2024 COHORT
WRITING TEAM
Emanuele Chizzoni
Emanuele earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. His academic interests encompass a diverse range of subjects, with a particular emphasis on cybersecurity, energy security, and private military companies.
Andrea Di Marcoberardino
Andrea holds a bachelor's degree in Diplomatic and International sciences. During his bachelor's degree, he spent two semesters in Argentina, where he strengthened his knowledge of Latin American security and politics in an international environment. He has worked as an Administrative office assistant at the University of Bologna and as a Training Coordinator for the Local Chapter of AFS Pescara. As an IMSISS student, he is deepening his knowledge of minority security, migrations, and regional security issues.
Pablo Villar Bolaños
Pablo holds a Double Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Law from the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. During the third year of his undergraduate studies, he had the opportunity to study for a semester at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow and, in the final year, to collaborate on the elaboration of the 2030 Strategic Plan for his home city, San Sebastian. His interests include Great Power Competition, Outer Space Security, and post-Soviet Space, but as an inherently curious mind, he is always learning about different subfields.
Denisa Damian
Denisa, from Romania, obtained her BA in Criminology from the University of Sheffield and is currently an IMSISS student. She holds both academic fields very dearly. As a writer, she likes to explore the link between these fields in depth as they provide a fascinating yet intimate glimpse into humans’ inner universes and the international stage of affairs. Her interests revolve around war studies, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, terrorism, intelligence analysis, organised crime and the role of technology in security.
Sofía Vilas Muñiz
Sofía, from Spain, holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Her final degree project on the Islamic Republic of Iran was awarded with honors. She is particularly interested in the MENA region.
Her undergraduate studies include an academic year at Universitá degli Studi di Genova, in northern Italy. She gained experience during her internship in the International Relations Office at the Genoa city hall. There she performed a wide range of tasks such as supporting bilateral meetings part of the EU URBACT project.
She is eager to continue learning about migration issues, human rights, and the intricacies of diplomacy.
Ayesha Zafar
Ayesha Zafar is a distinguished scholar with a First-Class Honors degree in International Relations from the National Defence University, Pakistan. Currently pursuing her Master's in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies at the University of Glasgow. She works as a Research Analyst at the Gorstra Research Group in the United Kingdom. Her areas of interest include terrorism, conflict-resolution and peacebuilding as well as the geopolitics of the Middle Eastern and Indo-Pacific region. Ayesha has authored multiple academic publications, including research articles and book chapters. With a passion for security studies, she is committed to advancing knowledge and fostering a deeper understanding of international security challenges.
Selina Wijesooriya
Selina, a Swiss-Sri Lankan, holds a first-class dual honours degree in International Business and International Relations from Keele University in the UK. Her academic journey is fuelled by an insatiable curiosity for languages, cultures, and nations. Specializing in International- and Human Security, her focus spans the Geopolitics of the MENA and South-Asian region, along with Gender-, Sexuality-, and Migration Security.
Selina's dedication to global security, especially in migration, intensified during her TESOL certificate pursuit (completed in June 2023). Teaching English at a local refugee- and asylum seekers' centre deepened her commitment to migration security and fuelled a broader passion for human security and rights advocacy. Selina brings a rich understanding and compassionate perspective to international relations, security studies, and human rights.