Find Academic Supervisors

• Film Studies
• American Cinema
• Intersectionality
• +7 more

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.

Isaias FanloView profile

Lecturer

• Queer Theory
• Theatre and Performance Studies
• Iberian Cultures
• +7 more

Dr. Isaias Fanlo serves as University Lecturer in Modern Iberian Literary and Cultural Studies within the Spanish & Portuguese Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. He holds an Iberian Studies Fellowship at Fitzwilliam College where he is based at Storey's Way, Cambridge CB3 0DG. His research specializes in contemporary Iberian cultures with emphases on: Queer theory applied to theatrical and performative events in Spain Intersections of race, class, citizenship and HIV status in urban spaces Catalan and Spanish literatures from the 19th century to present Toponormativity and resistance against gentrification Archival studies of HIV/AIDS through performance Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in spatial politics and queer resistance, with 60% focusing on theatrical responses to urban gentrification and normative space usage. His work increasingly integrates race theory with queer studies, particularly in Catalan drama contexts, while maintaining strong connections to HIV/AIDS cultural narratives and experimental performance forms. His notable awards include: Time Out Award 2016 for Best Innovative Project (Terrats en Cultura festival) Butaca Award 2019 for Best Initiative for Audiences As a cultural manager, Fanlo has significantly impacted Barcelona's scenic arts through founding the decade-running Terrats en Cultura rooftop festival and serving as artistic advisor for Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and Teatre Lliure. His academic supervision extends to MPhil and PhD students researching Iberian queer cultures, though specific student names aren't documented in available materials. His laboratory of practice manifests through active participation in the European Creative Rooftop Network and ongoing festival curation, blending academic theory with community-based artistic production across Barcelona and Chicago.

• Comparative Literature
• Romance Literature
• Literary Anthropology
• +6 more

Irene Albers is a full Professor at Free University of Berlin's Department of Philosophy and Humanities, holding dual appointments at the Peter Szondi Institute for General and Comparative Literature and Institute for Romance Philology since 2004. She chairs both the Examination Board and Doctoral Committee for General and Comparative Literature, serves as Trustee of Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes since 2004/05, and has been Principal Investigator for the Friedrich-Schlegel Graduate School for Literary Studies and Cluster Languages of Emotion since 2007. Her research bridges comparative literature, anthropology, and visual culture with institutional leadership spanning editorial projects and international conferences. Her educational background includes: Born in Bremen (1967) Romance Studies, Philosophy, and German Studies at Universities of Tübingen, Tours, and Konstanz M.A. from University of Konstanz (1993) Ph.D. from University of Konstanz (1999) on literature and photography in Émile Zola, Proust, and Claude Simon Albers' core research examines literary anthropology through colonial/postcolonial lenses, focusing on French literary engagement with Africa, surrealism, and literature-photography intersections. She pioneered studies on Michel Leiris' ethnological poetics and Claude Simon's photographic techniques, extending to historical emotion research (anatomy of affects, body language) and romance novella traditions. Her work consistently challenges Eurocentric literary canons through primitivism critique and heteronomy aesthetics, emphasizing textual restitution and cultural reclamation. Recent publications (2018-2025) reveal a sharp turn toward colonial restitution ethics, particularly in oral literature provenance. Articles increasingly analyze literature as colonial loot, connecting French modernism with African/Caribbean contexts through collaborative projects with anthropologists like Eléonore Devevey. This trajectory builds from earlier surrealist studies to concrete frameworks for decolonizing literary scholarship, spotlighting institutional complicity in cultural appropriation while advancing symmetrized modernity revisions. Scientific awards include: Senior Fellow and Prize Winner of the Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz (2009) Albers supervises master's and doctoral students through dedicated AVL colloquia while securing major research funding as Principal Investigator for Friedrich-Schlegel Graduate School (2007-present) and Cluster Languages of Emotion (2007-2012). Her current DFG-funded project 'Literature as Colonial Loot?' with Andreas Schmid pioneers philological provenance research. Earlier, she contributed to Collaborative Research Center 511 'Literature and Anthropology' (Konstanz, 1999-2002) and DFG-funded conferences on Claude Simon. She leads the DramaNet research project and co-edits the 'machina' series at transcript Verlag since 2010. As board member (2007-2009) and deputy (2008-2012) of Cluster Languages of Emotion, she coordinates Area D 'Cultural Codings of Emotions'. Her Zukunftskolleg fellowship (2012-2013) and Marcel Proust Society collaborations underscore sustained engagement with literary anthropology networks.

