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Jason Brownlee is a Professor in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on comparative politics, democracy, and authoritarianism, with a regional emphasis on the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Ph.D., Princeton University Contact: brownlee@austin.utexas.edu Research Interests : Brownlee investigates the persistence of authoritarian regimes, the political economy of repression, and the impact of foreign intervention on domestic politics. His work often analyzes Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Key Publications : Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization (Cambridge, 2007) Democracy Prevention: The Politics of the U.S.-Egyptian Alliance (Cambridge, 2012) The Arab Spring: Pathways of Repression and Reform (Oxford, 2012, co-authored with Tarek Masoud and Andrew Reynolds) Teaching : Brownlee offers courses such as "War/Freedom in South Asia/Middle East" and "Issues & Policies in American Government," delivered both in-person and online.

• Comparative Politics
• Democracy
• Development
• +4 more

Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd is an Adjunct Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), where she researches, teaches, and publishes on security dynamics in Myanmar/Burma & Southeast Asia, economics & security linkages, and organizational development. A retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel with 28 years of distinguished service, she brings extensive experience from military, private sector, and nonprofit organizations to her academic work. Dr. Byrd earned her educational credentials from prestigious institutions: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Accounting from Claremont McKenna College Master of Business Administration with emphasis in Asia-Pacific Economics and Business from University of Hawaii Doctorate in Education Leadership from the University of Southern California Her research focuses on the complex interplay between security, economics, and social development in Southeast Asia, with particular expertise in Myanmar's political and security landscape. Dr. Byrd examines how civil-military operations, women's roles, and educational approaches impact socioeconomic development and security outcomes in the region. She investigates the strategic implications of Myanmar's internal conflicts for broader Indo-Pacific security dynamics, and analyzes how private sector engagement can contribute to poverty alleviation and stability. Dr. Byrd serves on multiple advisory boards that extend her influence in policy and research: Board of Governors of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College Regional Advisory Committee for Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar Initiative of the Asia Regional Office, International Development Research Centre The Oxford-Thanakha International based in Chiang Mai, Thailand Myanmar Policy Institute based in Washington, D.C. Her military career included significant roles such as Deputy Economic Advisor and Civil-Military Operations Plans Officer at U.S. Pacific Command, where she supported Operations Enduring Freedom. She served as a linguist and cultural advisor for U.S. delegations at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and during POW/MIA recovery negotiations in Myanmar. Her civilian career spans 16 years in auditing, accounting, and financial management with multinational corporations.

• Southeast Asian Security
• Myanmar Studies
• Economic Development
• +5 more

Asef Bayat is Professor of Sociology and the Catherine and Bruce Bastian Professor of Global and Transnational Studies at the Department of Sociology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has held previous academic positions at the American University in Cairo, Leiden University (where he held the Chair of Society and Culture of the Modern Middle East), and visiting appointments at UC Berkeley, Columbia University, Oxford, and Brown University. His research interests include: Political Sociology Collective Behavior and Social Movements Sociology of Religion Urban Life and Politics Islam and Modernity Contemporary Middle East Bayat's research focuses on the role of ordinary people and subaltern classes in social and political transformations, particularly in the context of the Arab Spring and Middle Eastern urban movements. His work bridges comparative and historical sociology with global and transnational perspectives, emphasizing everyday forms of resistance and the reconfiguration of political Islam. He has extensively explored the sociological dimensions of revolution, modernity, migration, and loss of home. His recent publications, including articles in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Journal of Democracy , reflect a sustained engagement with urban politics, revolutionary dynamics, and youth activism in the Global South. The recurring themes across his work include the agency of marginalized populations, the transformation of public space, and the evolving nature of political engagement in non-Western contexts. Bayat has received numerous honors and fellowships: Guggenheim Fellow Ford Foundation Fellow MacArthur Fellow Open Society Fellow Wissenschaftskolleg Fellow, Berlin He has been actively involved in academic leadership, having served as director of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) and elected to the Board of the UN Research Institute for Social Development. He has taught key courses such as Global Social Movements, Global Religion and Politics, and Middle Eastern Societies. Though specific students are not listed, his role as a full professor and author of major works indicates extensive mentorship and academic advising. He is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary centers, including the Center for African Studies, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, European Union Center, and Center for Global Studies.

