Research

I publish selected academic and policy-oriented work here. These papers reflect my interests in international systems, political economy, and national security.

Selected Work

The Foreign Athlete Pipeline: International Recruiting in American College Athletics as a Geopolitical and National Security Issue, 1952-2026

Timeline research paper • Theoretical frameworks: dependency theory, securitization theory, soft power

This paper argues that the foreign athlete pipeline in American college athletics is not a neutral market mechanism but a political economy institution embedded in the international system, tracing how Cold War foreign policy logic, post-9/11 immigration enforcement, and Chinese state talent acquisition operations have shaped a governance structure the NCAA has never adequately addressed.

Produced as part of undergraduate coursework at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in AMST 3050: History of the NCAA.

Africa in the International System: Theoretical Perspectives, Challenges, and Strategic Pathways

Final paper • Theoretical frameworks: realism, liberalism, dependency theory

This paper analyzes Africa's position in the international system through major IR and political economy frameworks, then evaluates structural constraints and strategic pathways for greater agency in a multipolar environment.

Produced as part of advanced undergraduate coursework at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Faculty feedback characterized the work as graduate-level and recommended further development for publication.