Academic Degrees

Doctor of Science, International Conflict Research

ETH Zurich · January 2006 – June 2010

Master of Science, Humanitarian Assistance

University College Dublin & Uppsala University · September 2003 – September 2004

Master of Arts, International Economic Studies

Maastricht University · September 1998 – August 2002

Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours), Political Science

University of Waikato · July 2001 – December 2002

Work Experience

Senior Lecturer (tenured)

Maastricht University, School of Business & Economics · since 2025
with joint appointment to United Nations University MERIT

Instructor in policy analysis at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Lecturer in research design and methodology at the graduate level. Thesis coordinator in M.Sc. Public Policy & Human Development. Lead for grant-funded projects on open educational resources, didactic innovation and virtual international collaboration. Guest instructor at the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, the inter-faculty B.Sc. Global Studies, University College Maastricht and University College Venlo. Academic advisor and thesis supervisor at three faculties. Instructor for personal knowledge management at the UM summer school. Provision of trainings for staff and students on uses of large-language models in the academic and professional context. Instructor for web-related technologies (HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL).

Assistant Professor (tenured)

Maastricht University, School of Business and Economics · Sep. 2018 – Dec. 2024
Maastricht University, Faculty of Humanities & Sciences · July 2010 – Aug. 2018
with joint appointment to United Nations University MERIT

Researcher within the fields of governance and conflict, director of studies and didactic developer; cf. individual appointments below. Supervisor for doctoral dissertations. Instructor, academic advisor and thesis supervisor at undergraduate and graduate levels for multiple faculties. Assessment of instructors applying for Dutch University Teaching Qualification. Country representative and contributor to the European Network for Conflict Research (EU Cost Action IS1107). Observer at the 14th session of the Committee of Experts On Public Administration (UN DESA) in preparation for the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Founding Program Director B.Sc. Global Studies

Maastricht University · September 2019 – August 2023

Launch of large-scale, interdisciplinary Bachelor program with responsibilities for long-term strategic development, curriculum development, budget, student recruitment, staff selection and training, and quality assurance. Accountable directly to the deans of all faculties; remained within budget and ahead of recruitment goals for entire tenure. Instructor in in thematic courses, methods trainings and projects for the introductory theme, Migration & Citizenship, and Peace & Justice. Supported the development of a comprehensive mentoring program and field studies in Uruguay, Colombia, Cyprus and with the International Criminal Court. Program ranked first nationally in its category and among the top programs in the Netherlands during every National Student Survey during my tenure (Spring 2021–2023). Successful completion of mid-term accreditation.

Strategic Advisor on Internationalization

NASPAA Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration · September 2021 – August 2021

Advising the executive director of NASPAA on strategic decisions regarding the global development of public affairs education and making NASPAA an inclusive and welcoming organizations for member organizations across the world. Special focus on the meaning of public affairs and diversity outside of the U.S. context, international recruitment, and partnership activities in the Caribbean, Colombia, Morocco, and South Africa.

Executive Council Member

NASPAA Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration · October 2019 – October 2022

Member of the governing body of NASPAA, an association and accrediting body with over 300 member schools that award degrees in public affairs education. Duties include review, discussion and advice on all key policies and initiatives and supporting the president of NASPAA. Member of the search committee for the executive director.

Lamp Lighter B.Sc. Global Studies

Maastricht University · January 2018 – August 2019

Member of the core team preparing a broad, interdisciplinary bachelor degree for launch. Lead author on macro-efficiency testing application (CDHO), co-author self-study for initial accreditation and the special quality hallmark “Small-Scale & Intensive Education” (NVAO). Joint lead for initial accreditation process. Co-chair of the Student Advisory Board. Co-author inter-faculty collaboration agreement and start-up budget. Accountable to the rector magnificus, University Council, and the councils and boards of all faculties.

Curriculum Developer B.Sc. Global Studies

Maastricht University · Sep. 2017 – Aug. 2022

Contributing to the curriculum development of a broad, interdisciplinary bachelor degree program. Participation in a series of pressure-cooker events involving contributors from over 20 disciplines from all faculties to design all aspects of the program. Co-developing the semester curriculum “Peace & Justice.” Sounding board for the developers of the methods track and the semester theme on Environment & Economy. Instructor in all pilot courses.

