Biography
Kassadi Smith is a Ph.D. candidate in the Security Studies Program at the University of Central Florida and a Research Security Analyst at the University of Miami. Her research examines the intersection of cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and international political behavior, with a particular focus on cyber governance, alliance formation, and the dynamics of global power. Using quantitative methods and network analysis, she studies how digital systems shape political outcomes and patterns of cooperation and conflict.
Professionally, Kassadi supports research security initiatives related to cybersecurity, export controls, foreign travel security, and research security training. Her work involves applying federal research security frameworks and collaborating across the research enterprise to promote institutional resilience and responsible international engagement.
Prior to joining the University of Miami, Kassadi held positions at Florida Atlantic University and Lynn University, where she gained experience in leadership, program development, research, and higher education administration. She holds a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University, where she also completed a minor in Business Law and earned a Certificate in Ethics, Law, and Society.
Kassadi’s broader interests lie at the intersection of cyber policy, international affairs, and emerging technologies. She is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges academic scholarship and practical policy challenges. She is a member of the Peace Science Society (International), the Florida Political Science Association, and Pi Sigma Alpha, and is an alumna of EmpowHer of the Palm Beaches.