Happy New Year from the Strauss Center! 2014 promises to be an active year for the Center, beginning with Professor Bobby Chesney taking over as Director of the Strauss Center. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Chesney is the Charles I. Francis Professor in Law at UT and a nationally renowned expert in issues of national security law. His extensive writings have covered topics ranging from drone strikes to cyberwarfare, with a particular emphasis on the disruptive impact that technological and strategic change can have on legal regimes.

We are also pleased to announce that Ashley Moran has been named Associate Director of the Strauss Center. She comes to the Center with a host of international experience in rule of law promotion and democratic legal and institutional reform, including positions in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the U.S.

Of course, the Strauss Center remains engaged with a variety of familiar and highly-successful programs: the third annual Next Generation Project Texas assembly will be held in Houston later this month, with a focus on issues presented by the domestic use of drones, cyber, and other surveillance technology; the 2014 Crook Fellowship application period opens today; and the Climate Change and African Stability Program remains a marquee Strauss Center initiative. And, as always, we look forward to hosting a dynamic line up of events this spring, including a South by Southwest Interactive workshop, a public conference on the NSA, and a set of exceptional speakers this coming semester as a part of the long-running International Security Speakers Series (more information on our upcoming events here).

Meanwhile, an array of exciting new research initiatives and partnerships are in the works. Some of them—such as the Intelligence Studies Project, the Mexico Security Initiative, and the Energy and Security Program—connect the Strauss Center to new partners both on and off campus. Others flow from the interests and energy of our outstanding “Distinguished Scholars” (that is, the talented group of UT faculty from across the campus who provide our intellectual core). In both cases, the aim is, as always, to pursue and disseminate innovative, policy-relevant research branching across both disciplinary divides and the gaps that all too often separate academia, government, and the private sector.

These research and service programs range widely, and if one thing is certain the roster of activities will evolve in the future. The current Strauss Center initiatives do share certain common themes, however, and we have taken to grouping them accordingly. Rather than spell that out here, however, we hope you’ll take a moment to check out our vibrant new website, which dynamically organizes and displays our programs. And while you are there, make sure to browse the roster of our extraordinary Distinguished Scholars; you’ll be as impressed as we are. Finally, before you leave the website, make a point of scrolling down to see the innovative social media section of the site, linking to the latest posts, tweets, and more from our scholars and events.

We are very much looking forward to this new phase in the life of the Strauss Center, and hope you are as well. Spread the word. Come to the events. Stay in touch. Be part of the conversation!