Dr. Jessica McCall serves as Professor and Interdisciplinary Studies Program Coordinator in the Department of English at Delaware Valley University, renowned for bridging classical literature with contemporary pop culture through dynamic teaching and research. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Shakespeare and Early Modern Studies (minors: Composition and Rhetoric, Drama) from University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2011) M.A. from University of Massachusetts B.A. in English (minors: Music, Creative Writing) from Western Illinois University Her research explores narrative intersections across eras and media: Shakespearean scholarship and early modern literature Feminist theory and gender representation Graphic novel/comic book cultural analysis Fanfiction as literary evolution Superhero mythology in modern contexts Young adult literature pedagogy Popular culture as philosophical discourse McCall investigates how stories from Lord of the Rings to Wonder Woman convey universal truths about heroism and humanity. Her conference presentations—including "Bearable Weight: Faith, Bitch Planet and the Big Bodies of Big Women" at Transitions 9 (2021)—demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with science faculty in honors courses like Studio Ghibli studies.
Daniel Janssen is Associate Professor of Language and Communication at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, where he serves in multiple administrative roles including Chair of the Examination Committee for Academic Masters in Humanities, Chair of the Test Committee Humanities, and Vice-Chair of the university's Committee on Interpersonal Integrity. He coordinates the Master's program in Communication and Organisation and co-founded the Teaching Academy Utrecht (TAUu) network. His research focuses on argumentation, crisis communication, writing pedagogy, and media choice, employing experimental methods to examine communication effectiveness. Key areas include the rhetoric of public apologies, persuasive strategies in business contexts, and debate-based language instruction. Recent work investigates how apology formulations impact organizational reputation during crises and how debate pedagogy enhances second-language writing skills. Janssen maintains editorial roles for the Journal of Writing Research and International Journal of Business Communication , and has supervised doctoral research on debate education's impact on language acquisition. His applied work includes communication consulting for governmental bodies including the Dutch Tax Administration, Council of State, and multiple ministries.
Rev. Dr. Paweł Lasek (Assistant Professor) works at the Department of Biblical Theology and Proforistics within the Institute of Biblical Sciences at the Faculty of Theology, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. His academic work focuses on biblical exegesis, Septuagint studies, and theological interpretations of both Old and New Testament texts. Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Department: Biblical Theology and Proforistics University: John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Lasek's research spans several key areas in biblical scholarship: Analysis of Septuagint translation strategies and their theological implications Reception history of biblical texts in patristic commentaries Archaeological-biblical correlation in Old Testament narratives Theological interpretation of creation accounts and anthropological concepts Exegesis of Johannine epistles and Mosaic literature His publications reveal a concentration on textual criticism, intertextual relationships, and theological motifs across both testaments. Notable work includes studies on Melchizedek's narrative structure, the soul concept in Genesis creation accounts, and the destruction of Shiloh. 2022: Inner Reward Award for top publication Organized biblical knowledge competitions for primary schools Lecture activities on patriotism and woman's role in biblical creation
László Bene is a habilitated Associate Professor at the Institute of Philosophy , within the Department of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest . His academic profile centers on classical and late antique philosophical traditions, with a focus on Stoicism , Epicureanism , and Neoplatonism , particularly the works of Plotinus and Plato . Specializes in metaphysics, ethics, and epistemology of Hellenistic and Roman philosophy Active in analyzing ancient texts on autonomy, fate, and self-constitution Contributor to international symposia on Platonic traditions, including the Symposium Platonicum Pragense His research spans from Stoic autonomy to Neoplatonic theories of the One , reflecting a deep engagement with foundational philosophical systems. Articles like Hellenistische Philosophie (2024) and Self-constitution, Contemplation And Rational Agency (2023) highlight his exploration of human agency and ontological unity . Scientific Achievements Habil (Habilitation in Philosophy) Key publications on Plotinus , Porphyry , and Plethon Contributions to understanding fate, virtue, and contemplative life in classical thought
