Dr. Omotoyosi Odukomaiya serves as Assistant Professor of English at Hope College, where she commenced her teaching career in Fall 2023. Her role encompasses instructing courses in American ethnic literature, Black science fiction, and women's literature while advising the English Club to cultivate critical literary engagement. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in English Literature, Southern Illinois University (2023) MBA, Webster University (2016) M.Sc. in Marketing Communication, University of Birmingham, UK (2010) B.A. in English Language and Literature, Redeemer’s University, Nigeria (2005) Dr. Odukomaiya's research centers on Black science fiction and women's literature , critically examining intersections of race, gender, and technology. Her work investigates how marginalized voices challenge dominant narratives through decolonial futurism , historical trauma analysis, and diasporic identity construction. She emphasizes the transformative potential of speculative fiction in envisioning liberated futures for Black communities globally. Her scholarship consistently explores Africanfuturism and feminist science fiction through analyses of authors like Nnedi Okorafor, Tade Thompson, and Octavia Butler. Recurring themes include diaspora identity negotiation, historical reclamation, and gendered resistance within speculative frameworks, bridging literary criticism with critical race and gender theory. Scientific Awards: None documented in source materials As faculty advisor for Hope College's English Club, Dr. Odukomaiya mentors students in literary exploration and critical discourse. She develops curricula that interrogate cultural representations and center diverse literary traditions, prioritizing inclusive pedagogy that examines identity, power structures, and narrative sovereignty across historical and contemporary contexts.
Hélène Charlery is a Lecturer in Anglophone Studies at the Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). She has held this academic position since 2008 and is actively engaged in research and scholarly activities. Her primary research interests center on intersectionality in American cinema and series , with a specific focus on Black American female directors and the representation of African American women in film and media. Her work critically examines the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in visual narratives. Her recent publications, including the 2024 journal issue Mainstreaming Intersectionality in Contemporary Cinema and Television which she co-edited, and articles on films by Dee Rees, Ava DuVernay, and Jordan Peele, demonstrate a consistent and evolving scholarly trajectory. Her research analyzes how contemporary films and television series negotiate complex social identities and political themes, particularly through the lens of Black feminism. Scientific Responsibilities Co-Secretary of the Society for the History of Women in the Americas (SHAW) Thesis Supervision Co-supervised the doctoral thesis of Mikael Toulza on Voodoo in North American audiovisual fiction. She has presented her research at numerous international conferences, contributing to academic discourse on gender, race, and representation in the English-speaking world.
Ana Paulina Lee is an Assistant Professor of Writing and Digital Humanities in the Comparative Literature, English, and Creative Writing Department at the American University of Paris. She joined AUP in 2025 after teaching Latin American literature and culture at Columbia University for eight years and serving as a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Tulane University. Her interdisciplinary scholarship bridges literature, history, law, and urban studies with particular focus on marginalized narratives in the Americas. Ph.D. from University of Southern California M.A. from New York University B.A. from Binghamton University Professor Lee's research examines how stories—archival, fictional, oral—shape legal imagination, social life, and urban experience in the Americas. She specializes in the intersections of magic, law, and literature in Latin America, with particular focus on Asian and African diasporas in Brazil. Her work traces how narrative functions as both historical record and catalyst for social transformation, exploring themes of slavery, emancipation, colonial legacies, and urban memory. She approaches these topics through interdisciplinary lenses combining literary analysis with histories of labor, migration, and performance. Lee's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on marginalized narratives and their impact on social structures. Her scholarship connects legal history with cultural production, showing how magical thinking and narrative practices shape urban spaces and social relations. Works like 'Urban Sorcery, Segregation, and Spectacle in Twentieth-Century Rio de Janeiro' and 'Black Magic City' demonstrate her innovative approach to understanding the relationship between occult logics and legal frameworks in Brazilian contexts. Her research on diasporic communities, particularly Chinese and Japanese experiences in Latin America, contributes significantly to transnational and comparative race studies. David B. Larson Fellowship in Health and Spirituality, Kluge Center, United States Library of Congress (2025-2026) National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (2025) Social Sciences Research Council, Inaugural Recipient of Interdisciplinary Projects in the Social Sciences (2020-2023) Institute for Ideas and Imagination Fellowship, Columbia University in Paris, France (2021-2022) Provost's Tsunoda Senior Fellowship, Visiting Scholar, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (2019) Heyman Center Fellow, The Heyman Center for the Humanities, Columbia University (2017-2018) Fulbright, Lisbon, Portugal (2013-2014) Professor Lee's scholarly activities have been generously supported by major research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Social Sciences Research Council, and the Library of Congress. Her work demonstrates a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that bridge humanities and social sciences, particularly through projects examining intersections of race, migration, and cultural production in the Americas. Her publication 'Socially Engaged Oral History Pedagogy Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic' indicates a strong commitment to innovative teaching methods and community-based research. While specific details about current advisees aren't provided, her research program suggests engagement with graduate students interested in diaspora studies, urban history, and literary-cultural analysis. Though not explicitly mentioned in the available information, Professor Lee's research on urban spaces, magic, and law in Brazil likely involves collaborative work with scholars across disciplines. Her participation in centers like the Institute for Ideas and Imagination at Columbia University suggests engagement with interdisciplinary research communities focused on global cultural production and social transformation. Her work contributes to ongoing conversations about how narrative practices shape legal frameworks and social structures in the Americas, particularly regarding racial formation and diasporic experiences.