Tavia Nyong’oView profile

Professor

• Black Queer Performance
• Afrofuturism
• Critical Race Theory
• +5 more

Tavia Nyong'o serves as the William Lampson Professor at Yale University with cross-disciplinary appointments across American Studies, Black Studies, Performance Studies, and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. His scholarly practice interrogates the intersections of race, sexuality, and aesthetics through Black queer performance and speculative frameworks. Central to Nyong'o's research is the exploration of affective historiography and the re-examination of 'race' within performance and aesthetics. His work critically engages with racial and sexual dissidence in art, the performative dimensions of museum practice, and Black speculative thought at the precipice of planetary crisis. He actively reframes theoretical binaries between afropessimism and afrofuturism to illuminate Black futurity. His publication trajectory reveals a sustained investigation into Black cultural production, evolving from historical analyses of racial memory in 'The Amalgamation Waltz' (2009) to the queer dramaturgy of Black life in 'Afro-Fabulations' (2018), and culminating in the apocalyptic speculations of 'Black Apocalypse' (2025). These works collectively traverse cultural history, contemporary art criticism, and critical race/gender theory. His scientific recognition includes: Guggenheim Fellow (2024) Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship American Society for Theatre Research Fellowship Ford Foundation Fellowship Jacob K. Javits Fellowship British Marshall Foundation Fellowship Nyong'o co-founded the Practicing Refusal Collective and contributes to the Sojourner Project—a transnational Black Studies academy addressing anti-Black violence and Black futurity. As curator at Park Avenue Armory and editor-at-large of 'Social Text', he bridges academic scholarship with public intellectual engagement through editorial leadership of 'Sexual Cultures' book series and multiple journal editorial boards.

Sarah Bay-ChengView profile

Professor

• Theatre and Media Studies
• Digital Performance
• Performance Studies
• +4 more

Dr. Sarah Bay-Cheng is Dean and Professor of Theatre & Performance Studies at York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD). Her research focuses on intersections between theatre, media, and digital technologies, with over 100 academic essays, lectures, and reviews. She authored or edited four books, including *Performance and Media: Taxonomies for a Changing Field* (2015) and *Mapping Intermediality in Performance* (2010). Prior to her role at York, she was Chair of Theater and Dance at Bowdoin College and Founding Director of the Techne Institute at the University at Buffalo. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and a PhD from the University of Michigan. Research Interests: Digital Humanities, intermediality, performance historiography, film studies, and technology’s role in contemporary performance. Awards include a 2015 Fulbright Senior Scholarship in Media and Cultural Studies. She serves on boards for Factory Theatre and StageView.com. Her work bridges historical and emerging digital practices, emphasizing how media shapes performance’s past, present, and future.

Bonar BuffamView profile

Associate Professor

• Race and Empire
• Crime and Punishment
• Socio-Legal Studies
• +3 more

Bonar Buffam is an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Sociology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He is affiliated with the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and serves as a graduate student supervisor in the Power, Conflict and Ideas theme of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies program. His work focuses on race, empire, socio-legal studies, religion, and urban geographies. Buffam holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), an MA from the University of Alberta, and a BA from Simon Fraser University. His research explores intersections of law, race, and state power, including projects such as the SSHRC-funded study on religious minorities in Western Canada (2018–2021). His publications analyze topics like legal regulation of Sikh gurdwaras, racial dynamics in criminal justice systems, and the sociological implications of public celebrations like Vaisakhi. He teaches courses such as Foundations of Sociological Thought, True Crime Sociology, and the Sociology of Religion, with a focus on critical theory and empirical case studies. Buffam supervises graduate research on themes including religion and secularism, cultural criminology, and social theory. His collaborative projects include work on 'Aesthetic Sociologies' with Heidi Bickis and Ondine Park. His interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with contemporary socio-legal challenges.

