Melissa E. Sanchez is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, with core faculty status in the Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Her work bridges early modern literature, queer theory, and critical race studies. Education: Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine. Research Interests: Early Modern Literature, Comparative Race and Empire Studies, Critical Theory, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Poetry and Poetics, Psychoanalytic Studies. She explores intersections of faith, race, and eroticism in premodern texts to challenge contemporary queer debates. Scientific Awards: Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2021) Kahn Award for Outstanding Teaching by an Assistant Professor (2009) MLA Scaglione Prize Honorable Mention (2020) SSEMW Collaborative Project Award (2016) Compassionate Community Award (2020) Advising and Grants: She has chaired doctoral dissertations on topics including police cultural vocabulary in early modern drama, trans metamorphoses, and reproductive healthcare in literary history. Her projects often involve interdisciplinary grants, particularly in feminist and queer scholarship.
Jessie Allen is a Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, specializing in jurisprudence, legal ethics, and property law. Her work reimagines traditional legal frameworks to advance socially progressive legal systems, particularly through exploring more-than-human personhood in property doctrine and racial justice in voting rights. Education: JSD (Doctorate in Law), Columbia University School of Law (Heffernan Fellow) JD (Summa Cum Laude), Brooklyn Law School BFA in Theater, New York University School of the Arts Research Interests: Professor Allen examines legal rituals, Blackstone’s Commentaries’ modern relevance, and systemic racial biases in U.S. legal systems. Her current projects include analyzing property law’s capacity to recognize non-human entities and studying doctrinal reasoning’s psychological effects on judicial objectivity. She critiques legal systems through a racial justice lens, focusing on felony disenfranchisement and voting rights advocacy. Blogs & Outreach: She authors Blackstone Weekly , a blog interpreting 18th-century legal principles for contemporary issues. Her interdisciplinary approach blends legal scholarship with theater and art to explore law’s performative dimensions. Professional Experience: Prior to academia, Allen was a Bristow Fellow at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Solicitor General’s Office, litigated voting rights cases as a senior attorney at Advancement Project, and worked at the Brennan Center for Justice addressing criminal conviction-based disenfranchisement.
Dr. Nicola Abram is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Literature at the University of Reading, affiliated with the School of Humanities. Her research focuses on postcolonial and feminist literatures, particularly Black British women’s theatre and contemporary representations of social justice. She leads the university’s 'Diversity and inclusion' research theme and previously convened the 'Identities' research cluster. Her award-winning monograph Black British Women’s Theatre (2020) reconstructs overlooked histories of Black women’s artistic contributions in Britain. Current projects include investigating maternal transitions in literature through community partnerships. Teaching excellence is a hallmark of her career, evidenced by the University Teaching Fellowship (2019/20) and student-nominated awards. She designs inclusive curricula and collaborates with students on pedagogical innovation, such as learning-journal workshops and a prison-based reading group. Her courses span global literatures, feminist theory, and identity studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Public engagement includes organizing the Creative Motherhood writing workshops with Becoming Mums and delivering keynote lectures on marginalized voices in literature. Abram also contributes to cultural initiatives like the Uhuru International Black Film Festival. Her work bridges academia with community activism, emphasizing archival recovery and socially engaged scholarship.
