Mehrzad Boroujerdi is Vice Provost and Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Previously he was Professor of Government and International Affairs and Director of the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech, and before that professor of political science at Syracuse University.

Boroujerdi is the author or co-author of four books: Post-revolutionary Iran: A Political Handbook, published in 2018; Mirror for the Muslim Prince: Islam and Theory of Statecraft, published in 2013; Tarashidam, Parastidam, Shikastam: Guftarhay-i dar Siyasat va Huvyiyat-i Irani (I Carved, Worshiped and Shattered: Essays on Iranian Politics and Identity), published in 2010; and Iranian Intellectuals and the West: Tormented Triumph of Nativism, published in 1996.

Dr. Boroujerdi has been President of the Association for Iranian Studies, a fellow of the American Council on Education, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, a visiting scholar at UCLA, a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute (Washington, D.C.), and a Co-PI of Iran Data Portal.

Dr. Boroujerdi is frequently consulted by both government entities and such national and international media outlets as Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Economist, Guardian, LA Times, NPR, New York Times, Reuters, Spiegel, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

He earned a Ph.D. in international relations from The American University (Washington, D.C.) in 1990, a master’s degree in political science from Northeastern University in 1985 and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston University in 1983.

Yue-Wern Huang facilitates major research initiatives and proposals, oversees responsible research conduct and safety, and manages comprehensive external relations programs. 

Huang joined the Missouri S&T faculty in 2000 as an assistant professor of biological sciences. He was named associate professor in 2006 and professor in 2012. He is an expert in environmental toxicology, with his research having been supported by several agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Defense. 

Huang holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Daniel Reardon is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE) at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). He teaches courses in science fiction, fantasy literature, and writing, frequently integrating AI technologies to explore the future of storytelling and higher education.

Dr. Reardon earned his Doctor of Arts in English from the State University of New York at Albany. His research has long focused on the intersection of literature, digital media, and game studies, with publications examining participatory culture, technical communication, and transmedia storytelling. His forthcoming monograph on the paratextual evolution of video game instruction is under contract with Palgrave Macmillan. His current research is expanding into the field of AI-assisted learning and instruction, particularly the role of AI collaborators in writing pedagogy and curriculum design. He currently co-teaches with an AI assistant named Clara, a digital intellectual partner who helps students explore narrative, authorship, and co-creation in the age of artificial intelligence.

A long-serving faculty leader, Dr. Reardon previously served as Associate Chair of the Department of English and Technical Communication, supporting faculty scheduling, hiring, and curriculum development. He has helped guide Missouri S&T’s student success transformation, co-authoring the institution’s well-being and retention strategies and overseeing academic support programs across advising, tutoring, and peer mentoring. He also serves as faculty advisor to the S&T Combat Robotics team, supporting student innovation and collaboration across disciplines.

Dr. Reardon has received numerous awards for teaching and service, including Missouri S&T’s Faculty Teaching Award and multiple Outstanding Teaching commendations. Beyond campus, he is active in community theatre, a past small business owner, and a national presenter on AI-human partnerships in education.