Find Academic Supervisors

Kobena MercerView profile

Professor

• Visual Arts of the Black Diaspora
• Cross-Cultural Aesthetics
• Modern and Contemporary Art
• +3 more

Kobena Mercer is a Professor in the Departments of the History of Art and African American Studies at Yale University. He specializes in the visual arts of the Black diaspora, examining African American, Caribbean, and Black British artists within transnational contexts. His research intersects race, sexuality, and identity in modern and contemporary art. Affiliations: Yale University (current), New York University and UC Santa Cruz (previous) LGBT Studies Committee member at Yale Research focuses on cross-cultural aesthetics, diasporic art practices, and decolonizing art historiography. Key works include Welcome to the Jungle (1994), Cosmopolitan Modernisms (2005), and edited volumes in the Annotating Art’s Histories series. Recent publications explore contemporary Black diaspora art through essay collections and contributions to The Image of the Black in Western Art . His writing bridges art criticism, cultural theory, and postcolonial studies. Awards: 2006 Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing Current projects include an essay collection on diaspora art and a chapter on 20th-century Black representation in Western art. His work emphasizes global perspectives and intersectional analyses in art history.

Gerardo L. BlancoView profile

Associate Professor

• Educational Leadership & Policy
• Comparative & International Education
• Quality Assurance in Higher Education
• +3 more

Gerardo L. Blanco is an Associate Professor at Boston College's Lynch School of Education and Academic Director of the Center for International Higher Education (CIHE). His research explores intersections of quality assurance, internationalization, and social justice in higher education, with a focus on accreditation, rankings, and institutional identity construction. Education: Ed.D. in Education (University of Massachusetts Amherst), M.Ed. (University of Maine), B.A. (Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Mexico) Blanco's work challenges neoliberal and colonial assumptions in global higher education metrics. He examines how institutions communicate quality through digital platforms and advocates for localized, inclusive frameworks over Northern-dominated paradigms. His scholarship spans critical analyses of accreditation practices, internationalization strategies, and equity implications of US policy on refugee and international students. Recent publications highlight trends in global quality assurance, decolonial readings of rankings, and critical visual methodologies. His research scrutinizes the paradoxes of internationalization, including power asymmetries in mobility programs and the commodification of educational experiences. Key Awards: Best Research Article (CIES, 2017) Fulbright Specialist Appointment (2020) Best Dissertation Honorable Mention (CIES, 2014) New Scholars Fellowship (CIES, 2012) Blanco leads editorial roles in top journals and collaborates on grants addressing internationalization challenges, including post-COVID mobility and global student housing equity. His work emphasizes cosmopolitanism, intergroup dialogue, and institutional transformation for social justice.

• Dutch History
• Sustainability
• Fair Trade
• +5 more

Peter van Dam is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of Amsterdam , affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities . His work bridges Dutch History and global themes like Fair Trade , Environmental Ethics , and Postcolonial Globalization . Research Interests : Dutch history; entanglement of environmental, religious, and economic ethics; sustainable consumption debates; fair trade movements; and the evolution of consumer society. Publications : Over 25 articles and books focusing on 20th-century Dutch and Low Countries history, with recent works (2021–2025) analyzing sustainability, fair trade ethics, and consumer activism. Contact : phvandam@uva.nl | LinkedIn | BlueSky

Karma R. ChávezView profile

Associate Professor

• Queer of color theory
• Women of color feminism
• Rhetorical criticism
• +7 more

Karma R. Chávez is the Bobby and Sherri Patton Associate Professor and Chair of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Liberal Arts. She holds cross-affiliations with the Department of Communication Studies, Department of Rhetoric and Writing, Center for Women's and Gender Studies, Center for Mexican American Studies, and the LGBTQ Studies Program. Research Interests: Centered on queer of color critique, coalition-building, and rhetorical analysis of social movements through text and fieldwork methodologies. Teaching: Offers courses in Mexican American Studies including Rhetoric of Ethnic Studies, Queer Migrations, and Interpretive Methods. Key Publications: Authored The Borders of AIDS: Race, Quarantine, and Resistance (2021) and co-edited volumes on rhetorical methods, gender studies, and feminist practices. Current projects include community-university collaborations in Wisconsin and creative non-fiction on Midwestern race dynamics. Media Contributions: Regular host of LatinXperts and Feminist Keywords podcasts, with radio work at WORT-FM. Academic Collaborations: Co-authored with scholars like Eithne Luibhéid, Cindy L. Griffin, and the Against Equality collective.

