About
Our Mission
The Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS Lab) advances character-driven leadership, diplomacy, and national security education and training in support of the full range of university enterprises. Led by diplomatic and national security professionals, The Lab dedicates itself to learner-centered solutions and thought leadership through a global network of partners employing state of the art learning tools.
Events, Timely Announcements and News
Interviews
Support the LDNS Lab
The College's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab will center on diplomacy, character-driven leadership
“The launch of the LDNS Lab demonstrates the opportunities ASU can offer our community by leveraging the university’s presence in Washington, D.C., and Phoenix. Freakley, Polt and O’Donnell each have decades of strategic knowledge and experience that our students and faculty can learn from to further engage with issues of importance locally, nationally and internationally,” said ASU President Michael Crow. "We are excited to give learners this chance to engage with and learn from the most experienced and distinguished diplomacy and leadership experts our university has to offer.”
Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab team
Core team
Special Advisor to the President for Leadership Initiatives, Arizona State University
Co-founder, Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
ASU Ambassador-in-Residence and Professor of Practice
Co-founder, Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
Ambassador Michael C. Polt is ASU's Ambassador-in-Residence and Co-Founder of the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab. He lends his lifetime career experience as a U.S. diplomat to the students, faculty, and life-time learner community of Arizona State University. With his office in ASU’s Barrett and O’Connor Center in Washington, D.C., the Ambassador focuses on foreign policy…
Professor of Practice, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University
A retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Moore has over three decades of experience as a diplomat, leader, manager, teacher, and consultant. A part of the ASU community since January 2000, he has taught several unique courses on diplomacy - including POS 494 (Diplomacy in Action, the Embassy Country Team) and LAW 791 (Foreign Policy Design).
Senior Director
Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
Military and Strategic Initiatives, Office of University Affairs
As Senior Director of the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS Lab), Kathy provides leadership and support for Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley, U.S. Army (Ret) and Ambassador-in-Residence Michael Polt while directing the strategic operations and development of the LDNS Lab.
Professor of Practice, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University
Co-founder, Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
Professor of Practice
David J. Scheffer joined the School of Politics & Global Studies in 2021. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations (Washington office).
Program Manager
Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
School of Politics and Global Studies
Ashley Wright is the Program Manager for the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS) in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She primarily manages the Lab’s education programs: ASU World Innovators Study Abroad Program, Policy Design Studio & Washington, D.C. Internship, and the Master of Arts in International Affairs and Leadership program. Prior to joining the Lab…
Administrative Specialist
Leadership, Diplomacy, and National Security Lab
Kristi Hickman provides administrative support to the Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS).
Kristi relocated to Prescott, Arizona from Albuquerque, New Mexico five years ago and loves being an Arizonan!
Research Aide
Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab
Luis Reyes was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently a first-generation college student of Barret, the Honors College and is pursuing his bachelor's degree in Political Science and Justice Studies and also studies Spanish. After receiving his B.A., Luis hopes to either go to Law School and specialize in constitutional law or pursue his master's degree in Public Policy. His…
Distinguished university fellow
ASU Distinguished University Fellow
H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military…
Distinguished fellows
Charles Ray retired from the US Foreign Service in 2012 after a 30-year career. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he spent 20 years in the US Army, retiring with the rank of Major. During his army career, he did two tours in Vietnam, served in Military Intelligence, Special Operations and Public Affairs, with assignments in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, and Panama, as well as several posts in…
Ms. Bennett is a producer and host of American Diplomat, the podcast, which she began with Ambassador (Ret.) Pete Romero in 2017. The weekly show features interviews with foreign service officers and explores the human experience of newsworthy events overseas from a diplomatic perspective. American Diplomat has reached over 800,000 listeners in more than 140 countries worldwide.…
William R. (Bill) Deere serves as Senior Congressional Advisor to the Washington, DC office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). In his position, Bill is part of the UNRWA team helping to clarify the agency’s mission, programs, and challenges to Washington policymakers with a special focus on Capitol Hill.
Retired Foreign Service officer with 30 years of political-military and foreign affairs experience. Ambassador Kaidanow has held numerous senior positions in the U.S. Departments of Defense, Navy, and State and at the White House.
Presently serving as the 61st Chaplain of the House of Representatives, she was elected by House Membership and sworn in by the Speaker of the House on 3 January 2021.
