Tara Maller, Ph.D.
Publications
"Hopeful for Heedful Headlines on Hostage Recovery," New America Weekly, January 2016.
“What the U.S. Can Realistically Do in Iraq,” CNN, co-authored with Nada Bakos, August 14, 2014.
“Why Even the Toughest Sanctions on Russia May Not Change Putin’s Behavior,” July 31, 2014 (reprint)
“How to Win Sanctions and (Sometimes) Influence People, The Weekly Wonk, New America, June 16, 2014.
“Islamic State of Sexual Violence,” Foreign Policy, co-authored with Aki Peritz, September 2014
“Service as Success,” The Huffington Post, April 2014.
“Answering the State of the Union’s Call to Citizenship,” Aspen Institute Blog, January 29, 2014.
“Why Additional Sanctions on Iran Won’t Work,” Defense One, November 20, 2013.
“4 Ways to Put the Syria Disaster in Terms Your Friends Will Finally Understand,” PolicyMic, November 5, 2013.
“What Every Foreign Policy Journalist Can Learn from the Miley Cyrus Effect,” PolicyMic, October 23, 2013.
“Syria Through the Eyes of Intelligence,” Syria Deeply, October 21, 2013.
“Syria’s Diplomatic Barriers,” Syria Deeply, September 23, 2013.
“Genealogy of the WMD Category and Threat,” Blogs of War, September 10, 2013.
“Why the US Should Reach out to Iran,” Opinion for Al Jazeera English, August 3, 2013.
“Mobilizing Women for Cybersecurity,” Blogs of War, May 28, 2013.
“Sanctions Alone Won’t Stop Iran’s Nuclear Push,” Bloomberg View, May 22, 2013.
“Homeland-Bound: Tips for Women in Security,” The Levo League, December 2012.
“10 Reasons a Woman Should Head the CIA,” CNN Opinion, CNN.com, November 2012
“Don’t Rush to Join Benghazi Blame Game,” CNN Opinion, CNN.com, October 2012
“Diplomatic Sanctions as a U.S. Foreign Policy Tool: Helpful or Harmful?” PS: Political Science and Politics, October 2010.
“The Dangers of Diplomatic Disengagement in Counterterrorism,” Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Volume 32, Issue 6 June 2009, pp. 511–536.
Writing
“Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Genealogy and Construction of the WMD Threat, Master's Thesis, Commitee on International Relations, The University of Chicago, 2004.
"A Quantitative Assessment of the Role of Technology as a Determinant of War Outcomes,” Honors Thesis, Department of Government, Dartmouth College, 2003.
Presentations & Conferences (unclassified) _____________________________________________________
July 2018 Panelist on intelligence and the Middle East panel at The Washington Institute, Washington DC
March 2018 Panelist on two ISIS panels and panelist for Ivy League Leaders Forum, AIPAC Conference Washington DC
September 2017 San Diego Chamber of Commerce national security panel discussion on Capitol Hill
June 2017 Presenter on countering extremism online for Truman National Security Project, Washington DC
April 2017 Moderator for discussion with Michele Flournoy on national service & national security, Washington DC.
March 2017 Panelist on ISIS panel at AIPAC Conference, Washington DC
March 2016 Panelist on terrorism panel at NYU Center for Global Affairs, New York, New York.
March 2016 Panelist on The Rise in Global Terrorism at AIPAC Conference, Washington DC
July-Oct 2016 Countering extremisms online briefing for more than 50 Senate and House offices.
July 2016 Panelist on Fighting ISIS in the Information Space at New America, Washington DC
March 2016 Panelist on ISIS’ Social Media Strategy panel at AIPAC Conference, Washington DC
November 2015 Organizer and opening remarks at “Beyond the Draft: Rethinking National Service,” The Aspen Institute.
April 2015 Panelist on ISIS: The State of Terror at New America, Washington DC
February 2015 Moderator, What Does the Rise of ISIS Tell Us About the Future of War? New America Future of War Conference, Washington DC
February 2015 Organized New America/Aspen Institute/Mic panel discussion on millennials and civic engagement.
December 2014 Panelist on Next Generation Leadership at Millennial Action Project Congressional Summit on Capitol Hill
September 2014 Keynote speaker at Boren Scholars Conference, Washington DC
July 2014 Speaker at Franklin Project breakfast at Aspen Ideas Festival with Director Jay Mangone & General McChrystal
October 2013 Participant on panel at Politico Cyber 7 Conference, Washington DC.
September 2013 Organizer & moderator for New America Foundation panel on media coverage of Syria, New York, NY
Panelists: Andrew Kaczynski, Ari Melber, Lara Setrakian and Ahmed Shihab-Eldin.
August 2013 Participant US-China conference hosted by China Institute for International Studies in Beijing, China.
July 2013 Invited attendee at CNAS cybersecurity dinner event with General Keith B. Alexander as keynote speaker.
May 2013 Organizer and moderator for New America Foundation panel on cybersecurity. Panelists: Adam Segal, Michael Vatis.
April 2013 Moderator for New America Foundation panel on Emmy award-winning documentary Manhunt. Panelists: Peter Bergen, Greg Barker.
July 2012 “Microwaves, Post-It Notes and Vietnam: A Primer on Creative Insight and Cognitive Bias,” New York, NY
October 2011 Presented “What Wall Street Can Learn from the CIA,” Center for International Studies, MIT.
January 2010 Presented “Diplomacy Derailed: The Consequences of U.S. Diplomatic Disengagement,” RAND Corporation, Pentagon City, VA.
December 2010 Presented “Diplomacy Derailed: The Consequences of U.S. Diplomatic Disengagement,” International Security Program Seminar Series, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
April 2010 “Workshop on Theory and Practice in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Center for International Studies, MIT.
February 2010 “The Dangers of Diplomatic Sanctions: Re-examining the Determinants of Sanctions’ Effectiveness,” Presentation at Annual International Studies Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
December 2009 Tobin Project conference, “America & the World: Power through its Prudent Use,” Charlotte, NC.
November 2009 Presented “Diplomacy Derailed: The Unintended Consequences of U.S. Diplomatic Disengagement on Sanctions and Foreign Policy” to Political Science Work-in-Progress Workshop, MIT.
October 2008 Presented “A Comparative Perspective on Iraq” to Violent Non-State Actors Working Group, MIT.
2005–2006 RAND Insurgency Board of Experts conference series.
​