Find Academic Supervisors

Diana YehView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Race and Racisms
• Migration Studies
• Cultural Politics
• +5 more

Dr. Diana Yeh is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Culture, and the Creative Industries at the Department of Sociology, City, University of London. She also serves as the Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement, focusing on East and Southeast Asian experiences in the UK and globally. Race and Racisms Migration and Cultural Politics Creative Industries Equity Anti-Asian Violence Her research projects include the Responding to COVID-19 Anti-Asian Racial Violence through Community Care, Solidarity, and Resistance initiative, funded by Resourcing Racial Justice and the SCC Higher Education Innovation Fund. She founded the ESEA Online Community Hub to address racial violence through creative networks. Diana also led the British Academy/Leverhulme-funded project Becoming East and Southeast Asian: Race, Ethnicity, and Youth Politics of Belonging in Britain with Tamsin Barber. Recent publications include analyses of anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, explorations of political love in creative industries, and critiques of colonial legacies in Chinese diaspora studies. She is author of The Happy Hsiungs: Performing China and the Struggle for Modernity (2014) and co-editor of Contesting British Chinese Culture (2018). Keynote speaker on cultural politics of migration Panels at Goldsmiths College and Edge Hill University Media commentary for BBC Radio 4, Resonance FM, and TRT World Consultancy for Royal Geographical Society and Penguin Books Collaboration with Asia-Art-Activism collective Diana’s work challenges the racialization of East and Southeast Asian communities, advocating for anti-racist solidarities that transcend narrow ethnic boundaries. Her research emphasizes creative responses to systemic inequalities and the decolonization of academic frameworks.

• Intercultural Communication
• Critical Communication Studies
• Qualitative Research Methods
• +5 more

Lauren Mark serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the State University of New York at New Paltz, with office JFT 320 and contact details (845) 257-3438 and markl@newpaltz.edu. Her research critically examines intersections of culture and communication through transformational frameworks, utilizing theories of rhythm, time, and relationality to investigate contextual influences on communicative interactions. She specializes in analyzing foregrounded and backgrounded cultural expectations across research methodologies, face-to-face encounters, and mediated representations, with particular focus on Asian perspectives, identity performance, and storytelling. Recent publications (2016-2024) demonstrate interdisciplinary reach across communication studies, cultural theory, and performance, with recurring themes in somatic education, post-qualitative methodologies, model minority critiques, virtual community building, and neurodiversity. Her work consistently bridges theoretical rigor with practical applications in education and social justice contexts. Awards include: 2021 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (Hugh Downs Department of Human Communication) 2020-2021 Fulbright Semi-Finalist 2019 Dessie Larson Graduate Fellowship in Performance Studies Dr. Mark's collaborative projects like Storyscope indicate active community engagement, while her Fulbright recognition and fellowship demonstrate competitive research funding success. Her mentorship extends through philosophical mentoring frameworks and multi-authored publications across diverse topics. Current creative initiatives focus on virtual performance adaptation during crises and embodied communication pedagogy, reflecting commitment to evolving communication challenges in digital and pandemic contexts.

AkkeNeel TalsmaView profile

Associate Professor

• Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Delivery
• +3 more

AkkeNeel Talsma serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where her research focuses on optimizing healthcare delivery systems and improving patient safety outcomes through nursing science. She actively contributes to the Faculty Research Groups in Healthcare Delivery and Development and Maternal Infant Outcomes, addressing critical gaps in surgical care and maternal health. Education: PhD in Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MS in Community Health Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor BSN in Nursing, Academie voor de Gezondheidszorg, Groningen, The Netherlands Diploma Nurse (RN) in Acute Care, Diakonessenhuis, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands Dr. Talsma's research program integrates nursing informatics with clinical practice to enhance patient safety, particularly in surgical settings. Her work examines pressure ulcer prevention mechanisms, operating room staffing impacts, and maternal-infant outcome optimization through data-driven interventions. She has developed influential frameworks like the Quality, Implementation, and Evaluation Model for sustainable clinical practice changes and the MISSCARE Survey OR for measuring nursing care omissions. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare quality improvement. Key trends include surgical safety checklist implementation, racial disparities in patient activation, and academic-clinical research partnerships. Her work bridges nursing practice with health services research, frequently utilizing mixed-methods approaches to address system-level challenges in patient outcomes. Scientific Awards: Distinguished Scholar Award (2015, March) MNRS AORN Journal Writers Contest (2014, March) AORN Journal FAAN (2011, October) American Academy of Nursing Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholar (2008, May) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Dr. Talsma has secured significant research funding through collaborations including the AORN and University of Michigan School of Nursing Research Alliance. Her federally supported work examines failure-to-rescue metrics and nursing staffing effects on surgical outcomes. She actively mentors mid-career nurse scientists through the Midwest Nursing Research Society initiatives and contributes to national patient safety dialogues, as evidenced by her involvement with the Michigan State Commission on Patient Safety. Her current research portfolio focuses on sustainable implementation of clinical decision support tools and addressing disparities in maternal healthcare through data-driven nursing interventions, positioning her at the forefront of healthcare delivery innovation.

Jose SotoView profile

Professor

• Cultural Psychology
• Emotion Regulation
• Mental Health
• +7 more

Jose Soto is a Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University, where he serves as Associate Department Head for DEI and Interim Co-Director of Clinical Training . He directs the Culture, Health and Emotion Lab, a key component of Penn State's top-ranked Clinical Psychology Program. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley (2004) Dr. Soto's research focuses on cultural and contextual influences on emotional functioning, mental health, and well-being , particularly in marginalized groups (racialized/minoritized individuals, sexual/gender minorities). His work examines how systemic challenges like discrimination and bias impact psychological outcomes. His recent publications highlight trends in emotion regulation , multicultural education , and health disparities . Collaborative studies with colleagues like Mena, Borge, and Venkatesan demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches to understanding stress, identity, and coping mechanisms in diverse populations.

• Gerontology
• Health Communication
• Social Health and Wellbeing
• +7 more

Dr. Mary Marshall is an Associate Professor of Gerontology in the Family and Consumer Sciences department at California State University, Long Beach (College of Health and Human Services). Her research focuses on health communication, social wellbeing, and transitions to long-term care facilities among older adults. Education: Dual-title PhD in Human Development & Family Studies and Gerontology from Purdue University (2018) Her work examines stigma in medical conversations , aging family dynamics , and peer mentoring systems , with a particular emphasis on how perceptions of health influence social behaviors during major life transitions. Recent publications explore topics like residential relocation decision-making and implicit bias in cancer pain treatment . Dr. Marshall teaches courses including Perspectives on Gerontology , Aging and Dementia , and End of Life Issues . She has pioneered community engagement initiatives like the Tech Team and Opening Minds through Art programs to connect students with aging populations.

Isabell DiekmannView profile

Researcher

• Migration and Education Sociology
• Migration and Social Inequality
• Prejudice and Group-Focused Misanthropy
• +3 more

Dr. Isabell Diekmann is a researcher at TU Dortmund University in the Collaborative Research Center 1604 "The Production of Migration" (Subproject A2). She is affiliated with the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) at the University of Osnabrück and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research at Bielefeld University. Education: MA in Sociology, Bielefeld University (WS 2014/15 – SoSe 2017) BA in Sociology and Educational Sciences, University of Osnabrück (WS 2011/12 - SoSe 2014) Her research focuses on anti-Muslim racism , hostile attitudes toward Islam , and social inequality . She explores intersections between religion, race, and migration, emphasizing prejudice reduction , discrimination mechanisms , and intercultural education . Her work includes analyzing the impact of environmental degradation on migration ethics and loneliness among international students . Scientific Awards: 2023: Augsburg Science Prize for Intercultural Studies 2022: DGS Young Researcher Award (Poster) She has contributed to journals like Environmental Sociology and International Migration , examining topics such as transnational networks of Chinese students and quasi-experimental studies on mosque tours reducing prejudice . Her monograph "Muslim*innen- und Islamfeindlichkeit" (2023) provides a systematic analysis of anti-Muslim hostility.

Lara PutnamView profile

Research Professor

• Race and Ethnicity
• Gender Studies
• Migration History
• +7 more

Lara Putnam is a Research Professor at the Department of History, University of Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on race, gender, migration, and grassroots social movements in the modern Americas, with special attention to transnational approaches and digital humanities. Research Interests: She explores the information ecosystems shaping historical research, emphasizing how data creation and absence influence knowledge production. Her projects bridge Caribbean studies, labor history, and Atlantic world analysis, examining intersections of race, capitalism, and anti-racism. Scientific Awards Andrés Ramos Mattei-Neville Hall Article Prize (2014–2015) Elsa Goveia Memorial Lecturer (2016) ACLS/SSRC/NEH Fellowship (2006) Recent Publications reflect trends in political activism, suburban/rural organizing, and methodological critiques of data in the digital age. Grants include the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation-funded Sawyer Seminar on information supply and power dynamics.

Joe CurnowView profile

Assistant Professor

• Learning Sciences
• Equity Studies
• Politics of Education
• +6 more

Dr. Joe Curnow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Foundations & Psychology at the University of Manitoba . A scholar-activist, their research bridges the Learning Sciences, social movement studies, and equity studies, focusing on politicization through activism, particularly around race, colonialism, gender, and class. PhD (2017), MEd (2012), and BSc (2005) from the University of Toronto and Northwestern University 2021 National Academy of Education/Spencer Fellow Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar (2017-2018) Joe examines how youth activists develop political understandings through systemic learning, critiques the NGOization of movements, and analyzes the role of affect in politicization. Their work emphasizes sociocultural learning frameworks that prioritize collective meaning-making over individual cognition. Key article themes include decolonial methodologies, emotional configurations in activism, and prefigurative politics. Joe's research often employs walking methodologies and critiques of representational politics in the Learning Sciences. 2019 Outstanding Dissertation Award (AERA) 2018 Brent K. Marshall Paper Award (SSSP) Curriculum Inquiry Writing Fellowship Ontario Graduate Scholarship ($150,000, 2014-2017) As a former organizer in global justice, community, and labor movements, Joe brings praxis-oriented perspectives to teaching courses like Contested Spaces in Education , Cross-cultural Education , and Philosophy of Education . Their pedagogy prioritizes democratic, equitable classrooms where students co-construct critical knowledge.

Minna Johanna NiemiView profile

Professor

• Postcolonial Literary Studies
• Anglophone African Literary Studies
• Trauma Studies
• +3 more

Minna Johanna Niemi is a Professor of English Literature at the Department of Language and Culture, UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her academic work focuses on postcolonial literary studies, Anglophone African literature, trauma theory, and ethics, with additional interests in ecocriticism and African American literature. PhD in English, University at Buffalo (2011) Specializes in postcolonial complicity, moral responsibility, and migrant narratives Author of Complicity and Responsibility in Contemporary African Writing (Routledge, 2021) Co-editor of The Politics of the Past in Zimbabwe (Brill, 2025) Her research explores intersections between political philosophy and literary analysis, particularly in contexts of historical violence, readerly complicity, and environmental justice. Publications span journals like Callaloo , Journal of Postcolonial Writing , and Postcolonial Studies , alongside book chapters addressing African diasporic and modernist texts. Niemi is affiliated with the Border Poetics / Border Culture research group and the Engaging Conflicts in a Digital Era (ENCODE) project. She teaches courses including Introduction to Literature , Literature and the Environment , and Border-Crossing Narratives .

Christine WoyshnerView profile

Professor

• Education History
• African American Education
• Curriculum Development
• +5 more

Christine Woyshner is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development. She also serves as the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs. Doctorate in Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments from Harvard Graduate School of Education As a historian of education, Woyshner explores: Black education and curriculum development Role of voluntary organizations in shaping schools African American civic associations as educational sites Diversification of K-12 social studies curriculum History of women’s associations in education Her recent publications focus on African American educational history, civic engagement through voluntary associations, and curriculum reform. Key themes include: Racial equity and resistance in education Gender roles in curriculum development Historiography of social studies Democratic participation in informal learning spaces

Sarah WillenView profile

Associate Professor

• Medical Anthropology
• Migration and Health
• Human Rights
• +5 more

Sarah Willen is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut and Director of the Research Program on Global Health and Human Rights at UConn’s Human Rights Institute. Her work sits at the intersection of medical anthropology, migration studies, and human-rights scholarship, with a focus on how precarious legal status shapes health and access to care. Education 2006 PhD in Anthropology, Emory University 2006 MPH (Global Health), Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University 2008–2009 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School 2006–2008 NIMH Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School 1996 BA (English & Religion, summa cum laude), Case Western Reserve University; minors in Anthropology and Women’s Studies Research Interests Willen’s scholarship interrogates three interlocking domains: The impact of unauthorized or irregular migration status on access to the social determinants of health. Pedagogical strategies for training U.S. health professionals in cultural competence and human-rights perspectives. The politics and ethics of “right to health” claims and discourses in the United States. She is now launching a collaborative, multidisciplinary study examining how prolonged care by unregulated “pirate babysitters” in south Tel Aviv affects the health and development of children born in Israel to parents with precarious migration status. Recent Scholarly Trajectory Between 2020 and 2025 her publications have clustered around three themes: the lived experience of COVID-19 across diverse U.S. populations (with a large-scale Pandemic Journaling Project generating multiple papers); critical interrogation of “flourishing” as a policy and measurement concept; and ongoing analyses of migrant deservingness, health equity, and structural racism in Israel and the United States. Awards & Fellowships NIMH Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Harvard Medical School Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Leadership & Grants Willen currently directs the Research Program on Global Health and Human Rights at UConn’s Human Rights Institute, a role that encompasses grant writing, interdisciplinary team leadership, and mentoring of graduate researchers. Her new Tel Aviv study is supported by collaborative, multi-institutional funding. Laboratory & Research Teams She leads an active research collective housed jointly in the Department of Anthropology and the Human Rights Institute, where graduate research assistants participate in data collection, coding, and dissemination for the Pandemic Journaling Project and the forthcoming Israel-based child-care study.

• Critical Border Studies
• Migration Studies
• Solidarity and Activism
• +7 more

Dr Gemma Bird is a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department of Politics at the University of Manchester, a position she has held since joining as a Lecturer in 2017. She is also Deputy Director of the Europe and the World Centre and a Board Member of the Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence. Her educational background includes a PhD (2016), MA in Research Methods in Politics and International Relations, and BA in Politics and Philosophy, all from the University of Sheffield. Dr Bird's research lies at the intersection of Political Geography, Applied Political Theory, and International Relations, with a focus on critical border and migration studies, solidarity and activism in Europe, and African political thought. She has published extensively on border governance, citizenship, visual politics, and Racial Capitalism, particularly examining the European border regime and the concept of the "Migration Fix". Her early work explored just cross-cultural dialogue in Kant and African political thought, resulting in a monograph published by Palgrave in 2019. Her recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate a strong trend towards analyzing the European border regime through the lens of Racial Capitalism and the "Migration Fix", while maintaining a commitment to activist scholarship and solidarity movements. She also continues to contribute to the field of African political thought, notably with work on the Négritude movement and critiques of the political theory canon. Dr Bird has secured significant research funding, including: Policy Support Fund 2024/25 (RESEARCH ENGLAND) for August 2024 - July 2025 AHRC IAA 22-25 (ARTS AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL) for April 2022 - November 2026 Community building at the border: activism, migration and a changing world order (KÄTE HAMBURGER KOLLEG) for September 2022 - January 2024 She is keen to supervise PhD students in European bordering, Racial Capitalism, migrant solidarity, and African political thought. As Deputy Director of the Europe and the World Centre and a Board Member of the Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Dr Bird plays a key role in fostering research on Europe and global cooperation.

Naminata DiabateView profile

Associate Professor

• Gender Studies
• Sexuality Studies
• Biopolitics
• +9 more

Naminata Diabate is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences , with affiliations in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Performing and Media Arts; and the Africana Studies and Research Center. Her work bridges African and diaspora studies with cutting-edge research on gender, sexuality, and digital activism. Key Affiliations: Cornell University (College of Arts and Sciences), The Africa Institute (Advisory Board), Institute for Comparative Modernities Core Methodologies: Cross-cultural analysis of literature, film, social media, and oral traditions Research Themes explore the intersection of embodied agency and digital culture through: Women's political nakedness as resistance Queer representation in African cinema Digital media's impact on gender discourse Biopolitical frameworks in postcolonial contexts Transnational feminist dialogues Scientific Recognition : 2022 ALA First Book Award 2021 ASA Best Book Prize 2020 Duke University Press monograph on Naked Agency 2016-2020 MLA Executive Committee leadership Media Engagement spans international platforms including: Contributing writer for Voix/Voie de Femme and Writing Africa Featured expert on BBC's The Comb and PBS's Academic Minute Podcast appearances on Sound Africa and New Books in Women's History

Rosaria RuffiniView profile

Research Fellow

• Contemporary Theatre
• Performance Studies
• African Performance Practices
• +3 more

Rosaria Ruffini is a Research Fellow at the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage of Ca' Foscari University of Venice . She is currently a visiting researcher at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir (Morocco) under a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship . Education: PhD in Theatre Studies (Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris; double doctorate with Alma Mater Studiorum, Bologna), MA in Literature (Ca' Foscari University of Venice) Research interests include: Contemporary theatre and performance in Europe and Africa Interdisciplinary methodologies in Performance Studies and Social Sciences Performative practices in migrant reception centers Relationship between European and African theatrical traditions Field studies in Burkina Faso Publications highlight her work on Luca Ronconi's theatrical innovations , performance in migrant camps , and Peter Brook's dramaturgy . Awards: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow Teaching & Research Affiliations: Previous teaching roles at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Saint Denis-Vincennes University, Franche-Comté University of Besançon, PSL Paris-Sciences-Lettres University, IUAV University of Venice, and ParisTech interuniversity network. Research affiliations include CNRS France, IMAF (Institut des Mondes Africains), and IET (Institut d'études théâtrales).

Pauline StrongView profile

Professor

• Cultural Anthropology
• Historical Anthropology
• Feminist Anthropology
• +7 more

Pauline Strong is a Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Program in Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. She also serves as Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee for the master's program in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. Her campus affiliations include Human Dimensions of Organization; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; American Studies; and the Bridging Disciplines Program (Museum Studies; Patients Practitioners and Cultures of Care). Dr. Strong received her bachelor's degree in philosophy from Colorado College and graduate degrees in sociocultural anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her scholarly contributions include two influential monographs: American Indians and the American Imaginary: Cultural Representation Across the Centuries (2012) and Captive Selves, Captivating Others: The Politics and Poetics of Colonial American Captivity Narratives (1999), as well as co-editing New Perspectives on Native North America: Cultures, Histories, Representations (2006). Dr. Strong's research focuses on the representation of Native American cultures and identities across various cultural forms and historical periods. Her primary interests include cultural, historical, and feminist anthropology; identity and difference; politics of representation; public culture; youth organizations; and humanities fields including museum studies, health humanities, and environmental humanities. Her current research examines: (1) the role of 20th-century youth organizations in developing racialized and gendered U.S. citizens, (2) indigenous nations and movements in climate justice activism, and (3) politics of higher education in 21st century America. Dr. Strong's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on captivity narratives, Native American representation, and identity politics. Her work spans historical analysis of colonial encounters to contemporary issues of indigenous rights and representation. Through publications and academic leadership, she has significantly contributed to understanding how Native American identities have been constructed across cultural forms and historical periods. Dr. Strong currently serves as President of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) chapter at UT Austin. Previously, she was President of the Society for Cultural Anthropology and the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center, and Councilor of the American Society for Ethnohistory. Her university service includes directing the University of Texas Humanities Institute and chairing several key committees including the Graduate Assembly and Faculty Advisory Committee on the Budget. Dr. Strong teaches undergraduate courses including Cultural Anthropology - Honors (ANT 302H), Culture and Health (ANT 324L), and Introduction to Museum Studies (BDP 101), as well as graduate courses in Humanities, Health and Medicine (HHM 380/ANT 391) and Representational Practices (ANT 394). She is not currently accepting new graduate students but remains available to serve on graduate student committees.