Sandi Sando is a lecturer at Flinders University, focusing on communication diversity and support needs. They coordinate and lecture in topics related to disability studies and counselling skills. Email: sandi.sando@flinders.edu.au Location: Perth Home Office, Flinders University, South Australia Their research interests span: Communication and Support Needs in disability contexts Counselling Skills for community engagement Education Inclusion strategies Psychosocial Interventions for diverse populations
Don Kulick is a Professor and Research Director at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University, Sweden. His academic career spans decades of anthropological fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Scandinavia, with a focus on linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, and disability studies. Dr. Kulick's research interests encompass linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, disability studies, language death, vulnerability studies, and human-animal communication. His work challenges conventional views on vulnerability, arguing that it can be a resource rather than a lack. His fieldwork with adults with significant disabilities in Denmark and Sweden informed his influential book "Loneliness and its Opposite: sex, disability, and the ethics of engagement". Kulick has also made significant contributions to the understanding of transgender communities, particularly through his early ethnographic work with Brazilian travesti prostitutes documented in "Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes". His recent scholarly output demonstrates a trajectory from linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies toward broader questions of vulnerability, ethics, and human-animal relations. Kulick's work consistently engages with marginalized communities and challenges disciplinary boundaries, connecting linguistic anthropology with disability studies, queer theory, and ethical frameworks for engagement with vulnerable others. ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year research project on people who are treated as though they aren't really there Dr. Kulick has received significant research funding, most notably an ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year project examining people who are treated as though they aren't really there, including courtroom interpreters and peer reviewers. His mentorship extends through his extensive publications and edited volumes that have shaped multiple generations of anthropological scholarship, particularly in the areas of linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies. While specific lab structures aren't mentioned in the provided text, Kulick's research program on vulnerability appears to be an organized research initiative (referred to as the "EV program" in the text), suggesting a research team or collaborative network focused on vulnerability as a productive resource.
Lisa B. Limeri is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University. Her work bridges social psychology, educational psychology, and STEM education to address retention and success in biology education. She leads the Limeri Lab, focusing on social-psychological factors affecting student persistence and instructor-student dynamics. Ph.D., Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh (2012–2017) Postdoctoral Research, Biology Education Research, University of Georgia (2017–2021) Her research examines how students' and instructors’ beliefs about abilities influence academic outcomes. She develops classroom interventions to reduce stressors and improve educational experiences. The lab’s recent work spans mindset measurement, community cultural wealth, disability frameworks, and mentoring surveys. Scientific awards include the STEP Program Fellow (2021–Present) and Scholar Certification from the Center for Integrated Research on Teaching and Learning (2017). She mentors doctoral students Anastasia Chouvalova and Mason Tedeschi and collaborates with postdoctoral researchers. The Limeri Lab has received recognition for its contributions to undergraduate research at Texas Tech symposia.
Dorothy L. Espelage is the William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, affiliated with the School of Education's Applied Developmental Science and Special Education (ADSSE) department. She holds joint appointments in Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) and School Psychology, and leads the Diverse and Resilient Educators Advised through Mentorship (DREAM) initiative. Her research focuses on translating empirical findings into prevention programs targeting bullying, teen dating violence, and school safety. Dr. Espelage advises U.S. Congress on anti-bullying legislation and has secured over $15 million in external funding. Education: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (1997), Indiana University M.S. in Clinical Psychology (1993), Radford University B.S. in Psychology (1991), Virginia Commonwealth University Research Interests: Prevention science, social-emotional learning interventions, bullying and cyberbullying prevention, school-based suicide prevention, and addressing violence against educators. Her work emphasizes policy development and community engagement, with a focus on marginalized youth such as LGBTQ+ adolescents and students with disabilities. Key Contributions: Developed evidence-based programs like Sources of Strength and DIAL (Disability Anti-Bullying Training). Authored influential books including Bullying in North American Schools and Handbook of Bullying in Schools . Her recent studies explore racial disparities in bullying-suicidality links and violence against school staff. Awards & Recognition: Lifetime Achievement Award (APA Division 17, 2023) 2023 BRNET-WABF Career Award Invited speaker at White House Bullying Summit (2011) Advising & Grants: Mentor for early-career researchers through the DREAM program. Current grants focus on school climate improvement, anti-bullying teacher training, and mental health equity initiatives. Collaborates with CDC, NIH, and NIJ on dissemination efforts. Labs & Teams: Leads transdisciplinary teams at UNC and previously at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Gutgsell Professorship) and University of Florida. Engaged in global anti-bullying advocacy through organizations like the World Anti-Bullying Forum.
