ASSOCIATES
DR. VOLKER FRANKE
Dr. Volker Franke is Professor of Conflict Management Kennesaw State University (KSU) and Founding Director of KSU’s PhD program in International Conflict Management. Dr. Franke is also Founder and Executive Director of TRENDS Global, a metro-Atlanta nonprofit dedicated to research and engagement in diverse communities. In 2021, Dr. Franke directed a community peacebuilding project in Afghanistan funded by the US Institute of Peace, and he currently directs the USAID funded 5-year “Hope for a better Future” trauma-informed resilience building and conflict resolution program in Liberia (2022-2027). Previously, Dr. Franke served as part-time Visiting Professor with the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at the U.S Army War College in Carlisle, PA (2016-19) and as Director of Research at the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), one of Germany’s premier peace and conflict research and capacity building institutes (2006-2008). From 1998-2007, he was Director and Managing Editor of the National Security Studies Case Studies Program at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
Dr. Franke holds a Ph.D. in political science from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from North Carolina State University and a MA in political science and sociology from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. His research has focused on issues related to peace and security, conflict management, civil-military relations, development policy, interactive learning and social identity. Dr. Franke has been developing case studies and simulation exercises for more than 25 years and has conducted more than 30 case writing training workshops worldwide.
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Dr. Franke speaks Englishand German and can be reached at volker@trendsglobal.org
DR. ERIC WOLTERSTORFF
Dr. Wolterstorff is the founder and CEO of Sovereignty First, a free-lance diplomatic firm. His expertise is the behavior of populations in response to existential threats. He has taught and founded schools teaching trauma based therapy for individuals and groups in the United States and Europe. He is a leading expert in addressing mass trauma in very large groups.
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Dr. Wolterstorff can be reached at eric.wolterstorff@sovereigntyfirst.com
DR. MAHMUD ELSHTEWI
Dr. Elshtewi became the Dean of the Medical Sciences School at the Academia for Graduate Studies, Tripoli University in 2013. Dr. Elshtewi is hosting an IMTD office in his new NGO in Tripoli called the National Academy.
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Dr. Elshtewi speaks Arabic and English. He can be reached at drelshtewi@hotmail.com
DR. MARY VAYALIPARAMIL
Ph.D. in Educational Theory & Policy - Comparative & International Education, Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania, USA)
M.S. in Education Policy and Leadership, University of Oregon (Oregon, USA)
B.Sc. in Physics, Goa University (Goa, India)
Dr. Vayaliparamil functions in the School of Education teaching courses in classroom management, methods and assessment, and curriculum design. Her research interests lie in the intersection between education and peacebuilding. Mary's areas of methodological expertise are qualitative research and participatory action research methods such as photovoice. Her current research projects include studies examining the challenges in implementing student-centered curriculums in the United Arab Emirates, the impact of AI tools on critical thinking and writing skills, the influence of higher and migration on the empowerment of women from conflict zones, as well as commons, commoning and social change. Dr. Vayaliparamil is also writing a paper on the psychosocial stages of global development. Prior to joining the American University in Dubai, Dr. Vayaliparamil worked to advance education opportunities for women from disadvantaged communities as the Director, Office for Advancing Learning at the Asian University for women. She also spent many years working in the United States with Sovereignty First assisting the development of a new model of practice in peacebuilding and with the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy developing training programs in conflict sensitive journalism and international diplomacy. Dr. Vayaliparamil spent the early years of her career as a math and science teacher in India and the United Arab Emirates.
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Dr. Vayaliparamil speaks four languages and thinks of herself as a global citizen having lived in India, UAE, USA, and Bangladesh. In her spare time, she may be found watching Sacha Baron Cohen, Christopher Hitchens, Vandana Shiva, and others. She also likes to keep herself abreast of current events and participate in community events. Dr. Vayaliparamil is passionate about advancing academic pathways for learners experiencing challenging circumstances and informally advises anyone knocking her door.
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Dr, Vayaliparamil is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, and Konkani and can understand Bengali . Her email address is rvayaliparampil@imtd.org
STACY KESKINARKAUS, MSW, TEFL
Stacy Keskinarkaus, M.S.W., is an associate at IMTD. She currently works to establish
her mediation practice in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland, and she also provides staff
development training internationally through cross cultural training and communication
coaching. Her interests are facilitating integration of minority groups into work places
and communities through conflict prevention planning, communication coaching and
mediation. She served as Tampere Ambassador from 2015-2020 for the Tampere
Region Economic Development Agency (Tredea), bridging international talents interested
in working in the Tampere region and companies looking for international talents in
Finland. Stacy completed her MSW at the University of Southern California with a
concentration in social work and business in a global society. Her many interests
include baking, photography, and hiking.
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Stacy speaks English and Finnish. She can be reached at skeskinarkaus@imtd.org