• Political Sociology
• Collective Behavior and Social Movements
• Sociology of Religion
• +8 more

Timothy Webster serves as Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development at Western New England University's School of Law, with prior academic appointments at Yale Law School, Case Western Reserve University, and international institutions including University of Paris—Dauphine and National Taiwan University. His educational qualifications include: B.A., Yale University M.A., Yale University J.D., Cornell Law School LL.M., Cornell Law School Webster's research focuses on intersections between international law and East Asian domestic legal systems (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan), examining human rights frameworks, international trade mechanisms, foreign investment regulations, and transnational litigation strategies. His scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with historical justice issues and contemporary legal challenges in the region, delivered through presentations at over 175 international conferences conducted in English, French, Japanese, and Mandarin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent thematic concentration on war reparations, state immunity doctrines, corporate liability frameworks, and civil society's role in transnational redress movements, with empirical studies of litigation patterns across East Asia forming a distinctive methodological thread. His professional recognition includes: Catherine Jones Professor of the Year award (2023 and 2024) Asia Scholars Network fellowship (Luce Foundation) U.S.-Japan Network for the Future membership (Mansfield Foundation) Public Intellectuals Program selection (National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) As Associate Dean, Webster mentors law students in international legal studies while directing faculty development initiatives. His research is substantially supported by elite fellowships from the Luce Foundation, Mansfield Foundation, and National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, enabling extensive international collaboration. Webster has testified before Congress regarding China's WTO compliance and contributes legal analysis to major media outlets including The Conversation, South China Morning Post, and Los Angeles Times.

• International Law
• East Asian Legal Systems
• Human Rights
• +3 more

Eric Beeko is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. His teaching focuses on African studies, including courses like African Civilization, Liberation Movements, and Music in Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh (2005), alongside advanced degrees from institutions in Ghana. His research explores African musical traditions, cultural practices, and performance aesthetics. Current projects include studies on Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic church music in Ghana and the interplay between tradition and modernity. Future research plans involve multi-volume studies on African linguistic-cultural distribution and Black performance practices globally. Publications include analyses of Akan music rights, Ghanaian choral innovations, and African cultural heritage. He is developing works on Neo-Pentecostal worship aesthetics and the role of music in identity expression across the African diaspora. Advising and grants are not explicitly listed, but his scholarly activities emphasize collaborative research in ethnomusicology and cultural studies. He is based in Posvar Hall, Office #4152.

• African Music Traditions
• Cultural Studies
• Ethnomusicology
• +3 more

Alessandro Monsutti is a Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. He holds additional roles as Faculty Associate at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, Global Migration Centre, and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy. His research focuses on transnational networks, forced migration, and conflict dynamics in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Europe. Education: PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Neuchâtel (2002). Prior roles include Research Fellowships at Yale University (2008–2010) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (1999–2000), and Visiting Professorships at the University of Vienna and Arizona State University. Research Interests: Migration studies, border studies, political economy of post-conflict reconstruction, diaspora dynamics, and the intersection of globalization with local practices. His fieldwork spans Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Western countries, emphasizing the agency of displaced populations and the socio-economic strategies they employ. Scientific Contributions: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles and authored/edited books including Homo itinerans: Towards a Global Ethnography of Afghanistan (2021) and War and Migration (2005). His work bridges ethnographic rigor with policy relevance, addressing themes like refugee integration, urban migration, and global governance. Grants & Awards: MacArthur Foundation Grantee (2004–2006), Swiss National Science Foundation grants for projects on urban cohabitation and Afghan crisis analysis. Co-led initiatives on adolescent migration and border policy in South Asia. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Refugee Studies Centre (Oxford), Global Migration Centre (Geneva), and international NGOs like UNHCR. Active in editorial boards of journals like Tsantsa and ethnographiques.org .

