Ivan Sascha Sheehan
associate professor
School of Public and International Affairs
Additional Roles:
executive director, School of Public and International Affairs
Contact Information:
Phone: 410.837.5328
Email: isheehan@ubalt.edu
Ivan Sascha Sheehan's website
Ph.D., M.S., George Mason University
B.A., Swarthmore College
Ivan Sascha Sheehan specializes in global terrorism, counterterrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and international conflict management. He came to the University of Baltimore in 2009 after serving on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Boston in the John W. McCormack School of Policy Studies. A frequent speaker on U.S. counterterrorism efforts, Sheehan has addressed diverse audiences from academic forums in Europe and at Harvard Law School to policymakers in the U.S. Congress and the National Press Club. He continues to serve as a subject matter expert and consultant on a range of public-policy matters.
Sheehan's early research—including his first book, When Terrorism and Counterterrorism Clash: The War on Terror and the Transformation of Terrorist Activity (2007)—involved quantitative analyses of terrorism incident data and examined the impact of preemptive force on terrorist activity. He is also published in peer-reviewed journals on topics related to evidence-based counterterrorism policy, terrorism teaching, terrorist group designations, counterinsurgency, suicide terrorism, and regime change. Sheehan's latest work involves both peer-reviewed scholarship and policy-oriented writing on the Islamic Republic of Iran and their democratic political opposition.
The author of more than eighty publications, Sheehan has appeared in The National Interest, Foreign Policy, Fox News, Al Jazeera, The Washington Times, The Hill, Roll Call, The Washington Examiner, The Baltimore Sun, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, National Post, United Press International, Townhall.com, Newsmax, The Daily Caller, Independent Journal Review, Modern Diplomacy, International Policy Digest, New York Daily News, Citiscope, and La Tribune. His writing has been translated into French and Farsi and has been cited in official testimony before the Canadian parliament.
A recipient of the 2015 President's Faculty Award for outstanding contributions related to teaching, research, and service in support of the university's mission, Sheehan was twice elected president of the College of Public Affairs Faculty Senate.
In 2016, Sheehan received the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award for excellence in mentoring. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents in recognition of exemplary faculty achievements. In 2017, Sheehan was awarded an official citation from the Maryland Senate by Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden, President Pro Tem, in recognition of "Exceptional leadership and Service to the University of Baltimore…"
Prior to assuming leadership of the School of Public and International Affairs, Sheehan served as director of the Negotiation and Conflict Management M.S program and founding director of the Global Affairs and Human Security M.A. program for eight years.
Sheehan taught at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Bentley University, Tufts University and George Mason University after receiving a Ph.D. in 2006.
UBalt Magazine profile, fall 2017 issue:
Current Research Interests:
- terrorism, counterterrorism and U.S. foreign policy
- policy analysis and evaluation of terrorism incident data
- international conflict management
- cross-cultural, religious and ethnic conflict
- fragile states and post-conflict reconstruction/stabilization
-
U.S.-Iran policy/opposition movements
Selected Publications:
Books
- When Terrorism and Counterterrorism Clash: The War on Terrorism and the Transformation of Terrorist Activity, New York: Cambria Press, December 2007
Journal Articles
- (2015) "Balancing Ends, Ways, and Means: The Case for Reviving Support for 'Regime Change from Within' in Iran." The Journal on Terrorism and Security Analysis, Syracuse University (Spring 2015: 10th Edition, pp. 27-36).
- (2014) "Are Suicide Terrorists Suicidal? A Critical Assessment of the Evidence." Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience (Volume 11, Issue 9-10, pp. 81–92).
- (2014) "What Is 'Regime Change From Within?' Unpacking the Concept in the Context of Iran." Digest of Middle East Studies (DOMES), Wiley-Blackwell (Volume 23, Issue 2, pp. 385-403).
- (2014) "Conflict Transformation as Counterinsurgency." Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group (Volume 26, Issue 1, pp. 121-128).
- (2013) "Challenging a Terrorist Tag in the Media: Framing the Politics of Resistance and an Iranian Opposition Group." Digest of Middle East Studies (DOMES), Wiley-Blackwell (Volume 22, Issue 2, pp. 229-261).
- (2012) "Mapping Contemporary Terrorism Courses at Top-Ranked National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States." Perspectives On Terrorism (Volume 6, Issue 2).
- (2011) "Assessing and Comparing Terrorism Data Sources." In C. Lum and L. W. Kennedy (Eds.), Evidence-Based Counterterrorism Policy. New York, NY: Springer.
- (2009) "Has the War on Terrorism Changed the Terrorist Threat?" Studies in Conflict &Terrorism, Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group (Volume 32, Issue 8, pp. 743-761).
Recent Presentations:
- American Political Science Association Annual Conference (2015)
- World Congress of Middle East Studies (2014)
- International Studies Association Annual Meetings (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Middle East Dialogue/Policy Studies Association (2013, 2014, 2015)
- UK Political Studies Association (2014)
- Southern Political Science Association (2014, 2016)
- Joint International Security Studies/International Security and Arms Control Section Conference (2013)
- UNO Global Studies Conference (2013)
- Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Summit on Cross Continental Cooperation (2013)