International Relations Program Staff

The staff of the International Relations Program is dedicated to student service. We strive to create a warm, friendly, and collegial environment that fosters the development of meaningful connections among all members of the International Relations community. The academic and professional success of our students is our ultimate goal. 

Our staff members welcome your visits to our office in 102 Maxwell Hall in the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs. You may also contact us by phone at 315-443-2306, by email at IRAdvisor@maxwell.syr.edu, or schedule an appointment with us.

Osamah F. Khalil

Chair, International Relations Program
Professor, History

Professor Khalil is a historian of American foreign relations, who teaches classes on America in the World, the Global Cold War, and Middle East Media, among other topics. He is the author of "America's Dream Palace: Middle East Expertise and the Rise of the National Security State" (Harvard, 2016) and the editor of "United States Relations with China and Iran: Toward the Asian Century" (Bloomsbury, 2019). He previously served as the interim director of the Middle East Studies program. Professor Khalil teaches courses on the history of U.S. foreign relations, the Cold War, the history of international relations, America and the Middle East, and the Vietnam War and popular culture. In 2018, he received the Chancellor’s Citation for Faculty Excellence and Scholarly Distinction.

Havva Karakas Keles

Assistant Director, International Relations Program

Havva Karakas Keles is the assistant director of the International Relations Undergraduate Program. Previously, she served as regional programs coordinator, assistant director of Moynihan European Research Centers, and project manager of the Atlantis transatlantic dual degree program in international security and development policy at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School. Havva holds a B.A. in translation studies and master’s degrees in international relations and political science. She conducted multilingual archival research in the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel and Turkey toward her NSF-supported doctoral work at Syracuse University where she is a Ph.D. candidate in political science focusing on coalition governments, political leadership, foreign policy, and decision making. Havva’s undergraduate teaching at Syracuse covered political affairs in the MENA region, European Union, foreign policy and political leadership.

Faye Morse

Program Coordinatior, International Relations Program

Faye Morse is the program coordinator for the International Relations Undergraduate Program as well as the minor advisor. Previously she served as an administrative specialist in the History Department and as the assistant to the chair in the Economics Department at the Maxwell School. Prior to working at Syracuse University, Faye was an assistant director of financial aid at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She attended SUNY Buffalo/Columbia College where she received a B.S. in accounting.