Ulrica Nylen is an Associate Professor in Business Administration (Management) at Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics (USBE), Umeå University. Her work focuses on teaching organizational behavior, leadership, and qualitative research methods, while actively collaborating with societal actors on applied research projects. Research Interests: She investigates professional identity development, particularly among Swedish police officers in international roles; interprofessional teamwork in human services sectors; and collaboration dynamics across organizations. Her methodological focus includes advancing qualitative research techniques. Current projects include studies on women entrepreneurship in Västerbotten and university-society partnerships. Awards: Nordeas thesis award (Diversity and Inclusion) Collaborations & Grants: Engages in multi-stakeholder projects with public agencies and NGOs, emphasizing applied research. Notable collaborations include evaluations of healthcare delivery systems and social service innovations. Labs/Teams: Works within interdisciplinary teams at USBE and partners with regional organizations like Västerbottens läns landsting to implement research into practice.
Professor David Shirley is the Executive Dean of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University. With a background in actor training from the Arts Educational Schools and RADA, he has extensive experience in performance, direction, and playwrighting. His notable work includes the biographical play A Life in Pieces (2018), staged at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation. Shirley holds fellowships from the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (FRSA). He previously led the Manchester School of Theatre and Rose Bruford College's School of Theatre. Research interests focus on performer training methodologies, including studies of Stanislavsky, Meisner, and contemporary directors like Katie Mitchell. He chairs the Conference of Drama Schools Research Forum and edits Theatre, Dance and Performance Training . Shirley actively promotes research in the performing arts sector and advises the Stanislavsky Research Centre at Leeds University.
Kristin Konnyu is a Lecturer in Implementation Science at the Aberdeen Centre for Evaluation, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen. She was previously an Assistant Professor at Brown University’s Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health. Her work bridges evidence synthesis and implementation science across health, public health, and climate change interventions. Education: PhD in Epidemiology, University of Ottawa (2018) BEd in Education, University of Ottawa (2013) MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia (2008) BSc in Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University (2005) Her research focuses on methods for synthesizing complex interventions and translating evidence into practice, particularly in complex systems involving multiple actors and behaviors. She is interested in de-implementation of low-value care, healthcare innovation adoption, and climate change mitigation in healthcare. She employs interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from epidemiology, education, and rehabilitation sciences. Her recent publications demonstrate strong trends in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and methodological innovation in implementation science. She frequently contributes to Cochrane reviews and protocols, with a focus on audit and feedback, behavior change techniques, antenatal care, and environmental impacts of health interventions. Her work often involves large collaborative teams and high-impact journals. Scientific Awards: Robert L. Kane Memorial Award (2022) Joseph De Koninick Prize for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis (2019) Worton Researcher in Training Award (2018) Award of Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa (2017) Kristin Konnyu supervises Masters and PhD students in Applied Health Sciences, with interests in implementation science and evidence synthesis for complex problems. She is co-course coordinator for PU5031: Evidence-based Health and evaluator for two other postgraduate courses. She also teaches short courses and webinars on implementation and evidence synthesis methods. She is affiliated with the Cochrane Collaboration and serves as a methods editor for the Climate Solutions Working Group at the Campbell Collaboration. She leads and contributes to major commissioned reports for agencies like AHRQ and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and her work supports health policy and clinical decision-making. Her lab and team collaborations are extensive, involving international researchers in systematic review methodology and implementation science.
Laura Crosswell serves as Associate Professor of Health Communication and Director of the Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno's Reynolds School of Journalism and Media Studies. She holds a joint appointment with the university's School of Medicine, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to health communication research. Crosswell previously taught at the College of Charleston, Louisiana State University, and Arizona State University before joining UNR. Her research focuses on the intersection of consumerism, persuasive texts, and public health messaging, with particular attention to how commercial interests influence health communication. Crosswell frequently employs advanced eye-tracking technology to examine physiological and psychosocial responses to media content, especially in pharmaceutical advertising and public health campaigns. Her book Politics, Propaganda, and Public Health: A Case Study in Health Communication and Public Trust analyzes Merck's Gardasil vaccination campaign, exploring how corporate interests shape public health messaging. Crosswell's recent publications reveal consistent focus on contemporary health communication challenges, particularly surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy, and environmental health risks. Her work spans multiple disciplines including communication, public health, psychology, and medical education, often employing innovative methodologies like virtual reality simulations and biometric measurement. Recipient of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) Innovative Research Award, 2023 Co-author of scholarly book on pharmaceutical marketing and public health trust Regular contributor to journals including Critical Public Health , Public Health Perspectives , and Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences Crosswell has received recognition for her innovative research approaches that bridge communication theory with practical health applications. Her work examining virtual reality applications in healthcare education demonstrates her commitment to developing new methodologies for training healthcare professionals. With numerous forthcoming publications for 2025, she remains an active contributor to the field of health communication research.
