Ali Riaz is a Distinguished Professor at the Department of Politics and Government. He held the Thomas E Eimermann Professorship (2018-2020). His research interests are: democratization, violent extremism. Political Islam, South Asian politics and Bangladeshi politics. Riaz held the University Professor designation between 2012 and 2018, and was the Chair of the Department of Politics between 2007 and 2017. He is a nonresident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council. Riaz is the President of The American Institute of Bangladesh Studies (AIBS).