Camilla Di Biase-Dyson is Senior Lecturer in Egyptology at Macquarie University’s School of Humanities and an Honorary member of the Ethics and Agency Research Centre, Sydney. Previously she served as Junior Professor (2012-2019) and later Professor Extraordinary at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, and held research fellowships with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Excellence Cluster TOPOI in Berlin. Education: PhD in Ancient History (Egyptology), Macquarie University, 2009 BA(Hons) in Ancient History, Macquarie University, 2004 Research Interests: Her work integrates philology with cognitive science, analysing Ancient Egyptian language, literature and medicine through metaphor theory, spatial semantics and digital corpus methods. Major foci include Ramesside-period texts, healing practices, manuscript traditions and the embodied mind in antiquity. Publications Profile: Recent outputs cluster around three strands: (1) comprehensive encyclopedic syntheses of Egyptian metaphor; (2) data-rich studies of medical papyri and healing timeframes; and (3) fine-grained linguistic analyses of figurative language in New-Kingdom wisdom and narrative texts, often combining manual annotation with digital humanities tools. Awards & Funding: Highly Commended Finalist, Vice-Chancellor’s Student-Nominated Teaching Award (2022) University Medal for Ancient History, Macquarie (2003) Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for Excellence in Postgraduate Research (2009) Multiple project grants from TOPOI, Berliner Antike-Kolleg, CORO and FIRST (2014-2019) Supervision & Grants: She supervises postgraduate projects on Egyptian language, cognition, literature, medicine and digital annotation, and has led 16 competitive grants supporting corpus building, interdisciplinary medical studies and pedagogical innovation. Laboratories & Teams: Di Biase-Dyson co-directs the ongoing Macquarie Theban Tombs Project at Dra Abu el-Naga and collaborates with the Einstein Center Chronoi and the Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae on digital editions of medical papyri.
Leah Payne serves as Professor of American Religious History at Portland Seminary, George Fox University, where she also leads the Lilly Endowment-funded Institute for Pastoral and Congregational Thriving. Her scholarship bridges religious history, cultural studies, and contemporary American religious practice with particular focus on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian movements. Her academic foundation includes advanced theological training at Vanderbilt University: PhD, Vanderbilt University MA, Vanderbilt University MTS, Vanderbilt University BA, George Fox University Payne's research investigates how religious innovation occurs at the intersection of gender, race, and class within American Christianity, with special attention to ritual performance and popular culture. Her work demonstrates how Pentecostal and Charismatic movements navigate political engagement while maintaining distinctive identities through musical expression and embodied practices. She examines the construction of religious authority through historical case studies of women's leadership and analyzes how popular media shapes religious identity formation. Analysis of her publications reveals consistent exploration of religious adaptation in American culture, with increasing attention to political dimensions since 2020. Her work shows particular strength in connecting historical Pentecostal developments with contemporary religious phenomena, especially through musical and media expressions. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with significant honors: 2024 Christianity Today Book of the Year for History and Biography for God Gave Rock & Roll to You 2016 Pneuma Book Award for Gender and Pentecostal Revivalism American Academy of Religion's first-place award for Best In-Depth Multimedia Journalism for Rock That Doesn't Roll podcast Payne's research has received substantial support from major institutions including the Public Religion Research Institute, Louisville Institute, and Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology & Religion. While specific advisee relationships aren't publicly documented, her mentorship extends through podcast collaborations and public scholarship platforms. Current projects include developing the Institute for Pastoral and Congregational Thriving as a research hub for practical theological innovation. She actively engages public audiences through multiple podcast platforms including Rock That Doesn't Roll (PRX), Spirit & Power (Axis Mundi Media), and Weird Religion , creating dynamic spaces for discussing religion's role in contemporary culture, politics, and media landscapes.
