Three faculty members from the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base will share about their visits to different areas of the world during a presentation to the Alabama World Affairs Council at Troy University Montgomery on May 8.
Dr. David S. Sorenson, chair of the Department of International Security Studies, Dr. Amit Gupta and Dr. Dawn Murphy, both from the Air War College’s Department of International Security Studies, will present findings from their travel in March as a part of the regional and cultural studies portion of the curriculum.
The event, which will take place in the Gold Room in Whitley Hall, will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the presentation. The event is free to members of the Alabama World Affairs Council and $20 to guests. To register for the event, visit alwac.org/events or contact Dahdee Bullen at awacbullen@gmail.com (334-567-0953).
Dr. Sorenson received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from California State University at Long Beach. He previously served on the faculties of the University of Colorado, Denison University and the Mershon Center at Ohio State University. He served as associate dean for academic programs at the Air War College from 2000-2003.
Dr. Sorenson has published numerous books and papers and will address his findings from his recent travels in the Middle East.
Dr. Gupta’s work focuses on international security issues, the politics of globalization, Indian and Australian politics, popular culture, media and politics. He is the author or editor of several books, including, “Global Security Watch: India and Strategic Stability in Asia.”
Dr. Gupta was educated at the University of Delhi and the Australian National University, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He will present his findings from his travels in South Asia.
Dr. Murphy joined the Air War College faculty in 2015 and specializes in Chinese foreign policy and domestic politics, international relations and comparative politics. Her current research analyzes China’s interests, identity and behavior as a rising global power towards the existing international order. Specifically, she examines China’s relations with the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa and is writing a book titled “Rising Revisionist? China’s Evolving Relations with the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa in the post-Cold War Era.”
Dr. Murphy holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University. She will address findings from her recent travels to Central Asia and China.
The Alabama World Affairs Council sponsors lectures and programs on current and recent events of national and international interest throughout the year with the aim to increase individuals’ knowledge of world affairs and how they impact the United States. The Council also serves as a platform to showcase some of the world-class faculty at Maxwell Air Force Base’s Air University. The Council has partnered with Troy University, bringing all Council events to the University’s Montgomery Campus.