Dr. Agnieszka Stasiewicz-Bieńkowska is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University. She specializes in girlhood studies, gender representations, fantasy, the Gothic, and Young Adult popular culture. Her research is deeply transdisciplinary, spanning literary analysis, cultural studies, and media theory. Position: Assistant Professor Institution: Jagiellonian University Faculty: Faculty of International and Political Studies Department: Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora Email: a.stasiewicz-bienkowska@uj.edu.pl Office: Room 326, Phone: +48 12 663 27 68 Her academic interests include girlhood studies, gender and identity in popular culture, vampire fiction, The Witcher universe, and transmedial storytelling. She explores how fantasy narratives reflect and shape cultural discourses on femininity, agency, and belonging. Her work often intersects with migration studies, digital media, and postcolonial theory. The recent publications and conference presentations indicate a strong focus on heroic girlhood, consent in vampire fiction, and gothic representations of history and memory. Her research trends reveal a consistent engagement with female agency, monstrous identities, and the socio-political dimensions of fantasy literature. Jagiellonian University Award for High Performance in Teaching (2024) Nomination for Student Laudations – Mentor of Students (2020) Jagiellonian University Rector’s Award (2022, 2018, 2012) Franklin Scott Prize (2011) Astrid Lindgren Foundation Research Grant (2023/2024) Swedish Institute Visby Scholarships (2014/2015, 2007) Harmonia Grant, Polish National Science Centre (2012–2014) Multiple ERASMUS+ and Griffith University grants Dr. Stasiewicz-Bieńkowska has supervised and collaborated on numerous international research projects, including those funded by the Polish National Science Centre and the Leverhulme Trust. She has coordinated academic programs such as the Una Europa Heritage PhD Consortium and led student study tours to the United States. She is actively involved in mentoring students and promoting international academic exchange. Her work appears in prestigious journals and book series, and she has co-edited several volumes on vampire culture and gothic themes. She is a member of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature and the Popular Culture Association. She is currently leading a research project on girlhood in dragon fiction and continues to explore representations of non-motherhood and agency in fantasy narratives. Her work bridges literary criticism with cultural analysis, contributing significantly to the understanding of identity in contemporary popular media.
Dr. Matt Dallek is a Professor of Political Management at the George Washington University's College of Professional Studies. He is a prominent political historian whose work examines the dynamics of American political transformation, conservatism, and presidential leadership. Education: B.A., University of California, Berkeley M.A., Columbia University Ph.D., Columbia University Dallek’s research interests focus on the evolution of the modern conservative movement, the impact of social crises on political change, and the interplay between liberalism and its critics. His scholarship bridges academic rigor and public engagement, analyzing pivotal moments in American political history such as the rise of the John Birch Society and the development of homeland security under FDR. His publications reflect a consistent engagement with both scholarly and public discourse. The 15 most recent works span books, peer-reviewed articles, and high-profile op-eds, revealing a career dedicated to understanding political polarization, campaign dynamics, and presidential legacies. His work frequently centers on conservatism, electoral politics, and the historical roots of contemporary policy debates. Scientific Awards and Honors: Henry Adams Prize, Society for History in the Federal Government (2017) The Washington Post’s 'Notable Nonfiction Books in 2016' Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, Bill Lane Center for the American West (2015) Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2013) Visiting Scholar, Bipartisan Policy Center (2009–2010) Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2007–2008) Fellow, Alicia Patterson Foundation (2007) Visiting Scholar, Institute of Governmental Studies, U.C. Berkeley (1996–1999) Richard Hofstadter Fellow, Columbia University (1992–1999) Dallek has served as a speechwriter for House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt and as associate director of the University of California Washington Center, giving him deep practical experience in political institutions. He is a frequent commentator in national media, including NPR, CNN International, and MSNBC, and his writings appear in The Washington Post , Politico , and The Atlantic . He teaches courses such as 'Principled Political Leadership' and 'The Presidency,' and is developing a 'Washington Residency' program. While there is no mention of formal graduate student advising or laboratory leadership, his influence extends through public scholarship and institutional engagement.
C. Kemal Nance, PhD (also known as "Kibon"), is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance and African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A native of Chester, Pennsylvania, he is a performer, choreographer, and scholar specializing in African Diasporan Dance. He teaches courses in contemporary African Dance practice (Umfundalai), dance history, Black masculinities, and repertory, serving as a master teacher for the Umfundalai technique of African dance. His educational background includes: PhD in Dance from Temple University M. Ed. in Dance from Temple University BA in Sociology/Anthropology with concentration in Black Studies from Swarthmore College Dr. Nance's research focuses on theorizing the lived experiences of Black men who study and perform African-informed movement practices. His scholarly work examines constructions of race, gender, and masculinities through the lens of contemporary African dance forms. His publications and documentary work reveal a consistent pattern of exploring how dance functions as both cultural expression and resistance for Black men in the diaspora, with particular emphasis on identity formation and community building through movement. Dr. Nance has received the 2013 Katherine Dunham Award for Creative Research. His dance documentary 'Deez Nuts! : Black Bodies Dancing Defiance' was selected for the 2020 Top Shorts Film Festival, continuing his trajectory of impactful scholarly-artistic contributions. As a performer, Dr. Nance has extensive experience with numerous dance companies including Ibeji West African Dance Company, The Children of Shango, Dunya, and Kariamu & Company: Traditions where he served as Associate Artistic Director. He founded the Berry & Nance Dance Project and A Nance Dance Collective, which brings together Black men throughout the African Diaspora to produce choreographic works narrating diverse stories of Black manhood. His choreographic work 'Manifesto' premiered in Kingston, Jamaica in November 2017, demonstrating his international reach and collaborative approach to dance creation.
