I am Hoan La, also known as Lana, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University. I am currently part of the editorial team at Armed Forces & Society, where I serve as a Junior Editor.

My research examine how states exercise power through war and economic coercion, and how these tools of statecraft shape political behavior, human rights, and human security. I also study how governance quality and domestic politics shape the economic and humanitarian consequences of coercive statecraft.

Lana photo

My work spans international security, political economy, and governance, with a particular focus on gender, state capacity, and public opinion. Methodologically, I use quantitative and experimental approaches.

Before pursuing my Ph.D., I spent about six years at a research institute under Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment (now part of the Ministry of Finance). This role provided me with valuable insights and expertise in translating scholarly research into actionable strategies for government policy and administration. This experience shaped my commitment to policy-engaged scholarship as I learned that rigorous research becomes most valuable when it addresses real governance challenges.

I earned an M.P.A. from Murray State University (KY, USA) and a B.A. in Journalism from the Academy of Journalism and Communication (Hanoi, Vietnam).