PROFILE

I am a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs, the University of Central Florida (UCF). I have worked at UCF for five years since 2018 as Research Assistant with teaching and mentoring responsibilities. Before that, I have over twelve (12) years of experience in security sector reform and peacebuilding across Africa, particularly in post-conflict Liberia between 2006 and 2018. For example, I served as Assistant Minister for Operations at the Ministry of National Defense in Liberia in my previous role. A reference link to my professional experience can be found here: (https://mod.gov.lr/assistant-minister-larmin-departs-liberia-for-counter-terrorism-studies/).

My Ph.D. dissertation focuses on noncombatant deaths during armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. The research aims to save lives because Africa’s civil wars, especially using technology, including precision weapons, are brutal on civilians. The research seeks to find out why. If we learn why, we can save lives, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to increase our understanding of violence during armed conflict and addresses challenges to peace and security. It stimulates an understanding of group motives that allow the international community to intervene to prevent violence against vulnerable populations, mainly refugees, internally displaced persons, and migrants.

I have an MA in International Relations, MPA in Public Sector Management, and BA in Political Science from Liberia. I also have certificates in military studies from various military universities, including the National Defense University in Washington DC, the Naval Post-graduate College in Monterey, Califonia, the Department of War Studies at Kings College London, and the National Defense University in Beijing. A link to my professional training can be found here (https://mod.gov.lr/jallah-olga-r-c/).

Thank you for your time.