People of the Democratic Statecraft Lab
![](https://statecraftlab.virginia.edu/sites/statecraftlab.virginia.edu/files/YANG_headshot.jpg)
Alexis Yang
Doctoral Research Assistant
Alexis Jihye Yang is a Ph.D. candidate in politics at the University of Virginia, with a major in international relations and a minor in political methodology. She received her B.A. degree in political science from Sogang University (Seoul, Korea). Her doctoral dissertation evaluates how over-time changes in group-level features lead to breakdowns in alliances amongst militant organizations. She is also interested in evaluating whether cooperation between states and non-state armed groups have a deleterious effect on the latter's present or potential future alliance with other non-state actor groups.
Director
![Todd Sechser](https://statecraftlab.virginia.edu/sites/statecraftlab.virginia.edu/files/styles/people_crop__700x700_/public/Sechser-Todd-square-300x300%402x.jpg?itok=IVqyQNeZ)
Todd S. Sechser
Professor of Politics, Lab DirectorCoauthor of Nuclear Weapons and Coercive Diplomacy
Expertise in international relations, foreign policy, nuclear security, emerging technologies
Faculty
![](https://statecraftlab.virginia.edu/sites/statecraftlab.virginia.edu/files/styles/people_crop__700x700_/public/Lin-Shirley_square8597-150x150%402x.jpg?itok=eJW7p1Xt)