Last week, top scholars and professionals from 18 countries arrived on campus at the University of Delaware for the Study of the U.S. Institutes’ (SUSI) National Security Policymaking Institute, a U.S. Department of State program administered by UD’s Institute for Global Studies.

The SUSI National Security Policymaking Institute provides participants from around the world with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the foundations of U.S. national security policy, including the role of the federal government, think tanks, media and public opinion in shaping policy, and to examine current challenges facing the United States.

The program will feature expert commentary by UD faculty in the departments of Communication, Fashion and Apparel Studies, Geography, Political Science and International Relations, the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, and UD’s Cybersecurity Initiative.

In addition, participants will travel to Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Philadelphia and Carlisle, Pennsylvania; New York City; and Washington, D.C. During these visits, participants will have the opportunity to meet with specialists and representatives from universities, nonprofits and government agencies.

The staffs of U.S. Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper also will headline during the program, discussing national security and foreign policymaking priorities from a first-hand perspective.

Meet the participants

SUSI participants are from 18 countries across six continents: Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

Selected through a competitive application process, SUSI participants reflect an impressive range of scholarship and responsibilities. For example, Hanna-Miina Sihvonen, a native of Finland, serves as a senior specialist at the country’s Ministry of the Interior.

Others, like Karki Rohit, from Nepal, serve as faculty members at higher education institutions. In addition to his assistant professorship at the Kathmandu School of Law, Rohit is currently working on research projects aimed at “developing the capacity of security personnel to enhance the protection of human rights, and assist them to develop strategies for operationalizing human rights principles within the context and circumstance of their work.”

Ada Peter, from Nigeria, is an assistant professor of nedia and security at Covenant University, where, along with other research, she uses algorithms to analyze online big data that she thinks may help predict acts of terrorism and armed conflict in Africa.

Arriving with their own areas of expertise, participants expect to return home better prepared to contribute to the international conversation.

“Even though I’m constantly studying U.S. culture, policies and knowledge, I sense that I’m still studying from the outside, through readings, papers, books, [and news]...,” noted Jessica De Alba Ulloa, from Mexico, in her application. This program, she expects, will give her the insider’s view that will be integral to her future work.

Many said they plan to apply their newfound knowledge to new and improved courses at their home institutions.

A public forum

The University community is invited to meet SUSI participants during an upcoming forum.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, a forum moderated by Muqtedar Khan, professor of political science and international relations, addressed the legacy of President Barack Obama’s administration.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, a second forum on the topic of “Confronting Anti Americanism in the Twenty-First Century” will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Room 116 of Purnell Hall.

No registration is necessary for forum attendance, and all are welcome.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for UD and the greater Newark community to collaborate with our international colleagues and study the past, presen, and future of U.S. national security policymaking,” said Dan Bottomley, associate director for Global Partnerships and Programs. “Discussing the continuities and changes of national security between presidencies allows all of us to better understand how national security policies are made and how they are implemented.”

To see moments of UD’s SUSI National Security Policymaking Program, follow along @UDGlobal on Instagram and Twitter and engage using the hashtag #UDSUSI.

About the Institute for Global Studies

The Institute for Global Studies was created in 2009 to enhance the international dimensions of teaching, research and outreach at the University of Delaware. IGS provides leadership and support for programs and experiences that contribute to the education of informed, skilled, open-minded citizens of the world.

Best known for coordinating the University’s study abroad program, IGS also awards scholarships and grants to faculty and students for a number of global opportunities, and administers internationally-recognized State Department-sponsored programs such as the UD Fulbright Initiative, Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Institute, Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders, and most recently the Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders on Women’s Leadership (SUSI-WL) program.

IGS sponsors such signature events as Global Month each fall and country-specific celebrations each spring.

IGS collaborates with other global partners on campus, including the Office for International Students and Scholars, the Confucius Institute and the Center for Global and Area Studies. In addition, IGS partners with Enrollment Management to coordinate the UD World Scholars Program.

About the Study of the U.S. Institutes

The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) are five-to-six-week academic programs designed for groups of foreign undergraduate student leaders, faculty, and scholars to improve their understanding of the United States and develop their leadership skills.

Institutes are hosted by academic institutions throughout the United States and consist of an intensive academic program, an integrated study tour, workshops, and community activities. For more information, contact ECA-Press@state.gov.