Find Academic Supervisors

Elizabeth MacGonagleView profile

Associate Professor

• Identity Formation
• African History
• African Diaspora Studies
• +3 more

Elizabeth MacGonagle is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Kansas and Director of Graduate Programs at the Center for Global & International Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University (2002). Her research focuses on identity formation in African and Diasporan contexts, with a particular emphasis on history, memory, and contested heritage sites linked to slavery. She has conducted extensive research in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, supported by grants from Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, the Social Science Research Council, and the American Philosophical Society. Her scholarly work includes her book Crafting Identity in Zimbabwe and Mozambique (2007), which challenges notions of tribalism through a four-century analysis of the Ndau region. She collaborates on projects such as digitizing the Onitsha Market Literature collection at KU's Spencer Research Library, making Nigerian popular literature accessible. Her current research explores intersections of history and memory at slavery heritage sites. MacGonagle speaks Portuguese, Shona (Ndau), and has studied Kiswahili and French. She has held roles such as Director of [redacted] from 2013-2021 and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives through centers like the Kansas African Studies Center.

Juliette KoningView profile

Professor

• Organizational Studies
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Ethics
• +5 more

Juliette Koning serves as Professor of Business in Society and Head of the Organisation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship Department at Maastricht University's School of Business and Economics. With a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam, she brings interdisciplinary expertise spanning organizational studies, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. Her academic career includes prior appointments at Oxford Brookes University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tilburg University, and Wageningen University. Her research centers on two interconnected domains: (1) small business organizations and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia—particularly focusing on ethnic Chinese owner-managers—and (2) security studies including maritime security in Indonesia and organizational approaches to security across South Africa, the UK, and the Netherlands. Koning employs extensive qualitative methodologies, often incorporating creative and arts-based approaches, with publications in top journals including Organization Studies , Journal of Business Ethics , and Entrepreneurship & Regional Development . Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on identity construction within organizational contexts, ethical dimensions of business practices, and the intersection of cultural-religious frameworks with economic activities. Her work demonstrates increasing engagement with security governance and cross-border cooperation, particularly evident in her NWO-funded research on interorganizational crime control. Koning actively contributes to academic discourse as Associate Editor of Human Relations and has secured significant research funding including an NWO SSH Open Competition grant for her project 'Cross-border Interorganizational Cooperation in Crime Control' investigating Euregional police cooperation in the Meuse-Rhine border region. Her methodological expertise in qualitative approaches extends to mentoring researchers through publications on autoethnography and ethnographic practice.

Aike Peter RotsView profile

Professor

• Religion and Ecology
• Sacred Space and Ritual Theory
• Heritage-Making and Tourism
• +5 more

Professor Aike Peter Rots holds a position at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Humanities, Department of Japanese Studies. His research examines religion, culture, and nature in contemporary Asia, with specialization in Japan and Vietnam. Rots leads the ERC-funded project 'Whales of Power' (2019-2025) investigating cetacean worship and environmental change in maritime East Asia. His scholarship spans multiple domains: sacred space and ritual theory; heritage-making processes; environmental humanities; Shinto transformations; indigenous traditions; and religion-corporate interactions. His work critically analyzes how religious practices adapt to environmental crises and heritage preservation efforts. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on nature-culture relationships, with recent work examining Vietnamese whale worship amid plastic pollution crises, Japanese whale festivals, and East Asian perspectives on utopia and ritual. His research methodology emphasizes cross-cultural comparison and challenges methodological nationalism. Rots received the prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant for his innovative work on human-aquatic mammal relationships. He has authored 'Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan' and co-edited volumes including 'Sacred Heritage in Japan'. Current projects include monographs on whale rituals in Japan/Vietnam and an introductory Shinto textbook.

Ansgar SchanbacherView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental History
• Urban History
• History of Science
• +1 more

