Sophia Kierstead

Sophia Kierstead has extensive experience in security analysis and research, currently serving as a South & Central Asia Analyst for the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council since January 2021. As a Consultant Editor for South Asian Voices at The Stimson Center, Sophia provides critical feedback and copy-editing for articles on South Asian security issues. Previous roles include Research Assistant at the University of Chicago, where Sophia co-authored a microfoundational paper and coordinated a team on coding text variables, and a Research Intern at the U.S. Department of State, where five analytic reports were authored. Additional internships cover diverse areas, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, where Sophia produced insights on extremist movements, and research roles focused on neuropsychology and public policy. Sophia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Chicago.