Matthew Lester Eatough is Associate Professor of English and Affiliate Faculty of Black and Latino Studies at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY), within the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. He teaches courses on twentieth- and twenty-first century novels, publishing and book history, world literature, and African literature, with recent Spring 2025 offerings including The Global Business of Lit and Horror Fiction. His educational background features a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Vanderbilt University, an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in English/History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This interdisciplinary foundation informs his cross-cultural research approach. Eatough's research centers on global modernisms through African and Irish literary lenses, examining corporate ideology in contemporary African fiction, globalization of Irish literature, and translated fiction in Anglo-American small presses. His work consistently interrogates how literary forms engage with world-systems theory, postcolonial economies, and infrastructural time, revealing connections between cultural production and global power structures. Particular attention is paid to small-press networks as sites of transnational literary circulation. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from modernist studies to contemporary global literature, with increasing focus on African science fiction and Irish literary networks. A recurring theme is the role of cultural institutions (like the Goethe-Institut) in shaping literary futures, while his book projects analyze corporate influence in African fiction and the international networks of Irish literature. His scientific recognition includes: Abioseh Porter Best Essay Award (2019) from the African Literature Association Margaret Church Modern Fiction Studies Memorial Prize (2016) Shortlisting for Modernist Studies Association Best Book Award (2013) Robert Manson Myers Graduate Award for Best Dissertation Prospectus (2011) Rose Alley Press Award (2010) John M. Aden Award for Best Graduate Paper (2009) Phi Beta Kappa (2004) Eatough has secured eight consecutive PSC-CUNY research grants (2015-2023) totaling over $35,000, supporting projects on small presses, translation, and global literary networks. His current grant-funded work examines Irish fiction in small presses and the Goethe-Institut's role in African literary futurity. While specific graduate students aren't listed, his extensive teaching of Global Studies Capstone courses and independent studies demonstrates significant undergraduate mentorship in global literary studies. He serves as Committee Chair for Baruch's Global Studies Minor and co-edits special journal issues, including Literary Geographies' 'Geographies of African Futures' (2022). His professional activities include editorial board membership for NANO: New American Notes Online and active participation in the Modernist Studies Association as Treasurer.
