Richard Westerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Arts. He holds a PhD and MA from the University of Cambridge's Faculty of History. His research focuses on social thought, the philosophy of society, and critical theory, with particular emphasis on phenomenology, ethics, and the Frankfurt School. He teaches classical and contemporary social theory, sociology of art, and introductory sociology courses using a liberal arts approach emphasizing critical engagement with primary texts. Westerman's research examines the nature of meaning in consciousness through Husserl and Schütz's phenomenology, and challenges deontological assumptions in critical social theory, engaging with Habermas and Lukács. He also explores ethics in social critique, advocating for a meaning-oriented approach to normative demands. He teaches Soc 212 (Classical Social Theory), Soc 335 (Themes in Contemporary Theory), Soc 461/Soc 503 (Sociology of Art), and Soc 100 (Introductory Sociology). His pedagogical methods prioritize close reading, logical argumentation, and small-group discussion. He supervises graduate students with theoretical/philosophical questions and serves on committees for projects involving social justice, phenomenological sociology, or art theory. Westerman has published extensively on Lukács' theories, critical theory, and the sociology of art. His work appears in journals like Modern Intellectual History and the British Journal of Aesthetics. He is actively involved in the Faculty of Arts' teaching initiatives and maintains an interdisciplinary research profile connecting philosophy, art, and social theory.
Kevin Kennedy is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University, where he has served since 1990. He also directs the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program and serves as Councilor of the Metaphysical Society of America. Education: Ph.D. in Philosophy, The Catholic University of America, 1990 M.A. in Philosophy, The Catholic University of America, 1985 B.A. in Philosophy, LeMoyne College, 1980 Dr. Kennedy's research centers on Metaphysics with deep engagement in American philosophical traditions, particularly Pragmatism and Marxist theory. His work critically examines dialectical pluralism, historical metaphysical systems, and the interplay between ontology and epistemology. He has made significant contributions to understanding Paul Weiss's philosophical methodology and the evolution of metaphysical thought in contemporary contexts. His publication record spans 1992-2008, dominated by metaphysical inquiry through books like 'The Journey of Metaphysics' (three editions) and analyses of dialectical pluralism. Key themes include the synthesis of American pragmatism with metaphysical frameworks, critical examinations of truth and objectivity, and historical surveys of metaphysical systems. His work frequently appears in 'The Review of Metaphysics' and 'Reason Papers'. Scientific Awards: Faculty Recognition Award for his support of the St. John’s Stagecraft Course and Internships with the award-winning Peccadillo Theater Company Dr. Kennedy actively mentors students through theater internships as Managing Director of the Peccadillo Theater Company, bridging academic philosophy with practical artistic experience. His Stagecraft Course collaboration demonstrates commitment to experiential learning, though specific research grants aren't documented in available materials.
Oliver Keenan is the Academic Dean and Lecturer in Christian Doctrine at Ripon College Cuddesdon, part of the University of Oxford. He previously served as Director of the Aquinas Institute at Blackfriars Hall. His doctoral work (DPhil) was completed at Oxford under Prof. Graham Ward, focusing on the philosophy of Michael Polanyi. Keenan's research bridges systematic theology with philosophical inquiry, emphasizing theological method, Christology, and Catholic receptions of Karl Barth. His current projects investigate divine predestination, Eckhartian mysticism, and the theological turn in continental philosophy. Education: DPhil in Theology, University of Oxford (supervised by Prof. Graham Ward). Research Interests: Theological epistemology, metaphysics of Jesus’s humanity, and fundamental ontology. He is Principal Investigator for the project 'Truth, Aquinas and the Theological Turn in Continental Philosophy' (2021–2023). Editor of New Blackfriars , he also analyzes modern Thomism and Barthian thought through lenses of rationality and virtue. Publications Highlight Trends: Focus on Aquinas-Barth dialogues, medieval mysticism’s relevance to modern theology, and the interplay between philosophical rationality and theological dogmatics. His work often critiques and synthesizes Catholic and Protestant theological frameworks. Grants & Projects: Led a major project on theological turn in continental philosophy. His editorship of New Blackfriars underscores his influence in shaping contemporary theological discourse. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Blackfriars Hall and the Aquinas Institute on interdisciplinary theological projects.
