Professor Ruth Margolies Beitler is an Associate Professor of International Relations and Comparative Politics in the Department of Social Sciences. She serves as course director for Middle East Politics and Cultural Anthropology. She is author of The Path to Mass Rebellion: An Analysis of Two Intifadas published by Lexington Press in June, 2004. She has written numerous articles and chapters on the Middle East including an occasional paper co-authored with COL Cindy Jebb, published by the Institute for National Security Studies in July, 2003 entitled, Egypt as a Failing State: Implications for U.S. National Security. Her article, co-authored with Richard Shultz, "Tactical Deception and Strategic Surprise in Al Qaeda Operations" appeared in the Middle East Review of International Affairs (June 2004).

A graduate of Cornell University with a BA in Near Eastern Studies, Dr. Beitler holds a Master of Arts of Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, where she also received her Ph.D. in International Relations. She has lived and traveled extensively in the Middle East.

She has appeared on the CBS Morning Show and MSNBC as a commentator on Middle East affairs.