Marah Stith McLeod is a Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame’s Notre Dame Law School, where she has taught since 2016. Her research focuses on sentencing theory, the death penalty, mercy in legal systems, and Catholic social teaching applied to criminal justice reform. She teaches courses in criminal law, criminal adjudication, and plea bargaining. McLeod holds degrees from Harvard University and Yale Law School. Before joining Notre Dame, she clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Ninth Circuit Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain. She also worked as an Attorney-Adviser in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel and practiced civil litigation at Sidley Austin LLP, focusing on death penalty cases. She currently serves on the executive board of the Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network, advocating for reforms rooted in Catholic ethics. Her scholarship critiques and proposes solutions to systemic issues in criminal sentencing, such as over-incarceration, the moral and practical challenges of the death penalty, and the role of mercy in judicial decisions. Recent articles emphasize democratic constraints on punishment and the ethical dimensions of sentencing. McLeod’s work bridges legal theory with practical reform, often engaging themes of dignity, equality, and the common good. McLeod’s career also includes humanitarian work, including a year working with Mother Teresa’s Sisters in Kolkata, India, supporting handicapped orphans. She is a mother of five children and remains deeply involved in advocating for marginalized individuals within the criminal justice system.
Haley McEwen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Gothenburg's Department of Political Science. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MPhil in Critical Diversity Studies from the University of Cape Town, and a BA in Social Relations from Michigan State University. Previously, she was a Senior Researcher at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies. McEwen's research focuses on anti-gender movements, U.S. Christian Right influence in African politics, and the geopolitical dimensions of pro-family discourse. She is a nationally rated researcher by South Africa's NRF and a Senior Fellow at the Far Right Analysis Network. Her work explores colonial legacies in gender politics, transnational activism, and the intersection of religion, policy, and sexuality. Key areas include analyzing anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns in Africa, decolonizing gender studies, and the impact of global actors on local policies. McEwen has contributed to peer-reviewed journals such as Critical Philosophy of Race and Development Southern Africa , and her writing appears in outlets like The Conversation . Recent publications include An anti-gender rhizome: unearthing transnational anti-genderism in Africa (2025) and Anti-Gender Politics in East and Southern Africa (2024). She serves as an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies and advocates for academic freedom in contested sociopolitical contexts. Education: PhD in Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand MPhil in Critical Diversity Studies, University of Cape Town BA in Social Relations, Michigan State University Awards/Affiliations: NRF Rated Researcher (South Africa) Senior Fellow, Far Right Analysis Network Associate Editor, International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies McEwen’s research bridges critical theory with empirical analysis, emphasizing global South perspectives. Her work critiques how colonial frameworks persist in contemporary gender politics and highlights grassroots resistance strategies. Current projects examine multipolar world dynamics and the role of anti-gender movements in shaping development agendas.
Molly Ladd-Taylor is a Professor of History at York University's Department of History, affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. She specializes in 20th-century U.S. history with a focus on gender, family, social policy, eugenics, and child welfare. Her research explores intersections between intimate matters like reproduction and broader political systems. Education: Ph.D. in American Studies, Yale University M.A. in American Studies, Case Western Reserve University B.A. (Honors History), Oberlin College Research Interests: Her work examines maternalist movements, eugenics' legacies, 'bad mother' discourses, and institutional sterilization practices. Recent projects investigate mid-20th-century cultural constructions of 'bad' children and their legal/medical ramifications. She co-edited volumes on comparative healthcare policies and maternal blame cultures. Awards: Honorable Mention from the Disability History Association (2018) for Fixing the Poor , which critiques Minnesota's sterilization policies. Her work has been featured in Journal of Policy History , Gender & History , and Canadian Bulletin of Medical History . Teaching: Courses include 'Bad' Kids: History, Culture, Media & Law (HIST 3855), U.S. History Since 1945 (HIST 3618), and interdisciplinary seminars on gender and politics. She emphasizes transnational comparisons and public history engagement. Publications: Over 8 major books and numerous articles analyze welfare state development, eugenics' societal impacts, and motherhood's politicization. Her archival work with Children's Bureau letters provides unique insights into early 20th-century parenting practices.
