Executives & Staff

Ambassador Ulric Haynes, Jr.

Ambassador Ulric Haynes, Jr., was the U.S. ambassador to Algeria from 1977 to 1981, culminating his tour of duty as one of the negotiators for the release of the American Embassy hostages in Iran. He served as a Partner of SpencerStuart and Associates, as President of Management Formation, Inc., and in various capacities with the Cummins Engine Company. He also was Dean of the School of Business and Executive Dean of University International Relations at Hofstra University. He has taught at the University of Central Florida and Rollins College. Amb. Haynes is working on various projects, including a book on American foreign policy.

Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith is a Researcher and Analyst for the Global Perspectives Office, sponsored by the Global Connections Foundation. He works primarily with Dr. Stephen Sloan on terrorism and national security issues, but also conducts research on other international topics and assists with the production of the Worldviews for the 21st Century Monograph Series. A graduate of the University of Central Florida in Information Technology and Liberal Studies, he focused on computer science, economics and international relations. He was born in Illinois and has traveled to Mexico.

Abeer Abdalla

Abeer Beshir Abdalla is a Global Connections Advanced Scholar for the Global Perspectives Office, the Diplomacy Program, the Terrorism Studies Program and affiliated organizations, including the Global Connections Foundation. Abdalla’s studies focus on the interconnected relationship between multimedia, terrorism and the radicalization of Islam. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a B.A. in Radio and Television and a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. She has earned a M.A. in Mass Communications, also at UCF. While at UCF, Abdalla served as the Political and Media Columnist for the Central Florida Future, and ran WGKN Radio Station. She is a native of Washington D.C., speaks Arabic, and is also studying Mandarin Chinese and French. She is sponsored by the Global Connections Foundation.

Ted Reynolds

Ted  Reynolds is a Global Connections Fellow of Terrorism Studies for the Global Perspectives Office.  His work focuses on using both qualitative and quantitative methods of research to understanding terrorist radicalization.  Ted is a graduate of Rollins College with a B.A. in International Affairs and a UCF graduate with an M. A. in Political Science.  He  also has a graduate certificate in Terrorism Studies from the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland UK, and completed the Summer Workshop on Teaching About Terrorism at Oklahoma University.  Ted will be completing his Ph.D. in International Relations,  researching ‘Terrorist Radicalization in Western Democracies’, at the University of St. Andrews.

Michelle Harrington

Michelle Harrington is a Fellow of the Global Perspectives Office and the Global Connections Foundation. She assists with projects in both organizations. Until 2005, she was a Project Specialist in the Global Perspectives Office, responsible for programs related to Latin America and Asia, and for serving as the business liaison to key partners. Harrington also was the Business Editor for the Worldviews for the 21st Century monograph series. Prior to that, she worked with a world affairs council, an international trade firm and the state attorney general's office in Washington state. Harrington holds a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida, and a B.A. in international studies and Spanish from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. She has studied abroad in Spain, has traveled in Ecuador and throughout Europe, and speaks Spanish.

Joshua Hill

Josh Hill is a Fellow of the Global Perspectives Office and the Global Connections Foundation. He assists with projects in both organizations, with particular reference to those dealing with political violence, terrorism/counter-terrorism, national security and international security. Previously he was a Researcher and Analyst for the Global Perspectives Office, working primarily with Terrorism Studies Program Director Dr. Stephen Sloan on terrorism and national security issues, but also conducting research on other international topics. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, he received a B.A. in International Relations and an M.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He has traveled extensively in Thailand, Mexico and Italy, and speaks American Sign Language.

Johanna Marizan-Ho

Johanna Marizan-Ho is a Fellow of the Global Perspectives Office and the Global Connections Foundation. She assists with projects in both organizations. Until 2007, she was a Project Specialist in the Global Perspectives Office, responsible for activities and programs worldwide and for serving as the business liaison to key partners. Previously, she worked as a program assistant in the Global Perspectives Office and spent several years as a retail manager. Marizan-Ho holds a B.A. in Political Science (American Policy track), with a minor in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida. She has traveled extensively in the Caribbean and Europe, and speaks Spanish.