PD Dr. Ansgar Schanbacher serves as a Research Fellow at the Institute for Regional Historical Research, University of Göttingen, specializing in environmental and urban history of Early Modern Central Europe and the Netherlands. His work examines resource management and hazard responses in cities like Braunschweig, Würzburg, and Utrecht through interdisciplinary environmental history frameworks. His academic formation includes a Dr. phil. from Göttingen University (2011-2015) on Potato Blight and Famine in Northwestern Germany (1845-1848), completed within the Research Training Group Interdisciplinary Environmental History. Earlier, he earned an M.A. in History, Economy, and Polish Language/Literature from Leipzig University and Lublin's Catholic University (2003-2010), followed by freelance translation work (2009-2011). Schanbacher's research centers on Environmental History, Urban History (17th-19th centuries), History of Science, and Eastern European History. His scholarship reveals how early modern cities navigated ecological challenges through municipal policies, technological adaptations, and social coping mechanisms, with particular attention to waste management, fire prevention, food crises, and horticulture across German and Dutch urban contexts. His 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on urban environmental resilience, showing evolution from specific hazard case studies (fires, earthquakes) toward broader sustainability frameworks. Key trends include comparative analysis of municipal responses, interdisciplinary methodology bridging history and environmental science, and contextualization of historical practices within modern sustainability discourse. His scientific recognition includes: Prize of the Historical Commission for Lower Saxony and Bremen (2016) DFG Scholarship at Göttingen University (2011-2014) DAAD Scholarship for Poznań/Kraków (2008) Grant leadership includes Scientific Coordination of 'Sustainability as Argument' (2016-2020) and a 2016 Graduate School of Humanities research grant. He actively disseminates research through the 'Stadtgeschichten' urban history blog (co-editor), 'Epidemien in der frühneuzeitlichen Stadt' podcast series, and public lectures on Central European urban environments. Current affiliations include the European Society for Environmental History and European Association for Urban History, with contributions to the Portal zur Geschichte and Frauenstift Gandersheim projects. Based at Göttingen University's Heinrich-Düker-Weg campus, he maintains active scholarly engagement through editorial work, conference presentations, and interdisciplinary collaborations exploring historical dimensions of urban sustainability.

Elvin WylyView profile

Professor

• Urban Geography
• Housing Policy and Finance
• Gentrification and Displacement
• +7 more

Elvin Wyly is a Professor in the Department of Geography within the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on the relations between market processes and state policy in producing and reinforcing urban social inequalities, blending critical social theory, legal and policy analysis, and multivariate quantitative methods. Wyly earned his PhD (1995) and MA from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and his BSc from The Pennsylvania State University. His academic journey reflects a deep engagement with geographical thought and methodology. His research interests span urban geography, housing policy and finance, gentrification and displacement, urban inequality, spatial analysis, critical social theory, digital geographies, GIS, and race, class, and gender studies. Wyly's approach combines critical theory with empirical analysis to examine how market forces and public policy interact to create spatial inequalities in urban environments. Analysis of Wyly's recent publications (2019-2024) reveals consistent engagement with themes of urban transformation, housing finance, and spatial inequality. His work increasingly addresses the digital turn in urban studies, examining smart cities, datafication of urban space, and the evolving nature of gentrification in the 21st century. There's a clear trajectory from studying traditional urban processes toward examining how digital technologies reshape urban inequalities and governance. Wyly's research demonstrates significant contributions to understanding the financialization of urban space, particularly through his work on subprime mortgage markets, housing discrimination, and the racial dimensions of urban development. His publications in leading geography and urban studies journals establish him as a significant voice in critical urban scholarship. His teaching appears to focus on urban geography, with courses covering topics related to cities, economies, transnational flows, digital geographies, and issues of gender, race, and class. His research website serves as a resource for students and colleagues interested in advanced urban geographical analysis.

S. Garnett RussellView profile

Associate Professor

• International Education
• Conflict and Peacebuilding
• Refugee Education
• +4 more

S. Garnett Russell is an Associate Professor of International and Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, directing the International and Comparative Education Program and the George Clement Bond Center for African Education. Their research focuses on education's role in post-conflict societies, refugee education, human rights, and citizenship formation, often using mixed-methods approaches. Russell holds a PhD from Stanford University and has significant expertise in global education policy and transitional justice. Key research areas include post-genocide Rwanda, South Africa, Colombia, and urban refugee populations. Current projects examine transitional justice education in Colombia, civic identity among immigrant/refugee youth in the U.S., and refugee education policy. Russell has authored/co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and book chapters, with recent work analyzing language policies, textbook discourses, and human rights education implementation. Awards and recognitions are not explicitly listed, but their work has been supported by grants from Dubai Cares/INEE and the Spencer Foundation. Russell advises students in comparative and international education, focusing on fieldwork methodologies and policy analysis. Their teaching emphasizes global educational inequities and the sociopolitical dimensions of schooling.

Liz KoslovView profile

Assistant Professor

• Climate Change
• Disasters
• Environmental Justice
• +4 more

Liz Koslov is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on climate change adaptation, environmental justice, and urban political ecology, with a particular emphasis on 'managed retreat' strategies in coastal zones. She holds a Ph.D. in media, culture, and communication from New York University, an MSc in culture and society from the London School of Economics, and a BA in communication, Spanish, and Latin American literature from George Washington University. Education: Ph.D., Media, Culture, and Communication (NYU) MSc, Culture and Society (LSE) BA, Communication/Spanish/Latin American Literature (GWU) Her work examines how cities respond to climate threats like sea-level rise and extreme weather, emphasizing ethical and equitable approaches to climate adaptation. Her book project, Retreat: Moving to Higher Ground in a Climate-Changed City , analyzes post-Hurricane Sandy resettlement efforts in New York City. Her research has been featured in Scientific American , The New Yorker , and other major outlets. Recent publications explore legal contradictions in climate resettlement, the psychological stress of post-disaster rebuilding, and the sociological dimensions of climate silence. Her work often bridges urban planning, environmental ethics, and ethnographic methods to advocate for socially just climate policies. Previously, Koslov served as a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Humanities at MIT. She currently advises on climate adaptation strategies and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on urban resilience.

Uma PradhanView profile

Associate Professor

• Anthropology
• Development studies
• Applied linguistics and educational linguistics
• +6 more

Dr. Uma Pradhan is an Associate Professor at UCL's Institute of Education (IOE), Faculty of Education and Society, and serves as Deputy Programme Leader for BA Education, Culture, and Society. She also holds the position of Inclusion Co-Lead for the Department of Education, Practice and Society (EPS). At UCL, she is actively involved with the Centre for Education and International Development (CEID) and the Centre for the Study of South Asia and the Indian Ocean World. Prior to her current position, Dr. Pradhan was a Lecturer and Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Oxford from 2018 to 2022, and then a Lecturer at University College London from 2022 to 2024 before her promotion to Associate Professor in 2024. Dr. Pradhan's research spans multiple interconnected fields including Anthropology, Development Studies, Applied Linguistics, Humanitarian Disasters, Conflict and Peacebuilding, and Educational Technology. Her work particularly focuses on South Asian educational contexts, with extensive research on Nepal's educational landscape. She examines how educational policies intersect with social structures, linguistic diversity, and political transformations, with special attention to marginalized communities and post-disaster educational reconstruction. Her research demonstrates a consistent commitment to addressing educational inequality and exploring how education can serve as a vehicle for social justice. Dr. Pradhan's scholarly output reveals a strong focus on the intersections between language, technology, and education in South Asia. Her recent publications examine how artificial intelligence is being used for indigenous language preservation, the impact of the pandemic on educational systems across South Asia, and the bureaucratic mechanisms that can inadvertently reproduce social inequality through scholarship programs. Her work consistently connects theoretical frameworks with practical implications for educational policy and practice. Leverhulme Early Career Fellow Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) As an academic leader, Dr. Pradhan supervises research degrees and engages in collaborative projects and consultancy work. Her research aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Quality Education (SDG 4), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). Her position at the intersection of multiple research centers at UCL enables her to foster interdisciplinary collaborations that address complex educational challenges in global contexts.

Vera BenczikView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Science Fiction
• Post-apocalyptic Science Fiction
• Ursula K. Le Guin Studies
• +5 more

Vera Benczik serves as Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of the Department of American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University's School of English and American Studies in Budapest. She is a founding member of the EASPop popular culture research group and maintains active roles in both institutional leadership and scholarly communities. Her academic foundation includes: Studies in English and Assyiriology at Eötvös Loránd University PhD in American Studies (2011) focusing on journey motifs in Ursula K. Le Guin's science fiction Dr. Benczik's research centers on science fiction with specialization in post-apocalyptic narratives and Ursula K. Le Guin's works . She explores intersections of space/place dynamics , gender studies , and environmental themes within speculative fiction, while maintaining parallel expertise in Margaret Atwood's writings and Canadian women's literature. Her current project examines spatial representations in post-apocalyptic science fiction. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with Hungarian cultural contexts through analyses of local interpretations of American science fiction, particularly regarding apocalyptic themes. The body of work demonstrates evolving focus from Le Guin studies toward contemporary post-apocalyptic discourse with strong environmental humanities dimensions. Her scholarly recognition includes: Fulbright Research Scholarship at Notre Dame University (2017) ESSE Research grant for Liverpool University (2013) CEACS Conference grant (2011) As Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs, Dr. Benczik shapes departmental research direction while leading the EASPop research group. Her academic profile reflects sustained commitment to bridging Hungarian and international scholarship through comparative analyses of science fiction's cultural implications, with particular attention to how apocalyptic narratives function as social commentary in Central European contexts.