Alexander Champoux-Crowley is a Lecturer in the Department of English and Director of First-Year Composition at McDaniel College, a liberal arts institution in Westminster, Maryland. He teaches courses in rhetoric, composition, and writing pedagogy, with a strong emphasis on transformative, anti-racist, and translingual approaches to writing education. Education: Ph.D. in English, University of Minnesota (2022) M.A. in English, University of Maine (2015) B.A. in English (Creative Writing and Literature), Trinity College (2011) His research focuses on critical and translingual composition pedagogy, transformative writing program administration, labor issues in higher education, sociolinguistics, and literacy studies. He integrates interdisciplinary themes such as foodways and rhetorical theory into his curriculum, encouraging students to engage in metacognitive and metalinguistic reflection. His teaching spans diverse contexts across multiple institutions, including the University of Minnesota, University of Maine, and Colby College. His recent scholarship, published in WPA: Writing Program Administration , examines the labor conditions of graduate student writing instructors, highlighting disparities between idealized roles and actual working realities. This work reflects a broader commitment to educational equity and justice in academic labor. Scientific Awards: Alexander advises on writing pedagogy and curriculum development through his administrative role. He has not received any listed scientific awards in the provided texts. He collaborates extensively across disciplines at McDaniel, leveraging the college’s liberal arts environment to foster innovative teaching and research partnerships. Labs and Teams: While no formal lab is mentioned, he leads the First-Year Composition program and works collaboratively with faculty across departments to support writing across the curriculum. His work embodies a team-based, inclusive approach to writing program administration and pedagogical innovation.
Dr. Larry Sugisaki serves as an Assistant Professor of Composition & Rhetoric in the Department of Composition & Rhetoric, College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences at Methodist University, where he teaches first-year writing and general writing courses. His academic qualifications include: B.A., Gonzaga University M.A., Gonzaga University Ph.D., Indiana University of Pennsylvania His research explores disability studies, first-year writing, writing center studies, TESOL, translingualism, and identity, emphasizing inclusive pedagogical frameworks and the intersection of language with social identity in educational contexts. Professional experience encompasses three years teaching English across six elementary schools in Aomori prefecture, Japan; graduate teaching assistantship for first-year writing; and six years as a writing tutor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Kathleen Jones White Writing Center. Outside academia, he actively supports Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders, Seattle Seahawks, and Vancouver Canucks while pursuing hobbies including cat ownership, sneaker collecting, Funko Pop figures, and perfume.
Sean Kamperman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University of Kansas. His scholarship examines how professional communication shapes social relations and resource distribution, with a focus on disability representation through genre analysis and rhetorical theory. Research Interests: Professional and technical writing Disability studies Rhetorical theory Community literacy Digital media studies Key Activities: Co-directs the KU AI & Digital Literacy Institute promoting critical AI literacy Recipient of National Endowment for the Humanities funding for teaching practices
Nathan D. Blake is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, specializing in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of visual culture, media, and bodily representation. PhD in Visual Studies, University of California, Irvine His research critically examines image and information systems in medicine and warfare, with focused investigations into masculinity, disability, and technologically-altered bodies. Key projects analyze boxing films, disabled veterans' athletic participation, Jules Amar's prosthetics, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth's motion studies, Dada/Surrealist montage aesthetics, combat video games (America's Army, KumaWar), and PTSD rehabilitation systems. His forthcoming book "Camera Consciousness: The Aesthetic and Prosthetic Legacy of World War I" explores how 1914-1933 imaging technologies reshaped medical, military, and labor practices with enduring digital cultural impacts. Current research initiatives include "Video Games for Training and Therapy," "Visual Rhetorics of Disabled Veterans," and "World War I Imaging Technologies." His teaching portfolio spans American Film and Culture, War and Media, Apocalyptic Film and Media, and specialized courses on film theory, noir, and global cinema.
Dr. Concepción Hernández Guerra is a full-time Professor at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), affiliated with the Department of Modern Philology, Translation and Interpretation within the College of Arts and Humanities . Her research focuses on Discourse Analysis , Political Communication , and Sociolinguistics . Specializes in intensification strategies in media and political discourse Active in cross-cultural communication studies Member of the GIR Discourse, Communication and Society research group Published extensively on political rhetoric and ESP pedagogy Her recent work compares discursive patterns in American and Spanish opinion journalism , particularly regarding gender-based violence and political representation , with 15 peer-reviewed publications spanning 2008-2025. Current projects involve corpus-based analysis of epistemic modality and inclusive educational practices . No awards are mentioned in available records.