Johanna Vernqvist is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Literature and Swedish (KLS) at Linköping University's Faculty of Philosophy (FILFAK). She is a prominent literary scholar specializing in women's writing, gender studies, and reading practices across historical periods from the Renaissance to modernism. Her research spans from norm-breaking Renaissance literature and art to reading practices among Swedish noblewomen during the Enlightenment and on to modernism and the Bloomsbury Group. She is currently leading the research project "Reading cultures and politics among women at Löfstad Castle 1750-1850," which examines noblewomen's book collecting and reading interests in relation to contemporary issues about education and equality. Her work also focuses on the construction and representation of gender, love, and sexuality in pre-modern and early modern literature, with particular attention to Italian Renaissance poets Tullia d'Aragona and Gaspara Stampa. Her scholarly work demonstrates consistent engagement with interdisciplinary approaches, combining literary analysis with gender theory, affect theory, and material culture studies. The trajectory of her publications shows a deepening exploration of women's intellectual networks and the political dimensions of reading in historical contexts. Bernadotte Scholarship from the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters (2020) for "Aesthetic and Rhetorical Strategies of Early Modern Women Intellectuals, Artists and Poets" Årets pedagog 2023-2024 (Teacher of the Year 2023-2024), selected by students Research grant from Magn. Bergvall Foundation for the project "Tullia d'Aragona: philosopher, poet and feminist in early modern Italy" Sven and Dagmar Salén Foundation annual scholarship for "Subversive expressions of body, gender and love" (2020-2021) Swedish Academy scholarship for research in literary history (2019) Vernqvist actively supervises students and has developed strong connections between her research and teaching. She teaches literature at all levels, including independent courses, within the subject teacher program, and the Language, Literature and Media program. Her research has attracted significant interest from both academic and public audiences, with invitations to speak at major book fairs and conferences. She has organized several international conferences and maintains active participation in the Language and Culture research environment at Linköping University.
Francesca Laura Cavallo is a curator, art historian, and interdisciplinary researcher at the Royal College of Art's School of Arts & Humanities, where she works as a Research Fellow on the AHRC-funded project Preemptive Listening with Aura Satz. Her academic career spans multiple institutions including University of Kent, London College of Communication, and University of Iceland, where she has taught modules in Art History, Curating, and Aesthetics. Her research centers on the intersection between art and risk perception, examining how artistic practices can transform public understanding of ecological, health, and sustainability issues. She argues that risk has an aesthetic dimension that pervades all risk communications through warnings, instructions, pre-enactments, data visualization, and alert systems. Her work particularly focuses on how art can provide safe spaces to cultivate positive risk-taking and social resilience, with special attention to Indigenous artists' perspectives on human-made disasters. Her publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory examining risk aesthetics, disaster preparedness, and climate communication through artistic lenses. The most recent works increasingly focus on Indigenous perspectives from Brazil, warning systems, and the political dimensions of probability visualization. Her research combines theoretical analysis with practical curatorial work, creating platforms where artists, researchers, and communities can interrogate emergency management structures. Post-Doctoral Research, Global Challenges Research Framework for 'Acting before the Emergency: Artists, Natural Disasters and Climate Change in Brazil' Vice Chancellor Research Scholarship, University of Kent (2016-2020) for PhD research Scholarship, Bollenti Spiriti Grant issued by Puglia Regional Authority with EU funding (2005-2006) Cavallo has secured significant research funding including a Global Challenges Research Framework grant for her postdoctoral work on Brazilian artists and climate justice, and a Vice Chancellor Research Scholarship for her PhD. She has curated major exhibitions including Risk at Turner Contemporary (visited by 81,000 people), Manifesta 11 in Zurich, and the ICA in London. She founded Brazil Footprint 00, an online festival platform that has hosted multiple editions exploring ecologically-minded, de-colonial, and intersectional art practices across Brazil and the UK. Her work connects with multiple research groups including the Centre for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies at University of Kent, where she serves as an Honorary Research Fellow. Brazil Footprint 00 operates as her primary creative platform, facilitating international collaborations between Brazilian and UK artists focused on climate justice and Indigenous perspectives.
Professor Neil Cartlidge serves as Professor in the Department of English Studies and Deputy Executive Dean for Education at Durham University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities. He is also a member of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. His research focuses on medieval cultural and intellectual history, particularly Middle English literature and its relationships with Latin and French texts. Key interests include medieval law and marriage, debate poetry, romances, and Chaucer's works. He examines how medieval motifs both feed and challenge modern constructions of the Middle Ages. Cartlidge's recent publications reveal sustained engagement with multilingual literary cultures, manuscript studies, and oppositional structures in medieval literature. His work spans textual editions, critical analyses of debate poetry, and explorations of cultural confrontations across European contexts. British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (1995–1998) Alexander-von-Humboldt Research Fellow (2002–2003, 2011) Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow (2013–2014) DAAD Visiting Professor (2014–2015) Rikkyo University Research Associate (2015) He supervises postgraduate research in areas including medieval logic, saints' lives, and Boethius translations. Current major projects include Confrontations in Medieval Culture: Figures of Opposition, 1000–1600 , examining adversarial forms in medieval literature, alongside new editions of Walter Map's De nugis curialium and medieval Latin debate poetry.
