Krystel von Kumberg graduated from Georgetown University with a Master’s degree in Security Studies (2020). Her Master’s thesis highlights the often overlooked and less explored pathway of individuals transitioning from neo-nazism to militant Islamism. Specifically, analyzing what spurs the ideational shift individuals traverse on their journey from one radical standpoint to another. She received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Durham University in England (2018). She also attended the Cambridge Security Initiative in the summer of 2018, which further honed her interests in international security.

Krystel is an Italian, Canadian and British national, which was what first spurred her interest in international affairs. She speaks Italian fluently, French and Spanish adequately and is learning Russian. She has worked at the George Washington Program on Extremism conducting analysis on homegrown extremism and radicalization and has also worked as a columnist for two years at the Georgetown Security Studies Review, where she has written a variety of articles ranging from counterinsurgency in the North Caucasus to information warfare and Syria. Furthermore, Krystel has presented on counterterrorism at Columbia University and presented her paper on Russia’s role in enabling the far-right at the GOSECA Persuade and Coerce: (Dis)information and Security in Eurasia Conference at the University of Pittsburgh. She has also previously worked for Hostage US, where she executed research on the latest kidnapping trends and helped at the Hostage US June 15th Seminar, where speakers outlined the challenges of life after captivity as well as ways for companies to mitigate the risks involved and plan ahead.

Her main areas of interests are Violent Extremism and Radicalization, Far-Right and Islamist Terrorism, Counterinsurgency and Russia.