Naval War College Professor Selected
as Fulbright Scholar
By Matthew Breen
Naval War College Public Affairs
Professor Elena M. Mastors, Naval War College Associate Professor in the National
Security Decision Making Department was recently selected as a Fulbright Scholar.
The selection will provide her the opportunity to conduct two to six weeks of research
in the near future.
“Fulbright is a very respected program, and I am very pleased that they selected
me,” said Mastors.
The federally-sponsored Fulbright program provides opportunities for professionals
to provide lectures and conduct research in a number of academic and professional
fields. For the past 63 years, the association has sent approximately 800 individuals
abroad each year.
While she does not know where she will be sent for research, Mastors is still eager
to begin her short-term academic endeavor.
“I'm very excited to see where they will send me. I'm thrilled with the award,”
said Mastors.
The primary goal of the Fulbright program is to increase participation amongst leading
U.S. scholars and professionals. The group also aims to increase communication between
U.S. and international post-secondary academic institutions.
Dr. Mastors earned a degree in political science from Eckerd College and Masters
of Arts degree in political science MA from the University of South Florida. She
received her doctorate in political science with a concentration in international
relations and political psychology from Washington State University, where she focused
on leadership, conflict and terrorism.
Mastors writes frequently on understanding leaders and group dynamics, from a political-psychological
perspective. She is also a regular lecturer on the important role of individuals
and group dynamics in armed groups and is currently conducting field work in Northern
Ireland on the leaders of banned armed groups.
Dr. Mastors is published in academic journals. She authored Introduction to Political
Psychology (Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates, 2004); “Understanding and Influencing
Leaders of Armed Groups” (Naval War College, 2008); The Lesser Jihad: Recruits and
the al-Qaida (Rowman and Littlefield, 2007); Breaking Al-Qaida (Potomac Books, forthcoming,
2008); and The Psychology of Terrorism (Blackwell, forthcoming 2009).
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