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Tonya Sanders Thach, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning within Morgan State University's School of Architecture and Planning. A certified planner (AICP) with 17+ years of experience, she specializes in community engagement to address environmental, housing, transportation, and health disparities in marginalized communities through partnerships with faith-based organizations. Her academic credentials include: B.A. in Psychology from Truman State University (minor in Spanish) M.A. in Community Psychology and Social Change from The Pennsylvania State University Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago Dr. Sanders Thach's research explores Faith-based Community Development, Curriculum Development, Health and Community Development, Community Engagement, and Climate Adaptation. She designs community engagement strategies and evaluates interventions for sustainability and equity, particularly in lower-income minority communities facing historic environmental injustice and housing disparities. Her work emphasizes dismantling structural barriers through faith-based partnerships while advancing public health and affordable housing solutions. Analysis of her 2014-2018 publications reveals consistent focus on power dynamics in faith-based cross-sector collaborations, climate adaptation in vulnerable urban settings, and community-driven historic preservation. Her work demonstrates how religious institutions can catalyze equitable development while navigating complex partnership challenges in marginalized communities. Her notable recognition includes: Civic Leadership Award, Proviso Action Committee (2011) Dr. Sanders Thach has secured significant grant funding including a $25 million Department of Energy grant for the Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (2022-2027) as Co-PI, NIH-funded CBPR research on sanitation ($20,000), EPA green infrastructure projects ($60,000), and multiple community planning grants from local governments. Current initiatives involve partnerships with Enterprise Community Partners, Community Development Network of Maryland, and Southwest Partners to address housing, health, and climate resilience in Baltimore. She co-leads the Baltimore Social Environmental Collaboration (40+ researchers from 12 institutions), serves as Board Chair of Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake, and contributes to national planning education through the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and American Planning Association.

• Faith-based Community Development
• Curriculum Development
• Health and Community Development
• +2 more

Haagen Klaus is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at George Mason University, specializing in bioarchaeology, paleopathology, and forensic anthropology. Since 2013, he has directed research on the north coast of Peru, focusing on human skeletal biology, mortuary practices, and the impacts of colonialism and environmental stressors on prehistoric and historic societies. Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University (2008) M.A., Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University (2003) B.A., Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh (2000) Klaus's research explores biocultural transformations in complex societies, with emphasis on health, violence, identity, and ethnogenesis. His Lambayeque Valley Biohistory Project (founded 2003) investigates skeletal markers of disease, stress, and violence across 10,000 years of Andean history. Methodologies include isotopic chemistry, ancient DNA analysis, and dental phenetics. Recent work (2025) examines oral microbiomes during Spanish colonization, syndemic processes in colonial dynamics, and stress indicators in pre- and postcontact populations. Projects integrate osteoimmunology, ecoimmunology, and life history trade-offs to understand physiological and cultural resilience. Current graduate students under his supervision include Rae-Ocean Blake, Kimberly Hargrave, Megan Jankowski, Emily Schopmeyer, and Celeste Schultheiss. He leads international collaborations involving Peruvian, Japanese, Canadian, and American researchers through the Lambayeque Valley Biohistory Project.

• Bioarchaeology
• Paleopathology
• Dental Anthropology
• +6 more

John Brobst is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and International Studies at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. His academic work centers on modern imperial and strategic history, with a focus on the British Empire, maritime power, and intelligence affairs. Education: Ph.D. in History, University of Texas at Austin M.A. in History, University of Texas at Austin B.A. in History and Geography, University of Kansas His research explores the intersections of geopolitics, grand strategy, and naval history, particularly in the Indian Ocean region during the 20th century. He has published on topics including the Great Game, Cold War maritime competition, and British imperial decline. His book The Future of the Great Game examines post-colonial defense strategies in Asia, and he continues to work on a new project analyzing great power rivalry and maritime strategy during the Cold War. His recent publications reflect a consistent focus on strategic geography, naval limitations, and international security dynamics, especially in South and Southwest Asia. These works span journals such as Geopolitics , Middle Eastern Studies , and The Journal of Military History , demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement across history, political science, and strategic studies. Dr. Brobst teaches undergraduate courses including History of Sea Power since 1890 , Secret Intelligence: Great Game to Five Eyes , and Decline and Fall of the British Empire , reflecting his expertise in maritime empires, intelligence history, and global power transitions. He has contributed articles and reviews to several academic journals, including Commonwealth and Comparative Politics , Orbis , and edited volumes on European-American relations in the Middle East. While no formal awards or fellowships are listed, his sustained scholarly output indicates active participation in the academic community. Dr. Brobst advises students in historical research and international studies, though specific advisees are not named. He is currently working on a book project examining Cold War maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean, signaling continued scholarly productivity. He is affiliated with no named research labs or teams, but his work aligns closely with strategic and imperial history research communities.

• British Empire
• Geopolitics
• Grand Strategy
• +7 more

David Nugent is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Emory University. He holds a PhD from Columbia University (1988) and specializes in sociocultural anthropology, political economics, and Latin American studies. His research focuses on state formation, race/ethnicity, agrarian societies, and the interplay between knowledge systems and power. Nugent’s fieldwork spans diverse regions including the Peruvian Andes, East Africa, the Canadian Arctic, and the U.S. Southwest. Key publications include The Encrypted State (2019), Modernity at the Edge of Empire (1997), and co-edited volumes such as State Theory and Andean Politics (2015). He has received the Choice Magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title’ award for his collaborative work. Current projects explore vernacular sovereignties in Pacific-facing Latin America and underground democratic forms in Peru. Nugent’s research bridges historical and political anthropology, examining how states negotiate legitimacy through symbolic systems, fear, and displacement. His work critiques colonial and neocolonial knowledge frameworks while analyzing contemporary challenges like urban inequality and smart city governance. Education: PhD in Anthropology, Columbia University (1988) Awards: Choice Magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title of 2004’ Projects: Co-editing ReOrienting Latin American History and authoring Sacropolitics: Group Sacrifice and the State of Redemption

• Sociocultural anthropology
• Political economics
• Agrarian society
• +5 more

Paul V. Kroskrity is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), serving as past and interim Chair of the Department of American Indian Studies. His research bridges linguistic anthropology and Indigenous studies, focusing on language ideologies, multilingualism, and language revitalization in Native American contexts. He holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University (1977). Key research interests include language contact dynamics, covert linguistic racism, and the documentation of Indigenous verbal art. He has contributed to theoretical frameworks like 'Language Ideological Assemblages' (LIA) and emphasized Indigenous agency in language revitalization through collaborative projects such as dictionaries and video documentation. His awards include multiple Faculty Recognition Awards (2006, 2008, 2010) and leadership roles, including President of the Society for Linguistic Anthropology (2013–2015). His work spans North American Indigenous communities, particularly the Pueblo Southwest and Central California, with global applications in language revitalization and critical discourse analysis.

• Linguistic Anthropology
• Language Ideologies
• Indigenous Languages
• +8 more

Dr. Jonathan T. Overpeck is the Samuel A. Graham Dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan, where he also holds the William B. Stapp Collegiate Professorship of Environmental Education. He is a Professor of both Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, and Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a career spanning climate-vegetation interactions, abrupt climate change, monsoon dynamics, drought hydroclimate, sea level rise research, and interdisciplinary climate assessment. Overpeck has published over 230 works cited 60,000+ times, emphasizing public education, university-community partnerships for climate solutions, and environmental justice initiatives. PhD in Geological Sciences, Brown University MSc in Geological Sciences, Brown University BA in Geology (Honors), Hamilton College His research spans climate-biosphere interactions , climate variability and abrupt change , monsoon dynamics , drought and hydroclimate , sea level rise , climate law , and climate adaptation . Overpeck pioneered studies on megadrought terminology, temperature-driven drought intensification, and the aridification of North America. His work with the NOAA Paleoclimate Program and World Data Center for Paleoclimatology established foundational understanding of climate dynamics through annually-laminated sediment analysis in the Cariaco Basin. Overpeck's 2020-2024 research includes climate aridification , hydroclimate scaling mismatches , and temperature-precipitation interactions , with recent focus on Antarctic heatwaves, Mississippi River Basin changes, and corporate climate accountability. His article trends show concentration in climate attribution , hydrological extremes , paleoclimate modeling , and climate policy analysis . Scientific Honors: 2024 U.S. National Academy of Sciences 2015 American Geophysical Union Fellow 2009 AAAS Fellow 2007 Nobel Peace Prize contributor (IPCC) 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship Multiple U.S. Department of Commerce awards Overpeck has led or participated in significant climate adaptation projects , including NSF grants totaling $5.1M+ for Southwest Hydroclimatic Extremes (2017-2020), Amazon Drought Impacts (2014-2018), and Quantifying Drought Risk (2013-2018). He serves on the Colorado River Research Group (2014-present) and advises Climate Communication (2011-present). Current initiatives include Great Lakes University positioning, Michigan's climate resilience planning, and the Audacious Water podcast series examining Mississippi River Basin transformations. Overpeck actively contributes to climate policy discourse , advocating for science-informed decision-making and stakeholder collaboration across government, military, and corporate sectors.

• Climate Change
• Climate-Biosphere Interactions
• Climate Variability
• +7 more

Cindy Lee Van Dover is a deep-sea biologist and the Harvey W Smith Distinguished Professor of Biological Oceanography at Duke University. She serves as Chair of Duke's Division of Marine Science and Conservation and Director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C. Her research focuses on chemosynthetic ecosystems, biodiversity, and deep-sea policy frameworks. Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography, MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1989) M.A. in Ecology, UCLA (1985) B.S. in Biological Oceanography, Rutgers University (1977) Van Dover's work spans deep-sea ecology, hydrothermal vent biodiversity, and environmental policy. She investigates gene flow in vent invertebrates, ecological impacts of deep-sea mining, and conservation strategies for chemosynthetic ecosystems. Her research integrates field programs using submersibles and telepresence technologies to study vent connectivity and microbial roles in extreme environments. Her scientific leadership includes 80+ peer-reviewed publications and roles as Chief Scientist in NSF- and NOAA-sponsored expeditions. She pioneered studies on geothermal light at vents and deep-sea symbiosis, with recent work on dual symbiotic relationships in vent snails and methane seep ecology. Virginia Outstanding Scientist (2006) Fulbright Scholar (France 2004) Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Mines Medal for Leadership and Innovation NSF Career Awardee Van Dover's grants include NSF EAGER funding for deep-submergence science leadership and Pew Charitable Trusts' support for deep-sea mining impact assessments. She leads interdisciplinary initiatives like Science and Art at the Moment of Discovery , integrating artists into marine research expeditions. Her outreach includes authoring two books: Deep-Ocean Journeys for public audiences and The Ecology of Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents as the first textbook in the field. Her work has been featured in Science News , Discover Magazine , and National Public Radio .

• Chemosynthetic Ecosystems
• Deep-Sea Ecology
• Marine Conservation
• +4 more

Kim Haines-Eitzen is the Paul and Berthe Hendrix Memorial Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions at Cornell University's Department of Near Eastern Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds affiliations with multiple programs including Classics, Feminist Gender and Sexuality Studies, Jewish Studies, Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, and the Society for the Humanities. For the 2024-25 academic year, she is a Fellow at the National Humanities Center working on Earth, Wind, and Fire: A Field Guide to the Apocalypse . Her research interests focus on early Christianity, early Judaism, and religion in late antiquity with particular expertise in sound studies, desert monasticism, and the intersection of gender and text transmission. Her work combines traditional textual analysis with innovative field recordings of desert soundscapes to explore how acoustic environments shaped religious imagination in ancient contexts. She approaches her research through interdisciplinary frameworks including phenomenology, affect theory, sound studies, and ecocriticism. Haines-Eitzen's publications include three major monographs: Sonorous Desert: What Deep Listening Taught Early Christian Monks and What It Can Teach Us (2022), The Gendered Palimpsest: Women, Writing, and Representation in Early Christianity (2012), and Guardians of Letters: Literacy, Power and the Transmitters of Early Christian Literature (2000). Her scholarly articles span topics from female scribes in antiquity to the acoustic imagination in early Christian texts. Her scholarly recognition includes an Atkinson Center Faculty Fellowship, an American Academy of Religion Research Grant (2013-2014), and her current National Humanities Center Fellowship. Her work has gained significant public attention through media appearances including NPR's Academic Minute, The Conversation, The Commonweal Podcast, and the National Geographic Channel's 'The Story of God' with Morgan Freeman. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Nazareth, Haines-Eitzen divides her time between Cornell's Finger Lakes campus and the high desert of Southeastern Arizona, where her personal connection to desert landscapes informs her scholarly work. Her field research involves making environmental sound recordings in the Negev, Judaean deserts of Israel, and the American Southwest to illuminate the acoustic dimensions of ancient religious texts and practices.