A Navy chaplain for 35 years, Rear Admiral (ret) Margaret Grun Kibben, her Navy and Marine Corps assignments were comprised of tours up and down the east coast, a quick trip out west, and several deployments, to include…
Caroline Lynch is the founder and owner of Copper Hill Strategies, LLC, providing client-focused government relations, strategic planning, legislative, and business development services. She has fifteen years of Capitol Hill experience, including a decade with the House Judiciary Committee where she served for eight years as the Chief Counsel of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and…
Ambassador Peter F. Romero is currently Co-Host/Producer of the podcast "American
Diplomat." This unique podcast features the personal narratives of our nation's career
Foreign Service Officers, has reached 650K downloads, and a solid five-star rating with
an 86.2% loyalty (repeat listens) rate. He is a seasoned international practitioner with a 45-year track record of…
Herbert Roskind is an active member of the National Energy Independence Plan (NEIP) and serves as advisor to several Phoenix high tech companies. He is active in Flying Angels and Flying Sams, politics, and a co-sponsor of the Voter Reward Initiative.
Born and raised for 18 years in the Republic of Panama, Lieutenant General (ret.) Rudesheim was commissioned as a distinguished military graduate from the University of Texas, Austin in 1981, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He holds Master's degrees in International Relations from Troy University, in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, and in…
James Swan has devoted most of his career to African countries facing complex political transitions in challenging security environments.
Most recently, Swan served as the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (2019-2022). He joined the UN after a three-decade career with the U.S. State Department, which included assignments as Ambassador to…
Ambassador Kurt Volker is a 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. He served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, and as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009. Ambassador Volker is President and Founder of Alliance Strategic…
Dr. Lee E. Voth-Gaeddert, PE, REHS, ASEP is a Research Professor and Senior Global Futures Scientist at ASU. He actively consults for the United Nations and is an affiliate researcher at the Center for Indigenous Health Research in Guatemala and Wits Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit in South Africa. Dr.
Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
General Goodman serves as Senior Advisor to U.S. Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the U.S. Lead Oversight Agency. He advises and assists SIGAR to promote effectiveness and efficiency in the U.S.-funded reconstruction program in Afghanistan. Previously, he was the Director of the DOD Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE) responsible for…
Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force, Retired
General Findley serves as an independent consultant specializing in the defense industry and is President of VMFindley Consulting LLC. He consults with various clients mainly centered in the defense and aerospace arena. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 35 years of active military service.
Daniel B. Smith, recently retired from the Foreign Service with the highest rank of Career Ambassador, served as the State Department’s Transition Director for the 2020 Presidential Transition and subsequently as Acting Secretary and Acting Deputy Secretary of State in the early months of the Biden Administration. He served prior to that as Director of the Foreign Service Institute, the…
Junior fellows
Fall 2021
Aman Barekzai was born and raised in Arizona. He has recently graduated, majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations, while also minoring in History and Communication. He is currently a Master's candidate for the 4+1 Accelerated M.A. Program in Political Science. As an Afghan-American and first-generation college student, Aman aspires to leave behind a positive…
Fall 2023
Julia is originally from the Netherlands, but grew up in various countries around the world, including Kenya, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Currently, she is a sophomore, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in both Political Science and Sociology. Her career aspiration is to work in Public Policy that targets insufficient climate governance, human rights abuses, inadequate cyber…
Fall 2023
Stirling Ewing is originally from Montana and is now pursuing an M.A. through the International Affairs and Leadership program at Arizona State University (ASU). He lived in Chile for two years before attending Utah State University (USU) and earning a B.S. in economics and minors in both political science and anticipatory intelligence. He gained experience in assessing geopolitical and…
Spring 2024
Anish Kolan is from Dublin, California, and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Minor in Data Science at Arizona State University (ASU). His interest in community involvement began in middle and high school, when he was an active member of Dublin's Youth Advisory Committee. He was a youth and teen advocate who was involved in planning events, introducing community-…
Fall 2022
Robert Lee Lavender Jr is from Phoenix, Arizona. He has lived in Phoenix his entire life which is why he is proudly attending Arizona State University. He is majoring in Political Science and Geography. He is in his final year of undergraduate studies and plans on attending graduate school for a Masters in Global Security. When he is not working, or in school, he competes in Spartan Races as a…
Spring 2022
Mariah is a political science senior from Chicago, Il. She has a background in fitness, curriculum writing, instructing, program coordination, and entrepreneurship. Mariah also has training in applied behavior analysis and is an intuitive advocate for neurodiversity. She champions functional empathy in philosophy as well as in strategy. Mariah has participated in several ASU programs including…
Fall 2023
Thomas “Tommy” Morgan is from Alamogordo, NM, and currently serves in the United States Air Force as a C-130J pilot and Air Mobility Liaison Officer (AMLO) to the US Army’s 173rd IBCT(A) in Vicenza, Italy.
