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Dr. Nadira Puškar-Mustafić is an Assistant Professor in English Language and Literature at the International University of Sarajevo, specializing in American and English Literature, Cultural Studies, and Cathartic Mechanisms in Drama. She earned her PhD from Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek and coordinates the university's Cultural Studies program. Education: PhD in English and American Literature from Josip Juraj Strossmayer University, Osijek. Academic Roles: Assistant Professor (2023), Erasmus Exchange Professor at Sivas Cumhuriyet University (2021). Research Focus: Her work explores catharsis in contemporary auto/biographical American drama, literary adaptation across narrative and visual media, and intersections of trauma, identity, and postmodern literary forms. Key theoretical frameworks include Aristotelian catharsis, intertextuality, and gender studies. Publications & Grants: She authored 'Tears in the Audience: Catharsis in Contemporary Auto/Biographical American Drama' (2020) funded by the Croatian Ministry of Education and Citadela Libri. Her 15 most recent articles (2005-2024) examine topics like avant-garde theater, religious motifs in Croatian drama, and therapeutic effects of drama through bibliotherapy and cathartic analysis. Scientific Awards: SUSI Scholars grant (2023) from the US State Department. Funding for 'Tears in the Audience' (2020) from Croatian Ministry of Education and Citadela Libri. Academic Engagement: She serves as a book reviewer for Taylor & Francis Group and participated in the Contemporary Literature Institute in Montana (2023), with study tours in New York and Washington D.C.

• American Literature
• English Literature
• Cultural Studies
• +6 more

Isabel Schwenk is a Researcher at the Institute for Media, Theatre and Popular Culture at the University of Hildesheim since 2021, affiliated with the DFG Research Training Group 'Aesthetic Practice'. Her work focuses on inclusive theatre practices, particularly exploring 'Theatre and Easy Language' for vulnerable audiences. She holds a Master’s in Art and Media Staging from Hildesheim. Her research integrates documentary and autobiographical approaches with non-professional performers, critically examining power structures through comedic methods. She collaborates with collectives like Tanzerei and Markus&Markus on projects such as 'Kultur macht stark', involving intergenerational storytelling and inclusive art with individuals of diverse abilities. She actively participates in international conferences, including the 14th International Research College of Theatre Arts and the 'S-PLOT' congress, presenting on accessibility and inclusive theatre methodologies. Her pedagogical work includes theatre workshops for children, youth, and adults, emphasizing participatory and accessible art practices. She also contributed to the edited volume 'BIOGRAFIEren auf der Bühne' (2020), analyzing biographical performance techniques in theatre.

• Theatre Studies
• Aesthetic Practice
• Inclusive Theatre
• +3 more

Dr Marie Lavelle is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the Plymouth Institute of Education. Her research explores temporal entanglements in parenting and grand/mothering in the (post)Anthropocene, examining how 'Greying Comes to Matter in the Academy'. Her work employs critical new materialism and post-humanist philosophies. She currently supervises PhD students investigating children's relationships in early years settings, children's perceptions of learning, and teachers' implementation of Pupil Premium strategy. Her teaching covers research methods, children and society, and contemporary issues in early childhood politics and welfare. Recent publications examine menopause in academia and children's relationships with water environments. Research interests include post-qualitative inquiry, parenting, social policy, and auto-biographical methods.

• Early Childhood Studies
• Parenting
• Grandmothering
• +2 more

Dr. Julie Parsons is an Associate Professor in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Plymouth, affiliated with the School of Society and Culture. She specializes in auto/biographical and autoethnographic research, focusing on food relationships, prison reform, and social identities. Her work bridges sociology, criminology, and health studies, with a strong emphasis on qualitative methodologies. Contributed to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research on social justice and rehabilitation Established the PeN project website (https://penprojectlandworks.org/) for co-creating narratives with individuals in the criminal justice system Current research funded by the British Academy on pandemic impacts on socio-economically disadvantaged groups She has supervised students exploring topics like autism parenting, non-binary gender identities, and prison officer roles in rehabilitation. Her awards include the SHI Mildred Blaxter Fellowship, ISRF Mid-Career Fellowship, and British Academy funding. Julie also volunteers as a cook and mentor at LandWorks, a prison resettlement program, and with charities supporting families and prisoners.