• Anthropology
• Migration Studies
• Conflict and Peacebuilding
• +6 more

Elias Chavarria Mora is a Lecturer at the School of Political Science, University of Costa Rica, and a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh (expected 2025). He focuses on comparative political behavior and Latin American politics , with regional expertise in Central American electoral systems and party politics . Education: PhD in Political Science (2025, University of Pittsburgh) M.A. in Political Science (2020, University of Pittsburgh) Licentiate in Political Science (2017, University of Costa Rica) B.A. in Political Science (2015, University of Costa Rica) His research investigates social media's role in elections , ideology , and unconventional political participation . He employs data science methods , including text analysis, spatial econometrics, and machine learning. Recent publications analyze political education curricula , data protection laws , and electoral dynamics in Latin America. His work appears in journals like Latin American Politics and Society and Revista Latinoamericana de Opinión Pública . He coordinates the Observatorio de la Política Internacional Sergio Iván Moya Mena at the University of Costa Rica and has collaborated with the University of Salamanca's Parliamentary Elites in Latin America Observatory.

• Political Behavior
• Comparative Politics
• Latin American Politics
• +6 more

Associate Professor Jiwon Kim is a leading researcher in Transport Engineering at the University of Queensland's School of Civil Engineering. She serves as Director of Higher Degree by Research and was a DECRA Fellow from 2019-2022. Holding degrees from Korea University and Northwestern University, she specializes in AI/ML applications for transportation systems. PhD, Northwestern University BS & MS, Korea University Her research focuses on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications in transportation, including: Deep learning for traffic management Reinforcement learning in mixed traffic environments Multi-agent systems for urban mobility optimization Spatiotemporal trajectory analysis Recent publications demonstrate expertise in: Eco-driving strategies Traffic incident prediction Queue length estimation Crash risk modeling Scientific recognition includes: ARC DECRA Fellowship (2019-2022) She supervises doctoral students in: Transportation data analytics Autonomous vehicle systems Intelligent traffic management Current projects explore real-time traffic monitoring, synthetic mobility data generation, and connected vehicle technologies.

• Transport Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• +6 more

Monica Bell is a tenured Professor of Law and Associate Professor of Sociology at Yale University, holding joint appointments across Yale Law School and the Department of Sociology. Her office is located at 127 Wall Street, New Haven, CT. As the first Black woman to serve as a junior faculty member and the second Black woman to receive tenure at Yale Law School, she is deeply committed to advancing diversity in academia. Education: B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, Furman University (Truman Scholar) M.Sc. in Equality Studies, University College Dublin (Mitchell Scholar) J.D., Yale Law School Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy, Harvard University Bell's research examines structural inequality through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on policing, legal estrangement, housing segregation, welfare policy, and racial-spatial dynamics. She employs qualitative methodologies to analyze how marginalized communities experience legal institutions, with emphasis on urban poverty and systemic exclusion. Her conceptual framework of 'legal estrangement' redefines understandings of community-law enforcement relationships. Her publications consistently engage with themes of racial justice, institutional reform, and community agency. Recent work demonstrates a strong focus on reimagining policing systems, analyzing residential segregation patterns, and developing democratic approaches to poverty governance. Articles frequently intersect law, sociology, and urban studies while incorporating critical race theory. Awards and Honors: Jane Addams Article Award (American Sociological Association) Derrick A. Bell, Jr. Award (AALS) Yale Law Women Faculty Excellence Award Russell Sage Foundation Visiting Scholar Fellowship Truman Scholarship & Mitchell Scholarship Bell teaches Constitutional Law and Law & Sociology, exploring governmental power structures and sociological applications to legal analysis. She previously clerked for Judge Cameron McGowan Currie (U.S. District Court) and served as an Arthur Liman Fellow at Legal Aid Society of D.C., focusing on TANF policy. No current grants, labs, or student advisees are detailed in available materials.