Evangelia Petridou serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Mid Sweden University, where she is core faculty at the Risk and Crisis Research Centre (RCR). Her academic work bridges political science and practical crisis management, with emphasis on European policy processes and Swedish governance structures. Her research focuses on policy entrepreneurship dynamics during crises, particularly examining how actors navigate institutional constraints in emergency contexts. Key areas include reactive policy entrepreneurship, risk communication across EU nations, and the operationalization of national policy styles during pandemics. She integrates theoretical frameworks like Kingdon's Multiple Streams with empirical analyses of Swedish municipal responses to disasters. Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal three dominant trends: conceptual expansion of policy entrepreneurship to street-level bureaucrats, methodological innovation through immersive simulations in crisis training, and comparative analyses of European pandemic responses. Her work consistently addresses the tension between centralized policy directives and local implementation challenges, especially in decentralized systems like Sweden. Dr. Petridou leads multiple externally funded projects including FUTURESILIENCE, LEGITIPREP, and RISE (Resilience in Sweden: Governance, Social Networks and Learning). She directs the RCR Lab at Mid Sweden University, which pioneers experimental design in crisis management education through virtual/physical immersion classrooms. Her collaborative network spans 15+ European institutions with frequent co-authorship on cross-national policy studies.
Rodrigo Zamith is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Journalism Department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is also a Faculty Associate of UMass' Computational Social Science Institute and a Faculty Affiliate of its Department of Communication. His work bridges journalism and technology, focusing on the evolving media landscape and digital research methods for social scientists. Dr. Zamith received his academic training from: Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota M.S. in Mass Communication from Florida International University B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota Rodrigo Zamith's research interests focus on the intersection of journalism and technology, examining how digital platforms and algorithms reshape news production and consumption. His work explores news innovation, emerging media technologies, data-driven news work, algorithms in journalism, and computational social science. He investigates how journalistic practices are reconfigured in digital environments and develops innovative digital research methods for studying media phenomena. His scholarship draws on theoretical frameworks from sociology, psychology, science & technology studies, and economics, employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory examining the role of algorithms, data, and digital platforms in journalism. His work spans computational analyses of news recommendation systems, examinations of open-source infrastructure in newsrooms, studies of visual climate change communication on social media, and investigations into how journalists navigate audience metrics. His research reveals both the challenges and opportunities presented by technological change in journalism, with particular attention to issues of transparency, trust, and democratic implications. Dr. Zamith has received significant recognition for his scholarly contributions: Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Award (best dissertation in mass communication) Finalist for the Gene Burd Dissertation Award Finalist for Digital Journalism's Article of the Year award Lilly Teaching Fellow FlexLearning Fellow Recipient of UMass' College Outstanding Teaching Award Finalist for the University's Distinguished Teaching Award As an educator, Dr. Zamith teaches both conceptually-oriented and skills-oriented courses including Data-Driven Storytelling, Introduction to Journalism, International Journalism, Content Analysis, and Introduction to Visual Storytelling. His teaching excellence has been recognized through multiple awards. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, his research output suggests active engagement with funding opportunities in computational social science and digital journalism. Dr. Zamith is affiliated with UMass' Computational Social Science Institute, where he contributes to interdisciplinary research on digital methods. His work with GitHub repositories suggests engagement with open-source communities, and his research on newsroom technology indicates connections with media organizations exploring digital innovation.
Prof. Dr. Frank Becker is a faculty member at the University of Duisburg-Essen's Faculty of Humanities , where he has taught modern and contemporary history since 2011. He studied history, German studies, philosophy, and education at the University of Münster, earning his doctorate in 1992 and habilitation in 1998. Research Focus: Political culture, war and society, theoretical and methodological questions, nationalism, religion, cultural ambiguity, physical culture, and industrial work. Academic Roles: Member of the Faculty Council and Senate Commission QVK; editor of the series Kontingenzgeschichten (with Stefan Brakensiek and Benjamin Scheller). His work explores ambiguity and contingency in historical contexts, spanning from 19th-century German-French conflicts to 20th-century labor policies. Recent articles and books analyze gender norms, media representations, and cultural symbols across periods like the Weimar Republic and post-war Germany. Publications reveal a thematic emphasis on war's societal impact , industrial labor , and sport as political symbolism . He investigates how historical actors navigated uncertainty and constructed national identities. Scientific Awards: Werner Hahlweg Prize (Second Prize) University of Münster's Young Researcher Award Prof. Becker contributes to DFG Research Training Group 1919 ( Precaution, Foresight, Prediction ) and Research Group 2600 ( Ambiguity and Distinction ). His courses include seminars on modern history, social and economic history, and theoretical modules on space-time dynamics.