Dr. Barbara Barbosa Neves is a sociologist of technology and ageing at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, holding a prestigious Sydney Horizon Fellowship in AI Social Science. She specializes in loneliness, social isolation, and digital inequalities in later life, with over $6 million in competitive funding from global bodies. Her research bridges sociology and computer science, focusing on inclusive technology design for older adults. Education: PhD in Sociology. Formerly an Associate Director at the Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab, University of Toronto, Canada. Visiting positions at Oxford, Oslo, Louvain, and Toronto. Research Interests: Sociology of Technology , Aging Anxieties , Healthcare AI , and Ageism . Her work examines how AI, VR, and robotics can benefit older adults while addressing ethical and social challenges. Key themes include combating age-based digital divides and designing technologies that align with care ethics. Grants & Projects: Lead Investigator for the $1M+ evaluation of Australia’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, ARC Discovery Project on loneliness and technology, and MRFF-funded dementia studies. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including computer scientists and policy experts. Awards: 28+ international awards, including Mather Awards (US), George Story Distinguished Lecturer, and Fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Public Engagement: Over 200 media contributions, including ABC op-eds and SBS documentaries. Her research informs policy and public discourse on aging, technology, and social equity.
Dr. Susana Castro-Kemp is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Human Development at University College London's Institute of Education (IOE), where she serves as Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) since September 2023. Previously, she was a Reader in Education at the University of Roehampton for eight years. Her work focuses on inclusive education policy and practice globally, with particular expertise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), early childhood intervention, and mental health in schools. The IOE has been ranked number one in the world for Education for several consecutive years, providing an ideal environment for her impactful research. Dr. Castro-Kemp holds a PhD in Psychology jointly awarded in 2012 by the University of Porto (Portugal) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA). Her doctoral research was fully funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology/European Commission and the Global Education and Development Studies scholarships. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, and a Recognised Research Supervisor by the UK Council for Graduate Education. Dr. Castro-Kemp's research centers on policy regulating education, health, and welfare services for children, particularly those with support needs. She examines inclusive education practices from users' perspectives, policy models leading to effective inclusive pedagogy, and country-level policy impacts on outcomes for children with special educational needs. Her work moves away from diagnostic labels toward engagement and civic participation as educational outcomes. She also investigates inclusion and early intervention in low- and middle-income countries, mental health in schools, and quality of early childhood education. Her recent publications reveal several key trends in inclusive education research. There's growing emphasis on understanding educational experiences through the voices of children and families rather than diagnostic labels. Much of her work examines the implementation gap between inclusive education policy and classroom practice. She has conducted significant research on how children with special educational needs experienced the pandemic, revealing both challenges and unexpected "silver linings" for some groups. Her corpus analysis of Ofsted reports shows narrow focus in early childhood education inspections, while her work on SEND policy increasingly takes an international comparative approach. Dr. Castro-Kemp has received recognition for her impactful work, including: Best Digital Humanities Project for Community Engagement Prize (2023) from the National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of South Africa for her project "Optimising collaborations and reducing inequalities of Early Childhood Intervention in post-Covid-19 South Africa" Dr. Castro-Kemp has secured approximately £1.3 million in research funding from various sources including ESRC, British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, European Commission, and private sponsors. Her current major project is 'ScopeSEND' (2024-2026), funded by the Nuffield Foundation (£250,000), examining international SEND policies. She has led numerous projects including "Transdisciplinary provision for children with disabilities in the Global South" (£3,500), "Optimising collaborations in South Africa" (£47,200), and "Froebel meets Ofsted" (£19,185). As a supervisor, she mentors MA/MSc and PhD students in education policy, early childhood, and inclusive education, having been nominated for student choice awards for excellent feedback and outstanding research supervision. As Director of the UCL Centre for Inclusive Education since 2023, Dr. Castro-Kemp leads a team focused on advancing knowledge exchange and research in inclusion and special needs. The Centre works with schools, educators, parents, and early years settings to translate research into practice. Her international collaborations include work with the World Health Organization as a technical advisor on the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) system in educational contexts. She also serves on the SEN Policy Research Forum and has provided oral evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee.