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUnited States
Benjamin Mangrum is Associate Professor of Literature at MIT's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, specializing in 20th/21st-century literature, digital humanities, and environmental humanities. His scholarship examines literature's engagement with technology, environmental crisis, and political liberalism. Dr. Mangrum's research analyzes computational obsolescence, environmental rights discourse, and the intersections of literary form with political thought. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining literary criticism with philosophy, digital studies, and environmental theory. Recent publications show growing engagement with energy humanities, data visualization ecologies, and artificial intelligence's cultural implications. His work consistently examines how literary forms mediate technological change and environmental consciousness. Awards: Levitan Prize (2023) Fellowships: Michigan Society of Fellows Professor Mangrum teaches courses on comedy, science fiction, environmental literature, and AI at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Chuck Jackson is a Professor of English and Coordinator of the B.A. in English program at the University of Houston-Downtown, overseeing concentrations in creative writing, education, and film studies. He earned his Ph.D. in U.S. Literature, Film, and Culture from Rice University. His research focuses on nontheatrical film studies, archival film preservation, independent Black cinema, and the intersection of prison abolition with literary and cultural studies. Jackson has received significant grants including the Mellon Foundation Black Studies Course Development Grant (2025) and a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) award (2024). He teaches courses like Film Theory, Cultural Criticism, and Literature and Culture, emphasizing critical pedagogy and interdisciplinary approaches. His scholarship bridges cinematic horror analysis with historical contexts, particularly exploring petroleum culture in 1960s-70s horror films and the work of Black cinematographers like James E. Hinton. Recent publications include 'Small Collection, Enormous Power' (2025) examining archival film curation and 'Texas/Chain Saw/Atmospheres' (2024) analyzing regional identity in horror cinema. Jackson has secured multiple Organized Research Grants (2023, 2021) and focuses on educational justice through pedagogical innovations. His work frequently intersects with social justice themes, linking literary analysis to contemporary debates about incarceration and systemic racism.
Susana Morris is an Associate Professor at the School of Literature, Media, and Communication within the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology. She holds a Ph.D. in English with a Certificate in Women's Studies from Emory University and a B.A. in English from Mount Holyoke College. Her research focuses on Black Feminism, Afrofuturism, and African American literature. She explores the intersections of race, gender, and technology in contemporary cultural production, with particular emphasis on digital media's role in feminist discourse. Morris's publications demonstrate consistent engagement with Afrofuturism, feminist theory, and cultural studies. Recent work shows increased focus on musicology and Southern cultural studies, particularly examining hip-hop's cultural significance. Her scholarship maintains strong connections between literary analysis and social justice frameworks. Awards and honors include: PULSE Community Building Award from Harvard Black Law Student Association (2017) DILAC Fellowship at Georgia Tech (2017) Dream Defender recognition from Planned Parenthood Action Fund (2015) Outstanding Teaching & Research Award from Auburn University (2011) Morris co-founded the Crunk Feminist Collective, a platform for feminist discourse, and serves as series editor for New Suns: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Speculative at Ohio State University Press.
Deborah E. McDowell serves as the Alice Griffin Professor of English and Director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia, where she specializes in African American literary traditions and critical race theory. Her institutional leadership bridges interdisciplinary scholarship with institutional administration in African American studies. Her academic credentials include: B.A. from Tuskegee Institute M.A. from Purdue University Ph.D. from Purdue University Dr. McDowell's research centers on the recovery and analysis of Black women's literary production from the 19th-21st centuries, with particular emphasis on textual reclamation, intersectional identity formation, and the literary representation of slavery. Her methodological approach combines archival research with critical theory to examine how race, gender, and historical trauma shape narrative structures. She has pioneered frameworks for understanding the "double consciousness" in African American women's writing through works like The Changing Same . Her publication trajectory demonstrates sustained engagement with editorial scholarship and critical recovery projects, notably through authoritative editions of foundational texts by Pauline Hopkins, Frederick Douglass, and Zora Neale Hurston. The thematic consistency across her work reveals a commitment to canon expansion, particularly through her influential contributions to the Norton Anthology of African American Literature and co-edited volumes examining slavery's literary legacy. Her memoir Leaving Pipe Shop further illustrates the interplay between personal narrative and collective memory in Southern Black communities.
Dr. Tamlyn Avery is a Lecturer in the School of Communication and Arts at The University of Queensland. Her research focuses on American literature, particularly the American Bildungsroman, modernist studies, and the intersection of sound and literature. She has published extensively on topics including African American literature, typewriter symbolism, and cultural studies. Her recent work explores themes such as racial identity, gender representation, and narrative form in 20th-century texts. Avery has presented at numerous international conferences and contributes to public discourse through articles in The Conversation . Her research interests span literary theory, modernist techniques, and interdisciplinary approaches to sound and narrative. Notable publications include The Regional Development of the American Bildungsroman, 1900–1960 (2023) and multiple book chapters and journal articles analyzing authors like Wallace Thurman, Pauline Hopkins, and Carson McCullers. Her work frequently addresses how literary form and cultural context shape representations of race, gender, and identity. Avery’s articles highlight trends in post-pandemic storytelling and the evolution of narrative techniques in contemporary literature. She has received recognition for her innovative approaches to textual analysis and her contributions to modernist and African American literary studies.
