Our Team
Dr Andreas Kotelis
Researcher
Andreas holds a PhD in Political Science from Bilkent University in Turkey. From 2013-2016 he was an assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at the Zirve University in Gaziantep Turkey. He was also the 2017 Scholar-in-Residence at the Clark Center for Global Engagement and a visiting instructor at the International Studies Program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland. His research interests include international conflict and international negotiations, while much of his recent work has focused on refugee integration and service provision in crisis situations. Andreas is also a professional trainer, and, on several occasions he has acted as a facilitator on track-II and multi-track initiatives. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess with his son and daughter.
Areas of interest/expertise: refugee integration, human rights, Conflict resolution, Middle East politics.
Researcher
Andreas holds a PhD in Political Science from Bilkent University in Turkey. From 2013-2016 he was an assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations at the Zirve University in Gaziantep Turkey. He was also the 2017 Scholar-in-Residence at the Clark Center for Global Engagement and a visiting instructor at the International Studies Program at the State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland. His research interests include international conflict and international negotiations, while much of his recent work has focused on refugee integration and service provision in crisis situations. Andreas is also a professional trainer, and, on several occasions he has acted as a facilitator on track-II and multi-track initiatives. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess with his son and daughter.
Areas of interest/expertise: refugee integration, human rights, Conflict resolution, Middle East politics.
Bethany Archer
Research Manager
Beth holds a Masters degree in European Union Studies from Newcastle University and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies with French and Spanish from the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Her professional experience includes a traineeship at the European Commission, working on EU-Turkey Relations covering a variety of topics from migration, freedom of expression, terrorism and security issues. Most recently, she was working with the Maltese Public Employment Service, on EU Affairs. Her university work concentrated primarily on EU enlargement with a focus on the Western Balkan countries as well conducting work on minority groups such as the Roma, and the refugee crisis. Beth’s personal interests include foreign languages, travel, creative writing, environmentalism as well as local and international politics.
Areas of interest/expertise: human rights, migration, employment policy, labour market integration, European Union politics and EU enlargement.
Research Manager
Beth holds a Masters degree in European Union Studies from Newcastle University and a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies with French and Spanish from the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Her professional experience includes a traineeship at the European Commission, working on EU-Turkey Relations covering a variety of topics from migration, freedom of expression, terrorism and security issues. Most recently, she was working with the Maltese Public Employment Service, on EU Affairs. Her university work concentrated primarily on EU enlargement with a focus on the Western Balkan countries as well conducting work on minority groups such as the Roma, and the refugee crisis. Beth’s personal interests include foreign languages, travel, creative writing, environmentalism as well as local and international politics.
Areas of interest/expertise: human rights, migration, employment policy, labour market integration, European Union politics and EU enlargement.
Interns and Research Assistants
Luca Bottazzi
Projects and Research Assistant
Luca holds a BA in International Affairs (with a minor in Economics) from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Cooperation and Development at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. During his studies, he volunteered at a local refugee centre in Rome and he also has experience working for an Italian NGO, in the field of Communication. In the future he would like to work in the LGBT sector, working towards their rights’ achievement. In his spare time, he likes reading, travelling, and studying new languages.
Projects and Research Assistant
Luca holds a BA in International Affairs (with a minor in Economics) from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Cooperation and Development at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. During his studies, he volunteered at a local refugee centre in Rome and he also has experience working for an Italian NGO, in the field of Communication. In the future he would like to work in the LGBT sector, working towards their rights’ achievement. In his spare time, he likes reading, travelling, and studying new languages.
Sam Vassallo
Projects and Research Assistant
Sam has just graduated in International Relations (BA Hons) at the University of Malta and Université Lumière Lyon II, and has developed a keen interest for pursuing a career in human rights through her time studying in France. Outside of work and studies, she devotes herself to activism in grassroot organizations like newcomer Young Progressive Beings and music-based association Malta Sound Women Network, visual arts, learning, and is always ready for another cup of coffee.
Projects and Research Assistant
Sam has just graduated in International Relations (BA Hons) at the University of Malta and Université Lumière Lyon II, and has developed a keen interest for pursuing a career in human rights through her time studying in France. Outside of work and studies, she devotes herself to activism in grassroot organizations like newcomer Young Progressive Beings and music-based association Malta Sound Women Network, visual arts, learning, and is always ready for another cup of coffee.
