Charles Schmitz is professor of Geography at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland where he has taught since 1999. Dr. Schmitz is a specialist on the Middle East and Yemen. He began his academic career as a Fulbright Scholar and American Institute for Yemeni Studies Fellow in Yemen in the early 1990’s. Dr. Schmitz’ current research interests include the political economy of development in Yemen and the sociology of contemporary Yemeni society.