Erin Gray is an Assistant Professor of American Studies at the University of California, Davis, where she teaches in the Department of American Studies within the College of Letters and Science. She is a feminist cultural historian and critical theorist whose work explores political violence, aesthetic mediation, and knowledge production, with a focus on lynching culture and racial terror in the U.S. Education: B.A. in English, York University M.A. in Social & Political Thought, York University Ph.D. in History of Consciousness, UC Santa Cruz Her research lies at the intersection of critical theory, Black studies, feminist epistemology, visual culture, and political violence . She investigates how racial terror is mediated through images and discourse, particularly in photography and film, and how these representations shape historical memory and resistance. Gray emphasizes history from below and the politics of affect, often drawing on radical left traditions to critique the legacies of lynching and policing. The themes in her publications reflect a sustained engagement with racial capitalism, anti-Black violence, experimental poetics, and decolonial media . Her work spans academic journals, art criticism, and public scholarship, showing a commitment to both theoretical rigor and activist praxis. She frequently analyzes visual and literary texts to uncover the affective and ideological structures of oppression. Scientific Awards and Honors: Society of Hellman Fellowship, UC Davis (2023) Provost Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Irvine (2017–2018) Fellowships from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (twice) Gray has been actively involved in academic and public-facing initiatives, including convening a UC Davis Humanities Institute Interdisciplinary Research Cluster on lynching culture and policing, and advising the Mike Henderson exhibition "Before the Fire." She has received research support through competitive fellowships and grants. While her advising of graduate students is not detailed, her leadership in research clusters and editorial projects suggests mentorship and collaborative scholarship. She has not been listed as leading a formal lab, but her interdisciplinary research group functions as a scholarly collective.
Emeline Jouve is a Professor at Toulouse-Jean Jaurès University, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). She specializes in American theatre, with a focus on avant-garde, political, and experimental forms. She holds leadership roles as Vice-President for Culture at her university, coordinator of the ANR ACTiF research program, and co-director of the ACT seminar and the New Scenes/English collection. She is Editor-in-Chief of Miranda.org and President of both the International Susan Glaspell Society and RADAC (Research on Contemporary Anglophone Dramatic Arts). Doctorate (2011), University of Toulouse 2: 'Susan Glaspell's Drama of Revolt' Habilitation to Supervise Research (2020), Paris-Sorbonne University: 'Theater of the Margins: The American Theatrical Avant-Garde in Question (New York, 1916-2016)' Lecturer at INU Champollion (2013–2021) University Professor at Toulouse-Jean Jaurès University (2021–present) Her research centers on American theatre, particularly the avant-garde, political theatre, experimental forms, and the intersections of theatre with revolt, memory, and cultural identity. She explores dramaturgical innovations, transnational staging, and the legacy of movements like the Living Theatre and Provincetown Players. Her work bridges literary analysis, performance studies, and cultural history, often focusing on feminist and radical theatrical expressions. The 15 most recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with themes of theatrical rebellion, memory, and avant-garde practices. They span analyses of Susan Glaspell, the Living Theatre at Avignon, Aleshea Harris’s Sugarland , and the legacy of 1968. The articles combine historical scholarship with contemporary performance critique, emphasizing political resonance, spectral narratives, and experimental dramaturgy. President, International Susan Glaspell Society President, RADAC (Research on Contemporary Anglophone Dramatic Arts) International Secretary, ATDS (American Theatre and Drama Society) Co-director, New Scenes/English collection, Presses Universitaires du Midi Editor-in-Chief, Miranda.org Emeline Jouve actively supervises doctoral students and leads major research initiatives such as the ANR ACTiF program. Her editorial work includes co-editing special journal issues on immersive theatre, nudity on stage, and American rebellion. She has secured funding for collaborative research and fosters international academic networks through conferences and publications. She is a central figure in the CAS laboratory, contributing to seminars like ACT and ATHIP, and participates in interdisciplinary projects on performance, memory, and cultural transfer. Her leadership in editorial and scholarly societies underscores her role in shaping contemporary research on Anglophone theatre.
Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes is a Professor at the University of Michigan, holding affiliations in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures (Spanish), Department of American Culture, and Latina/o Studies Program. His research focuses on queer and transgender studies, Puerto Rican and Hispanic Caribbean cultures, and performance studies. He is the author of Translocas: The Politics of Puerto Rican Drag and Trans Performance (winner of the Sylvia Rivera Award) and Queer Ricans: Cultures and Sexualities in the Diaspora . He serves on committees for the Modern Language Association and CUNY’s Center for LGBTQ Studies. Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Columbia University (1999). Courses taught include 'Drag in America,' 'Queer/Cuir Americas,' and 'Gender and Sexuality in Latin America.' Research explores drag performance’s intersection with migration, anti-Black racism, and diaspora, emphasizing artists like Sylvia Rivera and Kevin Fret. His recent work analyzes contemporary Puerto Rican performance and feminist hip-hop culture. Awards include the University of Michigan Press Book Award (2023) and honors from the Puerto Rican Studies Association. Professional affiliations include the Latin American Studies Association (former Sexualities Studies Section chair), Caribbean Studies Association, and the American Studies Association. Current projects include a book on contemporary Puerto Rican performance and analyses of transloca artists like Aravind Enrique Adyanthaya. Lab/Team: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, including the Latina/o Studies Program and transnational LGBTQ+ studies networks.
Pedro Lasch is a Research Professor of Art, Art History, and Visual Studies at Duke University, and Director of the Social Practice Lab at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute. He holds a B.F.A. from The Cooper Union (1999). His work bridges art, activism, and academia, focusing on socially engaged practices that disrupt routine and engage communities. Key roles include co-founding the 16Beaver Group and collaborating with immigrant grassroots organizations. Research Interests: Lasch’s practice centers decolonial aesthetics, public interventions, and transnational art practices. He explores how art can challenge systemic inequities through projects like Phantom Limbs , ART of the MOOC , and Latino/a America . His work often critiques globalized structures while affirming communal resilience. Publications & Awards: Author of books such as Géoesthétique (2013) and HETEROPOLIS (2013), Lasch has exhibited globally, including at Documenta 13 and the Havana Biennial. He received the 2013 National Artist Research Fellowship. Teaching & Grants: Teaches courses on experimental art practices and has led the Social Practice Lab & Artistic Research Initiative Fellows Program (2023–2026).
Stephanie L. Young is an Associate Teaching Professor and the W. M. Keck Foundation Endowed Chair in Creative Writing at Mills College, Northeastern University. Her work bridges poetry, scholarship, and activism, focusing on interdisciplinary boundaries. Bachelor's degree (BA) from Whitworth College Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Mills College Her research interests include contemporary poetry, cross-genre writing, feminist theory, and systemic inequities in literary institutions. She has published five poetry collections, including Pet Sounds , which earned a Lambda Literary Award. Ongoing projects involve collaborative investigations into racial disparities in academia with Claire Grossman and Juliana Spahr. Her articles explore identity, literary production, and social movements, appearing in journals like ASAP/J and American Literary History .
Sylvia Chong is an Associate Professor of English and American Studies at the University of Virginia, where she also serves as Director of the Minor in Asian Pacific American Studies. Her research focuses on intersections of race, gender, and violence in film and literature, particularly in Vietnam War contexts. She holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (2004), an A.M. from Stanford (1995), and a B.A. from Swarthmore College (1994). Her major works include The Oriental Obscene: Violence and Racial Fantasies in the Vietnam Era (2012) and edited volumes such as (Re)Collecting the Vietnam War (2015). Her scholarship critically examines Hollywood's portrayal of race, trauma, and cultural identity across film and literature. She has published extensively on topics like racial representation in cinema, queer theory, and postcolonial studies. Dr. Chong's teaching and research bridge American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Film Studies. She has held regular office hours in Bryan Hall and taught courses on film analysis and Asian American cultural studies. Her work often addresses contemporary issues like hopelessness in modern cinema and the legacy of historical violence in visual media.
