Our Team

stephen.saideman@carleton.ca

Stephen M. Saideman is the Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University. His research interests focus on the causes and consequences of intervention into intra-state conflicts. He has written books on the international relations of secession, why there were both more and less wars in Eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War, on NATO in Afghanistan, and on Canada’s Afghanistan experience. His current research focus is on the role of legislatures in democratic civil-military relations. He teaches courses on Contemporary International Security, Civil-Military Relations and US Foreign and Defence Policy.

melissa.jennings@carleton.ca

Melissa Jennings has worked on various research and development projects globally as a Project Manager, Capacity Builder and Field Coordinator. Past work has included INGO’s (UN Women, World Vision), local CBO’s, government (including DND), universities and private sector clients in Canada, USA, Kenya, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, India, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, South Africa, Botswana and Uganda. She holds an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College as well as a BA (Double Major) in Political Science and International Development Studies from Dalhousie University. She is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity at SUNY-Albany.

Racheal Zara Wallace is currently working on her Ph.D. at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University. Her research interest includes natural resource governance, property rights and development, intrastate and interstate conflicts, conflict management, and civil-military relations. Racheal has previously worked with NGOs and the education sector. She received her master’s degree in Global Business Administration from Keimyung University, South Korea, and a bachelor’s degree in social work and the Study of Religions from the University of Ghana. Racheal’s previous works have appeared in the Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, Journal of International Trade and Commerce and Canada Among Nations.

Colonel Nickolas Roby joined the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves in the rank of Gunner in 1997, and was commissioned into The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery in 2002. He has since commanded at the Troop, Battery, Rifle Company, as the Commandant of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School, and more recently, was the Commander of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (2022-2024). Serving in a variety of key staff assignments in Ottawa, Colonel Roby served as the Canadian Army analyst at Chief of Program, Executive Assistant to Commander Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, as the coordinator to Deputy Chief-of-Staff Operations at the Canadian Army Headquarters, and as the Senior Military Assistant to the Minister of National Defence. Colonel Roby was employed as the Director of Army Personnel Management (G1) at the Canadian Army HQ from 2020 to 2022. Operationally, Colonel Roby deployed to Afghanistan with the International Security Assistance Force as the Deputy Commander of Brigade Troops, and Operations Officer of Combined Team Kandahar City Brigade HQ in 2009-10. In support of the United Nations, he deployed twice with the Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) in 2013 and 2016.Colonel Roby is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Armed Forces College, Toronto. He holds a Baccalaureate in Arts from St. Thomas University, and a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.

Colonel Roby is married to Jessica, and they lead an active lifestyle racing from one sporting activity to another with their four young children: Chloé, Maëva, Félix, and Kallee.

Garon Mulyk (He/Him) is a PhD student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. His PhD research focuses on why countries form legal and operational surrounding domestic extremism, hate crimes, and terrorism among Five Eye (FVEY) countries and how these understandings compare to and may influence public perception. Garon's research will compare and contrast four countries participating in the intelligence alliance: Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Garon's previous research focused on understanding the various threats facing Canada's national security and public safety through conceptualizing the National Security-Public Safety Continuum. He received his Master's in Criminology from Ontario Tech University and his Bachelor's in Sociology from the University of Alberta.

Hannah Christensen is a Research Assistant at the CDSN and Master's student in Security and Defence Policy at NPSIA (Carleton University). She is a recipient of the 2024 Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) Scholarship and a Senior Advisor (and Podcast Coordinator!) to the NATO Field School at Simon Fraser University.