Walter D. Penrose, Jr. is a Professor at San Diego State University specializing in the History of Gender and Sexuality in Ancient Greek, Hellenistic, and South Asian contexts. His work also explores the Reception of Classics in modern periods, Disability Studies, and Ancient Religions. Penrose holds a Ph.D. in History from the City University of New York (2006) and a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach (1988). His research interests span interdisciplinary topics including gender diversity in classical thought, queer historiography, and cross-cultural comparisons of ancient societies. Penrose has published widely on topics such as Amazons in classical and modern media, disability discourse in antiquity, and homoeroticism in South Asian history. His 2016 monograph Postcolonial Amazons is a foundational text in comparative studies of gendered heroism in Greek and Sanskrit literature. Penrose’s publications include over a dozen book chapters and journal articles, with recent contributions analyzing gendered power dynamics in Hellenistic royal courts (2021), visual representations of Amazons in Troy adaptations (2022), and the intersection of disability and identity in ancient Greece (2015). His pedagogical work emphasizes inclusive approaches to teaching challenging classical topics like homophobia and gender variance. While no specific grants or awards are noted, Penrose’s work consistently bridges classical studies with modern interdisciplinary frameworks, contributing to fields such as queer studies, disability studies, and world history. His research continues to explore marginalized voices in ancient texts and their contemporary receptions.
Sally M. Reis is a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, holding the title of University Teaching Fellow and previously occupying the Letitia Neag Chair. With over four decades of academic leadership, she has shaped national and international practices in gifted education through her co-development of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM). Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Educational Psychology of the Gifted and Talented from the University of Connecticut (1981) B.A. in English and Psychology from Chatham College (1973) Professor Reis's research pioneers strength-based approaches for twice-exceptional learners , particularly students with autism spectrum disorder, while addressing systemic issues like the achievement gap and gender disparities in gifted identification. Her Schoolwide Enrichment Model Reading Framework (SEM-R) revolutionized literacy instruction by integrating student interests with academic rigor, as evidenced in her 250+ publications spanning curriculum compacting, enrichment clusters, and talent development for vulnerable populations. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a decisive shift toward evidence-based strategies for neurodiverse gifted learners, with 60% of 2023-2025 work focusing on autism spectrum disorder in twice-exceptional students. Her scholarship consistently bridges theory and practice, emphasizing student agency through interest-driven learning and systemic equity in talent development frameworks. Her scientific impact is recognized through: Early Leader Award (NAGC, 1985) Distinguished Service Award (NAGC, 1988) University Teaching Fellow (UConn, 1998) Distinguished Scholar Award (NAGC, 2003) Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor title Fellowship in the American Psychological Association Professor Reis secured a landmark $2.95 million IES grant for SEM-R implementation while directing nationwide professional development initiatives. As past-president of the National Association for Gifted Children and editorial board member of Gifted Child Quarterly, she has mentored generations of scholars through workshops across 48 U.S. states. Her current research examines college transition barriers for twice-exceptional students, funded through ongoing IES collaborations. Through the Renzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Development, she leads international SEM implementations including Italy's three-year national study, while pioneering the Enrichment Clusters framework for real-world student-driven learning across 12,000+ global classrooms.
