Through curricular and experiential learning, START educates, mentors and trains the next generation of national security scholars and practitioners.

MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies Faculty & Staff

Welcome from our Head Faculty and Program Directors

Marcus Boyd
Marcus Boyd

Director of Graduate Studies, Geospatial Research Unit (GRU) Director, START

Amy Pate
Amy Pate

START Acting Director

Liberty Day
Liberty Day

Program Director for
Education and Training, START

By enrolling in our MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies program, you are guaranteed guidance from some of the top experts in the fields of intelligence analysis, national security and terrorism studies. You will learn from distinguished professionals with a comprehensive understanding of global security and terrorism, prepared to equip you with the same critical analysis tools that inspired their successful careers and global impact. Our small class sizes enable you the full attention you need to master your coursework and absorb as much knowledge as possible. Feel free to explore the experts on our faculty and staff below, and please reach out to education-start@umd.edu with any questions.

 

Meet the Faculty

 

Markus Binder – Project Manager/Researcher, START | Bio ➔

Markus Binder joined START in August 2013 as a project manager and senior researcher specializing in terrorism involving chemical and biological agents. Prior to joining START, he was an independent consultant providing expertise in the areas of WMD nonproliferation, chemical and biological terrorism, and the spread of MANPADS.


Marcus Boyd – Geospatial Research Unit (GRU) Director, Director of Graduate Studies, START | Bio ➔

Dr. Marcus Boyd is the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of the Geospatial Research Unit (GRU), where he oversees research relating to terrorism, illicit finance, and GIScience. His research has been funded by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and others. Watch a lecture from Dr. Boyd here.


Jeffrey Davis – Department of Political Science Associate Professor and Chair at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Bio ➔

Dr. Jeffrey Davis is the Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His research focuses on human rights justice and international law. 


Michael Egnoto – Affiliated Faculty, Clinical Informaticist at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research | Bio ➔

Dr. Michael Egnoto is a clinical informaticist at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. His research deals with risk and crisis communication in digital environments by focusing on communication in social environments.


Thomas Guarrieri – Director of Undergraduate Studies and Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT) Assistant Research Scientist, START Bio ➔ 

Tom Guarrieri is an Assistant Research Scientist at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) and the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Studies Minor program. At UMD, Guarrieri teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on topics such as terrorist motivations and behaviors, terrorism prevention, and international security, as well as courses on quantitative methods, statistical computing, and data analysis. 


Candace Moix – Analyst, Krebs Stamos Group

Candace Moix is an Analyst at the Krebs Stamos Group, a cybersecurity consulting firm. She formerly worked as a Digital Network Exploitation Analyst for the Department of Defense, and researched extremism at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation. Candace specializes in studying interdisciplinary cyberspace problems and prioritizing analytic rigor in social science research. She holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, an MA in Terrorism, Security, and Society from Kings' College London's War Studies Department, and an MS in Computer Science from the University of Tulsa's CyberCorps program, an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. 


Steve S. Sin – Director of the Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division (UWT), START | Bio ➔

Dr. Sin specializes in a broad range of international security, terrorism, and homeland security challenges. His expertise includes radiological and nuclear (RN) terrorism; illicit trafficking of RN materials; terrorist use of cyber domain; emerging technology; emergency preparedness and management; intelligence/counterintelligence operations, analysis, and exploitation; Northeast Asia regional security; and counter-terrorism training, exercise, and curriculum development. His expertise in Northeast Asia regional security is focused on North Korea, including its nuclear program; cyber capabilities; intelligence apparatus; regime survival; and leadership. His additional regional expertise includes South Korean nuclear program and infrastructure; North-South Korea relations; and Korea-Japan-China trilateral relations.


Maggie Smith – Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy, West Point

Dr. Maggie Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Researcher assigned to the Army Cyber Institute at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Her current research includes disinformation and operations in the information environment within the context of great power competition.

 

 

Meet the Staff

 

Deanne Winslett – Communications and Transition Manager, START | Bio ➔

Deanne Winslett is the Communications and Transition Manager at START. She designs and implements strategies for communicating about START research, education, and training to a variety of audiences. Before joining START, Deanne worked in journalism and higher education marketing. She earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice and an M.S. Emergency Management.


Liberty Day – Program Director for Education and Training, START | Bio ➔

Liberty Day is the Program Director for Education and Training at START, where she oversees the administration of educational programs including the Global Terrorism Studies Minor, the internship program, the MPS in Security and Terrorism Studies, and the Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis.

 

↩ MPS in Security & Terrorism Studies

College Students

Undergraduate Students

  • Global Terrorism Studies Minor
  • Study Abroad
  • Online Courses
  • Internships

Picture of Graduate Students

Graduate Students

  • MPS in Security & Terrorism Studies
  • Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis
  • Study Abroad
  • Summer/Winter Courses
  • Internships

Picture of a Professional

Professional Development

  • MPS in Security & Terrorism Studies
  • Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis
  • Online Courses
  • Training

 

Check out START's flagship internship program.