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alumni/ae page |
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September 2001 While the United States is recovering from the September 11, 2001 attack, Ian Lesser ’75 stands at the forefront of the foreign policy debate as a Senior Political Scientist at RAND in Washington, DC, specializing in strategic studies and Middle Eastern affairs. Ian is an international policy advisor and political analyst. He is in the thick of things, working closely with both government agencies and members of the press. Ian credits mentor Alberta Magzanian, a long-time BFS teacher of Political Philosophy, for his life’s work. “Not many people can say they still do what they did in their favorite class in school.” Alberta remembers Ian, “I identify with him... he made an impact. He was not lost in the crowd. He expressed his opinions forcefully.” After BFS, Ian graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he studied Political Science and Political Philosophy. He went on to earn master’s degrees from The London School of Economics and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts. Before obtaining his D.Phil in International Politics from Oxford University in 1987, he worked for International Energy Associates, Ltd. specializing in nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards. Ian returned to Washington in 1987 as Deputy Director of the Political- Military Studies Program at the Center for International and Strategic Studies, where he worked for two years on issues involving strategy and arms control. He moved to the RAND “think-tank” in Santa Monica in 1989 focusing on European and Middle Eastern Security Affairs. In the mid 90s Ian served as a political appointee in the Clinton Administration as a member of the Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff, specializing in Mediterranean issues and the multi-lateral track of the Middle East Peace Process. Ian returned to RAND in Santa Monica in 1995, working mainly on Mediterranean Affairs—travelling widely in southern Europe, Turkey, and North Africa. He relocated to RAND in Washington, DC in October 2000 as a Senior Political Scientist. Ian’s recent publications include: Countering the New Terrorism (RAND, 1999); Greece’s New Geopolitics (RAND, 2001); Turkish-Western Relations: Towards A Strategic Plan (RAND, 2000); NATO Looks South (RAND, 2000); Sources of Conflict in the 21st Century (RAND, 1998); Strategic Exposure: Proliferation Around the Mediterranean (RAND, 1996); A Sense of Siege: The Geopolitics of Islam and the West (Westview, 1994); Turkey’s New Geopolitics (Westview, 1993); Security in North Africa: Internal and External Challenges (RAND, 1993) and Resources and Strategy (St. Martin’s Press, 1989). When he’s not lecturing around the world (and gathering Mediterranean recipes) or spending time with his 7-year-old daughter Sophia Clare, Ian is ocean-bound fulfilling his passion of racing sailboats. In August 2001 Ian became engaged to Pamela Gross, a native of LA and an urban planner. Ian reflects fondly on the time he spent at BFS, which he attended starting in 5th grade. He experienced much change during his tenure, from the Vietnam War to three different headmasters. His most vivid memories are of the old meeting house on Schermerhorn Street, which he found to be “atmospheric.” Ian is eager to return to BFS and speak to the students about international relations and the Middle East peace process. Ian is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Councilor of the Atlantic Council of the US. UPDATE: Ian Lesser received the George Fox Distinguished Alumnus Award and spoke at the 2002 BFS graduation ceremony. See a feature article in @BFS! |
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