• Early Christianity
• Early Judaism
• Religion in Late Antiquity
• +7 more

Ping Ma, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at Texas A&M University School of Public Health. She specializes in social and environmental determinants of health, focusing on underserved populations including maternal women, adolescents, racial/ethnic minorities, and older Asian populations. Her methodological expertise spans survey development, mixed methods, and multi-level analysis. Liaoning University, BA in Social Welfare/Social Work (2003) Liaoning University, MA in Population Studies/Demography (2006) Linköping University & EHESS, MA in Dynamics of Health and Society (2008) Tulane University, PhD in Public Health (2013) UT Southwest Medical Center, Postdoctoral Training Certificate (2015) Dr. Ma's research examines health disparities, social determinants of health, maternal and child health, mental health service access, and health behavior interventions. She utilizes community-based participatory research and integrated care models to address disparities in mental health, chronic diseases, and substance use among vulnerable groups. Her recent publications focus on air pollution impacts, cancer prevention strategies, mental health trends during the pandemic, illicit drug use patterns, and culturally adapted interventions. Key themes include environmental health equity, digital health technologies, and multi-level analysis of health outcomes. Early Career Faculty Research Excellence Award (2022) Health Disparities Research Scholar (2022) NCFDD Faculty Success Fellow (2021) Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Leader (2020) Dr. Ma teaches courses in Grant Writing, Public Health Intervention, and Public Health Evaluation. She collaborates with clinical providers, community organizations, and health workers, with funding from NIH, HRSA, CPRIT, Gulf grants, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Health Disparities
• Social Determinants of Health
• Maternal and Child Health/Women's Health
• +8 more

Pekka Hämäläinen is a retired Rhodes Professor of American History at the University of Oxford, affiliated with St Catherine's College. His research focuses on indigenous, colonial, imperial, and environmental history, with a comparative emphasis on nomadic societies and global empires. He has held fellowships at institutions including Stanford University and the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. His notable works include The Comanche Empire (2008), which won multiple awards, and Lakota America: A New History of Indigenous Power (2019). Current projects explore nomadic empires in world history via a five-year European Research Council-funded initiative involving five researchers. This project examines nomadic regimes from non-Western perspectives, emphasizing grasslands and steppe worlds. Research Interests: Native American History, Borderlands, Environmental History, Imperial Studies, Nomadic Societies, Global History Grants: European Research Council (ERC) funding for Nomadic Empires: A World-Historical Perspective Awards: Bancroft Prize, Merle Curti Award, Caughey Prize Previously taught at Texas A&M University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Active in academic publishing, with contributions to American Historical Review , Journal of American History , and others.

• Native American History
• Colonial History
• Environmental History
• +4 more

Dr. Divana Olivas is an Inclusive Excellence Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Chicana/o/x Studies department at the University of New Mexico (UNM), affiliated with the Division for Equity and Inclusion. Her research bridges Chicana/o/x studies, critical food studies, and New Mexico’s regional history, emphasizing interdisciplinary methods like archival work and oral histories. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and Ethnicity from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies from UNM. Her education includes a graduate certificate in Public Policy Advocacy and notable recognitions such as the Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (2021) and the Richard “Dick” Cone Award for community-engaged scholarship (2021). She collaborates with organizations like the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and Three Sisters Kitchen, focusing on food justice and disrupting narratives around poverty. Dr. Olivas teaches courses like “Chile, Culture, and Critical Consciousness,” exploring food politics in the U.S. Southwest. Her scholarly contributions include analyzing environmental history through a Chicana lens and advocating for racial justice pedagogy. She co-coordinates the Chicana/o/x Studies Jardín Ollín project, blending culture and ecological wisdom.

• Chicana/o/x Studies
• Critical Food Studies
• New Mexico Regional History
• +3 more

Jeffrey A. Lee is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Texas Tech University, specializing in aeolian geomorphology and environmental processes. With academic appointments since 1988, his work focuses on wind-driven sediment transport and dune dynamics across multiple continents. Education: B.A. in Geography (1979), University of California, Los Angeles M.A. in Geography (1984), University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. in Geography (1990), Arizona State University Research interests center on aeolian processes, particularly dust emission dynamics and wind erosion patterns. His work examines temporal trends in blowing dust across Texas and the American Southwest, while also investigating long-term shifts in wind climate patterns. Professor Lee teaches foundational physical geography courses including Global Environmental Science and advanced topics in arid land geomorphology. Recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary focus across aeolian geomorphology, environmental monitoring, and climate science. Key themes include dust source characterization using satellite data, drought legacy effects on erosion, and historical analysis of environmental disasters like the Dust Bowl. Contact: jeff.lee@ttu.edu | 213 Holden Hall, Texas Tech University | (806) 834-8228