Travis Sharp is a Lecturer in the Department of English at Howard University's College of Arts & Sciences, with an additional role as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. His work bridges creative practice, literary scholarship, and alternative publishing. Education: PhD in Creative Writing and Poetics, University at Buffalo, SUNY (2021) MFA in English, University of Washington, Bothell (2015) BA, Athens State University (2013) Sharp's research and creative interests center on poetry, textual materiality, queer identity, political economy of language, and hybrid literary forms . His work critically engages the intersections of form, medium, and ideology, particularly in non-traditional textual practices such as artist's books and critical bibliography. He explores how language functions materially and politically, especially under capitalist and heteronormative structures. His recent publications include the poetry collections Monoculture (2024) and Yes, I am a corpse flower (2021), alongside critical work in Criticism and Discourse and Writing . The publications reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary inquiry, blending poetic abstraction with socio-political critique, material experimentation, and decolonial aesthetics—particularly evident in his analysis of Cecilia Vicuña’s khipu art and his own handmade books. Travis Sharp is also deeply involved in scholarly publishing as the executive editor and publisher at Essay Press, a non-profit small press, underscoring his commitment to alternative academic and literary ecosystems. He teaches courses such as Expository Writing and Literacy Studies (ENGW 102), Writing, Literacy, and Discourse (ENGW 104), and Scholarly Writing (NURD 704), reflecting a pedagogical focus on critical literacy, reflective writing, and interdisciplinary communication.
Inna Arzumanova is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the University of San Francisco. She is a full-time faculty member affiliated with Kalmanovitz Hall. Her research focuses on racial and gender performances in media, cultural aesthetics, and global arts industries. Education: PhD in Communication (University of Southern California), BA (University of California, San Diego) Dr. Arzumanova's work examines intersections of race, gender, and digital culture through analyses of dance films, television fashion, and visual art aesthetics. Her investigations bridge academic theory with contemporary media practices, emphasizing critical perspectives on representation and cultural production.
Paulo Pereira is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Management and Health Organizations at the Catholic University of Portugal. He coordinates undergraduate and master's programs in Management and has published extensively in Social Sciences, Economics, Education, and Quantitative Methods. His work includes over 70 articles, four book chapters, and two books. He has received a national award for academic contributions and actively participates in research centers like CAPP (University of Lisbon) and CEDH (UCP). His research focuses on organizational behavior, political institutions, and quantitative methodologies, with a special emphasis on health management and educational innovation. He has supervised a doctoral thesis and over 30 master’s dissertations, contributing to academic and policy discussions on democracy, healthcare, and educational reform. Education and Research Interests: Dr. Pereira’s research spans Social Sciences (Economics, Management, Education), with a specialization in quantitative methods. He has collaborated with over 50 researchers on studies addressing public policy, health systems, and educational strategies. His recent work explores pandemic impacts on mental health, racial discrimination in academia, and ISO standard adoption in cross-sectoral organizations. Awards and Activities: Recipient of a national academic award, he has organized dozens of academic events and delivered over 20 conference presentations. His interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering (past work in chemical processes) with contemporary social sciences, emphasizing data-driven solutions for organizational and societal challenges. Professional Contributions: As a researcher and educator, he has participated in nearly 300 master’s thesis juries, reflecting his commitment to academic rigor. His leadership roles include directing innovative programs in service management, sustainable entrepreneurship, and quality assurance in the third sector. Key Themes in Articles: Recent publications analyze racial discrimination in higher education, mental health during the pandemic, and ISO 9001 implementation. They highlight methodological rigor in data analysis (SPSS, multivariate techniques) and practical applications in healthcare systems and organizational change. Labs/Teams: His affiliations include the Center for Administrative and Public Policy (CAPP) and the Center for Human Development Studies (CEDH), where he collaborates on projects addressing public health, democracy quality, and educational equity.