Spring 2023
Devin Parker is working towards her M.A. in International Affairs and Leadership at Arizona State University. Before obtaining her Master's Degree, Devin spent ten years working and volunteering within multiple non-profit organizations, including halfway houses, refugee resettlement, sexually trafficked and exploited women, and at-risk youth leaving the juvenile justice system. During her time…
Fall 2021
Sydney is a German-American senior majoring in Global Studies and Political Science with a certificate in Religion and Conflict. Her academic interests include U.S. foreign policy, refugee and migration issues, and women in conflict zones, with a regional focus on the MENA and Central Asian region. A former Capitol Scholar and current Policy Design Studio participant, Sydney is a founding…
Fall 2023
LoLo is a passionate social entrepreneur dedicated to addressing equity gaps for entrepreneurs of color and promoting true cultural competence in programming and curriculum development. As the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Business Development Center, known as The U, Lo has made significant strides in creating effective solutions and bringing…
Spring 2024
Blake Su is a third year undergraduate pursuing degrees in both biological sciences and political science, alongside a certificate in cross-sector leadership through ASU’s Next Generation Service Corps program. Born and raised in Chandler, Arizona, Blake is passionate for a variety of policy areas which impact his community, ranging from sustainability and the impact of car…
Fall 2022
Ella Wofford is a rising junior from Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She is majoring in Global Studies and International Letters and Cultures (Arabic Studies) while minoring in Religious Studies and completing a certificate in Cross-Sector Leadership. Outside of academics, Ella is focused on strengthening her community through facilitating dialogues, participating in service events, and advocating…
Spring 2022
Jamshid Yarzada is a first-generation college student currently pursuing his bachelor's degree in social work at Arizona State University (ASU). His passion for social work stemmed from a lack of justice and equality in his own life as an Afghan. Due to this background as a young arrival to the United States, he became motivated to help other arrived refugees resettle in Arizona and enroll in…
Spring 2023
Angel is from Orlando, FL and graduated with his B.S. in Management from the United States Air Force Academy in 2020. He is in his second year at ASU seeking his MA in International Affairs & Leadership and plans to graduate in the spring of 2024. He plans to become a Foreign Area Officer and eventually a defense attache during his time in the Air Force. Postmilitary, he is excited to…
ASU World Innovators
Jordan
Women and Youth
Mohammed Al Tarawnh, a member of the 2015 cohort, is the chairman and general manager of Blue Umbrella, a Jordanian NGO that focuses on community training and development. During program year, Al Tarawneh was placed at the National Youth Leadership Council. His LAP seeks to strengthen local communities and develop character-driven Jordanian youth. Al Tarawneh has achieved substantial success…
Pakistan
Chairperson at HEELA Institute for Research and Development
Zaheer Abbas Maseed, a devoted peace and gender activist, with over 10+ years of experience in Development Sector wields art and training as a weapon against conflict and violent extremism in Pakistan's volatile North West. Over a decade, he's empowered hundreds of artists, activists, and officials through HEELA Institute, crafting powerful counter-narratives. His mission: build resilient…
Ghana
Youth
Esther Akafia is an attorney and an experienced international development professional with over 20 years of experience working and leading teams globally. She is the founder and executive director of the Pioneers International Academy, an institute focused on providing quality and affordable elementary education in areas of need. Akafia seeks to implement Pioneers International Academy across…
Georgia
Human Rights
Giorgi Akhmeteli, who is wheel-chaired due to a spinal trauma, is the founder and chairman of the Georgian NGO, Accessible Environment for Everyone, an organization that advocates the interests of persons with disabilities. He seeks to improve treatment, advance quality of life and opportunities for the disabled in Georgia. In the U.S., he examined relevant legislative, regulatory and…
Syria
Journalism
Alhamza is an award-winning Syrian journalist and co-founder and spokesperson of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, a non-partisan, independent organization that exposes the atrocities committed by ISIS and the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Syria. Prior to this position, Alhamza organized non-violent protests and demonstrations against the Syrian regime. After escaping to Turkey in 2014, he used…
Palestine
Youth
Bashar Sorri is a lawyer and youth activist dedicated to encouraging the youth to experience and understand differences between cultures and customs. He engages students in a democratic environment that fosters diversity, awareness and commitment to justice. Sorri seeks to develop a national action plan focused on the development, both socially and economically, of the youth, and facilitate…
Tunisia
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Ezzeddine Ben Rhima is an e-marketing and communications professional, and co-founder of AM I ODD. AM I ODD is a mentorship platform designed to share leadership thoughts, entrepreneurship practices, and innovation stories with Tunisian youth to promote innovation and “start-up” culture in Tunisia. Convinced that the digital economy is the best way for nations to thrive, Ben Rhima Co-initiated…
Albania
Head of International Relations and Projects Office
Head of Public Law Department at Law Faculty Luarasi University
Dr. Dael Dervishi is a legal professional and educator with extensive experience in government and private sectors. He holds a Ph.D. in Law from Tirana University, Albania, and an LLM in Law from Parma University, Italy.
