She teaches classes on Russian politics, Central Asian politics, and ethnic conflict in post-Soviet states. She has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics, an M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from the University of Connecticut, and a BA from Boston College. Commercio’s research interests include issues related to regime transition, ethnic politics, gender, and Islam in post-Soviet states.