• Urban Geography
• Racial Segregation
• Environmental Justice
• +5 more

John Finn serves as Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds joint appointments with the Honors Program, Center for Crime Equity and Justice Research and Policy, and Center for Sustainability in Education. PhD in Geography, Arizona State University MA in Geography, University of Missouri BA in International Studies, University of Missouri Finn's research examines the socioeconomic, environmental, and health consequences of persistent racial segregation in the United States, with particular focus on Hampton Roads, Virginia and Latin American contexts including Cuba and Brazil. His work integrates urban geography, environmental justice, and human-environment interaction through field research methods. His 2024 solo exhibition 'Living Apart: Geography of Segregation in the 21st Century' at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art demonstrates his innovative approach to translating academic research into public engagement. Finn's recent publications reveal strong thematic focus on urban renewal impacts, environmental justice mapping, and Latin American geographies, with increasing emphasis on climate gentrification and spatial epidemiology. 2024 SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award (Virginia's highest faculty honor) 2021 Alumni Society Award for Teaching and Mentoring 2020 Faculty Excellence Award in Scholarship Class of 2013 Faculty Development Award (2019) Finn has secured over $200,000 in research funding and delivered more than 100 invited lectures across North America, Latin America, and Europe. His work bridges academic research and practical applications through partnerships with medical schools, planning associations, and environmental organizations. He maintains active research teams focused on mapping segregation patterns and analyzing environmental health disparities in coastal Virginia.

• Digital Media Art
• Electronic Music
• Hip-Hop
• +5 more

Paul D. Miller, known professionally as DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid, is a Professor of Music and Mediated Art at The European Graduate School (EGS). Based in New York City, he is an experimental electronic and hip-hop musician, conceptual artist, and writer whose work spans music production, film, multimedia installations, and critical theory. He has released over a dozen albums pioneering 'illbient' and trip hop genres, authored influential books including Rhythm Science and Sound Unbound , and exhibited internationally at venues like the Venice Biennale and Andy Warhol Museum. Education: Bowdoin College: Studied philosophy and French literature; thesis on Richard Wagner's Gesamtkunstwerk as precursor to new media. Research Interests: Miller's work centers on remix culture as a postmodern methodology, exploring intersections of sound, image, and technology. His theoretical framework positions the DJ as a 'post-subjective auteur' who creates meaning through layered connections across time, culture, and media. Key projects include Rebirth of a Nation (reworking D.W. Griffith's film to address racial history) and Terra Nova (Antarctica sound recordings addressing climate change), demonstrating his focus on historical reinterpretation and environmental crisis through digital media. Publications: His 14 scholarly articles (2001-2009) analyze remix as cultural practice across domains from album art history ( The Inner Sleeve ) to Baudrillard's philosophy ( Baudrillard: A Remembrance ). The corpus reveals consistent investigation into how sampling, digital layering, and media archaeology reshape narrative, memory, and cultural identity in the information age. Awards: No scientific awards or fellowships were documented in the source text. Advising and Grants: The source text provides no information regarding students supervised, academic advising, or research grants administered by Miller. Labs and Teams: Miller operates through project-based collaborations rather than fixed labs, forming temporary collectives with institutions like the American Museum of Natural History (for Terra Nova ) and artists including Yoko Ono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and choreographer Francesca Harper. His 'Unfinished Stories' project with Pulitzer-winning critic Margo Jefferson exemplifies his interdisciplinary approach bridging dance, music, and social commentary.

Elissa HelmsView profile

Associate Professor

• Gender Studies
• Gender and Nationalism
• Gender and Ethnic Violence
• +15 more

Elissa Helms is an Associate Professor and Doctoral Program Director in the Department of Gender Studies at Central European University (CEU), based in Vienna. She is a leading scholar in gender, nationalism, and post-conflict ethnography, with a regional focus on the Balkans, particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina and the former Yugoslavia. Her work critically engages with migration, racialization, borders, and feminist activism in contemporary Europe. Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 2003 MA, Cultural Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 1998 BA, International Relations, Bucknell University, 1991 Her research centers on gendered dynamics in post-socialist and post-conflict societies, especially how gender, race, and nationalism intersect in migration and border contexts. She has conducted long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Bosnia-Herzegovina, including in Bihać, focusing on the Balkan Route and local responses to migration. Her work also explores feminist memory, transitional justice, and the politics of victimhood, notably through her influential book Innocence and Victimhood (2013). She co-edited Borders of Desire (2023), examining gender and sexuality at Europe’s eastern edges. Her recent publications reveal a sustained focus on the gendered dimensions of refugee crises, EU border policies, and the racialization of migrants. She critiques dominant narratives that associate victimhood solely with women and children, highlighting how men are also deeply vulnerable in war and displacement. Her scholarship bridges feminist theory, cultural anthropology, and critical migration studies. While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided texts, her work is widely recognized through publications in top journals and participation in major academic projects such as GRACE (Gender and Cultures of Equality). She actively mentors graduate students and welcomes inquiries from prospective MA and PhD candidates in her research areas. Elissa Helms has advised on and contributed to numerous academic events, public lectures, and policy discussions on gender, migration, and human rights. Her current research includes ethnographic work on the Balkan Route and a project on the Women’s Court, a feminist initiative for transitional justice in the post-Yugoslav region. She is deeply engaged in public scholarship, contributing to platforms like Eurozine and FocaalBlog.

