Previously, Schanzer served as a counterterrorism analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he took part in the designation of numerous terrorism financiers. He is currently vice-president of research for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and
Schanzer holds a BA from Emory University, a masters degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a doctorate from Kings College London. He also studied Arabic at the American University in Cairo in 2001.
Schanzer publishes widely in the national press, has testified before Congress, and makes frequent appearances on television. He has traveled widely in Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories. Dr. Schanzer speaks Arabic and Hebrew.