance Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since June 2022. David supports the implementation of plans, policies, and procedures for the finance department. He holds a B.S. in Public Administration and has a background public sector finance and operations.

Danny Lord is the Web Manager at ACLED and has been with the organization since November 2021. He manages the front and back end of ACLED’s main site and subsidiary web properties. Danny has an MSc in Comparative Political Thought from SOAS University of London. He has several years’ experience in digital marketing and SEO in the private sector, covering web development and content management. His research focuses on the politics of peace, conflict, and humanitarian response.

Eva Charidas is the Grants and Fundraising Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2020. She holds a BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University and an MA in International Conflict and Security from the Brussels School of International Studies. Previously, she has worked on humanitarian operations for both the United Nations and other local organizations in Greece and Palestine.

Juliet is the Client Relations Officer at ACLED. She holds a bachelor's degree in both Social Work and Social Education from Spain’s UNED University and an MS in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the Uniervsidad Complutense de Madrid. She is passionate about fighting social injustice and has spent time in a variety of countries including China, Senegal, Spain, Thailand, and the United States. She currently resides in Madrid, Spain.

Emily Rothstein is a Client Relations Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2021. She assists users and clients in accessing the global dataset. Emily holds an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York and a BA in International Affairs and Sociology from the University of Mary Washington. She has previous experience working with various international non-profits and small businesses.

Dylan Forbes is the Program Coordinator at ACLED and has been with the organization since May 2021. She oversees project coordination, budgeting, risk management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, and supports the Programs team with proposal writing and project design. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Development Studies from Seattle Pacific University, with a research focus in forced migration and fragile contexts. She previously worked in Beirut, Lebanon for both international and local organizations operating within the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding nexus.

Dipali Tikone is a Human Resources Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since September 2021. She holds an MS in Marketing from American University and a BS in Business Administration along with Marketing from Methodist University. Dipali has previously worked in the HR field with expertise in employee relations, onboarding, HRIS, and benefits management.

Niki Papadogiannaki is an Editorial Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since February 2022. As part of the Analysis Team, she conducts editorial reviews of analysis pieces, infographics, and other written material. Niki holds an MA in Migration Studies and Conflict & Security from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies. Niki has over five years of work experience in journalism in Washington, DC, and over three years in the humanitarian sector.

Michelle Stone is the Administration and Operations Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2022. In this role, she supports the administration and management of ACLED's operations and digital office. She holds a BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University and an MA in Human Rights from University College London. She has experience working with non-profit organizations and with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Gina Dorso is a Communications Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since March 2022. Gina supports the execution of ACLED’s outreach and media engagement strategy.  She holds a BFA and MA in Communication Arts from New York Institute of Technology and an MPhil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin. Gina’s research focuses on the geopolitics of peace processes and transitional justice in South Asia. She has previously worked in communications for the NGO and development sectors in New York and Dublin.

Katerina Bozhinova is the Partnerships Officer at ACLED and has been with the organization since October 2018. She was originally hired as the Southeastern Europe researcher and was also the Assistant Research Manager for South Asia. She currently coordinates ACLED's research partnerships, including building and managing relationships with a number of global and local organizations. Katerina holds an MSc in Sustainable Resource Management from the Technical University of Munich, and a BA in Political Science and International Relations from the American University in Bulgaria. Katerina has over seven years of experience working with non-profit and advisory organizations in the field of international development.

Nat Hill is a Project Officer at ACLED. He graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in International Affairs and earned a Master of Science in Violence, Conflict, and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He has worked in Ghana and Armenia. Nat has also interned at the National Institute for African Studies in London and Genocide Watch. His research has focused on the South Caucasus region and he wrote his graduate thesis on history’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Prof. Clionadh Raleigh is the Executive Director of ACLED. She is also Senior Professor of Political Violence and Geography in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. Her primary research interests are the dynamics of conflict and violence, African political environments, and elite networks.

Andrew Linke is Assistant Professor in the Geography Department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He is also a Senior Associate Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). He uses Geographic Information Systems data, spatial statistics, and population surveys to understand the geographies of violent conflict and human-environment interactions. His research has been published in the Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Climatic Change, Environmental Research Letters, Global Environmental Change, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Peace Research, and Political Geography, among other journals. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and the Social Science Research Council. He is a member of the editorial board of Political Geography.

Jennifer Morse, MHA has been a Board member of ACLED since its formation. Jennifer’s interest in ACLED stems from an appreciation that mapping can illustrate and communicate patterns of behavior that would be challenging to convey in other mediums. ACLED’s ability to track and map real-time events is a critical tool to improve our understanding of conflict and political instability. Jennifer serves as Vice President of Development for Salud Family Health Centers, a non-profit, community, and migrant farmworker health center in Colorado, providing comprehensive healthcare services to 88,000 individuals. In this role, she is responsible for securing funding and advocating for health policy that support access to healthcare for underserved populations. She has worked in this field for 19 years and serves on local, state, and national committees advocating for health policy and system transformation to reduce barriers and increase access to care for all members of the community.

Ashley McIlvain Moran is a fellow with the Comparative Constitutions Project in the University of Texas’ Department of Government, where she teaches on constitutionalism in divided societies. She is also a distinguished scholar at UT’s Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law and a member of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change. She previously worked in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia on democratic development and rule of law issues. Ashley’s current research focuses on post-conflict constitutional development, the evolution of new institutions, and dynamics of state identity and legitimacy.

Joshua Busby is an Associate Professor of Public Affairs and a Distinguished Scholar at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin. He originally joined the LBJ School faculty in fall 2006 as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer. In 2016, Dr. Busby also joined the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as a non-resident fellow. In 2018, he joined the Center for Climate & Security as a Senior Research Fellow.

Prior to coming to the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Busby was a research fellow at the Center for Globalization and Governance at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (2005-2006), the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s JFK School (2004-2005), and the Foreign Policy Studies program at the Brookings Institution (2003-2004). He defended his dissertation with distinction in summer 2004 from Georgetown University, where he also earned his MA in 2002.

Loren Tarmo serves on ACLED's Advisory Board and on the Finance Committee. He is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience. He earned his BA in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and a master's degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Loren started his career in public accounting, and is proud to have been able to steer his career into the health services arena, where he currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for PatientSafe Solutions in San Diego, CA.