Rasha DiabView profile

Associate Professor

• Rhetorical theory
• history and criticism
• composition studies
• +11 more

Rasha Diab serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing at the University of Texas at Austin's College of Liberal Arts, holding a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009). Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009 Diab's research traverses rhetorical theory, critical discourse analysis, transnational rhetoric, and rhetorics of reconciliation with emphasis on Arab-Islamic traditions. She examines how rhetorical practices operate across cultural boundaries in political discourse, peacemaking contexts, and multilingual writing environments, frequently employing qualitative methodologies to analyze power dynamics in communication. Her work bridges composition studies with postcolonial theory and religious rhetoric. Her 15 most recent publications (2017-2025) reveal three dominant trajectories: 1) Transnational religious rhetorics (particularly Arab-Islamic traditions in legal and peacemaking contexts), 2) Ethical accountability in writing pedagogy and institutional practices, and 3) Feminist and human rights discourses intersecting with microaggression interventions. The scholarship consistently applies cross-cultural rhetorical analysis to contemporary sociopolitical issues while recovering marginalized rhetorical traditions. Diab teaches advanced courses including Transnational Rhetorics (E 387M/RHE 391), Feminist Rhetoric (RHE 330D), and Peacemaking Rhetoric (RHE 330E) across multiple semesters through Fall 2025, demonstrating sustained engagement with her research areas in pedagogical practice.

Matt SakakeenyView profile

Associate Professor

• Ethnomusicology
• Sound Studies
• New Orleans Culture
• +3 more

Matt Sakakeeny is the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Music at the Newcomb Department of Music, Tulane University. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Columbia University (2008). His research examines intersections of music, sound, and structures of inequality, particularly anti-Black racism in New Orleans. Key projects include studies of brass bands, afterschool programs like The Roots of Music, and collaborations on documentaries such as Rudiments . His work bridges ethnomusicology, sound studies, and cultural anthropology, with notable publications including Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans (2013) and co-edited volumes like Keywords in Sound (2015). He teaches courses on New Orleans music, sound studies, and the politics of cultural expression. Recipient of fellowships from the National Humanities Center (2023) and Spencer Foundation (2018), Sakakeeny also serves on nonprofit boards and actively engages in community-based research. His recent work critiques liberal frameworks in music studies and explores sonic dimensions of social justice.

Susan NapierView profile

Professor

• Japanese Animation (Anime)
• Modern Japanese Literature
• Pop Culture Studies
• +5 more

Susan Napier is a Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies at Tufts University, holding the Goldthwaite Chair of Rhetoric. She specializes in modern Japanese literature, anime studies, and cultural theory. Her research explores Japanese animation (Studio Ghibli), manga, popular culture, gender representations, and trauma narratives. Napier earned her PhD from Harvard University (1984) after earlier degrees from the same institution (AB 1977, AM 1980). Education : PhD, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University, 1984 AM, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University, 1980 AB, East Asian Studies, Harvard University, 1977 Research Interests : Napier’s work bridges literary studies and visual culture, focusing on how Japanese animation and literature reflect societal themes like identity, technology, and trauma. She critiques global reception of anime and its role in cross-cultural dialogue. Her analysis of authors like Mishima Yukio and Oe Kenzaburo highlights existential and cultural tensions. Publications : Her 2021 article Playing in the Shadows examines postwar Japanese literature’s engagement with race, while 2018’s Miyazakiworld offers a seminal study of Studio Ghibli’s cultural significance. Recent talks include discussions on Kyoto Animation’s legacy and Miyazaki’s global impact. Professional Engagement : Napier has spoken at international conferences, including the Tokyo University Symposium on Mishima and events at Harvard and the Japan Society. She contributes to media commentary on Japanese culture (e.g., CNN’s coverage of Kyoto Animation). Teaching : She teaches courses like Disney vs. Ghibli , Cinema of Apocalypse , and The Eerie: An Exploration , reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to cultural analysis.

