Ilyssa Yahmi is a PhD Candidate in Political Science at Temple University and a 2024-2025 USIP-Minerva Peace and Security Scholar. She is also a research fellow of the Cross-Border Conflict, Evidence, Policy, Trends Programme (XCEPT), a visiting scholar at the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po (CEVIPOF), and a Fulbright scholar.

Her stream of research investigates non-traditional security issues related to borders, political violence, and identity, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. To that end, she has conducted field research in Mali, Algeria, and France.

Ilyssa received her MA in International Security from the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po (Paris, France), and a Master’s Certificate in National Defense and Security from the French Institute of Higher Studies in National Defense (IHEDN).