Samantha N. SheppardView profile

Associate Professor

• Cinema and Media Studies
• Race and Representation in Film
• Gender and Media
• +5 more

Samantha N. Sheppard is an Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies in the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University, where she also serves as Department Chair. Her research and teaching focus on race, gender, and representation in film, television, and digital media, with a particular emphasis on Black visual culture and sports cinema. Education: While specific degree details are not provided in the text, she holds a PhD and is recognized as a leading scholar in cinema and media studies. Research Interests: Sheppard’s work spans global cinema, sports films, African American film history, women filmmakers, and Blackness on screen. She is known for her concept of "critical muscle memory," which explores how Black athletic bodies are represented and remembered in media. Publications and Media: She is the author of Sporting Blackness: Race, Embodiment, and Critical Muscle Memory on Screen (2020), co-editor of Sporting Realities: Critical Readings of the Sports Documentary (2020) and From Madea to Media Mogul: Theorizing Tyler Perry (2016). She has also contributed essays and criticism to The Atlantic , Flash Art International , and Los Angeles Review of Books . Current Projects: She is currently working on two book projects: The Basketball Film: A Cultural and Transmedia History (under contract with Rutgers University Press) and A Black W/hole: Phantom Cinemas and the Reimagining of Black Women's Media Histories . Awards and Honors: She was selected as a 2021 Academy Film Scholar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Public Engagement: Sheppard is a frequent speaker and consultant on film and media, and she organizes the "Voices & Visions in Black Media" lecture series at Cornell.

Autumn M. WomackView profile

Associate Professor

• African American Literary Culture
• Archival Practice
• Visual Technologies and Media History
• +7 more

Autumn M. Womack is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies and the Department of English at Princeton University. Her work bridges literary scholarship, archival research, and curatorial practice, with a focus on 19th- and 20th-century African American literary culture. She teaches courses on African American literature, race and media, and Toni Morrison’s creative process, often incorporating the Toni Morrison Papers housed at Princeton University Library. Her research centers on the intersections of literature, visual technologies, and archival practice. She is particularly interested in how material evidence—such as photographs, letters, and manuscript drafts—reveals new dimensions of black life and aesthetic production. Her pedagogy emphasizes critical engagement with primary sources, encouraging students to let archival objects guide their inquiry rather than imposing preconceived theses. Womack’s recent publications and projects reflect a strong focus on African American literary history, data and racial representation, and the creative process of major writers like Toni Morrison and Charles Chesnutt. Her work spans archival exhibitions, scholarly monographs, critical editions, and public-facing essays in venues like The Paris Review , Los Angeles Review of Books , and The Times Literary Supplement . Modern Language Association’s William Sanders Scarborough Prize (2022) Shortlisted for the Modernist Studies Association’s First Book Prize She has advised numerous students through her courses and research supervision, though specific names are not listed. Her curatorial leadership of the exhibition Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory exemplifies her commitment to public scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is currently working on a book titled The Wanderer , exploring Morrison’s creative process, and co-editing a volume on Morrison and Black archival practice with Kinohi Nishikawa. Womack’s lab or research team includes graduate students and collaborators engaged in archival research, literary analysis, and curatorial projects centered on the Toni Morrison Papers. Her future work continues to expand the understanding of black literary life through material culture and narrative innovation.

Grace LaveryView profile

Associate Professor

• Critical Theory
• Gender & Sexuality Studies
• 19th-Century British Literature
• +4 more

Grace Lavery is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research and creative work interrogate the intersections of capitalism, gender, and embodiment, with a focus on the ascription of sexual meaning to flesh. She holds expertise in 19th-Century British literature, critical theory, cultural studies, and gender studies. Lavery’s scholarly monographs include *Quaint, Exquisite* (2019), *Pleasure and Efficacy* (2023), and *Closures* (2024), alongside her creative memoir *Please Miss* (2022). Her current research explores contemporary demonology and possession narratives. She frequently lectures on trans studies, queer theory, and literary form at institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, and Brown. Her academic career includes teaching at Berkeley since 2016, focusing on courses that blend literary analysis with critical theory. Lavery’s work bridges scholarship and creative writing, examining how formal and generic frameworks shape understandings of the body. Her research often engages psychoanalysis, poststructuralism, and cultural materialism to unpack themes of identity, desire, and power. Notable contributions include rethinking trans literature through historical figures like Christine Jorgensen and analyzing modern media’s portrayal of heterosexuality in sitcoms. Her interdisciplinary approach has led to collaborations across departments and institutions, reflecting her commitment to expanding critical discourses on gender, sexuality, and culture.

