David Russell is an aspiring geographer of political violence, focusing on describing the patterns and effects of conflicts in the Middle East and North and West Africa. He has worked on projects with the Middle East Institute, the University of Idaho, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the University of Florida. David also maintains a strong interest in how geopolitical rhetoric shapes views of the world. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, David graduated from Middlebury College with a BA in History, and from the University of Idaho with an MS in Geography.