• Policing
• Race and Inequality
• Poverty Law
• +7 more

Joshua B. Guild is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University. He is also an Associated Faculty member in the Program in Urban Studies and has been involved with the Center for Digital Humanities. His scholarly work bridges historical research with public engagement and digital innovation. His education includes a PhD in History and African American Studies from Yale University and an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University, where he was a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Professor Guild's research centers on 20th- and 21st-century African American social and cultural history, urban history, and the modern African diaspora. His interests include migration, black internationalism, black popular music, and the black radical tradition. He is deeply engaged in the digital humanities and public scholarship, organizing seminars and contributing to podcasts and public exhibitions. The recent publications and projects reflect a strong focus on urban Black communities, transnational migration, and cultural politics. Themes include the Great Migration, postwar New York and London, New Orleans after Katrina, and the Black 1980s. His work combines historical analysis with cultural critique and social justice advocacy. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship Ford Foundation Fellowship Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Award Charles Warren Center Fellowship (Harvard University) W.E.B. Du Bois Institute Fellow (Harvard University) Professor Guild has advised graduate students through seminars and collaborative projects, though no individual students are named. He has led initiatives supported by institutional grants, particularly in digital humanities and public engagement. His leadership in the 'Black Studies in the Digital Age' seminar and editorial work on the 'Black 1980s' special issue demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field through interdisciplinary collaboration. He is affiliated with the Program in Urban Studies and the Center for Digital Humanities at Princeton, where he contributes to shaping curricula and research directions in African American Studies and digital scholarship.

• African American History
• Urban History
• Black Diaspora
• +8 more

Professor Cati Connell is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Boston University and former Director of the BU Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin (2010). Her research focuses on LGBTQ+ rights, military inclusion, gender dynamics, and workplace experiences. Key themes include queer identity formation, policy impacts on marginalized communities, and the intersection of labor practices with gender and sexuality. Education: PhD in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, 2010 Her research interests center on military integration post-DADT repeal, generational solidarities in LGBTQ+ communities, and the evolving meanings of self-identification terms like “lesbian.” She explores how institutions shape queer narratives, analyzing topics such as homonormativity, gendered compromises, and aesthetic labor in retail environments. Her work combines qualitative methodologies with theoretical frameworks like Bourdieu’s sociology of the body. In her recent publications (2015–2024), Connell examines the paradoxes of queer visibility in professional spaces, the tensions between civil rights and institutional policies, and digital platforms’ role in fostering LGBTQ+ solidarity. Her analysis often critiques how equality reforms can inadvertently reinforce exclusionary norms. Scientific awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Advising and grants: While no specific advisees or grants are listed, Connell’s research trajectory suggests active mentorship in LGBTQ+ studies and sociology. Her work likely involves collaborative projects, though funding details remain undocumented. Labs/teams: Affiliated with Boston University’s Sociology Department and previously led the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program. No specific lab or team affiliations are noted in the texts, but her interdisciplinary focus implies potential collaborations across gender studies, queer theory, and military sociology initiatives.

• Sociology
• Gender Studies
• LGBTQ+ Rights
• +4 more

Silvia Pedraza is a Professor of Sociology and American Culture at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Sociology and American Culture, and is an affiliate of the Latina/o Studies Program. Her research focuses on international sociology, inequalities, politics, and historical approaches, with particular emphasis on immigration, race, ethnicity, revolutions, and refugees. Her studies center on the United States, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Spain. Education: Ph.D., University of Chicago M.A. and B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Her research explores migration as a transformative process for nations, examining political disaffection in revolutionary contexts and the role of refugee movements. Key works include Political Disaffection in Cuba's Revolution and Exodus and Revolutions in Cuba and Venezuela: One Hope, Two Realities . She also investigates transnationalism, gender, and the sociopolitical dynamics of immigration policies. Her articles analyze topics such as Cuban immigrant transnationalism, the sociocultural future of Cuba, and the intersection of race, migration, and identity. Recent work addresses contemporary crises in Cuba and U.S.-Cuba diplomatic relations. Affiliations & Leadership: Associate Editor, Social Science History Former Chair of ASA Sections (Latina/o Sociology, Race and Ethnic Minorities) Former President, Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (ASCE) Executive Committee Member, Social Science History Association (SSHA) Teaching & Academic Contributions: She teaches courses on American immigration history, Latinas/os in the U.S., and sociological perspectives on transformative migration. Her work bridges historical and contemporary analyses, emphasizing comparative methodologies. She has organized interdisciplinary initiatives, such as a Cuban Studies dossier on Cuba's transitional dynamics.