Catherine Zizik is an Associate Professor of Communication and Department Chair at Seton Hall University, where she has served since 1985. She specializes in empowering students through rhetoric and performance, and co-founded Seton Hall's National Ethics Bowl Team while founding both the Brownson Speech and Debate Team and the Metropolitan Forensics Institute. Her expertise spans communication ethics, leadership strategies, and speech delivery. Department Chair, Department of Communication, Media and the Arts Co-Director, National Ethics Bowl Team Founding Director, Brownson Speech and Debate Team Foundress & Director, Metropolitan Forensics Institute Her research focuses on invisible disabilities and inclusion, compassionate leadership, nonverbal communication, and biographical performance. As a performance practitioner, she has coached nationally award-winning speakers and trained executives at Pfizer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Merck, and the BOC Group during their merger with Linde Gases in Germany. Member, National Communication Association Member, Association for Professional and Practical Ethics Member, American Forensics Association Member, International Business Communication Association
Ellen R. Cohn is a PartTime Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Rhetoric at the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pittsburgh. She previously served as Professor of Communication Science and Disorders and Associate Dean for Instructional Development in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and as Interim Director of the Undergraduate Program in Rehabilitation. Her research spans Telehealth, Speech-Language Pathology, and Diversity in Higher Education, with co-authored books including Communication as Culture (three editions), Telerehabilitation: A Casebook in Communication Science and Disorders (2nd edition in press), and Diversity in Higher Education Remote Learning: A Practical Guide (in press). She pioneered work in Tele-AAC and Assistive Communication, extending into Disability Law through co-founding the Certificate Program in Disability Law and the first Master of Studies in Law (MSL) concentration at Pitt’s School of Law. Dr. Cohn received the 2019 Editor’s Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Perspectives Journal for her tele-ethics article and served over a decade as founding Editor of the International Journal of Telerehabilitation . As an educator, she teaches Health Communication (COMMRC 1181), Organizational Communication (COMMRC 1102), Non-Verbal Communication (COMMRC 1109), and Special Topics in Health (COMMRC 1730), emphasizing practical applications in remote learning and inclusive pedagogy.
E. Shelley Reid is a Professor in the Department of English at George Mason University, where she serves as Executive Director of Engaged Teaching at the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning. She has previously taught at Oklahoma State University, Austin College, and the University of Wyoming. Education: BA from Grinnell College, MA and PhD from State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research focuses on knowledge transfer in learning, institutional influences on teaching, and faculty development. She advocates for reflective pedagogy and inclusive education practices, particularly in composition and writing program administration. Her recent publications emphasize curriculum assessment, peer review pedagogy, and teacher preparation. She co-authored a forthcoming chapter on visual self-study in Teaching, Learning, and Enacting Self-study Research (Springer, 2024) and has explored connections between instructor education and teaching approaches in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Scientific Awards: Kenneth Bruffee Award for Best Article in WPA: Writing Program Administration , 2012-2013. She has supervised dissertations on topics like reflective graduate teaching practices, disciplinary literacy models, and learning disabilities in college writing. Her presentations address anti-racist pedagogy, scalable teaching systems, and assessment frameworks.
Professor David Carter is the National Head of School for Law and Business at Notre Dame. With over 20 years of experience in law, business, and academia, he combines practical legal and accounting expertise with transdisciplinary research. Education: BCA (Hons), BCA LLB (Hons) PhD (Victoria University of Wellington) His research explores the ethics and politics of information at the intersection of accounting, law, politics, and regulation . Key pillars include the onto-ethical politics of information, governance mechanisms, and discourses of the commons and capital. Recent work examines Coeliac disease in workplace inclusion , corruption in Indonesian auditing , and SROI ethics . Scientific awards: Fellow of Advance Higher Education Certified Practising Accountant (CPA Australia) Prof. Carter has supervised over 20 HDR students in critical accounting, law, and governance studies. His teaching spans Risk Management, Torts, Research Philosophy , and Business Ethics , emphasizing Freirean dialogics and ethical judgment.
Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles is Professor of New Testament and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She also serves as Director of the Baptist House of Studies at Perkins. An ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA since 1996, she bridges academic scholarship with practical ministry, bringing biblical texts to life for both academic and popular audiences. Dr. Clark-Soles received her academic training at prestigious institutions: Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University (2000) M.Div., summa cum laude, from Yale Divinity School (1993) B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in Philosophy (with a minor in Russian Studies) from Stetson University (1989) Her scholarly work spans multiple intersecting areas that demonstrate her commitment to connecting ancient traditions with contemporary life. Dr. Clark-Soles is particularly known for her expertise in Johannine literature (the Gospel of John, 1-3 John, and Revelation), where she explores themes of divine encounter, ethics, and eschatology. Her research on evil, suffering, death, and afterlife in the New Testament has positioned her as a leading voice on these difficult theological topics. More recently, she has become a pioneering scholar at the intersection of psychedelics and Christianity, serving as a Field Scholar for the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality and participating in the Johns Hopkins Religious Professionals Study. Her work in disability studies and the Bible challenges harmful theological assumptions about disability while highlighting liberative potential within biblical texts. Dr. Clark-Soles' scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on making biblical texts accessible and relevant to contemporary audiences. Her recent publications show an increasing engagement with interdisciplinary approaches, particularly bridging theological scholarship with medical and psychological research on psychedelics. She has contributed significantly to both traditional biblical scholarship and emerging areas at the intersection of religion and contemporary scientific inquiry. Her notable awards and distinctions include: Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Award (2014) Perkins Scholarly Outreach Award (2016) Ford Senior Research Fellowship Louisville Institute Christian Faith and Life Sabbatical Grant (2004-2005) Dr. Clark-Soles serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Disability and Religion and previously served on the Journal of Biblical Literature editorial board. She has been active in the Society of Biblical Literature, serving on steering committees for the 'Ethics and Biblical Interpretation' and 'Johannine Literature' sections. Her grant work includes the Louisville Institute Christian Faith and Life Sabbatical Grant that supported her research on death and afterlife. As an ordained minister, she has served in both congregational and hospice settings, bringing practical pastoral experience to inform her academic work. She is actively involved in several research networks and initiatives related to her psychedelic studies work, including the Transforming Chaplaincy Psychedelic Care Network and the Psychedelic Educators Network. Dr. Clark-Soles has earned the Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research through the California Institute of Integral Studies, positioning her at the forefront of scholarly engagement with this emerging field.
Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design at Purdue University's Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance, where she has taught since 2016. Her research examines 20th-century American design history through the lens of mundane spaces and objects, focusing on interiors, technology, and furniture to reveal socio-techno-political dimensions of everyday life. Her academic background includes: Ph.D. in Design Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison M.A. in History of Design, Royal College of Art and Victoria & Albert Museum, London B.A. in American Culture, Vassar College Kaufmann-Buhler's scholarship critically analyzes how design shapes cultural narratives, with particular emphasis on office environments as evidenced by her 2021 book Open Plan: A Design History of the American Office . She investigates gender dynamics in furniture design (e.g., sexism in chair anthropometry), the evolution of open-plan spaces, and intersections with Critical Disability Studies. Her work actively challenges traditional design canons by highlighting marginalized perspectives and everyday design experiences. Analysis of her 2016-2022 publications reveals consistent thematic focus on office design evolution, where she examines technology's impact on workplaces, spatial organization politics, and the socio-cultural implications of furniture systems. Recurring motifs include gendered design practices, corporate ethnography through architecture, and critical reassessment of design history narratives—demonstrating how mundane objects reflect broader societal power structures. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in source text In her teaching, Kaufmann-Buhler cultivates critical engagement with design history by emphasizing diverse actors (designers, manufacturers, users) and socio-political contexts. While specific student names and grant details are absent from the provided information, her interdisciplinary approach—bridging American Studies and Critical Disability Studies—enriches curriculum development and mentorship within the Department of Art and Design, fostering inclusive perspectives on design's cultural significance.
Niya Pickett Miller serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Media at Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences. She is an active member of the National Communication Association, Southern States Communication Association, and served as past president of the Alabama Communication Association. Dr. Miller has delivered keynotes as the 2022 speaker for the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) national conference and the 2023 International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation conference, in addition to her 2019 TEDx Birmingham presentation. Her academic credentials include: PhD in Communication Studies, University of Southern Mississippi MS in Human Resource Management, Troy University MA in Communication Studies, University of Alabama BA in Telecommunication and Film, University of Alabama Dr. Miller's research critically examines identity construction through visual media and rhetoric in popular culture, with focused analysis on race, gender, and disability representations across film, television, and digital platforms. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges communication theory with cultural studies to interrogate power dynamics in media narratives. Her scholarly contributions have earned recognition through: 2019 Top Faculty Paper award from the Alabama Communication Association 2021 AACD Top Paper award from the National Communication Association While her faculty role implies student mentoring activities, specific advising details and research grants are not documented in the source material.
