Ali Isse is a third-year PhD candidate in Security Studies and International Affairs Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, advised by Professor Christopher Chyba. His research explores the strategic dimensions of nuclear deterrence, coercive diplomacy, and preemption doctrine, focusing on how great powers craft grand strategies to counter nuclear proliferation across diverse geopolitical regions.

Ali has a diverse professional background, having worked in urban planning, research, and grant writing. These roles equipped him with skills in policy analysis, strategic planning, and resource mobilization, enriching his approach to understanding the intersection of policy and practice.

Before joining Princeton, Ali earned an MA in Political Science from the University of Chicago, an MS in City & Regional Planning from The Ohio State University, and a BA from the University of Texas. He also broadened his academic perspective through study abroad programs at the University of Cambridge and National Taipei University in Taiwan. Fluent in English, Arabic, Somali and Swahili, Ali draws on his global academic and cultural experiences to inform his research. Outside of academia, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, chess, and bike riding.