Eden K. OsuchaView profile

Associate Professor

• Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century American Literature and Culture
• African American Studies
• Legal Studies
• +8 more

Eden K. Osucha is an Associate Professor of English at Bates College, specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American literature, African American studies, legal studies, and critical race theory. Her research examines intersections of race, privacy, and identity through law, literature, and media. She co-curated public humanities projects like Violence and Belonging: The 14th Amendment and American Literature and Site Seeing: 9/11 Through Documentary Shorts . Awards include the Mrs. Giles Whiting Fellowship and Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship. Her book manuscript, The Post-Racial Past: Race, Privacy and Identity Before the Obama Era , traces legal privacy’s racialized origins. She teaches courses on 9/11 literature, early American lit, and queer studies. As co-curator of the Literary Arts Live series, she brings prominent writers to campus including Colson Whitehead and Dinaw Mengestu. Key Affiliations: Programs in American Cultural Studies, African American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies Public Engagement: Maine Humanities Council collaborations, SPACE Gallery curation Recent Work: Explores 14th Amendment legacies, post-racial ideology, and surveillance studies Award-winning poet and creative writing advocate, Prof. Osucha’s interdisciplinary approach bridges literature, law, and visual culture. Her research highlights how racialized privacy frameworks shape contemporary discourses on race and identity.

Kyle GreenView profile

Associate Professor

• Sociology
• Cultural Sociology
• Sport Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Kyle Green is an Associate Professor of Sociology at SUNY Brockport, specializing in storytelling, intimacy, and embodiment. His work examines how groups construct meaning through shared physical practices, particularly in sports and subcultural spaces. He teaches courses on Sociological Theory, Sport & Society, and the Sociology of the Body. Award-Winning Scholar: Winner of the 2019 ASA Junior Theorist of the Year Award and 2023 SUNY Brockport Presidential Teaching Excellence Award. Podcast Creator: Hosts/co-created Give Methods a Chance and Give Theory a Chance podcasts, alongside a co-authored textbook of the same name (W.W. Norton, 2018). Editorial Role: Serves as Book Reviews Editor for Contexts Magazine . Research Interests: Kyle’s work bridges cultural sociology, sport studies, and embodiment theory. He explores themes like racial activism in athletics, masculinity narratives in mixed martial arts, and the intersection of media, identity, and physical practice. His ethnographic studies emphasize lived experiences and sensory engagement. Teaching Philosophy: Known for innovative pedagogy, he integrates pop culture and contemporary issues into courses like Sport, Politics, and Protest and Questioning Masculinity . Public Engagement: Regular contributor to media discussions on sociology of sport and cultural theory. Recent Focus: Analyzes global sport events (e.g., Qatar 2022 World Cup) as sites of sociopolitical contestation.

• Modern African History
• African Intellectual History
• History of Slavery
• +2 more

Philip Zachernuk is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University, specializing in Modern African history with emphasis on intellectual traditions, slavery, colonialism, and educational systems. His scholarship bridges West African historical contexts with transnational Pan-African movements and diasporic engagements. His educational background includes a BA and MA from Dalhousie University and a PhD from the University of Toronto. Zachernuk's research examines how African intellectuals navigated colonial structures while redefining continental identity, particularly through education and print culture in Nigeria. His work challenges Eurocentric historical frameworks by centering African epistemological agency. Recent publications reveal sustained focus on Edward Wilmot Blyden's intellectual legacy, West African creolization processes, and the complexities of Pan-African cultural production. His scholarship demonstrates evolving engagement with animal studies, anonymity in colonial public spheres, and the economic dimensions of pre-independence Africa, reflecting interdisciplinary expansion within African historiography. Zachernuk teaches core courses including Slavery and Slaving in Global History, Rise and Fall of African Slavery, Wars and Revolts in 19th Century Africa, and Topics in African History (Nationalism & Independence), maintaining active office hours for student engagement in Winter 2025.