Mona KasraView profile

Associate Professor

• Digital Media Art
• Projection Design
• Immersive Media
• +5 more

Mona Kasra is an Iranian-American Associate Professor of Digital Media Design in the Department of Art at the University of Virginia. Her work bridges new media art, projection design, and immersive theatre, exploring political and theoretical implications of visual media technologies across cultural contexts. Ph.D. in Arts & Technology from University of Texas-Dallas M.F.A. in Video/Digital Art from California State University Northridge B.A. in Graphic Design from Art University of Tehran Her research focuses on hybrid practices integrating digital technologies with live performance, emphasizing audience immersion and narrative reconfiguration. Key areas include: Projection mapping for theatrical spaces Interactive media installations Cross-cultural digital storytelling Immersive audience experiences Time-space manipulation in performance Recent creative works demonstrate trends in: Site-specific installations (abandoned buildings, warehouses) Collaborative design with choreographers/musicians Exploration of identity in hyper-mediated environments Integration of indigenous rituals with modern technology Academic leadership roles include: Faculty co-lead, Karsh Institute’s Digital Technology for Democracy Lab Chair of ACM SIGGRAPH (2023-2024) Board member, New Media Caucus Executive Committee member (2019-2025), UVA Scientific awards: Helen Hayes Award nominations for media design (2022) United Scenic Artists Local 829 membership Her transdisciplinary approach has been supported by grants including the Arts Enhancement Grant and collaborations with institutions like the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center.

Kathleen GallagherView profile

Professor

• Youth Studies
• Applied Theatre
• Arts Education
• +5 more

Kathleen Gallagher is a Professor at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She directs the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies and leads the SSHRC-funded Global Youth (Digital) Citizen-Artists project, focusing on youth-led theatre for socio-ecological justice. Her research bridges theatre, youth studies, and climate education, emphasizing ethnographic and community-engaged methodologies. She has authored monographs like Hope in a Collapsing World and co-edited collections on radical hope and climate crisis narratives. 2023 American Alliance for Theatre and Education Distinguished Book Award 2018 David E. Hunt Award for Graduate Teaching 2017 University of Toronto President’s Impact Award Recent publications explore speculative fiction, climate justice, and decolonizing performance, with keywords spanning theatre pedagogy, intergenerational dialogue, and digital-physical hybrid methods. Her work consistently prioritizes youth agency and ethical relationality in global urban contexts.

Ananda Cohen-AponteView profile

Associate Professor

• Visual Culture of Pre-Hispanic and Colonial Latin America
• Racial Formation in Colonial Art
• Cross-Cultural Exchange in the Andes
• +7 more

Ananda Cohen-Aponte is an Associate Professor of History of Art at Cornell University , affiliated with the Archaeology Program , Latina/o Studies Program , and the College of Arts and Sciences . She earned her Ph.D. from the CUNY Graduate Center and a B.A. from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor . Her research focuses on the visual culture of pre-Hispanic and colonial Latin America , particularly the Andes , examining racial formation , cross-cultural exchange , and legacies of colonialism in contemporary Latinx art . Her current book project, Insurgent Imaginaries: The Art of Rebellion in the Colonial Andes , analyzes visual culture’s role in Indigenous and Afrodescendant resistance against Spanish colonialism. She has published extensively in journals like Colonial Latin American Review , The Americas , RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics , and Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture , with her work appearing in edited volumes from Brill , Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú , and Haynanka Ediciones . Notable awards include the Association for Latin American Art (ALAA) Article Prize (2017) for 'Decolonizing the Global Renaissance,' an Honorable Mention for the Franklin Pease G.Y. Memorial Prize (2013–2014) , and the 2019 Robert A. and Donna B. Paul Academic Advising Award . She co-authored the influential 'A Call to Action' (2019) in Art Journal and co-edited the Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture dossier on diversity in art history. A cross-disciplinary researcher, she collaborates with Dr. Ella Maria Diaz, Dr. Jolene Rickard, and artist Sandy Rodriguez on projects like From Invasive Others Toward Embracing Each Other , exploring hemispheric art-ecology-migration intersections . Funded by Global Cornell and the Mellon Foundation's Just Futures Initiative , this project creates immersive learning environments for BIPOC student recruitment and place-based knowledge . She served a nine-year term as President of the Association for Latin American Art , shaping disciplinary diversity initiatives.

Martha GonzalezView profile

Associate Professor

• Chicana Feminist Theory
• Chican@ Music
• Transnational Musical Dialogues
• +7 more

Martha Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies at Scripps College, Claremont, where she also serves as the Director of the Scripps Humanities Institute. A scholar, artist, and activist, she is deeply engaged in public scholarship through music, performance, and community organizing. Her work bridges academia and grassroots movements, particularly through her leadership in the Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal and her role in fostering transnational cultural dialogues. PhD in Feminist Studies (Chicana Studies Emphasis), University of Washington, 2013 BA in Ethnomusicology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1999 Transfer, Pasadena City College, 1990-1993 Her research centers on the intersection of Chicana feminist theory , Chican@ music , transnational musical dialogues , and performance studies . She emphasizes collective songwriting and participatory music as tools for social justice and decolonial praxis. Her scholarly work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a musician and community organizer in East Los Angeles and transnational networks with Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with themes of cultural resilience, feminist epistemology, and music as testimony. They span ethnographic analysis, critical reviews, and theoretical explorations, demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach across folklore, ethnomusicology, urban studies, and feminist theory. Her work frequently highlights marginalized voices and practices, from street vendors in Boyle Heights to incarcerated women. Her scientific honors include: MacArthur Fellowship (2022) United States Artist (USA) Fellowship (2021) Grammy Award (2013) Fulbright Garcia-Robles Fellowship (2007-2008) Woodrow Wilson Career Enhancement Fellowship Multiple Scripps College research and teaching awards Gonzalez has advised and co-founded several academic and artistic collectives, including Women Who Rock and The Seattle Fandango Project . She has secured research grants from the Mellon Foundation, California Arts Council, and the 5Cs Creativity and Innovation Initiative. Her leadership extends to board roles at Smithsonian Folkways Records and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress . Her personal musical artifacts are housed in the National Museum of American History , underscoring her cultural impact.

Fiona BellView profile

Researcher

• 19th-century Russian literature
• Russian drama
• Gender and sexuality studies
• +4 more

Fiona Bell, a literary translator and scholar from St. Petersburg, Florida, specializes in 19th-century Russian literature and gender studies. With formal education from Princeton, Oxford, and Middlebury, she integrates physical theater practices into her scholarship and teaching. Her work explores intersections of translation theory, cultural criticism, and creative reinterpretation. Education: M.A. in Russian, Middlebury Language Schools (2022) MSt in Modern Languages, Oxford University (2019) B.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Princeton University (2018) Her research interests span Russian imperial histories of racialization, gender dynamics in literary translation, and physical theater pedagogy. Articles demonstrate her focus on radical translation practices, gendered narratives in Russian texts, and cross-cultural reinterpretations of canonical works. Her translations of Nataliya Meshchaninova and Avdotya Panaeva have garnered significant recognition. Scientific Awards: North American Dostoevsky Society Graduate Essay Competition Winner (2022) ASEEES Internship Program Grant (2022) PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant (2020) English Teaching Assistantship Award, Russian Federation (2019-20) ALTA Emerging Translator Mentorship (2018-2019) As a reviews editor at Full Stop , she contributes to literary discourse through critical analysis of grief literature, postcolonial narratives, and contemporary translations. Her creative work merges Russian literary themes with humor, including satirical pieces on skincare and gendered absurdities in The Belladonna Comedy .