Lauren Hsieh
Projects and Research Assistant
Lauren has a Bachelor’s in English (Writing, Rhetoric, and Culture) and Chinese from the University of Puget Sound in Washington, and is currently working on a Master’s in International Humanitarian Action at University College Dublin. Lauren lived and worked in various places throughout Asia and the United States before coming to Europe for her Master’s studies. Lauren’s interest in human rights stems from her exposure to multiple cultural contexts and she hopes to pursue a career in humanitarian work. In her spare time Lauren enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Projects and Research Assistant
Lauren has a Bachelor’s in English (Writing, Rhetoric, and Culture) and Chinese from the University of Puget Sound in Washington, and is currently working on a Master’s in International Humanitarian Action at University College Dublin. Lauren lived and worked in various places throughout Asia and the United States before coming to Europe for her Master’s studies. Lauren’s interest in human rights stems from her exposure to multiple cultural contexts and she hopes to pursue a career in humanitarian work. In her spare time Lauren enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Sean Tonna
Projects and Research Assistant
Sean holds a BA in Psychology from Ryerson University in Toronto and a Master’s in Theological Studies from the University of Toronto. Sean is currently working towards completing his LLB in Law from the University of Dundee. Sean experienced life in Malta, Italy and Canada, before moving the UK to pursue his LLB and has held an interest in human rights and equality for many years. Sean’s aspirations include working within the Catholic Church as a lawyer to combat the abuses within the Church. In his spare time Sean enjoys cooking, reading and travelling.
Senior Consultants
Dr Carol Bohmer
Carol Bohmer, a lawyer and sociologist, is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Government Department at Dartmouth College, and a Teaching Fellow at King’s College, London. She has worked extensively in the area of law and society, examining the way legal and social institutions interact, in the United States, the UK and elsewhere. Her current research interests are in the field of immigration and asylum. She also does pro bono legal work for asylum seekers. She has been involved in setting up a project to register children as British citizens in London, UK. Her most recent book is Rejecting Refugees: Political Asylum in the Twenty-First Century with Amy Shuman, (Routledge, 2007), a comparative study of the asylum process in the US and the UK.
Carol Bohmer, a lawyer and sociologist, is a Visiting Associate Professor in the Government Department at Dartmouth College, and a Teaching Fellow at King’s College, London. She has worked extensively in the area of law and society, examining the way legal and social institutions interact, in the United States, the UK and elsewhere. Her current research interests are in the field of immigration and asylum. She also does pro bono legal work for asylum seekers. She has been involved in setting up a project to register children as British citizens in London, UK. Her most recent book is Rejecting Refugees: Political Asylum in the Twenty-First Century with Amy Shuman, (Routledge, 2007), a comparative study of the asylum process in the US and the UK.
Professor Patricia Mallia
Patricia Mallia obtained her law degree from the University of Malta in 1999. Her post-graduate studies were carried out at Oxford University where she graduated in Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in 2000. She then returned to Malta to lecture in Public International Law at the University of Malta where she is now Head of the International Law Department. She obtained her PhD from the IMO, International Maritime Law Institute, focussing on combating contemporary threats to maritime security. Her research interests focus on the analysis of contemporary maritime threats, primarily piracy and migrant smuggling. Her book, ‘Migrant Smuggling by Sea: Combating a Current Threat to Maritime Security through the Creation of a Cooperative Framework’ was published by Martinus Nijhoff in 2010. In her free time, Patricia enjoys tennis, swimming, baking and reading.
Areas of interest: Settlement of International Disputes, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security, Maritime Migrant Smuggling, Human Rights
Patricia Mallia obtained her law degree from the University of Malta in 1999. Her post-graduate studies were carried out at Oxford University where she graduated in Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in 2000. She then returned to Malta to lecture in Public International Law at the University of Malta where she is now Head of the International Law Department. She obtained her PhD from the IMO, International Maritime Law Institute, focussing on combating contemporary threats to maritime security. Her research interests focus on the analysis of contemporary maritime threats, primarily piracy and migrant smuggling. Her book, ‘Migrant Smuggling by Sea: Combating a Current Threat to Maritime Security through the Creation of a Cooperative Framework’ was published by Martinus Nijhoff in 2010. In her free time, Patricia enjoys tennis, swimming, baking and reading.
Areas of interest: Settlement of International Disputes, Law of the Sea, Maritime Security, Maritime Migrant Smuggling, Human Rights