Morocco
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
El Allam is an ecosystem builder in the Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Community Development space from Morocco. Known for trustworthiness and diplomacy as a community builder, she has a proven track record of engaging national and international stakeholders to lead successful initiatives.
El Allam seeks to bridge the gap between business communities by building a cross-…
Egypt
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Economist, Ministry of Finance Egypt
Ms. Elabd serves as an Economist in the office of the Minister of Finance. She has always planned to work in public service because she has a duty to use the privilege of her birth and her skills to help other people. This commitment crystallized into a career path when she joined the technical office of the Minister of Finance in November 2005. During this…
Iran/Norway
Human Rights
Faghih Imani is the founder and president of the Center for Cultural Diplomacy and Development, a non-profit, non-partisan, public benefit organization that enables individuals to learn about the culture and society of several Middle Eastern nations. Faghih Imani serves as the host of a weekly London television show where she discusses Iranian culture, society and politics. She believes…
Montenegro
Government Reform
Ljubomir Filipović is a Montenegrin political scientist focused on foreign influence and information integrity. He holds an MSc. degree in international relations. He works as a consultant and analyst for different organizations. He worked for the projects of the Atlantic Council of Montenegro, UNDP, the US State Department, the City and County of Denver, and others. He provided consulting and…
Ethiopia
Regional Director, Human Rights Monitoring and Investigation Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Youth/Government Reform
I am a graduate of the prestigious Addis Ababa University Law Faculty with more than 20 years of experience as a legal researcher, an assistant judge, a project head/coordinator, an appellate judge, a senior adviser on children Rights and Regional Director for Human Rights Monitoring and Investigation. I have done a post-graduate training on leadership having been selected as the first-ever…
Albania
Government Reform
Edlira Gjoni is a communications professional and political activist in Albania. She is actively involved internationally as a communications expert, known for her advocacy for women’s rights and her respected presence in the media. In addition, Gjoni has conducted training and research in both communication and political participation in her country. As a political activist, Gjoni is the co-…
Germany
Transformation Expert (W4G)
German Ministry of the Finances
International Leadership Coach/ Self-employed
Talitha Goldmann-Kefalas follows her mission to “reveal the gold” in others. In doing so, she currently serves the German Federal Ministry of Finances as Transformation Expert, training and implementing innovative ways of working and fostering nationwide collaboration.
With her professional background in “Social Work as Human Rights Profession (M.A.)”, she led an educational…
United States
Chief of Staff/Senior Advisor
Human Trafficking
Administration for Native Americans
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Rosie Gomez has dedicated nearly 20 years to public service in the United States federal government. She has served in senior leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spanning across subject areas such as human trafficking prevention, child welfare, early childhood development, and Tribal affairs. Currently, Ms. Gomez serves as the Chief of Staff/Senior…
Jordan
International Lawyer, Trainer, and Consultant for International Corporations and INGOs
Founder of Al-Tarawneh Law Firm and Blue Umbrella
Mohammad Altarawneh is a trailblazer in the international legal arena—a seasoned Lawyer, Trainer, and Consultant passionately committed to driving transformative change for international non-profit organizations (INGOs). His journey is marked by visionary leadership and a commitment to impactful initiatives, reflected in the founding of Al-Tarawneh International Law Firm and the inception of…
Venezuela
Journalism
Leon Hernández is a communications professional in Venezuela. His career began in editing and broadcast journalism in RCTV, a major independent news network. In 2014, Hernández joined Universidad Central de Venezuela as a professor of broadcast journalism. Additionally, he managed the Democratic Unity political coalition press team. He and his team provided full coverage of the 2015…
Myanmar
Human Rights
Founder and Program Manager, Through the Eyes of Agony Art Program for Myanmar’s Displaced Children, Myanmar
Zaw Tu Hkawng is an anti-military coup activist from Myanmar and the founder of the "Through the Eyes of Agony Art Program." This initiative works to support Myanmar’s internally displaced children with the support of the New Zealand Embassy in Myanmar, UnionAID from New Zealand, and generous individual donors. Previously, Zaw worked as a project coordinator for BBC Media Action Myanmar,…
India
Human Rights
Vimal Kumar is the founder of Movement for Scavenger Community (MSC), an organization committed to the eradication of manual scavenging in India and bringing education and awareness to the existing scavenger community. As one of the rare members of the scavenger community who was able to obtain higher education, Kumar provides the unique perspective needed to provide insight on the issues…
Georgia
Ambassador Batu Kutelia is a former Georgian Ambassador to the United States and Deputy Secretary of Georgia’s National Security Council. Ambassador Kutelia seeks to build a political movement to promote democratic values and political professionalism in Georgia.