Lena Brogaard is an Associate Professor at Roskilde University's Department of Social Sciences and Business, specializing in public-private interaction. She leads the Roskilde School of Governance research group, serves as deputy head of the Center for Research in Public-Private Partnerships (COPS), and co-manages the department's PhD school. Her work focuses on how public-private collaborations influence quality, sustainability, and innovation in public services, with a particular emphasis on procurement and relational contracting. Education: M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen; research residency at the University of Minnesota; exchange at Columbia University. Brogaard employs mixed methods, including surveys, administrative data, and interviews, while contributing to systematic literature reviews. Recent projects like CIGS (2025–2028) examine green skills in vocational education, and TROPICO (2017–2021) explored open governance models. Her publications address public procurement, contract management, and innovation partnerships. Key awards include the 2023 Ministry of Education and Research Teaching Prize and the 2022 Roskilde University Teaching Award. She actively engages in media commentary on public-private cooperation, presented at institutions like Cardiff University (2025), and co-authored datasets on performance information interpretation (2023). Brogaard also contributes to journals as an Associate Editor for Public Administration.
Professor Jonathan Tummons is a leading ethnographer of education at Durham University's School of Education. He holds roles as a Fellow of the Durham Research Methods Centre and the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. His research focuses on vocational learning, professional development, and higher education, employing Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Communities of Practice (CoP) frameworks. Tummons has published extensively on education policy, professional expertise, and the intersection of material objects with learning processes. He serves as deputy editor of Ethnography and Education and organizes conferences like the Oxford Ethnography and Education event. His work has influenced UK policy bodies such as Ofsted and the OECD. Research Interests: Actor-Network Theory, Communities of Practice, Further/Higher Education, Professional Learning, Modes of Existence. He advises doctoral students on ethnographic methods and pedagogical innovation. Esteem Indicators: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Editorial Roles: Deputy Editor of Ethnography and Education , Associate Editor of Higher Education Research and Development External Roles: PhD Examiner at multiple universities (UK, Spain, Australia) Key Publications Include: Communities of Practice in Higher Education (2024) Exploring Communities of Practice in Further and Adult Education (2022) Ethnographies of Education for Social Justice (2025) Labs/Teams: Active in ethnographic research networks across universities and healthcare institutions.
Affiliations & Roles Dr. Anthony Cullen serves as an Associate Professor in the School of Law at Middlesex University, London. He concurrently holds roles as a Visiting Professor at the University of Bordeaux, External Examiner at Dublin City University, Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, and Senior Research Associate at DCU's Centre for Educational Disadvantage. His work bridges legal scholarship with pedagogical innovation and social justice. Research Interests Dr. Cullen’s research focuses on international humanitarian law, human rights law, contemplative methods in education, decolonization of academia, and student well-being. He actively advocates for integrating mindfulness and meditation into legal education to enhance practitioner resilience and ethical decision-making. Recent Trends in Publications His recent work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending legal theory with spirituality (e.g., 'Enlightened Management'), decolonizing legal frameworks, and addressing systemic inequities in education and conflict zones. He also explores the evolving nature of armed conflict in digital age warfare. Awards & Recognition Outstanding Wellbeing and Student Support Award (2022) Supervision & Mentorship Currently supervising three PhD candidates: Sylvain Jordan, Fru Ndemeno-Tegomoh, and Oje Hart. His mentorship focuses on fostering academic rigor while prioritizing mental health and professional ethics. Labs & Collaborations Collaborates with the Heartfulness Institute on mindfulness initiatives and the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law on legal education reforms. His work often intersects with global institutions like the ICC and NGOs addressing humanitarian law compliance.
Dr. Maria Grazia Turri is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Arts and Mental Health at Queen Mary University of London, co-directing the MSc program collaborating between the Centre for Psychiatry and the Department of Drama. Affiliated with the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, she holds dual expertise as a psychiatrist, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and theatre scholar. Her roles include teaching, research, and clinical practice. Educated in Padova (Italy) for medicine, she earned a DPhil in Psychiatry from Oxford and a PhD in Drama from Exeter. She trained in medical psychotherapy and practised for 15 years in the NHS, including as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Medical Psychotherapy. Her research bridges psychoanalytic theory with theatre studies, focusing on processes like identification in performance and the role of laughter in Commedia dell’Arte. She also explores creative arts in mental health interventions, including social prescribing and arts-based therapies. Her teaching spans critical mental health, psychoanalysis, and theatre practice, with supervision of MSc and PhD students. Public engagement includes the annual 'Mad Hearts' conference and collaborations with arts organizations to enhance mental health through the arts. She co-founded the MadHeartists collective and advocates for integrating artistic practices into mental health care systems.