Sulaimon Abiodun Olawale GiwaView profile

Associate Professor

• Critical Race Theory
• Anti-Black Racism
• LGBTQ+ Migration and Integration
• +5 more

Dr. Sulaimon Abiodun Olawale Giwa is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Memorial University's School of Social Work. He holds a cross-appointment to the Department of Sociology and Police Studies and serves as the Endowed Chair in Criminology and Criminal Justice at St. Thomas University. His expertise spans critical race theory, LGBTQ+ migration, and anti-racism advocacy. Giwa earned his PhD in Social Work from York University, specializing in race, ethnicity, and culture. Giwa's research focuses on intersectional stigma, minority stress, and systemic racism in policing. He has led over 20 funded projects, including initiatives addressing LGBTQ2S+ newcomer integration and racial profiling. His work has been published in journals like Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment and Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality . He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Giwa chairs the City of St. John's Anti-Racism Working Group and co-chairs the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Anti-Racism Committee. His advocacy includes training programs on antiracism and equity for police, healthcare providers, and educators. He has authored books like Racism and Gay Men of Color and contributed to policy reforms through SSHRC-funded projects. Key achievements include pioneering community-police dialogues in Ottawa and Newfoundland, advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in policing, and shaping provincial restorative justice guidelines. His work bridges academia and activism, emphasizing transformative pedagogy and community-driven solutions.

Shardé M. DavisView profile

Associate Professor

• Interpersonal Communication
• Relational Communication
• Intergroup Communication
• +9 more

Dr. Shardé M. Davis is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Connecticut, with faculty affiliations in the Africana Studies Institute , the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) , the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program , and the Sustainable Global Cities Initiative . Her academic journey began at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she conducted undergraduate research through the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program and received her B.A. in Communication and Feminist Studies followed by an M.A. in Communication. She completed her Ph.D. in Communication Studies and a doctoral certificate in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Iowa in 2016. Primary Research: Interpersonal, relational, and intergroup communication Specialization: Black women’s communication patterns, racial/gender identity dynamics, and health outcomes Key Contributions: Creator of the #BlackintheIvory™️ movement and author of Being BlackintheIvory: Truth-Telling about Anti-Black Racism in Higher Education (UNC Press, 2024) Dr. Davis's research explores how Black women's complex identities shape communication within close relationships and group settings. Her groundbreaking Strong Black Woman Collective (SBWC) theory (Davis, 2015) examines collective identity management strategies among Black women, linking these practices to mental health outcomes, stress reduction, and group solidarity. She employs mixed methods from post-positivist, feminist, and critical theoretical frameworks to study communication patterns across marginalized groups including the elderly, financially-strained families, and divorcing couples. Her recent scholarly work spans: Racial identity dynamics in academic settings Cultural expression through digital communication Health communication interventions Structural analysis of intergroup communication Scientific Awards & Recognitions: 2018 American Postdoctoral Fellowship (AAUW) 2019 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Faculty of Color Working Group Fellowship Dr. Davis leads the Interpersonal Interaction Lab at UConn and serves as: Chair of the African American Communication and Culture Division (NCA) Associate Editor of Communication Monographs and Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Dan S JurafskyView profile

Professor

• Computational Linguistics
• Natural Language Processing
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• +5 more

Dan S. Jurafsky is the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University. He holds joint appointments in the Department of Linguistics and Department of Computer Science. His academic journey includes a B.A. in Linguistics (UC Berkeley, 1983), Ph.D. in Computer Science (UC Berkeley, 1992), and postdoctoral work at the International Computer Science Institute (Berkeley, 1995-1998). Prior to Stanford, he was on the faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder (1996-2003). Jurafsky's research bridges computational linguistics, natural language processing, and sociocultural studies. Notable works include The Language of Food (2014) and co-authorship of the seminal textbook Speech and Language Processing (2009, 2022). His work applies NLP to domains like policing interactions, healthcare communication, and historical discourse analysis. His awards include the MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship (2003), American Academy of Arts and Sciences membership (2020), and multiple ACL/IJCAI best paper recognitions. He co-created one of the first MOOCs on NLP with Chris Manning and has advised over 50 students, many of whom won top awards like the Arthur Samuel Thesis Prize. Current projects include studying dialect bias in AI systems, linguistic analysis of police interactions, and ethical foundations of large language models. He leads interdisciplinary teams at Stanford's Center for East Asian Studies and collaborates with researchers in sociology, psychology, and computer science.