Dr. Jessica Kate Simonds

Dr. Jessica Simonds

Assistant Professor - College of Security and Global Studies

Publications : 1
Citations : 1
h-Index : 1
Last Updated : Dec/20/2024 05:04:32

Dr Jessica Simonds holds expertise in insurer responses to maritime security threats, particularly piracy off the Somali coast. Her theoretical expertise lies in addressing the gaps in theories of International Relations and Security Studies when applied to spaces beyond solid land (in particular, the sea). Dr Simonds’ expertise also lends itself to practical responses in post-conflict reconstruction, and she has been involved in private development projects in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Dr Simonds is currently under contract to publish her first solo-authored academic book that addresses the role of maritime insurance as a form of ocean governance, with a case study of responses to Somali piracy as a key tenet. Dr Simonds has recently published a book chapter as part of a larger volume titled The Sea and International Relations with Manchester University Press, and a book review with the International Journal of Maritime Crime and Security (IJMCS). She is often approached by the British media to comment on maritime affairs.
Prior to joining the AUE, Dr Simonds held a role as a lecturer in the UK, where she led an undergraduate course on Sustainable Development and taught courses relating to Geopolitics, Human Geography, and Research Design. She also taught at Queen’s University Belfast on courses pertaining to World Politics, Terrorism Studies, and Global Geopolitics. Dr Simonds holds accreditation for teaching in Higher Education as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) in recognition of her attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education. She has served on committees relating to research administration and outreach for university recruitment. Dr Jessica Simonds also occasionally serves as a lecturer for NATO’s Maritime Centre of Excellence, specialising in developing lectures on the themes of counter-terrorism and communication.
Dr Simonds was awarded her PhD in International Studies at Queen’s University Belfast, a highly ranked Russell Group institution. Her PhD was fully funded by the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. Her thesis explored the experiences of maritime insurers and seafarers in the effort to deter piracy off the coast of Somalia, with specific case studies that addressed the carriage and use of weapons, criminal designation of piracy, and vessel-based deterrence strategies. Dr Simonds is qualified to teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). She has held affiliations with the British International Studies Association (BISA), the European International Studies Association (EISA), and the International Studies Association (ISA). She retains a position as Visiting Research Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University as part of the Centre for Port and Maritime History. As an early career researcher, she has received additional financial grants from Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Chester to assist with attendance at academic conferences. Dr Jessica Simonds is committed to contributing to a holistic and positive university experience for all. She held the esteemed position of President of the Queen’s University Politics Society (2013/2014) and Vice President for Postgraduate Taught Students (2015/2016) at Queen’s Students’ Union. She also won the prize for School Representative of the Year in 2016.

Publications

Book

Cover Date	Title	Citations
Jan/01/2022	Constructing insecure maritime spaces: Navigational technologies and the experience of the modern mariner	1

Professor Dusko Tomic

Professor / Program Director - Security And Strategic Studies
College of Security and Global Studies

Professor Dusko Tomic is a full Professor in the College of Security and Global Studies, American University in the Emirates. His research interests include security and risk management, where he has more than 20 years of experience in the area of disaster and risk prevention and sanitation, and risk management of emergency situations.. He completed his Doctoral degree in Political Sciences and graduated from Belgrade University in 2009. Professor Tomic is the author of nine monography and published books and over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters related to security, terrorism, intelligence system and emergency management. He is a member of the International Police Association and the Commercial Crime Bureau at the World Commercial Organization since 2001 He was also the chief risk manager of Universidad 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia.