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John Michael McCluskeyView profile

Associate Professor

• Music and Sport
• Music and Religious Experience
• Commercial Music
• +3 more

Dr. John Michael McCluskey is currently the Interim Dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts and a Tenured Associate Professor of Music at Shorter University. He previously taught at Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky before joining Shorter's faculty. His roles include teaching courses on Western music history, world musics, and interdisciplinary music studies. Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology, University of Kentucky Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Lee University Dr. McCluskey's research explores intersections between music and cultural phenomena. Key areas include: Music's role in American college football Relationships between music and religious experiences Commercial music dynamics Music's integration into video games His publications in American Music and Journal of the Society for American Music demonstrate engagement with musicological and ethnomusicological frameworks. Conference presentations span international, national, and regional levels, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach. Professional affiliations include: Society for American Music (SAM): Website Committee member, former Layout Editor for SAM Bulletin Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM): Active member American Musicological Society (AMS): Past-President of South-Central chapter, former Vice-President and Program Committee Chair His scholarly work combines archival research with ethnographic methods, particularly evident in his dissertation on music in American college football. Current projects likely expand on music's performative and symbolic functions in contemporary cultural contexts.

Duchess HarrisView profile

Professor

• African American Political History
• Civil Rights Movement
• Black Feminist Politics
• +4 more

Duchess Harris is a Professor of American Studies at Macalester College, where she has built a distinguished career since joining as an instructor in 1994. She earned tenure in 2004 and was promoted to full professor in 2013. A founding member of Macalester's American Studies department, she served as its chair for eight years. Harris holds a JD from Mitchell Hamline College of Law (2011) in addition to her PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota. Her educational background includes a degree in American History from the University of Pennsylvania, where she made history as the first Black woman elected Student Body President at an Ivy League institution. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Minnesota Law School and the University of Georgia, and a policy fellowship at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Harris's research focuses on 20th-century African American political history, civil rights, and Black feminist politics. Her scholarship examines the intersection of race, gender, and law, with particular attention to Black women's political leadership from the Kennedy administration through the Trump presidency. She developed a distinctive pedagogical approach she calls 'Black Pedagogy,' which integrates legal training with experiential learning through site visits to correctional facilities and community engagement. Her recent publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output across multiple disciplines, with emphasis on contemporary political movements like Black Lives Matter and Black Girl Magic. These works analyze both historical continuity and innovation in Black feminist political strategy, particularly regarding digital organizing and representation in mainstream politics. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 200 Black Leaders in the Twin Cities region (2023) Macalester College Trustee Award for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service (2022) Thomas Jefferson Award (Macalester's highest honor, 2021) University of Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Award (2017) Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers Profiles in Courage Award (2015) Harris has mentored numerous students through Macalester's academic programs and developed innovative courses connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Her community engagement extends to multiple boards including Region's Hospital Foundation, Friends of St. Paul Libraries, and Brownbody. Public policy appointments include serving as a Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner, on the Governor's Council on Black Minnesotans, and co-chairing the Statewide Martin Luther King Holiday. She is currently a member of the Kamala Harris Project and serves on the Shirley Chisholm Presidential Accountability Commission.

• Race and ethnicity studies
• Diaspora and transnationalism
• Film and media studies
• +4 more

Dr. Jane Park is a Senior Lecturer in Gender and Cultural Studies at The University of Sydney, specializing in race, diaspora, and media representation. Her work examines globalization's impact on East Asian and diasporic communities through film, education, and policy frameworks. She actively contributes to the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre and teaches undergraduate/postgraduate units including GCST1601 Introduction to Cultural Studies and INGS4002 Identity, Politics, Globalisation. BA, Brown University MA, University of California, Irvine PhD, University of Texas Her research centers on decolonial pedagogies, race/ethnicity studies, and transnational media, evolving from early analyses of Hollywood's Orientalism ( Yellow Future: Oriental Style in Hollywood Cinema , 2010) toward contemporary anti-racism policy. Current projects include an ARC-funded study on Australian anti-racism ideologies (2022–present) and a memoir on teaching and healing. Her 2025–2014 publications reveal a trajectory from cinematic representation to embodied pedagogy, with increasing focus on Australian racial discourse and student affective experiences. Jane supervises PhD candidates researching digital design bias (Diana CHAMMA) and Chinese Danmei fandom (Lynn ZHENG). Her 2022 ARC Discovery Project examines Australian anti-racism policies since the 1990s, while earlier grants include Korean cosmetic surgery media analysis (2011). As a core member of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, she bridges academic research with community engagement through interdisciplinary teams exploring diasporic identities and transnational cultural flows.

Derrick R. SpiresView profile

Associate Professor

• Early Black Print Culture
• Citizenship Studies
• African American Intellectual History
• +3 more

Derrick R. Spires serves as Associate Professor of English in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Delaware, specializing in early Black print culture, citizenship studies, and African American intellectual history. His scholarly mission centers on recovering the rich imaginative worlds African-descended people generated through print media and how these imaginings facilitated material change, spanning from tragicomic expressions to mundane daily practices. Spires' research interrogates how Black writers articulated expansive, practice-based theories of citizenship through robust print networks including newspapers, the Colored Conventions movement, and ephemeral publications. His work reveals the centrality of seriality, pseudonymity, and collaborative performance in Black political thought, demonstrating how print culture enabled Black communities to navigate and reshape citizenship frameworks despite systemic exclusion. He examines how early African American literature cultivated aesthetic sensibilities that sustained resistance and community building. Analysis of his 2016-2024 publications reveals consistent thematic threads: the material conditions of Black bibliography, gendered dimensions of political expression, and the performance aspects of print culture. His scholarship increasingly engages with digital humanities methodologies while maintaining deep archival rigor, particularly regarding Dorothy Porter's bibliographic mission and liberation bibliography frameworks. Key publications map connections between early Black social media practices and contemporary digital activism. Spires' accolades include: Modern Language Association Prize for First Book (2020) St. Louis Mercantile Library Prize (2020) National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Ford Foundation Fellowship Social Science Research Council Fellowship Mellon/Mays Initiatives Fellowship American Antiquarian Society Fellowship His editorial leadership encompasses the Broadview Anthology of American Literature and the University of Pennsylvania Press series 'Black Print and Organizing in the Long Nineteenth Century.' Research has been supported by major fellowships examining Black print networks, though specific grant details beyond institutional fellowships aren't specified. Spires contributes significantly to recovering marginalized intellectual traditions through meticulous bibliographic work and theoretical innovation in citizenship studies.

Looi van KesselView profile

Assistant Professor

• LGBTQIA+ Literature
• Gender Studies
• American Studies
• +6 more

Looi van Kessel serves as Assistant Professor in Literary Studies and Gender Studies at Leiden University, affiliated with the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) and the Department of Film and Literary Studies. He coordinates the minor program 'Gender and Sexuality in Society and Culture' and chairs both the Curriculum Committee and the Leiden University LGBT+ Network, where he advocates for equal treatment of LGBTQIA+ staff and students. Van Kessel completed his PhD in 2019 with a dissertation examining melodrama and sexual identity in the works of American author James Purdy. His academic trajectory demonstrates a commitment to exploring literature's role in shaping and challenging societal understandings of gender and sexuality across different historical periods. His research spans three interconnected domains: LGBTQIA+ literary analysis focusing on authors James Purdy and Louis Couperus; AIDS epidemic literature examining how writing from this period functions as pedagogy for future generations; and contemporary drag culture analysis, particularly in response to rising anti-drag sentiment across Europe. His work consistently explores how literature creates space for alternative sexual identities and challenges rigid categorizations of gender and sexuality. As an educator committed to inclusive practices, Van Kessel researches democratizing pedagogies that recognize diverse student backgrounds and learning needs. He co-leads a project assessing the Film and Literary Studies curriculum at Leiden University to develop more inclusive teaching approaches that address not just course materials but also workload, teaching methods, and assessment formats. Van Kessel holds significant editorial positions as co-chief editor for Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies (Dutch Journal for Gender Studies) and editorial board member for Arabesken, the journal of the Louis Couperus Society. His public engagement includes regular contributions to media discussions on LGBTQIA+ issues, addressing topics from substance abuse in queer communities to the political challenges facing drag performers. His recent work demonstrates how academic research can directly inform contemporary social debates and policy discussions regarding LGBTQIA+ rights and representation.

Raquel Farmer-HintonView profile

Professor

• Urban Education
• Educational Equity
• Racialized Policies
• +3 more

Dr. Raquel Farmer-Hinton is a Professor and Director of the Alternative Education Certificate Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) in the Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies. Her work focuses on urban education equity, racialized policies, and systemic barriers faced by Black and Brown students. She employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine college access, social capital, and policy impacts. Education: She holds a BS in Psychology and MS/PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior roles include postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Chicago and Educational Testing Service (ETS). Research Interests: Dr. Farmer-Hinton’s scholarship challenges entrenched educational inequities through frameworks like Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth. Key areas include college-going cultures in urban schools, promise scholarship efficacy, and counter-narratives of success in marginalized communities. Her work often critiques historical and contemporary policies that perpetuate stratification. Grants & Awards: She has secured funding from AERA, ETS, UWM, and the UW Institute on Race and Ethnicity. Her grants focus on policy evaluation and community-engaged research. Service: She coordinated UWM’s Alternative Education Program, served on the UChicago Consortium Steering Committee (including Co-Chair), and joined the UW OPID Advisory Council (2025-2027). Teaching spans graduate/undergraduate courses in education sociology, research methods, and cultural foundations. Labs/Teams: Her work is collaborative, often involving interdisciplinary teams like the East St. Louis Scholars collective (Patton, Rivers, Lewis) producing critical re-examinations of educational inequity literature.

• Theatre Studies
• Dramaturgy
• Theatre History
• +5 more

Dr. Jocelyn Buckner is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the BA Theatre Studies program at Chapman University's College of Performing Arts. She teaches courses in theatre history, dramaturgy, and dramatic theory, while also mentoring student research through the University Honors Program. Education: B.A., Converse College M.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University in Theatre Pedagogy Ph.D., University of Kansas in Theatre Studies Her research focuses on intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality in contemporary plays and U.S. popular entertainment. She is a leading scholar on Lynn Nottage, editing the first scholarly collection on the playwright. Dr. Buckner’s expertise spans dramaturgy, theatre historiography, and identity politics in performance. Recent Publications: Contributions to Contemporary Black Theatre and Performance: Acts of Rebellion, Activism, and Solidarity (2023), and editorial work for Theatre History Studies (2022-2027). Her articles appear in journals like African American Review and Theatre Journal . Awards: Faculty Excellence Award in Mentorship Valerie Scudder Award for Teaching and Research Sigma Alpha Pi Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Buckner collaborates with theatres such as Donmar Warehouse, Center Stage Theatre, and Native Voices at the Autry. She serves as dramaturg for Chance Theater’s New Works Series and mainstage productions, and holds leadership roles in professional organizations like the American Theatre and Drama Society.

Nina SharmaView profile

Academic

• Creative Writing
• Personal Essays
• Asian American Literature
• +7 more

Nina Sharma is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of English at Barnard College, part of Columbia University, where she teaches and mentors students in creative writing and literature. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University’s School of the Arts, an M.A. from Columbia’s School of Arts and Sciences, and a B.A. from Barnard College, reflecting a deep academic engagement with the literary arts. M.F.A, Columbia University School of the Arts M.A., Columbia University School of Arts and Sciences B.A., Barnard College Her research and creative interests center on personal essays, BIPOC narratives, mental health in Asian American communities, humor writing, and intersectional identity. Her work explores themes of love, race, gender, and cultural belonging through a deeply personal and often satirical lens. She has been a two-time grantee of the Asian Women Giving Circle for her workshop “No Name Mind: Stories of Mental Health from Asian America,” highlighting her commitment to community-based storytelling. Her publications include essays and interviews in The New Yorker , Harper’s Bazaar , Electric Literature , Women’s Studies Quarterly , and The Margins . Her debut collection, The Way You Make Me Feel: Love in Black and Brown (Penguin Press, 2024), synthesizes personal narrative with cultural critique, examining interracial love and identity. The essays reflect recurring themes: the emotional labor of womanhood, the absurdities of assimilation, and the resilience of marginalized voices. She has been awarded prestigious residencies from the Vermont Studio Center and St. Nell’s Humor Writing Residency. These fellowships underscore her recognition in the literary community. She is also a proud co-founder of Not Your Biwi Improv and co-created the column Blackshop for Anomaly , fostering allyship between BIPOC communities. Nina Sharma formerly served as Programs Director at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, where she expanded programming for emerging writers. Her current teaching at Barnard and Columbia continues this mission of mentorship and literary advocacy. She has no formal PhD students listed, but her workshops and public engagements suggest a strong advisory role in creative development. She is actively involved in literary events, with a book tour spanning New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, engaging audiences through readings and panel discussions. Her work bridges academic, artistic, and public spheres, contributing to contemporary conversations on race, gender, and narrative form.

Aaron WhiteView profile

Assistant Professor

• Architecture
• Architectural History
• Art History
• +6 more

Aaron White serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture at Mississippi State University, where he contributes to both architectural education and research in architectural history. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary critical examinations of race, empire, and cultural identity in the built environment. White's educational background provides a strong foundation for his interdisciplinary approach: PhD in Architectural History and Theory from Columbia University MA in Architecture from Pratt Institute BA in Architecture from the University of Idaho His research focuses on the complex relations between classicism and colonization in late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century English architecture. White examines how architectural forms and practices functioned within imperial frameworks, particularly exploring connections between built environments and racial constructions. His work on whiteness in early modern architecture represents a significant contribution to expanding architectural history to address racial formations in premodern contexts, as evidenced by his 2025 edited volume "Early Modern Architecture and Whiteness" published by Routledge. White's publication record reveals an evolving scholarly trajectory that increasingly engages with critical race theory while maintaining connections to his foundational interests in classicism and colonialism. His most recent works demonstrate sophisticated analysis of how architectural spaces participated in the construction of racial identities, particularly whiteness, in early modern England. The 2025 Routledge volume represents a major scholarly intervention that reframes architectural history through the lens of race studies, examining how premodern architecture contributed to racial hierarchies and power structures. White has presented his research extensively at major academic conferences including the Society of Architectural Historians annual meetings, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture conferences, and specialized forums such as the Southeast Society of Architectural Historians. His presentations demonstrate engagement with both architectural history specialists and broader scholarly communities interested in race, empire, and cultural studies. As an educator, White has developed innovative approaches to architectural history pedagogy, as evidenced by his 2025 work on integrating AI into architectural history courses. His teaching likely emphasizes critical perspectives that connect historical architectural practices to contemporary issues of race, representation, and social justice in the built environment. He is affiliated with research centers at Mississippi State University including the Fred Carl, Jr. Small Town Center and the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, suggesting connections between his historical scholarship and community-focused architectural practice.

Ulla D. BergView profile

Associate Professor

• Migration
• Transnationalism
• Regimes of (Im)mobility
• +8 more

Ulla D. Berg is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University , affiliated with both the Latino and Caribbean Studies and Anthropology departments within the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) . Her research focuses on migration, transnationalism, regimes of (im)mobility, immigrant detention and deportation, media and performance, race and affect, visual anthropology, and ethnographic filmmaking in Latin America (particularly the Andes) and among U.S. Latinx communities. Education : Ph.D. in Socio-cultural Anthropology (2007) and Certificate in Culture and Media (2005) from New York University ; M.A. (2001) and B.A. (1998) in Anthropology from University of Copenhagen . Her scholarly work, including the book Mobile Selves: Race, Migration, and Belonging in Peru and the U.S. (2015), examines how migrants navigate legal categories through communicative practices, and how biometric technologies reshape racialized surveillance. She also explores the emotional costs of transnational family separation and media ideologies around communication technologies. Recent publications analyze deportation regimes under Obama and Trump, carceral ethnography during pandemics, and visual anthropology in diasporic contexts. Berg is an active filmmaker, directing Waiting for Miracles (2003) and collaborating on projects like a documentary on Dominican infrastructure legacies. She previously directed the Center for Latin American Studies (2018-2021) and collaborates with organizations like First Friends of NJ and NY . Her teaching includes graduate seminars on anthropological theory and undergraduate courses on Latinx studies and media anthropology.

Sarah M.A. GualtieriView profile

Professor

• Middle East Migration Studies
• Arab American Studies
• Critical Ethnic Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Sarah M.A. Gualtieri is a Professor at the University of Southern California, affiliated with the Departments of American Studies and Ethnicity, History, and Middle East Studies. Her research bridges Middle East Migration Studies, Arab American Studies, and Critical Ethnic Studies, with a focus on race, gender, and power dynamics. She holds a B.A. in History from McGill University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Middle East Studies and History from the University of Chicago. Key research projects include Arab Angelenos , exploring Syrian migration to Los Angeles and inter-ethnic relations, and her award-winning book Between Arab and White , which redefined Arab diaspora studies. Her work interrogates racialization processes, legal discrimination, and diasporic identity formation through historical case studies like the lynching of Syrian immigrant Nicholas Romey in the Jim Crow South. Awarded NEH and ACLS fellowships, Dr. Gualtieri has contributed to PBS documentaries like Faces of America and served as interim chair of her department. Her interdisciplinary approach links historical analysis to contemporary debates on migration, race, and gender, with publications spanning books, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed journals. Awards: Mary C. Turpie Prize (2024), NEH Fellowship (2016-17), ACLS Ryskamp Fellowship (2008-09) Service: Editor for Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Culture , consultant for major media projects Grants: Over $22,000 for Arab Angelenos project (2010-11), USC Visions and Voices funding (2007-08) Her work establishes critical dialogues between Arab American Studies and broader ethnic studies frameworks, emphasizing transnational linkages and marginalized histories.

Simone MarinoView profile

Research Fellow

• Ethnic Identity Construction
• Dementia Care for Migrant Populations
• Music and Narrative Interventions
• +4 more

Dr Simone Marino is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University's School of Education, collaborating with Professor Narelle Lemon on the Citizen Wellbeing Scientist Project. His interdisciplinary work bridges gerontology, anthropology, and music therapy to address migrant wellbeing, particularly focusing on dementia care through cultural engagement. His research centers on ethnic identity construction among Italian-Australian communities and innovative interventions like Comusichiamo —a music and narrative engagement program using home languages, life soundtracks, and storytelling to support migrants with dementia and their caregivers. As Music & Cultural Engagement Consultant for WA InCasa Aged Care, he implements culturally responsive care models informed by his ethnographic expertise. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in migrant wellbeing , dementia interventions , and cultural identity transmission . His work increasingly integrates multi-modal approaches, with recent publications emphasizing practical applications in aged care settings amid contemporary challenges like pandemic restrictions. TASA Sociology in Action Bursary (2024) Inpress Magazine Autori in Viaggio Prize for ethnographic research (2020) ACIS Honorary Research Fellow Award (2020-2023) TASA Precarious Work Conference Scholarship (2019) Three Minutes Thesis Competition Finalist (2015) Marino co-leads major research initiatives including the $1.48M NHMRC-funded BEFRIENDING WITH GENIE project addressing dementia care for culturally diverse populations, and the Let's Sing Together intervention combating social isolation among older migrants. His community engagement extends through WA InCasa Aged Care and the SAGE Futures Lab, where he develops practical applications of his theoretical work on cultural wellbeing. As an Adjunct Research Fellow at ECU's SAGE Futures Lab, he contributes to collaborative research on social ageing while maintaining active roles in the Australian Association of Gerontology, Australian Anthropological Society, and Asian Australian Studies Research Network.

Stephanie TakaragawaView profile

Associate Professor

• Cultural Anthropology
• Asian American Studies
• Japanese American Internment
• +5 more