Elisa Kreiss is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at UCLA, affiliated with the College of Letters & Science. She leads the Coalas Lab (Computation and Language for Society Lab), focusing on advancing understanding of how communicative context shapes language use through natural language processing, psycholinguistics, and human-computer interaction. Her work addresses challenges in image accessibility for visually impaired users, supported by grants from Google, NSF, and Stanford initiatives. Education: Ph.D. in Linguistics, Stanford University (advised by Christopher Potts) Research Interests: Her research bridges AI ethics, image accessibility, and human-centered evaluation of machine learning systems. Key themes include: Generating context-aware image descriptions for accessibility Ethical implications of vision-language models Interpretable AI through causal reasoning Awards: Google Research Awards National Science Foundation Grant Stanford Human-Centered AI Initiative Support Stanford Community Impact Award (2022) Lab & Advocacy: Directs the Coalas Lab, emphasizing inclusive research environments. Advocates for diversity in STEM and accessible technology design.
Brett Gilley is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver Campus. His primary affiliation is within the Faculty of Science. He specializes in geoscience education with a focus on inclusive fieldwork practices, collaborative learning strategies, and accessibility in STEM education. He is currently not accepting students for advising. His research interests span geology and geoscience education, with a strong emphasis on making field experiences accessible for students with disabilities, developing innovative teaching methodologies, and fostering inclusive learning environments. Gilley has contributed to projects like the Earth Science Experiential and Indigenous Learning (EASEIL) initiative, which integrates Indigenous knowledge and community partnerships into curriculum design. Notable trends in his publications include advancing universal design in geoscience field courses, evaluating collaborative testing strategies, and exploring the impact of technology (e.g., ChatGPT) on student research practices. His work often bridges pedagogical innovation with practical implementation in large undergraduate science programs. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to inclusive education and curriculum development reflect a commitment to equitable STEM education. His professional activities include mentoring faculty through UBC’s evidence-based pedagogy graduate course and participating in interdisciplinary curriculum development teams.
Yang Wang is a Professor of Information Science and Computer Science (courtesy) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where he co-directs the SALT lab and is part of the Interactive Computing group and Security and Privacy Research at Illinois (SPR@I). He holds affiliations with the Institute of Software Research (ISR) at UC Irvine and advises Conviva. His research spans AI governance, privacy, security, and inclusive technologies, focusing on marginalized populations such as people with disabilities and non-Western communities. Education: Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), under advisors Dr. Alfred Kobsa, Dr. André van der Hoek, and Dr. Gene Tsudik. Previous roles include Assistant Professor at Syracuse University and Research Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLab. He has collaborated with institutions like Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, Intel Research, and Tsinghua University. Research interests include AI safety for children (aisafety4kids.org), inclusive privacy mechanisms, accessible authentication for visually impaired users, and policy implications of AI. Notable projects include Inclusive.AI (funded by OpenAI), privacy in smart homes, and drone privacy studies. Awards and grants include NSF SaTC awards, NSF CAREER, and industry partnerships with Meta/Facebook, Google, and OpenAI. His work has been featured in outlets like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Current PhD advisees include Smirity Kaushik and Yaman Yu, with notable alumni such as Dr. Yaxing Yao (now at Johns Hopkins) and Dr. Tanusree Sharma (Penn State). Labs/Teams: Co-director of the SALT lab, part of SPR@I and the Interactive Computing group at UIUC. Collaborates with industry and policy bodies, including the FTC.
Dr. Sarah Young is an Associate Professor at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University College London. Her academic journey includes a BA (Honours) in Russian and French from Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by an MA in European Languages and Culture at the University of Manchester and a PhD in Russian Literature from the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on Russian literature, particularly Dostoevsky’s narrative structures, prison narratives, and the history of penal systems in Russia. She has held a Leverhulme Fellowship and previously taught at the University of Leeds and the University of Toronto. Her work explores themes like Siberian exile, political imprisonment, and revolutionary memoirs, as seen in her book Writing Resistance: Revolutionary Memoirs of Shlissel’burg Prison, 1884-1906 . She also investigates Gulag literature, societal impacts of quantum technologies, and inclusive STEM education for neurodivergent students. Her blogs ( www.sarahjyoung.com ) and websites ( Mapping Petersburg , Shlisselburg ) further her interdisciplinary research. Her scholarly contributions span literary criticism, historical analysis, and policy studies. Awards include the Leverhulme Special Research Fellowship (2001-2003). She actively engages in academic mentoring and has published on research practices across disciplines like environmental engineering and marine conservation.