• Sociology
• Criminology
• Autoethnography
• +7 more

Geraldine Brown is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University. Her research focuses on social justice, inequality, and race relations, with a community development approach. She has conducted studies on marginalized groups including Black and minority ethnic communities, incarcerated individuals, and young parents. Geraldine’s work emphasizes producing ‘oppositional knowledge’ to amplify underrepresented voices and foster systemic change. Her doctoral thesis (2014) explored African Caribbean communities’ perspectives on urban gun crime through auto/biographical methods. She has led projects like the Southwark Food Poverty Project and evaluations of prison rehabilitation programs such as the Master Gardener Programme. Geraldine also teaches and trains practitioners in community engagement and participatory research methods. Recent publications address food insecurity, prison reform, and sustainability initiatives. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to reducing inequality, promoting peace, and ensuring sustainable communities. Geraldine is actively supervising PhD students and advocating for inclusive research practices that bridge academic and community knowledge.

• Inequality
• Social Justice
• Race and Ethnicity
• +4 more

Emma Maguire is a Lecturer in English and Creative Writing at James Cook University (JCU), specializing in Life Writing and Auto/Biography Studies. Her research focuses on digital media, autobiographical representation, and feminist media history, particularly examining how young women navigate self-mediation in contemporary platforms. She holds a BA (Hons) and PhD from Flinders University, with her doctoral thesis winning the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Maguire is a Digital Content Editor for a/b: Auto/Biography Studies and active in the International Auto/Biography Association Asia-Pacific Chapter. Her book Girls, Autobiography, Media: Gender and Self-Mediation in Digital Economies (2018) analyzes how girls use digital tools for self-expression. Current research explores #MeToo narratives and transmedia trauma storytelling. Maguire advises JCU students on projects like Searching for the German Modern Girl and Affect and Relationality in #MeToo Narratives . Education: PhD in English Literature (Flinders University, 2016); BA (Hons) in English Literature (Flinders, 2011) Key Affiliations: Life Narrative Lab, Australasian Association of Writing Programs Her work bridges creative criticism and academic rigor, addressing topics like Instagram hoaxes, feminist digital personas, and trauma memoirs. Recent publications investigate neoliberal academia’s impact on researcher profiles and the intersection of motherhood with folk horror tropes. Notable Awards: Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Thesis Excellence Award (2017) Best Student Paper Award (M/C Journal, 2015) Maguire’s interdisciplinary approach includes creative works like poetry and short stories, reflecting her commitment to blending literary theory with practice.

• Life Writing
• Auto/Biography Studies
• Creative nonfiction
• +4 more

Lieve Behiels is a distinguished Professor at KU Leuven's Department of Language and Communication, where she has established herself as a leading scholar in Hispanic literary studies. With a publication record spanning over four decades from the 1970s to 2022, her academic career demonstrates remarkable longevity and continued scholarly productivity. Her research interests focus on: Hispanic essay genre evolution and hybridization Spanish literary history, particularly 19th century Translation studies, especially Dutch-Spanish literary relations Benito Pérez Galdós scholarship Contemporary Spanish narrative forms Professor Behiels' recent publications (2020-2022) continue her exploration of contemporary Hispanic literature while maintaining connections to historical contexts. Her work shows consistent thematic threads examining how literary forms evolve through cultural exchange, with particular attention to genre boundaries and cross-cultural reception. The recurring emphasis on translation throughout her career highlights her interest in how literary works transform across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Her scholarly contributions include: Edited volumes on Hispanic essay forms Critical analyses of Spanish authors Studies on translation practices between Spanish and Dutch Examinations of religious text translation Historical-biographical studies Professor Behiels maintains an active research profile with recent publications demonstrating continued engagement with contemporary Hispanic literary developments while building upon her longstanding expertise in Spanish literary history and translation studies. Her work bridges historical and contemporary perspectives, offering valuable insights into the evolution of Hispanic literary forms across time and cultural contexts.

• Hispanic Literature
• Essay Genre Studies
• Translation Studies
• +3 more