Speaking
Steven has presented and moderated professional discussions on targeted violence prevention, behavioral threat assessment and management, school safety, and community-based approaches to preventing violence.
Selected Presentations and Panels
Rough Drafts: Reconsidering the M-Word
“We don't call them saints, why would we turn them into political theorists?”
AETAP 17th Conference · San Sebastián, Spain · April 2026
Joint Threat Assessment Training · Philadelphia · June 2026
Presenter
What do we risk when we adopt violent actors' language to describe their actions? This presentation considers the label "manifesto" and argues that the word confers unwarranted significance on documents with limited assessment value. It examines how their ready dissemination encourages readers to mistake perpetrators’ accounts for reliable explanations of motivation, privileging accessible writings over holistic assessment.
Werewolf Dreams and Violent Intent
Joint Threat Assessment Training East · Philadelphia · June 2025
Co-presenter with J. McNelis
A young man’s journal provides a window into the nine months prior to an act of violence. Considered in full, a picture emerges of challenging transitions, isolation, depression, and the corrosive impacts of social media. Behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) team engagement led to sustained support, meaningful recovery, and a path forward.
The Problematic Assumptions of CVE About Religion
Sixth Conference of the International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ICLARS) · Córdoba, Spain · September 2022
Presenter
Initial approaches to countering violent extremism treated religion as a driver of radicalization to be mitigated, with progressive religious messaging as a solution. This presentation challenges the framing of religious identity as a primary risk factor and moderate religious messaging as an effective remedy, arguing that disengagement programming must consider religious identity within a fuller understanding of vulnerable young people’s identities, relationships, and circumstances.
Preventing Radicalization in the U.S.: White Nationalist Terrorism in the Heartland
Truman National Security Project · April 2021
Panel Convener and Moderator
Panelists from U.S. Congress, extremism research, and civil society consider responses to white nationalist violence. The discussion addresses the limitations of conventional countering violent extremism programs and the roles of local coalition building, federal policy, and responsible law enforcement in prevention.
Speaking inquiries
For inquiries about conference presentations, panel discussions, or research exchanges, please provide a brief description of the event, its audience, proposed topic, and anticipated date.
Participation is considered in light of professional responsibilities and applicable approval requirements. Requests related to Steven’s role with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services should be directed through official agency channels.