• International Sociology
• Immigration
• Race and Ethnicity
• +5 more

Dr. Farzana Aman Tanima is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Business School’s Accounting, Governance, and Regulation department. She previously held roles at the University of Wollongong (2017–2023). Her research focuses on critical and dialogic accounting, social justice, and challenging neoliberal frameworks through participatory approaches. Born in Bangladesh, she earned her PhD in 2015 from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, with a thesis on dialogic accounting practices for marginalized women. Education: PhD in Accounting, Victoria University of Wellington, 2015 Undergraduate Honours Degree, Victoria University of Wellington Research Interests: Dr. Tanima’s work centers on dialogic accounting to democratize accounting practices, with focus on NGOs, microfinance, Indigenous education, and race. She employs participatory action research and autoethnography to address systemic inequalities. Key areas include: Accounting’s role in empowerment and development Decolonizing accounting education through Jindaola Critical race theory and counter-accounting Awards: 2024 Mary Parker Follet Award (AAAJ Journal) 2020 VC OCTAL Teaching Award 2015 AFAANZ Best PhD Award Teaching & Mentorship: She leads pedagogical initiatives embedding Indigenous perspectives into curricula and fosters dialogic learning. Supervised two completed PhDs, with co-authored publications. Active in mentoring early-career researchers through invited talks and workshops. Labs/Teams: Part of the Alternative Accounting Research Network and editorial boards for CPA Journal and Financial Accountability & Management . Co-leads special issues on critical dialogics and publicness in accounting.

• Critical Accounting
• Dialogic Accounting and Accountability
• Social Justice and Human Rights
• +6 more

Hatoon Alfassi is an Honorary Research Fellow in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Manchester. A Saudi historian specialized in pre-Islamic Arabian history and women's studies, she previously held positions at King Saud University and Qatar University. Alfassi earned her PhD from the University of Manchester focusing on women and power in ancient Nabataea. Her research examines women's historical agency in ancient Arabian societies, Islamic feminism, and contemporary gender rights in Saudi Arabia. She pioneered studies of Nabataean women through epigraphic analysis and comparative methodology. Current work analyzes intersections between religious interpretation, legal frameworks, and women's citizenship rights in Gulf societies. Alfassi received the MESA Academic Freedom Award (2018) and French National Order of Merit (2012). Her publications in Arabic and English include five books and numerous articles analyzing gender dynamics from antiquity to modern reforms. She maintains an active public intellectual presence through decades of newspaper columns addressing women's rights.

• Ancient Arabian History
• Women's History
• Nabataean Civilization
• +3 more

Dr. Roham Alvandi is Associate Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also serves as Director of the Iranian History Initiative and Master's Programme Director. He is affiliated with the Phelan United States Centre and the Middle East Centre at LSE, and is a Fellow of the British Institute of Persian Studies, the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Asiatic Society. Dr. Alvandi earned his DPhil and MPhil from the University of Oxford, where his doctoral thesis won the Foundation for Iranian Studies’ Dissertation Prize and the Pavry Memorial Prize. He also holds degrees from the University of Sydney, where he received the University Medal, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His research focuses on modern Iranian history, U.S. foreign relations, and the Global Cold War, with current work exploring human rights activism and the origins of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. His scholarship has been published in leading journals such as Diplomatic History , Cold War History , and Iranian Studies . He is the author of Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: The United States and Iran in the Cold War (Oxford University Press, 2014), selected by the Financial Times as one of the best history books of the year, and editor of The Age of Aryamehr: Late Pahlavi Iran and its Global Entanglements (2018). His recent media commentaries and articles—appearing in The New York Times , The Guardian , The Wall Street Journal , and The Washington Post —reflect a consistent focus on Iran’s political trajectory, nuclear ambitions, and societal resistance. The articles highlight themes such as the fragility of the Islamic Republic, the role of historical memory, and the persistent desire for secular democracy among Iranians. Financial Times Best History Book of 2014 Foundation for Iranian Studies’ Dissertation Prize University of Oxford’s Pavry Memorial Prize University Medal, University of Sydney LSE Excellence in Education Promotion Prize (2015) LSE Excellence in Education Award (2018) Dr. Alvandi has supervised PhD students including Jack Roush and Jean-Baptiste Ollieric, and has received LSE teaching awards in recognition of his excellence in education. He has held visiting appointments at the University of Tehran and Columbia University, and previously worked on the strategic planning staff for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He is also a frequent contributor to documentaries by HBO, BBC, and Manoto, serving as a historical consultant on projects such as Hostages and Hoveyda .

• Modern Iranian History
• U.S. Foreign Relations
• Global Cold War
• +7 more