Marie-Christine Michaud is a Professor of American Studies at the University of South Brittany (Université de Bretagne Sud), affiliated with the Heritage and Creation in Text and Image research laboratory (HCTI-EA 4249). She specializes in Italian American studies, ethnicity, and immigration dynamics in the United States, with a focus on transnational identity formation and cultural recognition. Academic Background: Doctorate (1997, Paris-Sorbonne IV) Accreditation to Supervise Research (2010, University of Valenciennes and Hainaut-Cambresis) Her research explores the evolving identity of Italian Americans through literary analysis, urban studies, and historical frameworks, examining themes such as ethnic festivals, culinary adaptation, intergroup relations, and transnational connections. Michaud’s work frequently analyzes how Italian Americans navigate cultural assimilation while maintaining ethnic distinctiveness, particularly in New York City contexts like Little Italy’s transformation and the Verrazzano Bridge symbolism. She has published extensively on Italian American representation in literature and film, including studies of The Courtyard of Dreams , Nuovomondo , and The Wine Cellar , connecting artistic works to broader sociopolitical narratives of migration and identity. Her recent scholarship addresses contemporary issues like ethnicization in U.S. society and the struggle for recognition through cultural festivals such as Marco Polo Day. Leadership: Co-director of HCTI research laboratory (2012–present) Former administrative head for L2 year at UBS (2010–2012) Coordinator of the 'Amériques' research group within HCTI (2009–2012) Michaud teaches North American civilization (L1–M2) and American literature (L3–Master), mentoring students through research projects on ethnicity and transnationalism. Her scholarly activities include organizing international conferences on American studies and participating in collaborative projects like the John Calandra Italian-American Institute’s 'Diaspore italiane' initiative.
Keith E Byerman is a Professor in the English Department of the College of Arts & Sciences at Indiana State University, where he has been a faculty member since 1986. His scholarly work focuses on African American literature and culture, with particular emphasis on race, gender, and historical representation across multiple literary periods. His educational background includes a BA from Anderson College and a PhD in English from Purdue University (1978), following prior teaching positions at the University of Texas, University of Vienna, and Columbus College. Byerman's research demonstrates deep engagement with African American literary traditions, examining mixed-race identity in Chesnutt and Gaines, lynching narratives in Wideman and Forrest, and gender dynamics in McCullers' work. His scholarship bridges 18th-century foundations with contemporary postmodern explorations, consistently interrogating how literature processes historical trauma and constructs racial identity. His publication trends reveal sustained focus on African American short fiction and author studies, with recent work analyzing Ellison's narrative techniques and Wideman's experimental storytelling. The interdisciplinary nature of his research connects literary analysis with critical race theory, gender studies, and historical scholarship. Awards and honors include: Darwin Turner Scholarship Award, African American Literature and Culture Society (2019) Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award, Indiana State University (2014) Sylvia Rendell Award for Scholarship, Charles Chesnutt Association (2008) First-Year Experience Teaching Award, ISU Residential Life (2008) Theodore Dreiser Research/Creativity Award, Indiana State University (2004) Byerman has secured significant external funding including a $196,000 NEH grant for 'Ernest Gaines and the Southern Experience' (2016), Japan Foundation support for comparative African American studies, and multiple ISU research grants. His grant work frequently explores transnational perspectives on race, particularly US-Japan academic collaborations. University service includes chairing the Joseph S. Schick Committee (1989-2025) and serving as Interim Department Director (2014-2015). He maintains active community engagement through board memberships with Farrington Renaissance CDC and Friends of Historic Allen Chapel, while continuing scholarly contributions as a peer reviewer for major academic presses and journals.
