Roth Named To Academic Fellowship In Terrorism Studies

Mitchel Roth

Sam Houston State University criminal justice professor Mitchel P. Roth has been named an "Academic Fellow" for 2008-09 by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a non-partisan policy institute headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Roth, who teaches courses at SHSU on terrorism and organized crime, will travel to Israel in   June for an intensive course in terrorism studies, and in particular, how democracies can defeat the worldwide terrorist threat.

"Terrorism is the greatest threat today to the world's democracies, including the United States and our allies around the globe," said Clifford May, president of the foundation.  "To win the war against terrorism, we must win the war of ideas by promoting democracy and defeating the totalitarian ideologies that drive and justify terrorism." 

The FDD Academic Fellows program provides a 10-day learning experience to U.S.-based teaching and research professionals to provide them with cutting edge information about defeating terrorist groups.  The 2008 program, which will be conducted at Tel Aviv University June 9 - 20, includes lectures by academics, and military and intelligence officials, as well as diplomats from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States.

It also includes "hands on" experience through visits to police, customs, and immigration facilities, military bases, and border zones to learn the practical side of deterring and defeating terrorists.

"I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to listen and participate in the exchanges and interactions which we will all have in Israel," Roth said.  "It should be a useful experience for a doctoral course I plan to teach on global terrorism this fall and other related academic activities."

—END—

SHSU Media Contact: Julia May
April 18, 2008
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.