Guatemala
Human Rights
Lainfiesta is a journalist and civil society activist specialized in neuroscience and cultural and creative industries. She currently works as a multimedia journalist where she focuses on fostering debate, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
She works to transform the economy and identity in Guatemala through the conservation of Mayan Bees and Mayan traditions as an economic model…
KRD, Iraq
Siham Mamand works in the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs. She is passionate about education for girls and women, especially in rural areas. Her ultimate goal is to motivate and empower women to assume leadership positions in the public and private sector in Kurdistan and to break cultural norms that assign lesser roles to women in her society.
Kyrgyz Republic
Government Reform
Founder & CEO, Central Asian Research Institute on Corruption and Money Laundering
Docent at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic
Dr. Erkaiym Mambetalieva is a distinguished leader in the field of anti-corruption, currently serving as the Founder and CEO of the Central Asian Research Institute on Corruption and Money Laundering. Her commitment to combating corruption is evident in her illustrious career and the impactful initiatives she has spearheaded.
India
Human Rights
Sahana Mishra is a civil society activist from India. During her time in the United States, she worked with Lugar Strategies to further her understand of how private corporations participate in the promotion of women and girl’s leadership development. Since returning to India in September 2016, she has provided leadership and economic empowerment trainings to approximately 4,000 women. Her…
Haiti
Mondésir is an activist from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Her professional focus is on gender equality, specifically assisting women to achieve equal access to leadership opportunities in the Haitian public sector. Mondésir aims to empower women to run for office and participate in political decisionmaking, as well as work to ensure that the Haitian Constitutional mandate of a 30% quota for women…
Colombia
Chief Communications Analyst
United Nations Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Peace in Colombia
Diego Mora Bello is responsible for the communications area of the United Nations Multi-Donor Fund for Peace in Colombia, a tripartite mechanism between the National Government, United Nations and International Cooperation, with the participation of Civil Society to support the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement.
Hungary
Educator, Community Organizer
Aliz Pocsuvalszki currently serves at the National Democratic Institute in Hungary, where she works to support Roma community leaders, Roma women and youth.
Philippines
Government Reform
Jerlie Requerme is a judge with more than 16 years of experience working in the Filipino legal community. She has dedicated over two decades to advocacy work spanning across sectors such as environmental, education, peace and more. Judge Requerme seeks to secure justice through technology by the digitization of records in order to preserve the integrity of court records and the entire judicial…
Mongolia
Author and Executive Director of SIS
Promoting activism through women’s empowerment, Gantuya is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Sainkhuu Iveel San, which is named after her father, who was one of the active initiators and promoters of democracy in Mongolia in 1990. Today, through her organisation, Gantuya is promoting activism and women’s leadership by providing leadership training to women at the grassroots level in…
Iran
Research and Development Partner Women Empowerment Advocate
Youth Trainer and Educationist
Narges Shahi currently serves as a senior research and development partner of international trading and commerce companies proposing creative solutions in regard of sustainable economy, leadership and development. She provides leadership and business consultation in entering new markets and the registration and development of new businesses in emerging markets of Europe, Africa and Asia.
Ukraine
Government Reform
Since 2022, Kateryna Smagliy has served at the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA, where she covers a broad portfolio of political and public diplomacy issues. She joined the Political Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2021 and holds the diplomatic rank of a Counselor. She is a former Director of the Kennan Institute Kyiv Office, a Kyiv-based consultant of the European…
Sierra Leone
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
Police Planning Officer Police Division, United Nations, New York.
Founder, Next Generation Reformers (NGR), Sierra Leone.
Mira Dumbuya (Nee Koroma) has 17 years+ of policing experience and has contributed immensely to the development of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). She served in various capacities including Head of Operational Policy and Planning Department (OPPD), Local Unit Commander of Eastend Police Division, Head Family Support Unit and Head Change Management.