
U.S.-Myanmar relations; regional economic trends, leveraging the private sector for poverty alleviation, the role of women and education in economic development strategy, and the process of transformational learning in the Asian context.
Dr. Byrd is currently serving on the Boards of the Pacific Gateway Center, The Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College, University of Hawaii Shidler School of Business Center for International Business and Education Research, and is President/Chair of the Managing Committee of the Suu Foundation.
Some of her publications include "Why the U.S. Should Gender its Counterterrorism Strategy" in The Military Review Journal; "Combating Terrorism: A Socio-Economic Strategy" and "Combating Terrorism with Socioeconomics: Leveraging the Private Sector" in Joint Force Quarterly, a professional military and security journal published for the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff by National Defense University. Dr. Byrd also served as the editor for USPACOM's Asia-Pacific Economic Update publications.
Dr. Byrd received a Bachelor of Arts in economics and accounting from Claremont McKenna College and holds a Master of Business Administration with emphasis in Asia-Pacific economics and business from University of Hawaii. She earned her Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of Southern California.