Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Shpresa Kaciku Baljija is a distinguished scholar in public governance, recognized for her influential contributions to both research and the practical advancement of policies and institutions. She has completed advanced training in leadership and management at the University of California, Berkeley. She has also served as an expert advisor to various international organizations and government institutions, supporting capacity development for the Government of Kosovo, the Kosovo Assembly, and independent agencies. Dr. Kaciku Baljija teaches at both public and private universities in the Republic of Kosovo, offering undergraduate and graduate courses in public governance, international relations, international security, local governance, and academic skills. Dr. Kaciku Baljija has published articles in reputable, international, peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Shpresa Kaciku Baljija is a global speaker who actively participates in international forums, conferences, and high-level policy dialogues.

Board Member

Kyoung-Sun Min is an Associate Professor at Jeonbuk National University. He has served as the Director of the Audit Division at the Ministry of Unification, Senior Deputy Director at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and Inspector at the Korean National Police Agency. Min earned his PhD in Public Affairs from the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri and holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Seoul National University. His research focuses on anti-corruption and police policies, with significant publications in the field, including a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of South Korean Politics, titled “Corruption.”

Boar Member

Board Member

Granit Tërnava is a political scientist and consultant with more than 15 years of professional experience in local and international organizations across Kosovo and the Western Balkans. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Prishtina, majoring in Political Science, and completed his master’s studies in Political Science, with a focus on Civil Society and Local Development, also at the University of Prishtina. This academic background has given him a theoretical foundation for understanding the complex dynamics of local governance, public policy, and citizen participation. His experience includes long-term cooperation with institutions such as Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, USAID, Democracy International, Westminster Foundation for Democracy, and the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, as well as other local and international organizations, where he has led and implemented programs on political education, strategic communication, and civic engagement. Over the years, through his engagement with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, he has supported hundreds of students through scholarship programs and helped the Department of Political Science publish Albanian-language literature for students. In these roles, he has worked closely with party leaders, members of parliament, mayors, and local assemblies, helping them draft long-term strategies and strengthen organizational capacity. As a trainer and advisor, Tërnava has developed expertise in political communication, campaign management, and creating citizen-oriented policy platforms. He has designed and implemented national and regional activities focused on including youth and women in politics, promoting European values, and strengthening political structures’ capacity to adapt to contemporary governance and local development challenges.

Senior Fellow

Christopher Tyler Burks, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His work focuses on public administration, democratic governance, civic capacity, nonprofit leadership, and state and local government. He brings experience as a scholar, educator, editor, civic leader, and public affairs consultant. As a Senior Fellow with ASTERA Management and Leadership Institute, Dr. Burks contributes expertise in governance, leadership, institutional capacity, and applied public service research.

Keunyoung (Eli) Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. He holds a PhD in Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California and earned master’s degrees in Public Administration from Seoul National University and the University of Southern California. His research focuses on how agency resources and political environments shape public employees' attitudes and behavior, with a particular interest in how agency reputation influences organizational outcomes and employee decision-making. His work engages behavioral public administration, bureaucratic politics, and public management, and contributes to scholarly conversations in outlets such as the Public Administration Review, Review of Public Personnel Administration, and Presidential Studies Quarterly. Prior to entering academia, he founded and led Nesal-Nessal, a Korean social enterprise addressing income disparity and urban decline.