Dr. Kyleanne Hunter is an SSP Assistant Adjunct Professor. She formerly served in the US Marine Corps and focuses her scholarship on gender inclusion in Western militaries.
Where are you from and what path brought you to SSP?
I’m originally from the Bay Area in California. I had my first Hoya experience as an undergrad! It was, to say the least, an amazing one. I joined the Marine Corps after college and, inspired by my experiences in the Marines, attended grad school at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver to study women’s integration into Western militaries. After grad school, I took a position at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Eager to keep teaching and engaged in the academic community, I jumped at the opportunity to teach at SSP when it appeared.
What are you working on right now?
My work is primarily focused on Gun Violence Prevention right now. As the Vice President for Programs at Brady, I work on bringing evidenced-based solutions to gun violence prevention. Our two biggest programs are End Family Fire, a social norm change program aimed at changing discussions about guns in the home, and the Combating Crime Guns Initiative, a supply-side approach to stopping guns from infiltrating our most vulnerable communities. I am also working on a book project on the sociopolitical culture of gun ownership. In mid-2019 I have an edited volume coming out with Dr. Kate Thomas on women veterans’ reintegration.
What is your favorite thing about SSP?
The diverse community of students and other adjuncts. The dynamic conversations in the classroom that result from diverse backgrounds are truly fruitful.
If you could tell your grad school self one thing, what would it be?
That I’ll be using my dissertation methodology in ways I can’t even fathom right now–so the long days and nights will be worth it!
If you could teach any course at all, what would that be?
A course that touches on gender, guns, and the international illicit economy.
What is your favorite thing to do in DC?
This is my 4th time moving back to the DC area, so right now I’m enjoying exploring all the new spots in the neighborhoods that I used to live in.
What would your advice be to SSP students be hoping to start a career in your field?
For the military work: be a humble leader. You’ll learn more from your troops than you think. For the nonprofit work: there’s a lot of reward to doing something you truly care about for a living, but it is emotionally hard. Take time to take care of yourself!