Gerard Vilar is Full Professor of Aesthetics and Theory of the Arts in the Department of Philosophy at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), where he also served as Department Director. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from UAB (1985) and studied in Frankfurt and Constance as a DAAD and Humboldt Fellow under Jürgen Habermas and Axel Honneth. His academic career spans positions at the Barcelona School of Architecture and visiting professorships across Germany, the US, UK, and Mexico. Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy (UAB, 1978, Outstanding) PhD in Philosophy (UAB, 1985, cum Laude) Vilar's research focuses on the Philosophy of Contemporary Art, Critical Theory (particularly the Frankfurt School), Aesthetics, and Theories of Rationality. His work explores connections between practical and aesthetic rationality, deartification processes, precariousness in contemporary art, and the cognitive aspects of artistic research. He has directed numerous competitive research projects including five consecutive national projects from 2001-2022 on topics ranging from contemporary art and democratic identity to artistic research epistemology. His publication trends reveal a sustained engagement with the theoretical foundations of contemporary art, evolving from early work on rationality to recent investigations of precariousness and artistic knowledge production. The research output demonstrates consistent interdisciplinary methodology bridging philosophy, art theory, and critical social analysis. Extraordinary Bachelor's and Doctorate Awards Multiple DAAD and Humboldt Fellowships Leadership of Consolidated Research Group GRETA (2014-2020) Vilar has directed approximately thirty doctoral theses and leads major research initiatives including the MICU project PGC2018-093502-B-100 (2019-2022). He founded and directed the UAB-Fundació Miró master's programs in Contemporary Art Theory (2000-2012) and serves on editorial boards of major journals including Daimon and Enrahonar . His evaluation work spans national and international agencies including ANECA, CNEAI, CONACYT, and FONDECYT. As leader of the GRETA Research Group on Aesthetics and Theory of the Arts, Vilar coordinates a multidisciplinary team exploring the cognitive dimensions of contemporary artistic practices. His ongoing projects investigate the interface between philosophical inquiry, artistic creation, and design thinking, with particular emphasis on knowledge generation within artistic research frameworks.
Lorenzo Spagnesi is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Trier and a member of the Trier Kant Research Centre. He earned his PhD from the University of Edinburgh (2021) under Prof. Michela Massimi and Dr. Alix Cohen, supported by the European Research Council and Royal Institute of Philosophy. Research Focus: Kant's philosophy of science, metaphysics, epistemology, and systematicity of nature. Grants: European Research Council (2017–2020), Royal Institute of Philosophy (2020–2021). His recent work explores Kant’s regulative use of reason, idealized models, and empirical laws. Articles appear in journals like European Journal of Philosophy and Kantian Review . He received the 2022 Wilfrid Sellars Prize for his paper on idealized models. Selected Conferences: VI NAKS Biennial (2023) Scientific Modeling and the Classic Tradition (2022) British Society for Philosophy of Science Annual Conference (2022) Teaching: Courses on Kant's dialectic, causation, and philosophy of science (2021–2023).
Marisa Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Studio Art at the University of Virginia in the College of Arts and Sciences, with a research focus on Blackness. She was part of the first cohort of faculty hired through UVA's Race, Justice and Equity initiative, which builds on the university's commitments to diversity and inclusion. Williamson's artistic practice centers on history, race, feminism, and technology, working across video, image-making, installation, and performance. Her notable projects include Unsettling Grounds , a residency creating virtual monuments for BIPOC artists, and Sweet Chariot , an exploration of historical narratives through digital means. She creates site-specific works that interrogate how historical landscapes are marked by certain narratives while others remain buried. Her work has been exhibited internationally at venues including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Storm King Art Center, SPACES Cleveland, and galleries in Rome and Berlin. Williamson's artistic approach explores how soft and hard technologies facilitate the rendering and surrendering of the body over time, mapping the past onto present geographies to interrogate inheritance, memory, and storytelling. Williamson has received significant recognition through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Graham Foundation, Rema Hort Mann Foundation, and others. Her work critically engages with historical narratives, particularly around slavery and Black experience, often using innovative technological approaches to challenge conventional historical interpretations. Graham Foundation grant Rema Hort Mann Foundation grant Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library grant National Endowment for the Arts grant Charlottesville Area Community Foundation grant Virginia Humanities grant As both an artist and academic, Williamson bridges creative practice with scholarly inquiry, focusing on how history is not only understood but felt. Her work at the University of Virginia contributes to broader institutional efforts to address race, justice, and equity through artistic and academic means.
Marc Benamou is a Professor of Music and Director of the Javanese gamelan ensemble at Earlham College, located in Richmond, Indiana. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, alongside degrees from Oberlin College and Université de Paris X. His research focuses on ethnomusicology, with primary specialization in Javanese gamelan music and Peruvian saxophone orchestras. He has conducted fieldwork in Indonesia, Peru, and France, and his work explores aesthetics, musical meaning, and cross-cultural comparisons. Recent projects include a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded initiative to transcribe and analyze Javanese gamelan lyrics from cassette recordings. Benamou’s teaching emphasizes global musical traditions beyond the Western canon, including courses on African, Japanese, and South American musics. He speaks French, Indonesian, and Spanish fluently, and has presented his research internationally in countries like Argentina, Italy, and Israel. His interdisciplinary interests span music and food, gender studies in music, and the intersection of musicology and linguistics. He has collaborated with institutions such as the Institut Seni Indonesia in Surakarta and participated in faculty research initiatives in Japan and the U.S. Benamou’s career combines academic rigor with artistic practice, having performed as a singer of Javanese music and a classical trumpet player. His dedication to Earlham’s liberal arts mission is evident in his emphasis on student-centered learning and fostering cross-cultural connections among students. He has mentored students like Yasmine Lee and Tinisha Newland in research on African-American classical musicians, blending scholarly inquiry with community engagement.
Marita Svane is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University Business School, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Department of Strategy, Organization and Management. Her research focuses on organizational storytelling, ethics, sustainability, and leadership dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. in intercultural organizational relations and has extensive industry experience in strategic HRM and organizational development. Her research explores organizational identity, crisis management, digitalization, and sustainable practices. Current projects include studies on moral scandals in finance, digital transformation in public sectors, and textile industry sustainability. She collaborates closely with practitioners through workshops and conferences. Teaching roles include coordinating master’s programs in Organization & Strategy. Notable publications address ethical sales cultures, crisis sensemaking, and narrative methodologies. Projects span academic-industry partnerships, including Danida-funded initiatives in Bangladesh’s apparel sector.
Dr. phil. Nino Ferrin is a permanent research associate at the Didaktik Deutsch division within the Department of Education and Psychology at Free University Berlin . Holding a Marie Curie Fellowship and serving as Vice Dean for Studies and Teaching since 2018, he specializes in media education, educational anthropology, and practice theory. Freie Universität Berlin: 2011 PhD ( summa cum laude ), 2005-2008 Research Assistant, 2002-2005 Student Assistant University of Crete (2013): ERASMUS Teaching Mobility Marie Curie Alumni Association (since 2014) His research interests span media education, educational anthropology of the Anthropocene, performative learning cultures, and digital body practices. He employs reconstructive ethnography and praxeological methods to investigate how media technologies shape educational experiences. Recent publications focus on Anthropocene sustainability education, narrative spaces for possibility thinking, and digital game culture analysis. His scientific awards include Marie Curie Actions-Fellowship (2012-2016) International recognition through EU-funded DIGIT-M-ED project His teaching involves graduate seminars on primary education research (15+ semesters since 2007) and master's thesis supervision. Current projects examine Metasorge and media techniques (habilitation) 1000+ Concerts for social inclusion Visual metaphors in education
Laura Gonzalez is a Professor of Research and Interdisciplinary Work at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and an Athenaeum Research Fellow. She serves as a summer faculty member, advisor, and supervisor for the MFA and PhD residency program at Transart Institute. Her work spans performance art, medical humanities, psychoanalysis, and embodied practices, with a particular focus on hysteria studies and breathwork. Her educational background includes: PhD in Cultural Communication and Computing Research Institute (C3RI), Art and Design Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University (2005-2010) Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Art, Design and Communication (2004-2005) Master of Fine Art: Drawing, Wimbledon School of Art (2000-2001) Licenciada en Bellas Artes (BA equivalent), Universidad del Pais Vasco, Spain (1995-2000) Gonzalez's research explores the intersections of performance, psychoanalysis, and medical humanities, with particular emphasis on hysteria as a cultural and embodied phenomenon. Her work investigates how knowledge is produced through the body, especially through 'illegitimate forms of knowledge' such as intuition, magic, and oracles. She examines the relationship between breath, performance, and consciousness, developing practices that connect somatic awareness with artistic expression. Her research also engages with feminist theory, exploring how women's bodies have been historically pathologized while simultaneously serving as sites of resistance and creative transformation. Her recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory exploring embodiment, hysteria, and breath as artistic and scholarly concerns. She has increasingly focused on the medical humanities, examining historical medical texts and case histories through performance. Her work demonstrates a movement from theoretical analysis of seduction in art toward practical applications of breathwork and embodied knowledge in performance contexts. The interdisciplinary nature of her scholarship bridges art practice, psychoanalytic theory, and medical history. Her notable awards and recognitions include: Shortlisted for the Adrian Howells Award For Intimate Performance (2019) Athenaeum Award – Knowledge Exchange Route (2023) Glasgow Medical Humanities Network Foundation Award (2023) Athenaeum Award for research (2021) Multiple Research Development Funds from The Glasgow School of Art (2012-2016) AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Awards (2005, 2006, 2013) Gonzalez has supervised numerous doctoral students across institutions including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow School of Art, and Transart Institute. Her supervision focuses on interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of performance, visual arts, and embodied research. She has secured significant grant funding for projects exploring the relationship between imitation and dance, breath practices, and hysteria studies. Her collaborative projects often involve partnerships with medical humanities scholars, performance practitioners, and community organizations. She is actively involved in several research collectives including The Workroom (since 2017), where she develops collaborative performance projects. She co-founded @TheGlasgowJam (2015-2018), creating space for multidisciplinary arts exploration. In 2021, she created the Scottish Breath Network, fostering interdisciplinary research on breathing practices. She also co-founded the Dialectical Materialist Book Group with Ian Macbeth, exploring Marxist theory through collective reading.
Gavin Hyman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University's School of Global Affairs. Born in 1974, he has taught at Lancaster since 1999 and holds an M.A. from Exeter and a Ph.D. from Cambridge. Within the university, he has held various administrative roles including Deputy Head of Department, Director of Human Resources, Co-Director of Postgraduate Teaching, Student Experience Tutor, and Admissions Tutor in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion. Beyond the department, he served as Senior Tutor of Cartmel College and Vice-Principal of The County College. From 2011-2018, he held the prestigious position of University Public Orator. Hyman's research spans three major interconnected areas. His primary focus is on continental philosophy and religious thought, where he explores how contemporary continental philosophy and cultural theory relate to religious thought, and conversely, how theology both contributes to and challenges contemporary philosophical and cultural assumptions. His secondary research area examines the cultural and philosophical history of atheism, agnosticism and secularism, with particular interest in epistemological shifts that created conditions for their emergence in the early modern period. More recently, he has developed significant expertise in socialist thought in Britain and the history of the Labour Party. His scholarly work demonstrates consistent engagement with the intersections of philosophy, religion, and politics, particularly through the lens of continental thought. Hyman's publications reveal an intellectual trajectory that moves from postmodern theology through ethical and political philosophy to historical political analysis, while maintaining a critical perspective on religious and secular thought. Hyman has contributed to prestigious reference works including The Cambridge Companion to Atheism and The Cambridge History of Atheism , and has written numerous entries on Labour Party figures for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , demonstrating recognition of his expertise across multiple disciplines. As an educator, Hyman supervises PhD students in areas including Christian studies, philosophy and religious thought, postmodernism, theology and ethics, continental philosophy, and religion and psychoanalytic thought. His current teaching includes courses on continental philosophy, philosophers on religion, socialist thought in Britain, philosophy and psychoanalysis, modern religious and atheistic thought, and advanced philosophy topics focusing on contemporary thinkers like Badiou and Žižek.
Fatma Sinem Özgür is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University's Faculty of Architecture, specializing in the Building Information subdivision. Her academic trajectory includes a Bachelor of Architecture (2004–2009), MSc in Architecture (Non-thesis, 2009–2011), and PhD in Architectural Design (2012–2019), all completed at Istanbul Technical University. She demonstrates proficiency in English, evidenced by her YDS (Foreign Language Proficiency Exam) score of 83.75 in 2020. Research Focus: Her work centers on architectural theory, urban studies, and cultural narratives, with emphasis on: Mimesis and precedent knowledge in design processes Semiotics and meme theory in architectural epistemology Urban identity, transnational spaces, and sensory experiences in cities Narrative structures as tools for spatial analysis Publication Trends: Her 15 most recent articles (2011–2023) reveal consistent engagement with architectural phenomenology, cultural transmission, and urban morphology. Key thematic clusters include: Mimesis and knowledge representation in design (2023, 2019, 2018) Urban identity in Istanbul, Lyon, and Aegean towns (2016, 2015, 2013, 2011) Temporality and existential dimensions of space (2021, 2018) Methodologically, she integrates semiotics, phenomenology, and memetics to analyze spatial narratives. Awards & Advising: No awards, supervised students, or grants are documented in the available sources.
Şamil ÖÇAL is a Professor at the Department of Islamic Philosophy, Ankara Social Sciences University. His academic work bridges Islamic philosophical traditions with broader metaphysical and ethical inquiries. His research spans Islamic Philosophy , Ontology , Logic , and Political Philosophy , with a focus on historical texts, theological discourses, and the intersection of ethics with cultural dynamics. Key publication trends include analyses of Al-Farabi's metaphysical frameworks, explorations of Sufism and wisdom traditions, critiques of soft power in international relations, and interdisciplinary studies of medieval philosophical theology and ethics.
Jan Mervart is a researcher and head of department at the Philosophical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FLU CAS), specializing in modern Czech and Slovak intellectual and cultural history. His research focuses on: Stalinist and post-Stalinist Marxism State socialism Mervart's scholarly work examines the evolution of Marxist thought during and after the Stalinist period in Czechoslovakia, with particular attention to intellectual traditions and political philosophy under communist rule. His approach combines historical analysis with philosophical inquiry into state socialist systems. He has secured significant research funding through competitive grants: Principal Investigator for the GAČR project 'Genealogy of Czechoslovak Stalinism 1929-1953' (2023-2025) Research Fellow at Imre Kertész Kolleg in Jena (2019-2020) Co-investigator on the INTERCOST project 'Media and Cultural Opposition in Czechoslovakia' (2018-2021) Principal Investigator for the GAČR project 'Visions of Post-Stalin Czechoslovakia' (2016-2019) Representative of the Czech Republic in COST Action NEP4DISSENT (2017-2022), co-leading Working Group No. 2 'Culture in the Grey Zone' Mervart has published notable works including: 'Intellectual History of Czechoslovak Post-Stalinist Marxism' (2020), co-authored with Jiří Růžička The anthology 'Čechoslovakismus' (2019), co-edited with Adam Hudek and Michal Kopeček 'Karel Kosík and the Dialectics of the Concrete' (2022), co-edited with Joseph Grim Feinberg and Ivan Landa
José Luis Caballero Bono is a faculty member at the Facultad de Filosofía of the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca , specializing in Logic and Philosophy of Science . His research group, ICS. Innovación en Ciencias Sociales , bridges philosophical inquiry with social science frameworks. He earned his doctorate from Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1999 with a thesis on Xavier Zubiri’s pluralist emergentism. Research Interests: Political philosophy, phenomenology, history of logic, ethics, science-religion dialogue, and ecological philosophy. Key Contributions: Analyzing evolutionary biology through Zubiri’s philosophy, exploring Edith Stein’s attitudes toward Nazism, and applying Cusanus’ ludus globi to theological-political metaphors. Publications: His recent work focuses on the interplay between tradition and political power (2024), empathy in Stein (2022), and Kantian critiques (2010). Articles span from 2025 to 2001, with recurring themes in Spanish philosophical identity and analogical reasoning. Collaborations: Supervised by Dr. Alfonso López Quintás, he engages with thinkers like Edith Stein, Xavier Zubiri, and Jürgen Habermas.
