Meet our faculty

Senior Faculty Fellow Patrik Baab is an investigative journalist, author, and political scientist whose career spans nearly fifty years and some of the most consequential events in recent history. Known for his fearless reporting and depth of analysis, he has covered conflicts and political transformations across Europe and Central Asia, offering rare insight into how power, propaganda, and perception shape world affairs. 

Senior Faculty Fellow Rodger Baker brings nearly three decades of experience in geopolitical intelligence and strategic analysis to this program. As Founder and Principal of Baker Global Insights, LLC, he advises organizations on navigating global complexity and building resilience in uncertain environments.

Previously, Baker spent over 28 years with Stratfor and RANE, where he served as Senior Vice President of Strategic Analysis and led the firm's strategic thinking on global issues and future trends. As senior analyst, he guided the development and application of proprietary geopolitical analysis methodologies and trained international analyst teams.

Baker has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and international organizations on strategic risk and opportunity assessment. His expertise spans East Asian security dynamics, global supply chain vulnerabilities, and the integration of geopolitical analysis into corporate decision-making. He currently serves as Senior Fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and Coordinator for United States Industry at the Mackinder Forum.

A frequent speaker and educator on geopolitical risk, Baker has trained thousands of executives in applied geopolitical analysis methodologies. He holds a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University and a BS in Biology from Long Island University.

Dr. Nicholas Kenney is a trusted analyst and advisor with a unique background bringing together law, political science, and geopolitical analysis. He is an insightful and driven academic who is committed to bridging theoretical concepts with real-world application. This perspective has shaped a broad career, supporting the US military, a Silicon Valley startup, his own geopolitical intelligence firm and its clients, and learning institutions and nonprofits around the world.

The founder of Beacon Geopolitical Intelligence (BGI), Dr. Kenney helps decision-makers transform geopolitical complexity into signals they can trust and frameworks they can use.

In his work, Dr. Kenney emphasizes three core practices: clarifying how law and institutions shape geopolitical dynamics; empowering decision makers with actionable and relevant geopolitical  intelligence; and showing that geopolitics reveals not only risks but also opportunities for growth.

Before launching BGI, Dr. Kenney developed an innovative learning program for Special Operations Forces at the National Defense University. He also created a new model for global education at Minerva University, worked on Middle East security and governance issues with the US Department of State, and taught courses through Berkeley Law School Executive Education and other institutions.

Dr. Kenney's work in applied geopolitics is guided by his belief that better frameworks lead to better questions—and better questions lead to better decisions.

He holds a JD in International Law from Boston College Law School and both a MALD and PhD in Political Science and International Relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Dr. Kenney is admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Beyond his professional life, he is an endurance runner and an avid strategy board game enthusiast—because, he says, sometimes the best way to sharpen analytical skills is around a table rather than a whiteboard.

Steven Smith serves as Executive Director of the Institute for Applied Geopolitics (IAG), bringing over 25 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and global consulting. His expertise in integrating geopolitical analysis with strategic planning has established him as a thought leader in helping organizations navigate global challenges.

Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has built a comprehensive understanding of global markets and geopolitical dynamics through roles in both corporate and academic environments. His experience includes engineering and management positions at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, as well as faculty appointments at institutions including Rutgers University, Columbia University, University of New Orleans, and Florida Atlantic University. 

As a strategic advisor, Dr. Smith has consulted with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries, helping organizations navigate strategic and geopolitical challenges and optimize their global operations. His analytical framework integrates political, economic, and cultural dimensions to provide insights into emerging market opportunities and risks.

Dr. Smith's commitment to advancing geopolitical education led him to develop innovative training programs, including co-founding the Certificate in Geopolitical Analysis program at Florida Atlantic University. Through IAG, he continues to advance cutting-edge geopolitical intelligence training for professionals worldwide, helping organizations build essential analytical capabilities.

Dr. Smith has lectured across six continents, addressing audiences ranging from university students to corporate executives. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. in Strategy and International Business from Rutgers University, credentials that underpin his multifaceted approach to analyzing today's global environment.

Under his leadership, IAG will advance the understanding of geopolitical dynamics, providing analysts and decision-makers with the tools and insights needed to navigate international challenges and identify emerging opportunities.

Our faculty roster is expanding. Distinguished practitioners from government, business, and academia will be joining the IAG community in the coming months, bringing expertise across our full curriculum of geopolitical and intelligence analysis.