Academic Program Director M.Sc. Public Policy & Human Development

United Nations University MERIT · Sep. 2013 – Aug. 2018
Maastricht University, Faculty of Humanities & Sciences · Jul. 2010 – Aug. 2018

Director of studies with responsibilities for curriculum design, instructor relations, budgeting, recruitment, quality control and thesis coordination. Conversion into a dual-degree program and launch as one of the first Master degrees at United Nations University under UN GA resolution 64/225. Collaboration with UNU on the development of the UN legal framework for graduate degrees. Project lead for the development of educational units innovation and development economics (UNU-MERIT), risk and vulnerability assessment (UNU-EHS) and regional integration and multi-level governance (UNU-CRIS). Successful reaccreditation under NVAO as a dual-degree and initial accreditation under EAPAA. Program ranked first in its category in the National Student Surveys of Spring 2014 and 2015.

Visiting Scholarships

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University · May 2015
ETH Zurich · February 2013

Research Assistant

ETH Zurich, International Conflict Research · January 2005 – July 2010

Doctoral dissertation on the subject of “Democratization and Ethno-Nationalist Civil War: The Role of Political Leaders”. Participated in the creation of the “Ethnic Power Relations” dataset and its merger with the “Non-State Actor” dataset as a regional expert and country coder. Supervised and supported theses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Teaching assistant for European integration, as well as the course series on international conflict research in B.A. Public Policy for Swiss Army officers, and member of the Teaching Commission. Cf. also individual appointments below.

Lecturer

ETH Zurich, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences · October 2009 – June 2010
in collaboration with the Swiss Military Academy at ETH Zurich

Course coordinator and lecturer for a two-semester course series on international conflict research in B.A. Public Policy for Swiss Army officers. Participated in the education commission for the program for two semesters.

Junior Researcher

NCCR “Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century” · October 2005 – September 2009

Member of the research project “Democratizing Divided Societies in Bad Neighborhoods,” with regional responsibility for the Middle East. Developed an automated coding method for periods of democratization and autocratization. Collaborated in the statistical analysis of the role of regime-type changes on the onset of civil war and co-authored a peer-reviewed article on the subject. Co-organized workshops on governance capacity and democratization; as well as media and mobilization in democratizing countries at the Centre for Democracy Studies Aarau (ZDA). Co-organized a series of workshops on democratization and ethnic conflict; and co-authored a working paper on the results. Contributed to the

launch of the journal Living Reviews in Democracy and co-authored a peer-reviewed article for the first issue.

Lecturer

University of Zurich, Department of Political Science · March 2007 – June 2008

Co-developer and lecturer for the graduate-level course “Global Civil Society” on the history and current work of civil-society actors for two semesters. Co-edited a volume on the results of the course.

Instructor

ETH Zurich, International Conflict Research · March 2005 – June 2007

Co-developed, tutored, guest lectured and graded in the double-semester course series “International Conflict Research” for four semesters. Assisted and graded in the course “European Integration”. Worked as assistant to the B.A. program in Political Economics for Swiss Army officers and participated in the education commission for the program for four semesters.

Lecturer

Maastricht University, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration · September 2002 – August 2003

Co-developed, lectured, tutored and graded in the two-block course series “Quantitative Methods” for over 800 freshmen in economics and business administration. Tutored and graded in quantitative methods courses for 2nd-year business students and for freshmen at University College Maastricht. Tutored in a quality management course for 3rd- and 4th-year business and management students. Co-authored and edited student and tutor manuals for introductory mathematics and statistics. Participated in the team that introduced the BlackBoard electronic learning environment for all courses and activities at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Participated in international recruitment.

Teaching Assistant

Erfurt University, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy · Augugust 2002 – February 2003

Authored course materials for a semester-long introductory course on quantitative methods for the newly launching master degree in Public Policy.

Lecturer

Maastricht University, Center for European Studies · January 2001 – June 2003

Developed, lectured and graded exams in multiple courses on introductory and advanced quantitative methods, computer skills, and study and exam strategies for Asian MBA candidates at the Center for European Studies.

Instructor

Maastricht University, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration · September 1999 – August 2002

Tutored and graded in a multi-block series of courses on quantitative methods for freshmen in economics and business administration for two years. Contributed to a controlled study on the didactic use of electronic learning environments.Developed course and examination material, as well as extensive computer skills manuals for dissemination to over a thousand students. Participated in international recruitment.

Research Assistant

Maastricht University, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration · October 1999 – March 2000

Participated in large-scale experiment on factors influencing learning success. Collected data on the effects of admission restrictions on international enrollment. Taught in trial to provide methods classes entirely online.

Awards & Grants

Continuing Education

Didactic Qualifications

Didactic Trainings

Research Skills

Managerial Skills

Coaching & Personal Training