Susan Siena

Susan Siena serves as a Teaching Professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, where she teaches courses in national and international affairs including Terrorism and Public Policy and Comparative and International Policy. Her academic career includes prior roles as an assistant professor and director of International Studies at Mount Union College and as a proposal development specialist at Indiana University.

Her educational qualifications are:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1997
• M.A. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1991
• B.A. (summa cum laude) in Political Science, University of Michigan, 1990

Dr. Siena's research spans two primary domains: international relations and comparative politics, with a focus on terrorism, national security, and international development; and educational pedagogy, particularly active learning and critical thinking techniques in public affairs education. Her work in the classroom aims to enhance student engagement and analytical skills through innovative instructional methods.

Her scholarly contributions include publications on pedagogical approaches, exemplified by her 2016 article on flipped classroom techniques in public affairs instruction, reflecting her commitment to advancing teaching excellence in the field.

She has received notable recognition for her teaching, including the Trustees Teaching Award (2022) and the Mumford Award for Excellence in Extraordinary Teaching (2021), as well as research fellowships and awards during her doctoral studies.

Dr. Siena has mentored students through her role as faculty advisor for the Model United Nations Team and has extensive experience in research administration, having supported faculty in securing external funding from government and private sponsors during her tenure as a proposal development specialist.