Charlotte RogersView profile

Associate Professor

• Latin American Literature
• Caribbean Literature
• Environmental Humanities
• +6 more

Charlotte Rogers is Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Virginia, where she is a core faculty member in the Environmental Humanities, founding director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship in Caribbean Literatures, Arts, and Cultures, and co-founder of the Greater Caribbean Studies Network. She is also an affiliate of Latin American Studies and active faculty in the Ph.D. program in Spanish. Currently on leave for the 2024-2025 academic year, Rogers has held the Lisa Smith Discovery Chair (2020-2023) and will join the Editorial Board of the University of Virginia Press beginning in 2025. Rogers specializes in twentieth- and twenty-first-century literature, art, and culture from Latin America and the Caribbean, examining representations of the tropical Americas from decolonial and environmental humanities perspectives. Her research explores how literary texts and works of art engage with environmental change and imagine possible ecological futures. She has published extensively on Caribbean and Latin American literature, with a particular focus on the Amazon, Puerto Rico, and ecological themes. Rogers's scholarly work reveals strong trends in environmental humanities, Caribbean studies, and postcolonial ecocriticism. Her publications consistently examine the intersections of literature, ecology, and decolonial thought, with particular attention to multispecies relations, extractivism, and climate disaster. She has pioneered approaches that connect literary analysis with contemporary environmental challenges, especially in the Caribbean context. Honorable Mention: Latin American Studies Association Amazonia section Best Book Prize, 2020 As an educator and mentor, Rogers has been deeply involved in doctoral training through the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship in Caribbean Literatures, Arts, and Cultures. Her professional service includes editorial board positions for Revista de Estudios Hispánicos and ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and the Environment, as well as previous service on the Peer Advisory Board of PMLA (2020-2023). Beyond academia, she serves as an Ambassador for the National Aphasia Association, drawing on her personal experience as a caregiver for a loved one with primary progressive aphasia.

• International Development
• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• +4 more

Elizabeth Harrison is Professor of Anthropology and International Development at the University of Sussex's School of Global Studies and currently serves as Dean of the School of Progressive Futures. She previously held leadership roles as Head of School (2018-2023) and Head of International Development, representing Social Science on the University Executive Group. Her academic credentials include a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University, followed by an MA in Gender and Development and DPhil in Social Anthropology from Sussex. Her career progression at Sussex spans Research Fellow (1990-1996), Lecturer (1996), Senior Lecturer (2004), Reader (2013), and Professor (2017). Professor Harrison's research examines ethical claims and power dynamics in development contexts through key concepts of morality, corruption, 'development', and resilience. Her ethnographic fieldwork across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the UK investigates natural resource management—including irrigation systems in post-conflict settings and coastal zones—and social policy domains such as ageing, poverty alleviation, and community regeneration. This work consistently bridges anthropological theory with practical development challenges. Analysis of her recent publications reveals persistent thematic focus on irrigation governance, economic resilience during crises, and critical evaluations of aid systems. These works employ political ecology and anthropological frameworks to dissect local-institutional interactions, particularly in African agricultural contexts, while challenging technocratic development approaches through attention to moral economies and differentiated legitimacy. She has supervised 18 PhD students on diverse global topics including bureaucracy in Papua New Guinea, gender equity in South African policing, and food sovereignty in Nicaragua. Her research is funded by ESRC, DFID, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, with notable projects on small-scale irrigation innovation and economic crisis impacts. Additionally, she advises international bodies including FAO, UNRISD, Save the Children, and OECD DAC on policy matters. Professor Harrison maintains active community engagement through partnerships with Meridian Mature Citizens Forum, Seaford Seniors Forum, and East Sussex County Council, translating research into local consultation practices for social policy and planning initiatives.