Tamiko Washington is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts , with a concurrent role as Director for BFA in Theatre Performance . She is a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and co-founder of OC Centric , Orange County’s New Play Festival, now in its 13th year. Education : BFA from Alliant International University, MFA in Acting from University of California, Irvine Her research and practice focus on American Noh Theatre , which merges Japanese Noh traditions with Suzuki methodology. She also explores mindful filmmaking , evidenced by her 2024 role as Mindfulness Coordinator in the UK short film Leave Something That Persists . Washington’s pedagogical philosophy emphasizes excellence, teachability, and purposeful performance. Her scholarly activities include peer reviews for the Athens Journal for Humanities and Arts (2024) and publications on vocal health. She has directed numerous productions, including Vinegar Tom (2018), Hoodoo Love (2019), and The Case for Conrad Cooper (2016). Awards include the Margaret Hartford Award , two Valerie Scudder Awards , and the Kennedy Center Excellence in Education Award . Washington collaborates with students and professionals in OC Centric, employing Chapman University theatre majors in technical and performance roles. She also works as a private vocal consultant in Los Angeles and maintains memberships in Actors' Equity Association , VASTA , and the Screen Actors Guild .
Vahagn Roberti Aglyan serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Public Administration within the Faculty of International Relations at Yerevan State University, Armenia, a position held continuously since 2009. His institutional affiliation centers on advancing public administration education and research within post-Soviet contexts while examining Armenia's geopolitical positioning. His academic foundation includes: Postgraduate studies (1993-1998) in the Department of International Relations at Yerevan State University, earning a Certified Specialist degree Advanced postgraduate research (1998-2001) in the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at Yerevan State University under Prof. E. Zohrabyan, focusing on “The Russian Federation and regional armed conflicts in Transcaucasia (1991-1994)” Specialized training at Arizona State University’s Faculty of Public Administration (2005) Aglyan’s research traverses public policy analysis, US foreign policy frameworks, and hierarchical international systems theory, with concentrated expertise in Armenian-Russo-American triangular relations. His work critically examines policy convergence mechanisms within asymmetric power structures, post-socialist governance models, and the evolving welfare state paradigms in comparative perspective. This intellectual trajectory reflects deep engagement with both theoretical frameworks and empirical regional dynamics. Analysis of his 15 publications (2015-2025) reveals persistent thematic threads: structural power dynamics in Russia-Armenia relations, US strategic recalibrations in Eurasia, and public administration challenges in post-conflict societies. His scholarship demonstrates methodological versatility across English, Russian, and Armenian academic discourses, with increasing attention to contemporary governance dilemmas like universal basic income implementation and networked policy design. Professional activities include participation in international conferences such as the 2022 YSU symposium “Armenia, the United States, and Regional Transformations in Eurasia,” though no doctoral advisees or major research grants are documented. His departmental leadership role suggests primary research execution within Yerevan State University’s institutional framework without dedicated lab structures.
Chris Hay is a Professor of Drama at the Flinders Drama Centre , Flinders University, and Director of the Assemblage Centre for Creative Practice Research within the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He leads the AusStage Australian Live Performance Database and co-leads the Australian Creative Histories and Futures project for the Australian Research Data Commons. His research explores funded cultural output as a lens for understanding national anxieties. Education: PhD and BA (Hons) from University of Sydney, PG Cert in Learning and Teaching from Rose Bruford College Research Interests span Australian theatre history, cultural policy analysis, actor training pedagogy, and digital humanities infrastructure. He specializes in intersections between institutional funding and national identity, with particular focus on performing arts subsidy systems and the somatic dimensions of training. Scientific Awards include the Marlis Thiersch Prize (2022) and multiple ARC grants, including a DECRA Fellowship (DE200101426) for researching Australia's live performance subsidy origins. He has received LIEF grants for expanding AusStage's international impact and building the Australian Cultural Data Engine. Key Responsibilities: Director, Assemblage Centre for Creative Practice Research Academic Lead, AusStage Database Co-President, Australasian Association for Theatre, Drama, and Performance Studies (ADSA) Co-Editor, Journal of Australian Studies Editor, Performance Paradigm Associate Editor, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Training His recent publications examine data feminism in Australian theatre, actor training's role in policy implementation, and transnational Eurovision fandom. He co-authored the 2022 book Contemporary Australian Playwriting: Re-visioning the Nation on the Mainstage with Stephen Carleton.
Jeffrey G. Parker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama, specializing in peer relationships and adolescent social development. His research focuses on friendship quality, jealousy in friendships, and socioemotional adjustment in youth. Key Research Themes: Peer relationship dynamics, adolescent emotional regulation, friendship jealousy, and social competence development. Methodological Focus: Developmental psychopathology frameworks, person-centered analysis, longitudinal studies. Notable Contributions: 15+ years of empirical studies on friendship conflicts, including publications on gender stereotypes, preterm infant peer interactions, and the role of parenting in adolescent jealousy. Contact: Email j.g.parker@ua.edu | Office: Psychology Building 1022
