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About

Sorina I. Crisan, PhD

Dr. Crisan–Matthey de l’Endroit holds a PhD from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. Her PhD thesis is titled: “The Politics of Intervention: The Role of Psychological Distance in Foreign Policy Decision Making.” She completed her MA in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University, and gained a BA in Political Science from Bates College. Crisan is a Prince2 certified Project Manager and she holds an Executive Education Certificate in Communicating for Impact, awarded by the Harvard Business School. Crisan has been conducting interviews, writing, editing, and engaging in public speaking for over eighteen years.

In 2020, Dr. Crisan created Persuasive Discourse as a means to teach about eloquent, efficient, and persuasive oral and written communication. Persuasive Discourse not only showcases Dr. Crisan's doctoral work but stands as a platform for related research and interviews with academics, scholars, practitioners, and professionals about their work within the fields of communications, economics, international relations, and other related topics. Its goal is to share the latest research and work, best international practices, and career advice for junior scholars, practitioners, and professionals. 

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Expertise

Thematic: Communications, Public Speaking, International Relations, Decision Making, Foreign Policy, Military and Humanitarian Interventions, Political Psychology, and Alliance Relations.

Regional: North America and Western Europe.

Country: U.S.A., France, Australia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam.

Research & Publications

Publications, Blog Posts & Editing Work 

 

PhD Dissertation

The Politics of Intervention: The Role of Psychological Distance in Foreign Policy Decision Making, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, February 2019. Information available here.

Interviews

How an International Peacebuilding Organization Works: Itonde Kakoma on Interpeace’s Role in Conflict Resolution & 30 Years of Global ImpactPersuasiveDiscourse.com, November 25, 2024.

How a Peace Think Tank Works: Bridging Academia, Policy & Practice with Dr. Adam Lupel, VP & COO of the International Peace InstitutePersuasiveDiscourse.com, October 10, 2024.

How to Manage Harvard Kennedy School: Prof. Joseph S. Nye Jr. Reflects on His Marriage, Overall Career & Writing Craft, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, August 29, 2024.

Women in Media: Caroline Vuillemin on Creating Reliable News in Conflict Zones & Running Fondation Hirondelle, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, July 15, 2024.

Women in Academia: Dr. Elisa Cugliana’s Work on the Books of Fortune & in Digital Philology, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, June 30, 2024.

Women in Swiss Politics: Margareta Kiener Nellen Reflects on Her Career Journey & Explains How the Swiss Government Works, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, May 29, 2024.

The Story Behind Beekee: Dr. Sergio Estupiñán Talks about Co-Founding a Startup & Making Education Available for All, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, March 25, 2024.

The Woman's Voice: Prof. Patsy Rodenburg Reflects on Her Career, Overall Work, and Latest Book, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, February 29, 2024.

The Art of Wine Making & Blind Tasting: Interview with Bordeaux Wine Expert & Guide, Margot Smadja, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, December 10, 2023.

The Story Behind #OUR_racism: Interview with Fumi Kurihara about Podcasting & Pursuing a Ph.D., PersuasiveDiscourse.com, November 14, 2023.

Tips for Career Reinvention & Leadership Speaking: Interview with Dr. Laura Penn, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, October 10, 2023.

The Careers of UN Staff Spouses: Interview with Paloma RedondoPersuasiveDiscourse.com, September 12, 2023.

Empowering NGOs & Fostering Organizational Development: Interview with Beatrice Schulter, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, July 11, 2023.

What if women had the right to age like men? Interview with Author & Journalist Amanda CastilloPersuasiveDiscourse.com, June 6, 2023.

Innovation and Digital Transformation in the Humanitarian Field: Interview with Françoise LamottePersuasiveDiscourse.com, May 9, 2023.

The Careers of UN Staff Spouses: Interview with Gaspard NordmannPersuasiveDiscourse.com, February 28, 2023.

Switzerland’s UNSC Membership, UN Today, January 27, 2023.

Rights Violations, Domestic Conflict, Protest & Comics: Interview with Emily Hencken Ritter, PhD, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, November 18, 2022.

Political Violence, Design, Critique & Prevention: Interview with Jonathan Luke Austin, PhDPersuasiveDiscourse.com, October 18, 2022.

Analyzing the Swiss & U.S. Financial, Political & Academic Elites: Interview with Felix BühlmannPersuasiveDiscourse.com, September 6, 2022.

Switzerland’s UNSC Membership: Interview with Fabien Merz about his Research on Swiss Foreign PolicyPersuasiveDiscourse.com, August 9, 2022.

Insights from Working in Afghanistan & Ukraine: Interview with Cristina Teleki, PhDPersuasiveDiscourse.com, May 31, 2022.

Stronger Together: International Fundraising with Michel Fornasier Helps Give Children a Hand, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, April 25, 2022.

Swiss Education & Hospitality Industry: Interview with Anne-Sophie Delval, PhD, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, March 23, 2022.

Shaping the Practice of School Psychology: Interview with Carol S. Lidz, Psy.D, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, February 8, 2022.

World Politics & UN Peacebuilding: Interview with Sara Hellmüller, PhD. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, January 18, 2022.

 

Human Coding, Machine-Learning Techniques & Discourse Analysis: Interview with David Sylvan, PhD. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, December 16, 2021.