Elizabeth A. WilliamsView profile

Professor

• Organizational Communication
• Health Communication
• High Reliability Organizations
• +5 more

Elizabeth A. Williams is a Professor of Organizational and Health Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Colorado State University, with affiliate faculty status at the Colorado School of Public Health. Her research examines high reliability organizations (e.g., fire departments) and their health/safety practices, including accident response, organizational learning, and wearable technology applications. Education: Ph.D. in Communication from Purdue University Affiliations: Department of Communication Studies, Colorado School of Public Health Recent work includes: Nonprofit resilience during crises (2024) Emotional sustainability in human services (2022) Wearable tech integration in firefighting (2018) Virtual team communication dynamics (2011) She co-edited the award-winning Organizations, Communication, and Health (2017 NCA award) and serves on ResponderStrong's advisory board. Recognized for Excellence in Teaching and Outstanding Service by the College of Liberal Arts, her research bridges organizational theory with public health through communication strategies.

Brian NussbaumView profile

Assistant Professor

• State and Local Government Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity in Smart Cities and Critical Infrastructure
• Intelligence Analysis and Communication
• +3 more

Brian Nussbaum is an Assistant Professor in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC) at the University at Albany. He is concurrently a Fellow of the Cybersecurity Initiative at New America and an Affiliate Scholar at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society (CIS). Previously, he served as a Senior Intelligence Analyst at the New York State Office of Counter Terrorism (OCT), where he established the Cyber Analysis Unit (CAU) at the New York State Intelligence Center (NYSIC). Education: Ph.D. in Political Science, University at Albany, 2009 M.A. in Political Science, University at Albany, 2007 B.A. in Political Science, Binghamton University, 2002 Nussbaum's research examines cybersecurity governance with emphasis on state/local capabilities, critical infrastructure protection, and intelligence communication. His core interests include: Policy frameworks for municipal cybersecurity resilience Threat assessment methodologies for emerging technologies Cross-jurisdictional information sharing architectures Operational challenges in smart city security His recent publications (2020-2024) demonstrate multidisciplinary analysis of cyber-physical threats, with recurring themes in: Critical infrastructure vulnerability and crisis management Evolution of financial cybercrime and regulatory responses Attribution challenges in cyber incidents Intersections of disinformation, surveillance, and democratic processes Nussbaum contributes to field-building through affiliations with New America and Stanford CIS, extending his impact beyond academia into national policy discourse. His prior operational experience at NYSIC informs applied research on public-sector cybersecurity capacity.

Chloe LucasView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Human Geography
• Social and Cultural Geography
• Climate Change Communication
• +5 more

Dr. Chloe Lucas is a Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow at the School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, with a focus on climate communication and social adaptation. She holds a PhD in Geography (2018) and an MA in English Literature (1997), bringing interdisciplinary expertise to her work. Current ARC DECRA Fellow in Climate Citizenship Coordinator of Education for Sustainability Tasmania Co-founder of the award-winning Curious Climate Schools initiative Her research explores the social dimensions of climate change , examining how cultural contexts shape responses to extreme weather events. She bridges human geography, sociology, and communication studies to develop inclusive climate dialogues. Recent projects focus on bushfire preparedness, youth climate education, and underinsurance dynamics. Key article trends show interdisciplinary work in climate adaptation games bushfire risk communication global climate perception datasets youth emotional resilience post-disaster community narratives with emphasis on visual media and participatory methods. Scientific Recognition Tasmanian Young Tall Poppy of the Year (2023) Schmidt Award for Science Communications (2022) Green Gowns Benefitting Society Award (2022) Wiley Best Paper Recognition (2018) As an educator, she coordinates Professional Research Methods and supervises PhD candidates studying climate communication. Her funded projects include Australian Research Council grants on bushfire readiness and Spencer Foundation research on youth climate education models.

Kathleen WilliamsView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Media Technologies
• Environmental Impact of Media
• Digital Media
• +3 more

Dr. Kathleen Williams is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Head of Research at the School of Creative Arts and Media, University of Tasmania. She holds a PhD from UNSW (2014) and a BA (Media and Communications Hons) from the University of Sydney (2008). Her research focuses on media technologies, environmental impacts of media, and creative industries, with projects examining media materiality, crisis communication, and post-pandemic sector recovery. Administrative roles include Director of Creative Curriculum (2019–2022), Head of Media Program, and Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator. She co-led the ABC-UTAS Media Literacy Project (2018) and contributed to Tasmania’s Cultural and Creative Industries Recovery Strategy. Current projects explore media history’s 'silences,' environmental legacies of media tech, and crisis-driven industry transformations. Teaching spans Media Futures, Digital Culture, and interdisciplinary creative practice. Supervised over 10 doctoral candidates across media, marine science, and social sciences. Active in media commentary via ABC Radio and industry collaborations with the Institute of Social Change and Department of State Growth.