Ra'phael is a PhD Candidate specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics. His main areas of interest are peace building and post-conflict reconstruction, with special regard to how those dynamics play out in Sub-Saharan African societies and politics. 

Before coming to OSU, he received B.A. degrees in Philosophy and International Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also worked as a Program Officer for Global Ties Arkansas, an organization focused on citizen diplomacy and international exchange.