Tom Grimwood serves as Professor of Social Philosophy at the Centre for Research in Health and Society, University of Cumbria, a position held since March 2022. His academic career bridges philosophical inquiry with practical applications in health and social care systems across Northern England. He completed his PhD at Lancaster University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences between 2003 and 2007, establishing foundational expertise in continental philosophy and its societal applications. Professor Grimwood's research centers on critical examinations of professional practice through philosophical lenses, with particular focus on irony as rhetorical strategy , ethics in healthcare delivery , and epistemological tensions in social work . His work interrogates how philosophical concepts manifest in clinical settings, mental health services, and community support systems, often challenging conventional critical theory frameworks through post-critical approaches. Key thematic threads include the phenomenology of medical encounters, rhetorical constructions of urgency in care systems, and the lived experience of disability within institutional contexts. His publication trajectory reveals a strategic pivot toward applied philosophy in healthcare since 2017, with increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborations between philosophy departments and clinical services. Recent works demonstrate sophisticated integration of Kierkegaardian and Nietzschean concepts into contemporary health service evaluation frameworks, particularly regarding mental health interventions and workforce development in rural communities. As principal investigator on 17 major research contracts between 2017-2024, Grimwood has secured substantial funding from Health Education England, NHS bodies, and charitable organizations including the MS Society and Cumbria Community Foundation. His projects consistently address systemic challenges in Northern England's healthcare landscape, with special attention to rural access barriers, workforce sustainability in integrated care systems, and patient-centered service design. Current active projects include the West Cumbria Mental Health Partnership Evaluation (2022-2024) and From Clinical to Community: Mental Health Patient Research (2022-2024), reflecting his commitment to translating philosophical insights into actionable service improvements.
Renee Buesking serves as a Teaching Assistant Professor in Lehigh University's Department of English, specializing in first-year writing instruction with emphasis on technical communication and audience engagement. Her role bridges academic writing pedagogy and real-world community applications through partnerships like Georgia Tech's Serve-Learn-Sustain initiative. Educational background: PhD in English, The University of Georgia MA in English, Lehigh University BA in English, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Her research interrogates how 18th-19th century British women writers hybridized literary forms to address evolving audiences, with intersecting expertise in gender studies, digital humanities, and rhetoric. Current projects explore audience adaptation strategies in historical contexts and their implications for modern technical communication pedagogy. Recent publications in European Romantic Review demonstrate consistent focus on Romantic-era textual interventions, particularly women's protest literature and Ossianic reception. This body of work establishes her authority in recovering marginalized voices through formal innovation analysis. Award recognition: Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellowship (Georgia Institute of Technology) Teaching practice emphasizes undergraduate mentorship through community-engaged projects, notably connecting Lehigh students with Jackson, GA partners to develop audience-specific communication solutions. Her curriculum integrates technical writing fundamentals with social justice frameworks across WRT001 sections. Active involvement in undergraduate research opportunities and digital humanities initiatives reflects commitment to expanding scholarly access through public-facing academic work.
Sangyil Sam Park is Professor of Preaching and Core Doctoral Faculty at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) since 2006, affiliated with Berkeley School of Theology (BST). A United Methodist preacher with 25 years of pulpit experience, he integrates faith and scholarly work in theological education, emphasizing open dialogue in multicultural contexts. His academic credentials include: PhD, Graduate Theological Union (2004) MDiv, Drew University (1994) MTh, Methodist Theological Seminary, Korea (1991) Dr. Park's research centers on Preaching Theories , Prophetic Preaching , and Preaching in Interfaith Worlds , with specialized focus on narrative approaches and contextual theology. His work bridges Korean Christian traditions and global homiletics, addressing contemporary challenges through theological reflection on sermon form, public theology, and hope-centered rhetoric. His publications (2008-2019) reveal consistent engagement with homiletic theory across cultural boundaries, particularly examining Korean Protestant contexts, prophetic speech in social justice, and the structural relationship between theological concepts and sermon construction. This body of work demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between practical theology, cultural studies, and biblical interpretation. As Core Doctoral Faculty, Dr. Park mentors doctoral candidates and teaches courses including Contemporary Preaching Theories, Prophetic Preaching, and Theology and History of Preaching. He views classroom instruction as ministerial practice, equipping students with exegetical skills and contextual theology development for diverse preaching environments.
