Sarah Sheafer

Sarah Sheafer is an analyst at Valens Global, where she specializes in jihadist organizations in the MENA region. In this role, she leads a project for a DHS client involving granular, forward-looking analysis on a variety of violent non-state actors. Before joining this contract, Sarah led several other projects at Valens, including a study funded by a Canadian Defence Engagement Program grant about the development of jihadist operations targeting Western interests in Africa. Before joining Valens, Sarah was a research assistant at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies and an associate editor for the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Prior to working at Georgetown University, Sarah supported research efforts related to foreign policy in the Middle East and the role of the military in statecraft at the National War College and the Middle East Institute. She holds an M.A. in security studies from Georgetown University and a B.A. in political science and international studies from the College of Charleston.