MARK KUKIS

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EDUCATION

  • Boston University

Doctoral candidate, U.S. history and international relations under Prof. Andrew Bacevich. Forthcoming dissertation focuses on the role of Robert Kennedy in U.S. foreign policy from 1961 to 1963 based on newly available archival documents.

  • University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor’s in journalism, 1998.

PUBLICATIONS

Books

  • Voices from Iraq: A People’s History, 2003-2009

Columbia University Press, 2011. An oral history as told entirely by Iraqis.

  • “My Heart Became Attached”: The Strange Odyssey of John Walker Lindh Potomac Books, 2003. A chronicle of the notorious American Taliban fighter’s saga.

Selected Articles

  • “It’s a Huge Mistake to Back Rebel Groups,” Time, September 12, 2014.
  • “Leave Iraq, Too,” Informed Comment, June 24, 2011.
  • “Is Baghdad Now Safer Than New Orleans?” Time, May 1, 2009.
  • “Mission Unfinished,” Time, February 29, 2008.
  • “At Baghdad’s Ground Zero,” Time, January 19, 2007.
  • “Turning Iraq’s Tribes against al-Qaeda,” Time, December 26, 2006.
  • “Camp Fire,” New Republic, February 20, 2006.
  • “Counterinsurgency 101,” National Journal, November 24, 2004.
  • “Last Stand at Tora Bora,” Salon, December 17, 2001.
  • “The Warlords of Jalalabad,” Salon, November 26, 2001.

Book Reviews

  • Review of Surge: My Journey with General David Petraeus and the Remaking of the Iraq War, by Peter R. Mansoor, Yale University Press, 2013, for Michigan War Studies Review, June 23, 2014.
  • Reviewof Voices of the Bulge: Untold Stories from the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, by Michael Collins and Martin King, Zenith Press, 2011, for Michigan War Studies Review, July 22, 2013.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

  • African Union Mission in Somalia

Advised on public diplomacy and counterinsurgency strategy for the peacekeeping force from 2010 to 2011.

  • Time

Covered Iraq asa correspondent for the newsweekly from 2006 to 2009. Currently remain a contributor.

  • National Journal

Served as a staff reporter focusing on politics and foreign policy from 2003 to 2006.

  • United Press International

Covered the White House as a correspondent from 1999 to 2001.

  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Monitored polling stations as an official observer in 1998 elections.

  • U.S. Department of State

Interned in the press office of the Bureau of European Affairs in 1998.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

  • RAND Corporation

Intelligence Policy Center

Analyzed likely levels of political violence over the long term in Iraq and Afghanistan during panel discussions May 30, 2014 in Washington, D.C. Presentation drew on data trends from multiple conflict regions in recent decades.

  • Princeton University

Near Eastern Studies Teacher Training Workshop

Presented a short paper and talk May 4, 2013 on the probability of an insurgency in Iraq during the early period of the U.S. occupation. Probability assessment stemmed from data analysis considered alongside contemporary political trends.

  • Boston University

Institute for Iraqi Studies

Offereda short paper and presentation February 10, 2012 on the issue of the new Iraqi prison system that took shape during the U.S. occupation.

TEACHING

  • EdX

Course coordinator for War for the Greater Middle East, a massive open online course (MOOC) taught by Prof. Andrew Bacevich and presented fall 2014 by EdX through its partnership with Boston University. Duties include developing lectures, overseeing video production and serving as course site administrator.

  • Boston University

Instructor for a campus version of the EdX course slated for the spring semester of 2015. The campus class will utilize the video content from EdX to replace classroom lectures. Students will use class time for discussion of readings and other active learning activities.

  • Boston University

Teaching fellow for American Popular Culture under Prof. Brooke Blower for the 2013 fall semester. Oversaw discussion sections and grading for more than forty undergraduates.

  • Boston University

Teaching fellow for History of International Relations 1900 to Present under Prof. William Keylor for the 2012-13 academic year. Oversaw discussion sections and grading for more than forty undergraduates each semester.

  • Washington Literacy Council

Instructor for evening adult literacy classes twice a week as a volunteer from 2003 to 2006. Also established and supervised adult book group for WLC students.

LANGUAGES

  • French and Spanish

Reading and translation proficiency.

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