James F. Hollifield, PhD
Director
James Hollifield received his doctorate in Political Science at Duke University in 1985. Currently he is Professor of International Political Economy, Director of the Tower Center. In addition to SMU, he has held faculty appointments at Auburn, Brandeis, and Duke Universities. In 1992 he was Associate Director of Research at the CNRS and the Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Internationales of the FNSP in Paris. From 1986 to 1992 he was a Research Associate at Harvard University's Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies and co-chair of the French study group, and in 1991-92 he was an Associate at Harvard's Center for International Affairs. He has worked as a consultant for the U.S. Government, as well as several organizations, including the United Nations and the OECD.
214-768-2825 | 222 Carr Collins | jhollifi@smu.edu
Ray Rafidi
Associate Director for Administrative and Student Affairs
214-768-3665 | 233 Carr Collins | rrafidi@smu.edu
Chelsea Brown, PhD
Associate Director for Academic Affairs
214-768-4936 | 206 Carr Collins | brown@smu.edu
Luisa M. del Rosal
Assistant Director of Programs
Luisa del Rosal was born and raised in Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico and lived there until she made the life-changing move to Dallas to come to SMU. An alumna of SMU, she holds dual bachelor's degrees in political science and sociology, with a minor in Italian. She is bilingual in her native Spanish and English, and proficient in Italian. Prior to joining SMU, she was the Community Relations Manager for Education is Freedom, a college access program that works with Dallas ISD; she oversaw the development and maintenance of community partnerships and was responsible for the administration of Mayor Tom Leppert's Intern Fellows program. Previously, she was a manager for international business development for the Dallas Regional Chamber and held various positions with public relations firms. Through these positions, Luisa developed expertise in a host of areas including marketing, client services, event management, and program administration. Luisa is an active volunteer in the Dallas community serving as Chair of the SMU Hispanic Alumni Board and member of the Young Alumni Board. She is a dedicated member of the Junior League of Dallas and vice-chair of the State Fair of Texas Raffle Committee.
214-768-1900 | 234 Carr Collins | lmdelrosal@smu.edu
Jieun Pyun
Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator
214-768-4716 | 299 Carr Collins | jpyun@smu.edu
Kathleen Cooper, PhD
Senior Fellow & Professor of the Practice
Kathleen B. Cooper is an expert on the banking and energy industries and currently serves as Senior Fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies and President of CooperTrends, LLC. She is Chair of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a director of the Williams Companies and Deutsche Bank Trust Company of the Americas. Dr. Cooper served as Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Commerce Department from 2001 to 2005 (in which capacity she was the principal economic adviser to Secretaries Don Evans and Carlos Gutierrez) and as Chief Economist for the Exxon Mobil Corporation during the 1990s. She was a founding director of Texas Security Bank and has held positions as president of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), chairman of the American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee, president of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics and Dean of the College of Business at the University of North Texas (2005 to 2007).
214-768-2543 | 316c Carr Collins | kathleenc@smu.edu
Ambassador Robert Jordan
Senior Fellow & Diplomat-in-Residence
Ambassador Jordan served as US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001-2003. Jordan took charge of his Mission in the wake of the September 11 attacks that radically affected U.S.-Saudi relations. He led American efforts to secure Saudi cooperation in the Middle East following 9/11. As ambassador, he worked closely with President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell in matters such as the historic presidential summit meetings in Crawford, Texas and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Ambassador Jordan vigorously led U.S. efforts to encourage Saudi accession to the World Trade Organization and to promote stronger U.S.-Saudi ties in both the public and private sectors. Jordan is a partner with Baker Botts in charge of the firm’s Middle East Practices with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.
214-768-3954 |
robert.jordan@bakerbotts.com
Diana Newton
Senior Fellow & Director, Sun & Star Program in Japanese Studies
Diana Newton is Senior Fellow at the Tower Center at SMU where she teaches National Security Policy as a visiting professor in the Political Science Department. She also runs the Japan Studies Program for the Tower Center. She has also served as the Associate Director for Programs at the Tower Center. Before working at SMU, Mrs. Newton was an International Affairs Fellow and a Hitachi International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, where she served as the project director for the Economic Task Force on Japan. Before working at the Council, she served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy National Security Advisor at the National Security Council, and as the Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs at the State Department. She is a graduate of Yale University and Boston University School of Law.
214-768-4087 | 316c Carr Collins | dhnewton@smu.edu
Lynne Novack
Senior Fellow & Associate Director, Program in National Security
Lynne D. Novack joined the Tower Center 2005. Previously, she was executive director of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations (DCFR), a founder of the AmericanCommittees on Foreign Relations (ACFR) and served as president of ACFR, andcontinues as an at-large member of the ACFR board of directors. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serving on the national program committee, and a member of the American Council on Germany.
214-252-9979 | lnovack@swbell.net
Patrick Walsh, PhD
Senior Fellow & Acting Director, Program in National Security
Admiral Patrick Walsh recently served as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Prior to that assignment, he served as vice chief of Naval Operations and as a special assistant to the director of the Office of Management and Budget as a White House fellow. Walsh also has chaired the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the U.S. Naval Academy and directed the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review. He began his career as a Naval Aviator and flew with the Blue Angels.
Walsh is highly decorated and has received numerous awards during his career, including two Distinguished Service Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal, four Legion of Merit awards and two Meritorious Service Medals.
214-768-3912 | 203a Carr Collins | patrick.walsh4@yahoo.com
Physical Address
2nd floor of Carr Collins Hall
3300 University Blvd
Southern Methodist University
Dallas TX 75205
Mailing Address
(Deliveries should be sent to the physical address above)
Tower Center
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750117
Dallas TX 75275