FIU experts available to discuss Israel-Hamas conflict and related topics

FIU has experts available to discuss a variety of topics surrounding the Hamas attacks on Israel. The list will be continuously updated as the situation unfolds.

For help reaching any of our experts, please contact the Office of Media Relations

International Relations

Eric Lob
Associate Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations
Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs 

Lob’s research focuses on the intersection of development and politics in the Middle East.  His research specifically examines how state and non-state actors in the region use development to further their political interests domestically and internationally.  He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Iran, Lebanon, and Syria.  Lob teaches courses on Middle Eastern politics and international relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and political violence and revolution.  He has traveled extensively throughout the region and is proficient in Arabic, Persian, and French.  Lob can speak about about the Middle East’s historical and contemporary issues, events, policies, developments, and trends, such as America’s allies and local governments, popular uprisings and regional instability (Iraq, Syria, and Yemen), the US invasion of Iraq and rise of ISIS/ISIL, the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and Iranian nuclear program, and Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace. He has traveled extensively throughout the region and is proficient in Arabic, Persian, and French. Lob can speak about the Middle East’s historical and contemporary issues, events, policies, developments, and trends, such as America’s allies and local governments, popular uprisings and regional instability (Iraq, Syria, and Yemen), the U.S. invasion of Iraq and rise of ISIS/ISIL, the Saudi-Iranian rivalry and Iranian nuclear program, and Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace.

Cell: 914-261-3225
Email: elob@fiu.edu

War Crimes 

Stefan Schmitt 
Project Lead
Global Forensic and Justice Center
National Forensic Science and Technology Center

Schmitt is a forensic scientist with a background in crime scene investigations and forensic anthropology at Florida International University’s Global Forensic and Justice Center. His work focuses on training international agencies in the forensic documentation and investigation of crime scenes, and forensic laboratory accreditation. He has provided forensic expertise and training in the documentation of crime scenes for Human Rights organizations, the United Nations, and national authorities around the world in countries such as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Algeria, Libya, Mali, South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Russia.

Read Schmitt's article published by The Conversation on proving war crimes »

Email: sschmitt@fiu.edu

Economy & Business 

Stav Fainschmidt
Associate Professor
Department of International Business
College of Business

His most recent research projects examine how companies can continuously change to remain effective in dynamic environments, how country institutions can make companies more competitive, and how intra-organizational social dynamics affect firm performance. Professor Fainshmidt’s work appears in leading academic journals such as Journal of International Business Studies, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, and Administrative Science Quarterly. Prior to pursuing his academic career, professor Fainshmidt worked with Deloitte (Israel).

Office: 305-348-8243
Email: sfainshm@fiu.edu

Jerry Haar
Clinical Professor
Department of International Business
College of Business

Professor Haar is a researcher and consultant in strategic planning, international management, and marketing. He has consulted for firms such as: ExxonMobil, IBM, Microsoft, Merck, ING Barings, Ford Motor Company, Royal Dutch Shell, FMC, Disney, KPMG, Novartis and Heineken. Professor Haar has held several senior staff positions in policy and management with the federal government and served as Special Assistant to two cabinet secretaries. Among the books he’s authored are Small Firms, Global Markets:Competitive Challenges in the New Economy and Innovation in Emerging Markets, and Winning Strategies for the New Latin Markets.

Office: 305-348-2157
Email: haarj@fiu.edu

Edgardo Pappacena
Adjunct Professor
Department of International Business
College of Business

Professor Pappacena has over 35 years of global business experience and worked in 50+ countries throughout his career.  As a senior partner in PwC and Arthur Andersen, he held various senior executive leadership roles at global, regional, and country levels, in addition to his client service responsibilities. He has advised global and multinational companies in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, consulting with C-level executives in corporate and business strategy, business model design and innovation, digital transformation, organizational strategy, geopolitical risk management, and mergers & acquisitions. 

Office: 954-445-9543
Email: epappace@fiu.edu