GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – 2 Dec. 2024

The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Alumni Scholarship. These members of the Marshall Center's alumni network have been selected for their outstanding contributions to the field of international security, and their commitment to advancing democratic values.

The winners of this competitive program have been selected from among 112 applicants based on the relevance of their proposed topic to Marshall Center research priorities, the academic potential of their proposal, and the potential practical application of their findings.  Priority was given to research topics that are of the greatest interest to the Marshall Center and its stakeholders, and that address the complex security challenges facing the world today.

The 2025 scholarship recipients are:

Ms. Tinatin Aghniashvili, Georgia

Topic: Strengthening Integrated Deterrence by Whole of Society Resilience

Dr. Vitalie Armașu, Moldova

Topic: Increasing Moldova's Deterrence Potential: Integrating National and Societal Resilience in Combatting Russian Disinformation and Manipulation

Ms. Stefanie Hebel, Canada

Topic: The New Northward Center of Gravity

Dr. Daria Nowak, Poland

Topic: The Role of Deterrence in Hybrid Warfare: Strategies to Counter Russian and Belarusian Weaponization of Migration Against NATO

Ms. Liljana Pecova-Ilieska, North Macedonia and Dr. Megghi Pengili, Italy (Joint Project)

Topic: Cyber Shield: Securing Critical Infrastructure in the Western Balkans - The Crucial Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Regional Governance

Ambassador Marinela Petkova, Bulgaria

Topic: What Role Does the Concept of Deterrence play in Hybrid Warfare?

Former Ambassador Vasil Sikharulidze, Georgia

Topic: Enhancing Euro-Atlantic Security Through Strategic Connectivity: Reducing Russian Influence in the Black Sea and Central Asia

Mr. Dževad Terzić, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Topic: The Intersection of Far-Right Extremism, Russian Influence, and Organized Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Challenges for Security and Democratic Stability

Col (ret.) Raitis Tiliks, Latvia

Topic: Integrated Border Management as a Potential Deterrence Measure at the Eastern Flank of NATO and Schengen Area

The selected scholars will each spend five weeks in-residence in Garmisch-Partenkirchen throughout 2025, engaging in comprehensive research on their topic and supported by a Marshall Center faculty mentor.

"We are very proud to support and celebrate the achievements of our alumni. Their ongoing contributions to the field of security studies reflect the values and principles at the core of the Marshall Center's mission,” said Mr. Christopher Burelli, Director of Alumni Programs at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.

The Alumni Scholarship program reflects Marshall Center's commitment to providing recipients with the opportunity to further their education, engage in professional development, and contribute to the broader discourse on international security. The program seeks to empower the Marshall Center alumni network to make a lasting impact on global security.

For more information on the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the Alumni Scholarship program, please visit Alumni Scholars | George C. Marshall European Center For Security Studies (marshallcenter.org).

The George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, founded on June 5, 1993, is a renowned international security and defense studies institute. A bilateral partnership between the U.S. and Germany, it is a lasting cooperation that promotes dialogue and understanding among the nations of North America, Europe and Eurasia. In 2023, the Marshall Center marked its 30th anniversary, re-emphasizing its commitment to carrying Marshall’s vision, an enduring legacy that continues through the security education initiatives of the Center.