• Aeolian geomorphology
• Wind erosion processes
• Dust emission dynamics
• +5 more

Jing Li is an Associate Professor of Chinese in the East Asian Studies department at Gettysburg College. She holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2004), an MA from Peking University (1997), and a BA from Peking University (1993). Education: PhD University of Pennsylvania (2004), MA Peking University (1997), BA Peking University (1993) Her research spans ethnic tourism , cultural transformations in Southwest China , gender and folklore , Chinese folklore scholarship , ethnic literature , film , and performing arts . Her publications analyze folktale adaptations in film, gender politics in Chinese cinema, and the interplay between state rituals and ethnic tourism. Jing Li’s recent articles focus on themes such as the commercialization of ethnic traditions , gendered narratives in folklore , and state-driven cultural performances . Her work bridges disciplines like Film Studies , Anthropology , and Political Culture , with sub-fields including Dai customs , ethnic dance commodification , and feminist folklore theory . Scientific awards and honors: Contact: jli@gettysburg.edu

• Ethnic Tourism
• Cultural Transformations in Southwest China
• Gender and Folklore
• +4 more

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke is a Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where she leads the UCR Writers Week Festival and directs the VA National Cemetery Administration Legacy Program. She has held visiting or faculty positions at Hartwick College, University of Nebraska, Naropa University, and University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, including roles such as Fulbright Scholar in Montenegro and Dan & Maggie Inouye Chair in Democratic Ideals. Education: MFA from Vermont College (1995), AFAW from Institute of American Indian Arts, post-grad work at VCFA Her research and creative work intersects with Indigenous Studies, disability advocacy, and environmental poetics. She is known for mathematically encoding the prosody of her verse play Blood Run to mirror the Indigenous mound city it protects, and for multimedia projects like the Streaming album and Red Dust documentary. Her recent publications include the award-winning Look at This Blue and the curated anthology series Effigies , which spotlight emerging queer and Pacific Rim poets. Projects often blend community outreach, mental health advocacy, and Indigenous knowledge preservation. Major Awards: American Book Award, National Book Award Finalist, Pen Southwest Book Award, Texas Institute of Letters fellowship, NWCA Lifetime Achievement Hedge Coke’s mentorship spans juvenile facilities, reservations, and refugee communities. She founded the Literary Sandhill Cranefest Retreat and has secured grants for K-12 outreach programs integrating poetry with historical and ecological education.

• Creative Writing
• Poetry
• Indigenous Studies
• +5 more

Professor Louise Miskell is a distinguished academic in the Department of History within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Swansea University. She teaches undergraduate modules on modern British and Welsh history and provides supervision for postgraduate students at both masters and doctoral levels. Her office is located in Room 109 on the First Floor of the James Callaghan building at Singleton Campus. Professor Miskell's research expertise spans the history of industrial and urban life in Britain from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries, with particular focus on the history of the copper and steel industries and the history of Swansea. Her scholarly work includes numerous books and articles that have significantly contributed to our understanding of Welsh industrial history and urban development. Her recent research has centered on steel industry history, including leading an AHRC-funded project titled 'The Social Worlds of Steel' (2019-2020) which investigated the impact of the steel industry on people and communities in Wales. She is currently working on a book about the social history of steel in Wales, continuing her long-standing commitment to documenting and analyzing industrial heritage. History of the steel industry History of the copper industry History of Swansea Urban history Modern Welsh history Industrial and urban life in Britain (18th-20th centuries) Professor Miskell's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output with significant contributions to journals such as Social History, Enterprise & Society, and Welsh History Review. Her work shows a clear evolution from early studies of urban development in Swansea to more recent focus on industrial heritage, particularly steel and copper industries, with increasing attention to social dimensions of industrial communities. AHRC-funded research project on The Social Worlds of Steel (2019-2020) Professor Miskell actively supervises multiple PhD, MPhil, and MA students on diverse topics related to Welsh history, industrial heritage, and community studies. Her current research projects continue to explore industrial heritage with particular emphasis on steel industry history in Wales, maintaining her position at the forefront of Welsh industrial historical scholarship.

• Industrial History
• Urban History
• Welsh History
• +5 more