BA in International Security and Conflict Resolution in 2014 at San Diego State University

MA in Political Science in 2018 at San Diego State University

Shawn was born in Okinawa, Japan, and has also lived in California and Hawaii as well. While studying for his BA and MA, Shawn was a member of the San Diego State University Marching Aztecs from 2010 to 2018, playing the bass drum, trumpet, and baritone. He also served as Baritone Section Leader for the 2016-2017 academic year. After earning his MA, he worked for one year as a patient support specialist working with patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. After that, he worked for two years as an academic/transfer advisor for international students attending Marymount California University and California State University, Fullerton. He then decided to pursue a career in academia and returned to school, moving to Georgia in August 2022 to study at UGA. Additionally, he is currently learning Arabic and would like to brush up on his German, Spanish, and Japanese as well.

• 2023 – 2023 – Awarded a Scholarship for Political Science Research, ICPSR Summer Program, University of Michigan
• 2022 – Awarded a Graduate Student Research Grant, Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia
• 2022-2023 – Awarded a Earl F. Ziemke Graduate Fellowship, The University of Georgia
• 2015-2016 – Awarded a Terhune Political Science Fellowship, San Diego State University
• 2014 – Graduated with Cum Laude Honors, San Diego State University

– Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, San Diego State University

– Golden Key International Honour Society, San Diego State University and University of Georgia

– Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization, San Diego State University

Human Rights, International Courts and Tribunals, International Law, Political Violence, Nationalism, and American Foreign Policy