1. TODAY’S STUDENTS, TOMORROW’S TERRORISTS:
An Analysis of Education and Extremist Participation
Clara Braun, Gina S. Ligon, Ph.D., & Douglas C. Derrick, Ph.D.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Grant Award Number 17STQAC The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2. CASE STUDIES Jesse Noelle
M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University
Worked for U.S. support efforts in Morocco
Charged for material support
Noelle
High school GED
Worked as home health aide after completing training at 21
Charged for plotting behaviors

3. AGENDA 1. Theoretical Support 2. Research Question 3. Hypothesis
Methodology
4. Methodology
5. Findings
6. Conclusion

4. GENERAL STRAIN THEORY
Strain
Negative Emotion
Criminal Behavior

5. RESEARCH QUESTION
What is the relationship between level of educational attainment and degree of criminal participation among Salafist-inspired homegrown violent extremists?

6. HYPOTHESIS Criminal Participant Education
Homegrown violent extremists who have completed technical or vocational programs and/or have obtained bachelor degrees will be lower level criminal participants on behalf of foreign terrorist organizations.

7. CRIMINAL CLASSIFICATION
VARIABLES
CRIMINAL CLASSIFICATION
EDUCATION
No High School
High School
Some College
Graduated with degree or vocational certificate
High Level
Attacker
Plotter
Low Level
Material Support
Foreign Fighter
Other

8. METHODOLOGY Identified a sample of 215 homegrown violent extremists
Gathered data
Academic publications
Court documents
News sources
Analysis
Bivariate Correlations

9. Criminal Classification
FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
Criminal Classification
Education
Attacker
.14*
Plotter
-.08
Foreign Fighter
-.04
Material Support
-.01
Other
.01
28 Attackers
Average age of 30
Majority had some college or had a completed degree or vocational certificate

10. Criminal Classification
FINDINGS & DISCUSSION
Criminal Classification
Education
Attacker
.14*
Plotter
-.08
Foreign Fighter
-.04
Material Support
-.01
Other
.01
28 Attackers
Average age of 30
Majority had some college or had a completed degree or vocational certificate

11. Discussion A possible explanation Underemployment
Degree in Information Systems, worked as security guards
Degree in pharmacology, worked as health inspector
Enrolled in medical programs, worked as grocery store employee

12. CONCLUSION Examining underemployment using alternative measure
Cumulative Strain
Chronic Strain
structural barriers that inhibit growth
E.g., education and income level
Uncontrolled Strain
connectedness to people or institutions
E.g., education and employment

13. Clara Braun cbraun@unomaha.edu
Thank You
Clara Braun