Dr Erin McFee

Erin, founder of the Corioli Institute, is a Professor of Practice at the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies at the National Defense University. She specializes in climate security, migration, and the reintegration of formerly armed actors (FAA) such as military veterans and ex-insurgents. A political anthropologist, Erin has published widely across peer-reviewed, popular, and practitioner platforms in over 20 countries. Her research focuses on the climate change, conflict, and migration nexus, with an emphasis on FAA reintegration and security-building. Since 2010, Erin has conducted extensive fieldwork with formerly armed actors, from living alongside ex-guerrillas in Colombia to consulting on al Shabaab reintegration in Somalia. Her work spans research with former cartel members in Mexico, supporting NGOs for ex-gang members in El Salvador, and helping U.S. military veterans with restorative justice.

Dr Terrell Odom

Terrell, a U.S. Navy veteran with over 19 years of experience, serves as the Director of the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) at the University of Chicago. In this role, he has expanded support for veterans, created the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program, and established partnerships with Army Medicine to aid military transitions. His broader work includes developing the Utility Military Assistance Program, which has helped over 800 veterans secure careers in the utility sector. Terrell also founded Veterans Serving Our Communities (VSOC), where he continues to mentor veterans and their families, focusing on education, career transitions, and holistic support systems.

Dr Lyla Kohistany

Lyla is an inclusion strategist, cultural intelligence advisor, and former U.S. Naval officer with over two decades of experience in the security sector, working with international military, government, and civilian organizations on issues such as countering violence extremism and counterterrorism. Her lived experience as an Afghan refugee of the Soviet War and as a U.S. veteran underpin her refugee advocacy efforts and commitment to improving the lives of conflict-affected communities across the globe. She is a sought-after speaker and facilitator, has been featured in media outlets such as CNN, NPR, PBS, and The Washington Post, and contributed to numerous podcasts.

Jonathan Röders

Jonathan joined Corioli’s predecessor, the Trust After Betrayal project, in September 2022. Since then, he has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Colombia and Mexico, collaborating and coordinating projects with local partners and contributing to the Institute’s academic and policy research. He has also played a key role in organizing conferences, workshops, and other events. Additionally, Jonathan has been working on the Institute’s brand identity, overseeing its social media, newsletter, and website, and serving as editor of Corioli's Research Brief Series.

Dr Brittany Clark

Brittany Clark is an experienced Director of Operations with extensive project management experience across the education, non-profit, and corporate sectors. She has led complex projects with a strong commitment to advocating for and working with underrepresented communities. Brittany’s passion for social responsibility and community care guides her operational work and leadership at Corioli.

Rimjhim Agrawal

Rimjhim Agrawal holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago and currently works as the Director of Sustainability for the Corioli Institute. She has delivered projects on the Climate Change, Disaster, Conflict, and Migration Nexus in Kenya and the Arab Region. She spent a summer in Erbil, Iraq, developing a Sustainable Procurement Blueprint for the Prime Minister’s Office and designing economic diversification initiatives. Rimjhim has also worked with the World Bank and the DC-based education nonprofit Genesys Works, and she previously served as a climate and disaster risk analyst in an international context.

Luke Magyar

Luke joined Corioli in 2023 as a Research Associate, conducting fieldwork with Afghan Special Forces veterans in Washington D.C. and Houston, and Ukrainian military veterans in Ukraine. He co-authored the “Afghan Allies Out of War” policy paper and continues to advocate for policies supporting Afghan military veterans. He also directed Corioli’s inaugural Summer Fellows Program and developed the Institute’s policy advocacy strategy. Luke plans to keep advocating for policies that assist formerly armed actors and veteran communities while pursuing fieldwork, which he believes reveals the crucial realities for impactful human rights work. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, swimming, and experimenting with dinner and drink pairings. As a veteran himself, he stays connected with his military friends and volunteers as a mentor for veterans in higher education.

Emma van den Aakster

Emma van den Aakster is a contributing researcher at the Corioli Institute, focusing on climate security and the reintegration of formerly armed actors (FAAs) in the Middle East and North Africa. She develops methodological tools, analyzes qualitative data, and contributes to report writing, with a particular interest in women and youth empowerment in peacebuilding. Emma holds a BSc in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics from the University of Amsterdam and a Master's in International Relations from the University of Chicago. Her background spans public affairs, peace operations, and strategic communications, with experience in policy, research, and media relations.

Gertie Zwick-Schachter

Gertie is a rising Senior at the University of Chicago. Her role as a Writing Intern at the Institute supports Dr. Erin McFee’s work on her upcoming book manuscript Trust After Betrayal: Society-Building After Mass Atrocity, which draws on interview-based data and fieldwork conducted by the Corioli Institute regarding Afghan evacuees. Though her primary focus is human rights-based writing and advocacy, Gertie also devotes time to teaching English with the Hyde Park Refugee Project, facilitating creative writing workshops at Cook County Jail, leading environmental science workshops with Gateway to the Great Outdoors, and pursuing various artistic endeavors including playwriting and dance.

Elayna Whiteman

Currently in her third year at the University of Chicago, Elayna’s passion for history, law, and public policy led her to join the Institute as a 2024 Summer Fellow. During her Fellowship, Elayna conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of survey data for the Institute’s Colombia/Mexico projects, focusing on community reintegration and rebuilding. She also authored a Research Brief on the education of former child soldiers. She is excited to continue her involvement as the fundraising and social media intern, supporting the Institute’s critical research and policy initiatives. Outside of her academic and professional work, Elayna enjoys hiking and exploring national parks, as well as painting while catching up on her favorite TV shows.