Kelsey Larsen

Dr. Kelsey L. Larsen is an Assistant Professor in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs (SPSIA) at the University of Central Florida, and serves as Associate Director of the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC-CAE). She holds a PhD from Georgetown University, an MPP from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BS from the University of Iowa.

Her research focuses on political psychology, national and international security, and leadership, with an emphasis on how stress, trauma, and emotion influence decision-making in military, analytical, and policy contexts. Her work is funded by the National Science Foundation and has been published in journals like Political Psychology, Frontiers in Psychology, and Armed Forces & Society.

Dr. Larsen co-directs SPSIA’s CRANE lab, fostering collaboration among emerging security scholars. She has prior experience with the Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the European Union, and the U.S. Department of State, and has taught at Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Her research trends reflect a focus on military mental health, online education challenges, and decision-making under stress. While no specific awards are listed, her NSF-funded projects highlight impactful contributions to security and medical education fields.

Grants and advising: Her NSF-funded projects explore stress and leadership in national security contexts. The CRANE lab serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary research in security studies.