Stephanie Takaragawa serves as an Associate Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean for Academic Programs at Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Chapman University. Her academic career bridges cultural anthropology, visual studies, and sociology with a focus on representation, memory, and cultural production. Associate Professor, Sociology Department Associate Dean for Academic Programs Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Chapman University Dr. Takaragawa's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from University of Southern California, and both Master of Arts and Ph.D. from Temple University. Her research examines visual and material culture with particular attention to media, art, performance, exhibition, and theme parks in relation to racial representation. A significant portion of her work investigates the Japanese-American incarceration during WWII and how that history is understood, represented, and memorialized in contemporary contexts. She is deeply engaged with multimodal anthropology and has contributed significantly to the field through her work with the Ethnographic Terminalia curatorial collective, which explores the intersections of anthropology, art, and exhibition practices. Her current research project on Japanese American incarceration is available through Chapman University's Scalar platform. Dr. Takaragawa's publications reveal a consistent trajectory exploring the relationship between anthropology and visual/cultural practices. Her work spans traditional academic publications, experimental digital projects, and curatorial exhibitions that challenge conventional boundaries between anthropology and art. She has made substantial contributions to understanding how multimodal approaches transform anthropological practice, with particular focus on curation, performance, and digital media as anthropological methods. As Associate Dean for Academic Programs, she contributes to the academic leadership of Wilkinson College while maintaining an active research and publication agenda. Her teaching encompasses cultural anthropology, visual culture, Asian American studies, and notably includes courses on Disneyland as a cultural site of analysis.

Barbara LebrunView profile

Senior Lecturer

• French Cultural Studies
• Popular Music Studies
• French Popular Music
• +14 more

Barbara Lebrun is a Senior Lecturer in French Cultural Studies at the University of Manchester, School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, within the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. She has been a faculty member since 2002 and is actively engaged in research, teaching, and PhD supervision. Her work spans French popular music, cultural identity, gender, race, and audience reception. PhD, University of Southampton (2003) PGCE, Homerton College, Cambridge (1998) MA in French as a Foreign Language, Université d'Aix-en-Provence (1998) MA in English Studies, Université de Rouen (1997) Barbara Lebrun's research focuses on French popular music since the 1950s, with particular attention to cultural identity, race, gender, and the dynamics of mainstream versus alternative music cultures. Her work explores the representation of whiteness, exoticism, and cosmopolitanism, and she is currently developing a project on racial diversity in French variétés from the 1960s to 1980s. She has authored two influential monographs: Protest Music in France (2009) and Dalida. Mythe et Mémoire (2020), and has co-edited several scholarly collections on music, performance, and cultural memory. Her recent publications (2022–2024) reveal a strong thematic focus on the feminization of French popular music, the representation of blackness, and the intersection of race, power, and commercial success. Articles such as 'Métis in the Mainstream' and 'Corps noir, succes blanc' demonstrate her critical engagement with racial dynamics in French pop, while her work on Christine and the Queens and Dalida highlights her interest in gender, identity, and global Frenchness. Barbara Lebrun has received significant recognition for her scholarship and mentorship: Excellence Award as Doctoral Supervisor, UK Council of Graduate Education (UKCGE), 2025 IASPM Prize for Best Anglophone Monograph (2011) for Protest Music in France She is an active supervisor of PhD students, with current projects on Vietnamese and Francophone cinema, Grace Jones, and opera translation. She has successfully co-supervised numerous PhDs on topics ranging from Jewish-Muslim relations to Morrissey’s lyrics and identity in contemporary theatre. She also serves on independent panels and acted as External Examiner for French Studies at the University of Sheffield (2016–2020). Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to reduced inequalities and quality education. Lebrun is affiliated with several research networks and has contributed to public scholarship through media appearances, including a featured podcast on Dalida with afikra and expert commentary in French media (France Inter, Le Monde). She leads a vibrant research agenda that bridges academic rigor with public engagement.

Jennifer M. WilksView profile

Associate Professor

• Comparative African American and Caribbean literatures
• contemporary African diasporic literature
• Francophone literature and culture
• +1 more

Jennifer M. Wilks is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts, and departments of English, African and African Diaspora Studies, and Comparative Literature. She serves as Director of the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies. Ph.D. from Cornell University (2003) Specializes in comparative African diasporic literature, Francophone studies, and gender theory Her research explores race, gender, and modernism through literary adaptations, diasporic identity, and postcolonial critique. Recent work examines apocalyptic narratives in contemporary literature and culture. Key publications include interdisciplinary studies on Carmen’s diasporic reinterpretations, Caribbean diasporic politics, and race in post-apocalyptic fiction. She has held visiting roles at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3 and Université Paris Nanterre. Awards: Texas 10 (Alcalde), Harry Ransom Teaching Excellence Award, Thomas Cable Teaching Award Podcast appearances: The 1619 Project , How to Read (2022) Conference leadership: Chair of UT’s Black Studies at 50: 1968/1969 (2019)