Jennifer Murtazashvili

Dr. Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili is the Founding Director of the Center for Governance and Markets and a Professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a renowned author in the fields of global security and political economy and was recognized as one of the world's top thinkers by Prospect Magazine. She also serves as a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Since joining the University of Pittsburgh in 2009, Dr. Murtazashvili has made significant contributions to international research, education, and engagement. She is widely recognized for her expertise on Afghanistan, the geopolitics of Continental Asia, and former Soviet republics. Her research focuses on the intersections of security, development, and the political foundations of pluralism. She has authored four books, two of which focus on Afghanistan. In her research, she combines quantitative survey data with extensive ethnographic fieldwork, conducting interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys across several countries. Her work delves into the complexities of norms, practices, and governance across diverse cultures and provides insights into the relationship between local, national, and global governance, with a focus on human dignity.

Throughout her career, she has co-created research together with community members and practitioners. The Center for Governance and Markets builds on this vision as a global hub for scholars, policymakers, and community leaders who share a passion for bottom-up approaches to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges.