Dr. Frances Smith is an Associate Professor in Film Studies at the University of Sussex's School of Media, Arts and Humanities. She holds a PhD in Film and Television Studies from the University of Warwick (2013), an MA in Management from Durham University (2008), and a Master of Modern Languages in French/Italian from Manchester University (2007). Her research focuses on teen cinema, female authorship, Hollywood and European cinema, and gender studies, with current work on Céline Sciamma's Girlhood. She authored Rethinking the Hollywood Teen Movie (2017) and co-edited Refocus: The Films of John Hughes (2021). Teaching includes convening Analysing Film, American Teen Cinema, and Working with Film modules. She has taught Gender and Representation, British Cinema, and Study Skills. Her awards include Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2016). Active in PhD supervision focusing on teen cinema, female authorship, and gender in cinema. Publications span over 25 articles/chapters addressing topics like queer youth representation, transatlantic media comparisons, and directorial authorship in John Hughes and Amy Heckerling films. Research explores intersections of gender, space, and cultural identity in global popular cinema.
Dotun Ayobade is an Assistant Professor of Performance Studies and Black Studies at Northwestern University. His research focuses on how embodied popular culture shapes community, justice, and activism in postcolonial West Africa, particularly examining the interplay of aesthetics and social performance in Nigeria. He holds a joint appointment across disciplines and has taught at the University of Texas at Austin and Brown University prior to Northwestern. His academic interests include African/Black Performance Theory, African Popular Culture, and the intersection of performance with postcolonial politics. He is currently completing a book on Nigeria’s Afrobeat Queens, analyzing their role in Fela Kuti’s music subculture, under contract with Indiana University Press. This work has earned him prestigious awards, including the University of Texas Continuing Fellowship and Brown University’s Salomon Award. His scholarly contributions span peer-reviewed journals like Dance Research Journal and Journal of African Cultural Studies , with articles exploring topics such as sonic embodiment in Nigerian music and the spatial poetics of protest. He also engages with public discourse through platforms like Africa is a Country , addressing issues like neoliberalism and cultural netizenship. Ayobade’s work bridges performance ethnography, gender studies, and postcolonial theory, emphasizing the agency of marginalized voices in shaping cultural narratives. His research integrates interdisciplinary methods to unpack how performance mediates between individual creativity and collective socio-political realities in Africa and its diasporas.
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.
Marta Veljkovic is a Lecturer and permanent academic member affiliated with Sorbonne University, specializing in sociology with a focus on social inequalities, intragenerational mobility, class and wage trajectories, and gender disparities. She earned her Doctorate in Sociology from Sciences Po, Paris, and the National Institute of Demographic Studies (Ined) between 2018 and 2022, following a Master of Research in Sociology from Sciences Po (2016–2018) and a Bachelor of Sociology from the University of Belgrade (2012–2016). Her academic work is deeply rooted in quantitative methods and large-scale empirical analysis of career dynamics in France. Her research interests include: Social inequalities and stratification Intragenerational mobility and career trajectories Class and wage mobility Gender inequalities in professional advancement The subjective experience of social mobility Quantitative methodologies in sociological research The trends in her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on analyzing long-term shifts in career mobility in France, particularly how class barriers persist despite increased fluidity in job transitions. Using data from the Formation-Qualification Professionnelle survey and EGP class schema, she investigates both absolute and relative mobility, demonstrating that while career paths have become more complex, structural class boundaries remain resilient. Her work bridges academic sociology and public discourse through contributions to outlets like Pour l’Éco and the Observatory of Inequalities. She holds active responsibilities in the academic community, including: Co-organizer of the Gemass scientific seminar Member of the editorial board of the Sociological Year Marta Veljkovic teaches a wide range of courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, including Theory and Concepts (L1), Sociological Tradition – Contemporary French Sociology (L2), Statistics and Computer Science (L3), and advanced methods such as Quantitative Methods I, Sociology of Inequalities, and Advanced Methodology at the M1 level. She has presented her research at numerous international conferences, including the ISA RC28 Spring Meeting, ECSR, and LIVES colloquia. Although no specific students or scientific awards are listed, her extensive publication record and institutional engagement underscore her growing influence in the field of sociological inequality research. She is involved in collaborative research with scholars such as Nicolas Duvoux, Richard Nennstiel, and Ettore Recchi, and her work is supported by access to major French social science data infrastructures like ELIPSS and Insee surveys. She does not appear to lead a lab, but her participation in Gemass—a joint research unit between CNRS, Sorbonne University, and Sciences Po—positions her within a vibrant interdisciplinary network focused on social mechanisms, networks, and inequalities.
Lady Rojas Benavente is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics at Concordia University, where she has been teaching since her appointment as Assistant Professor in 1996, with promotion to Associate Professor in May 2003. Prior to joining Concordia, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at The University of Western Ontario, where she taught second language methodology, French and Spanish. Dr. Rojas Benavente received her PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University Laval in 1991, following an MA in Spanish Literatures (Cum Laude, 1985) and BA in History and Spanish (1983), both from the University of Ottawa. She also holds a Diploma qualifying as a Secondary School teacher specializing in Spanish Language and Literature, Psychology and Philosophy from the National Pedagogic University of Women in Lima, Peru (Cum Laude, 1968). Her research focuses on Critical Feminism in Peruvian & Latin-American Women Writers, with special emphasis on contemporary Peruvian and Mexican narrative, drama, poetry and essay. Her work encompasses Cultural Studies and Literary and Critical Theories, Latin American History, Post-colonialism, Human Rights, Women Studies, Feminist Theories, Gender Issues, Latin America Black History, Indigenous and Minorities Studies, and Comparative Studies in Education. She has published nine books (two poetry collections and seven critical interpretations) and over 50 refereed papers in Latin American Women's literary work, particularly focusing on Peruvian and Mexican authors. Dr. Rojas Benavente's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of gender, ethnicity, and power structures in Latin American literature. Her recent publications explore the works of contemporary Peruvian women writers, examining how they address issues of violence, racism, and gender in post-independence national contexts. Her research trajectory reveals a deepening focus on decolonial perspectives, indigenous resistance, and the intersection of gender with other social categories. Hispanic Literary and Cultural Institute's Honor Diploma (2010) Publication Award from the University of New Brunswick for the Anthology, Constructing Memory: Latino-Canadian Women Writers in the New Millennium Recognition by Mouvement Desjardins in celebration of International Women's Day (2008) As president of the Society for Literary Criticism of Spanish American Women Writers' work (CCLEH), Dr. Rojas Benavente has facilitated connections between Concordia colleagues, local artists, international writers, and the Latino-Montreal community. She serves on the editorial boards of Alba de America, a literary magazine from the United States, and Voces, a Peruvian cultural magazine. Her leadership extends to organizing numerous conferences on Latin American women writers across Canada, Latin America, and Montreal, including multiple meetings of Hispano-Canadian Women Writers and events commemorating significant figures in Latin American literature.
Ciara Gorman is a Teaching Fellow in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at University College Dublin, where she joined in September 2024. She holds a PhD from Queen's University Belfast and has previously taught at Maynooth University and Queen's University Belfast in roles including Senior Tutor, Occasional Lecturer, and Teaching Assistant. Her educational background includes a BCL and MA from Maynooth University and a PhD from Queen's University Belfast. Dr Gorman’s research centers on French crime fiction, gender, and feminist theory, with a focus on representations of female criminals and empowerment in contemporary literature and film. She explores intersections between law and literature, motherhood, and popular culture, particularly in Francophone contexts. Her work critically engages with feminist ethics, patriarchal structures, and subversive narratives in media. Her recent publications analyze gendered violence in French crime fiction and teenage pregnancy as both empowerment and entrapment in French cinema. The articles demonstrate a strong thematic focus on feminist discourse, female agency, and the critique of institutional norms in literature and film. Co-editor, Disruptive Discourses by Francophone Women (Liverpool University Press, 2025) Author of upcoming monograph Criminal Women in Contemporary French Crime Fiction: Gender, Genre and the Polar Féministe (Bloomsbury, 2026) Active peer reviewer in French Studies and Crime Fiction Studies Communications Officer, Women in French UK-Ireland Former PGR/ECR Officer, International Crime Fiction Association Dr Gorman has contributed to academic conferences and is building a research profile at the intersection of literature, gender, and cultural politics. She is currently based in office A320, Newman Building, University College Dublin.
Claire Mouflard is an Associate Professor of French at Hamilton College , specializing in contemporary French and francophone literature, culture, and film. Her teaching and research focus on immigrant identities, postcolonial theory, digital humanities, and intersectional feminism. Department: German, Russian, Italian, and Arabic Areas of Study Academic Rank: Associate Professor Email: cmouflar@hamilton.edu Research Interests include: Immigrant representation in French cinema and literature Digital humanities and new media Postcolonial feminisms Twentieth and twenty-first-century Francophone narratives Scientific Awards include the Dean’s Scholarly Achievement Award (Hamilton College, 2021) and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Grant (Union College, 2016). Selected Publications analyze intersectionality in French cinema, digital authority in Francophone texts, and postcolonial diasporic literature.
Laura Hengehold is a Professor of Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University, holding the endowed Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics. Her research focuses on intersections of language, embodiment, and political conflict, drawing on 20th-century French philosophy (Foucault, Deleuze), feminist theory, and African-European political dialogue. She explores how knowledge systems shape women’s bodily experiences, emphasizing ethical and political implications. Key works include Simone de Beauvoir’s Philosophy of Individuation and The Body Problematic . She co-edited African Philosophy for the 21st Century and translated works by Seloua Luste Boulbina. Her scholarship bridges existentialism, post-structuralism, and transnational feminism. Research Interests: Feminist philosophy, continental philosophy, political theory, embodiment studies, decolonial thought. Awards: Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics (2017–present). Teaching: Courses on social/political philosophy, feminist theory, African political thought, and Deleuze. Recent talks include engagements on Simone de Beauvoir’s ethics, African political thought, and Foucault’s influence. She collaborates with the Women and Gender Studies and World Literature Programs at CWRU.
Cassandra L. Yacovazzi is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of South Florida. Her teaching spans American history from exploration to the present, emphasizing race, class, gender, religion, and cultural history. Courses include "American Women I" (AMH3561), "American Women II" (AMH3562), and specialized research seminars on Utopian Experiments in America and the Transformation of America (1960–1980). Her research intersects women’s work, religion, and consumerism, as seen in her book Escaped Nuns: True Womanhood and the Campaign Against Convents in Antebellum America (Oxford University Press, 2018) and ongoing work on Mary Kay Ash and beauty culture. She examines Catholic nun communities and their opposition in 19th-century America, linking these to broader themes of gender, capitalism, and religious identity. Recent publications focus on anti-Catholicism, sectarianism, and the interplay between religion and societal change, with articles in journals like New York Review of Books . Her work often contextualizes historical movements within contemporary debates about gender and faith. She has reviewed scholarship on the Vatican II era, French Revolution refugee nuns, and ecumenical civil rights efforts, highlighting the enduring relevance of historical narratives. Yacovazzi’s teaching philosophy prioritizes critical analysis over memorization, engaging students with primary sources and conflicting evidence. She fosters free inquiry and respect in the classroom, aiming to cultivate historical thinking and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Dr Sonia Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in French and Francophone Studies and Director of International Comparative Literature and Translation Studies at the University of Sydney's School of Languages and Cultures. She holds a PhD from the University of Queensland (after MA/McGill University and DEA/Paris III). Her research focuses on women's diary writing in French contexts, exploring intersections of temporal practices, material culture, and colonial histories. Education: PhD (Queensland), DEA (Paris III), MA (McGill), BA (Adelaide) Affiliations: University of Sydney since 2015; previously University of Melbourne Research interests include diary studies, gendered temporalities, multilingual archives, and photographic self-representation. Current projects examine discarded diaries' ethical implications (Finders, Keepers?) and Australia's non-English language historical records (ARC DP 2021-2025). Teaching spans French literature, comparative life writing, and cultural studies. Supervision areas include 19th-century women's writing, diary-photography interactions, and Francophone visual practices. Grants: $11,322 in recent research funding (2013-2015) Leadership: Chief Investigator for French-language materials in ARC DP project Labs/Teams: Central role in multilingual archive initiatives; collaborates with international scholars in life writing studies.
Gina Stamm is an Associate Professor of French at the University of Alabama, Department of Modern Languages & Classics. Her work bridges environmental humanities, speculative literature, and queer/feminist theory, focusing on 20th-21st century French and francophone Caribbean literature. PhD in French, Emory University (2016), with certificates in Psychoanalytic Studies and Comparative Literature MA in French, Miami University (2010) Stamm specializes in ecocritical analysis , examining how surrealism, feminist utopias, and post-exotic literature engage with ecological crises. Her research spans topics like queer ecology , vegetal transhumanism , and postcolonial environmental trauma , often through interdisciplinary lenses combining psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory. Recent publications explore intersections of racial capitalism , intergenerational trauma , and botanical agency in francophone Caribbean contexts. She actively translates works like Antoine Volodine's Songes de Mevlido and participates in podcasts such as ASLE EcoCast, discussing plant-oriented critical theory and speculative narratives. Her scholarship contributes to evolving frameworks in ecopoetics , nonhuman subjectivity , and decolonial environmentalism , with affiliations to academic institutions in France and the Caribbean.
Carla Hesse is the Peder Sather Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor since 1989. Her scholarly work centers on European intellectual and cultural history with a focus on France from the early modern period through the twentieth century. Hesse earned her PhD in History from Princeton University in 1986, following an MA from Princeton (1982) and a BA in History and French Literature from UC Santa Cruz (1978). Her educational journey established the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach to French history. Professor Hesse's research explores the intersections of gender, print culture, and political transformation in revolutionary France and the Enlightenment. She has pioneered studies on women's intellectual contributions during the Enlightenment, the cultural dimensions of revolutionary law, and the evolution of intellectual property. Her work consistently bridges social, legal, and cultural history to reveal how ideas shaped European society across centuries. Her extensive publication record demonstrates a sustained engagement with France's revolutionary legacy, particularly examining how print media, gender dynamics, and legal frameworks transformed during periods of radical political change. Hesse's scholarship reveals the complex relationship between cultural production and political upheaval, with recurring themes of authorship, intellectual networks, and the social construction of political subjects. Professor Hesse's exceptional contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and fellowships. National Humanities Center Fellowship (2000-2001) Guggenheim Fellowship (1998-1999) William Koren Jr. Prize for best article in modern French history (1991) Chevalier of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques (1993) NEH Fellowship at Institute for Advanced Study (1992-1993) Throughout her career, Hesse has actively mentored graduate students through committee service on admissions and education matters at both UC Berkeley and Rutgers University. Her research has been consistently supported by major funding from organizations including the National Endowment for the Humanities, American Council of Learned Societies, and the Whiting Foundation. She has also served as a peer reviewer for leading historical journals and funding bodies. Professor Hesse has played leadership roles in several research initiatives including co-directing the French Cultural Studies Program, chairing the French Studies Program at the Institute for European Studies, and serving on the Executive Committee for the Human Rights Program at the Townsend Center for the Humanities.
Dr. Katarzyna Paszkiewicz is Associate Professor in English and Film Studies at the University of the Balearic Islands and a researcher with ADHUC – Research Center for Theory, Gender, and Sexuality at the University of Barcelona. Her work bridges film theory, cultural studies, and the environmental humanities, with a focus on ecologically oriented film analysis, videographic ecocriticism, and affect theory. She has held visiting positions at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Melbourne, University College Dublin, and Harvard University. Her research explores intersections of gender, genre, and ecology in cinema. Key projects include Cinema and Environment: Affective Ecologies in the Anthropocene and Female Filmmakers and Feminism in the Media (FEMME) , an international initiative funded by the French National Research Agency. She has contributed extensively to debates on the Final Girl trope, eco-road movies, and gender dynamics in crime fiction and horror cinema. Dr. Paszkiewicz’s recent publications interrogate petrocultural aesthetics, queer temporalities, and the ethics of care in films like Titane , The Florida Project , and American Honey . As a member of teaching innovation groups such as Lletra de Dona , she develops interdisciplinary tools for literary criticism in virtual environments. Her work emphasizes dialogue between academia and industry to advance gender equality in media.
Danielle Bobker is a Professor in the Department of Women's Studies and an English Fellow at Concordia University. She is affiliated with the Simone de Beauvoir Institute and specializes in 17th-18th century literature & culture, critical humour studies, gender & sexuality studies, and pedagogy. Education BA, English & Drama, University of Toronto BEd, English, Drama, & French, University of Toronto MA, English, Concordia University PhD, English, Rutgers University Danielle’s research explores intersections of 17th-18th century British literature, satire, critical humour studies, gender & sexuality, and pedagogy. Her work analyzes how private spaces like closets shaped interpersonal relationships and how humor intersects with human rights and legal discourse. She is currently working on a SSHRC-funded project, Ward v. Quebec: A Case for Literary-Critical Humour Studies (2024-2026), and an upcoming book Flayed: How to Talk about Jokes without Hurting Anyone . Danielle’s publications span topics like closet rhetoric in 18th century literature, affect theory in autobiographical writing, and feminist approaches to humor. Her recent projects integrate AI and humor studies, reflecting her interdisciplinary methodology. She welcomes doctoral students interested in critical humour studies, satire, and gender studies.
University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Anjali Prabhu is a Professor and Edward W. Said Chair in Comparative Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), serving as Director of Graduate Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Duke University, M.A. from Purdue University, and B.A. (Highest Honors) from Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, with additional studies in France and the Indian Ocean region. Her research focuses on Postcolonial Studies, Cinema Studies, French and Francophone Literatures, Creole Cultures, African Studies, and Eighteenth-Century Literature. She has taught at prestigious institutions including the University of Cambridge, Oxford, and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. Recent publications explore themes like postcolonial hybridity, African cinema, and Fanon’s philosophical contributions. Her work bridges literature, anthropology, and colonial history, emphasizing decolonial thought and cultural critique. Key Publications: Hybridity: Limits, Transformations, Prospects (2007), Contemporary Cinema of Africa and the Diaspora (2014) Professional Service: Editorial roles, Modern Language Association membership, and advocacy for liberal arts education. Her scholarship critically engages with colonialism’s legacies, offering interdisciplinary insights into identity, aesthetics, and postcolonial agency.
