Markos Kounalakis, Ph.D. is an accomplished journalist, foreign correspondent, author, and policy expert. His career highlights include covering democratic revolutions and the end of the Cold War for Newsweek and NBC-Mutual News, being President and Publisher Emeritus of Washington Monthly, and serving as California's First "Second Gentleman." He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, where he researches media effects on global affairs.

Kounalakis' educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from Central European University, a Master of Science (MS) in Journalism from Columbia University, and certificates in publishing, public policy analysis, and international journalism from various institutions. He is a frequent foreign affairs news guest analyst on CBS and CNN International and has authored multiple books, including "Defying Gravity," "Beyond Spin," and "Hope is a Tattered Flag."

Kounalakis' specialties revolve around international affairs, politics, policy, journalism, and global media. He has served in various organizations, such as Internews Network, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the World Affairs Council of Northern California, among others. Kounalakis' insights and expertise make him a sought-after expert on global events and their impact on policy.