Ulugbek Ishankhodjaev is an expert in international relations, a diplomat, and a political scientist. He currently serves as the Head of the Center for American Studies at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED, Tashkent), and he is also an Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations at UWED. He is actively engaged in teaching, delivering lectures on the governmental structure and political system of the United States. Previously, Ishankhodjaev gained extensive experience working in various government institutions of Uzbekistan, including the Presidential Administration and the Academy of Sciences. As a diplomatic officer, he headed the Department of the Americas and the Department of Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He twice served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., and also worked at the embassies of Uzbekistan in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, including the mission to NATO. Beyond government and diplomatic service, he has participated in projects of international organizations such as UNDP, UNODC, and the World Bank, and has collaborated with international private companies interested in investing in Uzbekistan’s economy. As an academic and expert author, he publishes analytical articles and policy briefs on U.S. foreign policy, regional security, and international affairs, and actively takes part in conferences and professional discussions.