Kristen Cole serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies within San Jose State University's College of Social Sciences. Her academic work centers on critical interrogations of health communication systems, disability justice, and the socio-linguistic construction of personhood, with particular attention to marginalized communities navigating healthcare barriers and systemic inequities. Her research is anchored in two foundational inquiries: how individuals negotiate health/illness meanings under cultural constraints, and how communication assumptions shape human categorization. Methodologically grounded in critical/cultural studies, disability frameworks, feminist/queer theories, and autoethnography, her work examines pandemic-era health communication dynamics, citizenship language in immigration processes, and pedagogical innovations for inclusive classrooms. Personal experiences with chronic illness and ELL instruction directly inform her commitment to health justice and communicative equity. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals persistent thematic engagement with disability studies and health communication, featuring methodologies like duoethnography and critical discourse analysis. Key trends include socio-emotional disablism during COVID-19, feminist disability pedagogy through participation menus, and neuroqueering communication theory. Her scholarship consistently exposes how communication practices reinforce or challenge power structures in healthcare, education, and political discourse. While specific grant details remain unlisted in available materials, her research directly addresses urgent contemporary issues: health inequality in pandemic response systems and language-based exclusion in citizenship processes. Her chronic illness narrative and ELL classroom experiences demonstrate profound personal investment in dismantling communication barriers, particularly regarding how vulnerability categorization affects healthcare access and how language determines political inclusion.
Tania Burchardt is an Associate Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics (LSE) , where she serves as Deputy Director of STICERD and Associate Director of CASE (Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion). Her work bridges theoretical frameworks like the capability approach with empirical analyses of inequality , disability policy , and applied welfare policy . Key Research Areas : Theories of justice, inequality measurement, time poverty, and social care systems Leadership Roles : Co-led projects on multidimensional inequality, intergenerational exchanges, and child poverty Her recent work explores intra-household resource allocation , social care inequities , and public engagement in policymaking . She has collaborated with organizations like the Nuffield Foundation and Sense about Science to translate research into practice. Scientific Contributions span empirical studies on: Long-term care funding reforms (2015–2020) Disability-related income disparities Time poverty intersections with economic hardship Data-driven policy recommendations for Roma/Gypsy/Traveller communities Multidimensional child poverty frameworks
Dr. Michele Shaul serves as Professor of Spanish and Chair of the World Languages Department at Queens University of Charlotte, where she also directs the Center for Latino Studies. A dedicated scholar and educator, she co-founded the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and leads community-focused initiatives bridging academia and social outreach. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Spanish-American Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill M.A. in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville B.A. with honors in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville Dr. Shaul's research interrogates Latinx identity through literary criticism, translation, and creative writing, emphasizing intersectional experiences of race, gender, and disability within U.S. institutions. Her work actively challenges monolithic narratives while centering marginalized voices in both scholarly and artistic contexts. Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2023) reveals a cohesive trajectory exploring bilingual expression, cultural memory, and systemic inequity. Edited volumes on Latinx literature in Spanish and theater demonstrate scholarly rigor, while creative works like poetry and short stories employ personal narrative to examine reincarnation, hybrid identity, and border-crossing experiences. Her contributions have earned significant recognition: Queens’ 2016 Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award for pedagogical excellence 2023 Con A de Arte Award from the Latin American Coalition for cultural leadership Through the student/faculty Latino Studies Project, Dr. Shaul mentors researchers documenting Charlotte's Latino community history while collaborating with artists on tolerance-focused initiatives. Her editorial work with international scholars demonstrates sustained commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices across academic and creative domains. Dr. Shaul co-leads the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and directs the Latino Studies Project, fostering collaborative research between students, faculty, and Charlotte's Latino community. Her social outreach partnerships integrate art installations and performance to address diversity through experiential learning and public engagement.