Prof. Meghan Henning is an Associate Professor of Christian Origins at the University of Dayton, specializing in New Testament and Early Christian studies. Her research focuses on the intersection of biblical texts, gender, and disability studies. Her research interests include: Christian Origins and New Testament Studies The rhetorical function of hell in early Christian education Gender analysis of biblical texts and concepts of the afterlife Disability studies applied to early Christian literature Second Temple Judaism and its influence on early Christian thought Dr. Henning's scholarly work examines how concepts of hell functioned pedagogically in early Christian communities, with particular attention to gendered and disability perspectives. Her research reveals how early Christian writers used hell imagery not just for punishment but as a teaching tool to shape community identity and values. Her notable publications include the books "Educating Early Christians through the Rhetoric of Hell" and "Hell Hath No Fury: Gender, Disability and the Invention of Damned Bodies in Early Christianity." Her article "No Heaven or Hell, Only Sheʾol" explores the evolution of afterlife concepts from the Hebrew Bible through Second Temple Judaism. Dr. Henning has received prestigious recognition for her work: Jacob K. Javits foundation grant Society of Biblical Literature award Yale Divinity School award Emory University award Her expertise has been sought by major media outlets, including appearances in a National Geographic Channel documentary and on CNN, where she provides scholarly perspectives on biblical interpretation and religious history.
Takehiko Aizawa serves as a lecturer at Waseda University Extension Center (since October 2024) and a teacher at Waseda University Senior High School (since April 2009). Holding a Master's degree from Waseda University, his academic work bridges Japanese literary scholarship and language education pedagogy. His educational background includes: Master's degree from Waseda University (2003-2008) Undergraduate studies at Waseda University (2001-2003) Aizawa's research centers on modern Japanese literature with deep engagement in authors like Haruki Murakami, Natsume Soseki, and Takeo Arishima. He develops theoretical frameworks for literary reading that address narrative structures, contextual layers, and the role of the narrator. His work consistently connects literary theory with practical classroom applications in Japanese language education, emphasizing how theoretical insights can transform students' engagement with texts. His publication trajectory reveals sustained focus on 20th-21st century Japanese literature, particularly Murakami's works. Methodologically, he examines epistemological shifts in worldview through texts like 'Rashomon', investigates invisible contextual layers in narratives, and analyzes how memory functions in layered temporal structures. This body of work forms a cohesive exploration of reading as both intellectual practice and pedagogical tool. He has led significant institutional research projects including a comprehensive study of Takeo Arishima's works within their cultural-historical context (2010) and investigations into applying literary research methodology to language education (2009), demonstrating his commitment to bridging theoretical scholarship and educational practice.
Matthias Hoernes is a Post-Doc Researcher in Greek Archaeology at the University of Vienna's Department of Classical Archaeology since March 2021, specializing in pre-Roman Mediterranean funerary practices. His academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Innsbruck (2014-2019) supervised by Erich Kistler and Christian Heitz, with prior MA studies at the same institution. His research centers on Hellenistic funerary archaeology in southern Italy, particularly tomb reuse practices, subadult burials, and food symbolism in burial contexts. Key projects include Fake Food: Lead Feasting Utensils examining community formation through funerary consumption, and Tracing the Transformation of Southern Italy , a co-edited volume analyzing 4th century BCE Mediterranean dynamics. His methodological approach integrates transcultural encounter theory with archaeological taphonomy. Notable publications demonstrate evolving focus from early work on Sicilian Archaic settlements ( Between Aphrodite Temple and Late Archaic House , FWF project P22642-G19) to current leadership in funerary landscape studies. Recent articles in Cambridge Archaeological Journal and Journal of Anthropological Archaeology establish his expertise in post-burial practices and childhood archaeology across Apulia and Basilicata. Award highlights include the Margarete-Bieber-Preis (2020) for his doctoral work and the prestigious Promotio sub auspiciis (2021). His research is supported through initiatives like the NereiD3 digitalization project funded by the Vienna University Anniversary Fund. As an active educator, Hoernes teaches core courses including Introduction to Greek Archaeology and specialized seminars on Athenian funerary monuments. He co-organizes international workshops on university collections management and directs outreach initiatives like the Antike fühlen museum engagement program.