The 10 Writing Rules: Advice from Author Jenn M. Jackson, PhD. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, November 23, 2021.

Studying & Teaching Security Studies in Pakistan vs. the U.S.: Interview with Sannia Abdullah, PhD. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, November 9, 2021.

The Spatial Turn in Peace & Conflict Studies: Interview with Annika Björkdahl, PhD. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, October 26, 2021.

Sorina Crisan Interviews with and about Ellen Craft Dammond (6 Tapes). Bates College: Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, May 14 - 17, 2004.

Analysis

How Persuasion Will Improve Your Career: A Practical GuidePersuasiveDiscourse.com, September 29, 2024.

Boost Your Career with 4 Essential Categories for Self-ImprovementPersuasiveDiscourse.com, January 15, 2024.

5 Book Recommendations: Insights on International Relations & Politics from Our Interviewees, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, August 1, 2023.

Academic Success: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, December 29, 2022.

How to Succeed in Academia: Career Advice for Junior Scholars from 5 Experienced Academics, PersuasiveDiscourse.com, March 3, 2022.

Afghanistan Governance: The Illusion of Political Inclusion & Stability. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, December 29, 2021.

Public Speaking & Psychological Distance: U.S. Perceptions of South Vietnam & of Its Allies AUS & FR. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, September 24, 2021.

 

Psychological vs. Social Distance: How They Apply to Your Life & to Research. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, August 29, 2021. 

 

Grow Your Research Knowledge & Community. PersuasiveDiscourse.com, July 21, 2021.

 

Afghanistan Beyond ISAF: New International Missions and Shifting Support Actors. Afghanhindsight, June 9, 2012.

 

Has He Really Thought It Through? Mitt Romney’s Pronouncements on Afghanistan. Afghanhindsight, May 24, 2012.

 

ISAF’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan (Three Weeks Ahead of NATO Chicago Summit). Afghanhindsight, May 1, 2012. 

 

The U.S. Mission in Afghanistan. In General John R. Allen’s Words. Afghanhindsight, April 4, 2012.

 

Ever Wonder What the Opposition in Yemen Wants? Here, They’ll Tell You. Foreign Policy, The Best Defense, April 14, 2011.

 

A Dispatch from the Latest Terrorism Conference: Gloomy Gus News All Over. Foreign Policy, The Best Defense, December 14, 2010.

 

(with Jessica Ramirez) The FATA-lism of a Pakistani Official. Foreign Policy, The Best Defense, September 22, 2010. 

 

Beyond Camouflage with ROTC. ‘Embedded’ in a Training Weekend. BU Today, September 28, 2009. 

 

EU and Industry REACH Different Conclusions. Jane’s Defence Weekly, September 2, 2009.

 

Witnessing Protests at the Iranian Embassy in London. A Summer Semester Abroad Becomes More than Academic. BU Today, June 26, 2009. 

Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Mirror, Bates College Yearbook: 150th Anniversary Edition, 2005.

The Mirror, Bates College Yearbook: Celebrating Student Achievement & Undergraduate-Level Research Projects, 2006.

Editor-in-Chief

The Mirror, Bates College Yearbook: "Amore Ac Studio" (From Latin: "Love of Study"), 2007.

Podcast Production

Capital Musings Podcast: Women and Girls on the Climate Change Frontline, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), May 2023 September 2024.

 

The Persuasive Mindset: Rewire Your Communication for SuccessPersuasive Discourse, July 2024 – Present.

 

Affiliations, Conferences & Other Projects

Professional Affiliations

  • RedBoxMe in Collaboration with Cartier | August 2024  Present

  • PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner | Internationally Recognized Project Manager | October 2021  Present

  • International Studies Association | November 2019 – 2023

Participation & Attendance at International Conferences

 

  • The Future of Work and Learning Event, Geneva, Switzerland | June 2024

  • International Cooperation Forum, Basel, Switzerland | April 2024

  • The Startup Conference, Geneva, Switzerland | April 2024

  • Basel Peace Forum, Basel, Switzerland | January 2024

  • Global Refugee Forum, Geneva, Switzerland | December 2023

  • Forward, le forum de l'innovation pour les PME, Lausanne, Switzerland | March 2023

  • Swiss Network for Education & International Cooperation Conference on Reframing Education for a Sustainable World, Bern, Switzerland | November 2022

  • International Studies Association Annual Convention, Nashville, TN, USA | March 2022

  • International Studies Association Annual Convention, Virtual | April 2021

  • International Studies Association Annual Convention, Honolulu, HI, USA | March 2020 Cancelled

Philanthropic Contributions

  • Association des amis des bateaux à vapeur du Léman (ABVL) | Switzerland | 2021  Present

  • Preservation of the Blackwood Estate | Scotland | 2023  Present

Articles in Progress

  • "The Role of Psychological Distance in Foreign Policy Decision Making. Case Study: The Iraq War."

  • "September 4, 2009 Kunduz Air Strike and International Repercussions: German NATO Intervention in Regional Command North, Afghanistan."

Book in Progress

  • Working Title: "UN/ORGANIZED: Interorganizational Cooperation and Crisis Management." (The call for book chapter proposals can be read here.)

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