David Chioni Moore is Professor of International Studies, English, African Studies and Critical Theory at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His work focuses on literary and cultural interactions across the African and Afro-diasporic worlds, with particular attention to long-distance connections and the African American poet Langston Hughes. Moore's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Literature from Duke University (1996) Studies at Université de Dakar, Senegal (1986-87) B.A. magna cum laude from Brown University (1986) with triple major in Comparative Literature/Literary Translation, Semiotics, and Applied Mathematics Moore's research spans postcolonial theory, post-Soviet studies, literary translation, and Black Atlantic studies. He examines how literary and cultural interactions shape global understanding, with particular focus on Africa, the Caribbean, and African America. His work often addresses the intersections of race, empire, and globalization, challenging traditional academic frameworks to develop more inclusive global perspectives. His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent engagement with transnational literary connections, particularly between Africa and its diasporas. Moore has made significant contributions to understanding Langston Hughes's global travels and writings, as well as comparative analyses of postcolonial and post-Soviet contexts. His work frequently explores how translation shapes literary reception across linguistic and cultural boundaries, with special attention to Ferdinand Oyono's Une vie de boy and its fourteen-language translations. Throughout his career, Moore has held leadership positions including Chair of the International Studies Department (2006-2012 and Fall 2022), Director of the Critical Theory Program (2021-2023), and Director of the African Studies Program (2005-2007 and 2015-2019). His teaching encompasses courses on postcolonial theory, Langston Hughes, global food studies, and world literature, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary and global approaches to literary and cultural studies.
Sara VanderHaagen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Her work focuses on how public rhetoric shapes narratives of the past, particularly through lenses of race, gender, and age. She holds a PhD in Communication Studies from Northwestern University, alongside MA and BA degrees from Northwestern and Calvin College, respectively. Her research explores African American rhetoric, public discourse on race and gender, and rhetorical theory. Key projects include analyzing 19th-century women’s oratory at the 1893 World’s Fair, children’s biographies of African American women, and the rhetoric of public memorials like the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. She also critiques how cultural memory is constructed through texts like historical fiction and children’s literature. VanderHaagen’s publications span journals such as Quarterly Journal of Speech , Women’s Studies in Communication , and Criticism . Her book Children’s Biographies of African American Women (2018) examines how these narratives shape agency and identity. She frequently reviews works on memory, rhetoric, and race, contributing to scholarly debates on cultural representation. No scientific awards are listed in the provided text. Her advising and grant activities are not detailed here, though her academic profile suggests involvement in interdisciplinary projects related to history, rhetoric, and education. She is affiliated with UWM’s Communication Department and may collaborate with research centers focused on race, gender, and public memory.
Greg Forter is a Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of South Carolina’s McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His work focuses on postcolonial literature, 20th-century US literature, utopian studies, and the intersections of capitalism, temporality, and gender. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (1998). His research interrogates how contemporary literature imagines alternatives to capitalist temporal regimes, emphasizing speculative realism’s role in reclaiming temporal otherness. Current projects include analyzing texts that envision postcapitalist futures by hybridizing historical realism with speculative genres like fantasy and science fiction. Forter’s publications span monographs like Critique and Utopia in Postcolonial Historical Fiction (2019) and essays in Diacratics , Cambridge Journal of Postcolonial Literary Inquiry , and American Literary History . Courses taught include Global Contemporary Literature, Postcolonial Historical Fiction, and Modernist Masculinities. His work bridges literary analysis with political critique, addressing themes such as climate fiction, gendered temporality, and the legacies of colonial violence. Recent scholarship explores climate futures in historical narratives and the temporal logics of precarity in global capitalism.
Sharon Dean is a Professor at the University of Cincinnati specializing in American ethnic literature, women's literature, film studies, and composition pedagogy. She previously served as Acting Associate Director at the Center for Women's Studies, where she developed courses on American women writers and Black women in film. Her research focuses on African American literary traditions, cinematic representation, and pedagogical strategies. Education: Doctor of Arts from the University of Illinois (1971). Research interests span African American literature (particularly Harlem Renaissance women writers), film aesthetics in independent Black cinema, storytelling strategies in composition classes, racial impersonation in slave narratives, and comparative analysis of minstrelsy and cinematic cross-dressing. Her work frequently examines intersectional identities and cultural negotiations through literature and film. Awards include: Provost’s Award for Senior Faculty Mentor (2003) University of Cincinnati College of Evening and Continuing Education Fellowship (1997-1999) Grant leadership includes major projects like the NEH-funded 'Negative to Positive: Strategies for Using Black Film' ($150,000), FIPSE-supported Center for Women's Studies initiatives ($140,000), and curriculum development grants for first-year composition programs. Her scholarship frequently integrates community engagement with academic research.
