Carmela Lutmar has a BA in Political Science and Philosophy (1993) from the University of Haifa, and MA in Peace Science from the University of Notre Dame (1995), and a PhD in International Relations (2004) from NYU. Research interests include leadership, mediation in civil wars, peace agreements design and implementation, compliance in international agreements, regime changes, and institutional design in the aftermath of military occupations. Publications include a book on regional peacemaking and conflict management, as well as a planned book on regional stability and leadership changes in the Middle East. Articles include mediation in civil wars, the impact of leadership changes in rebel groups on mediation in civil wars.