Ann Swidler is a Professor of the Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research intersects sociology, anthropology, and development studies, focusing on the interplay between culture and institutions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Education: PhD from UC Berkeley, BA from Harvard. Teaching: Sociology of culture, religion, and theory. Research Interests include: Cultural repertoires and institutionalization Religion and collective action in African contexts Responses to HIV/AIDS in Malawi Chieftaincy and local governance Global-local interactions in development Recent publications (2020–2024) explore institutional innovation in Africa, spirituality in rural Malawi, and cultural strategies amid HIV/AIDS. Her work often bridges sociological theory with ethnographic fieldwork. Selected Contributions: A Fraught Embrace: The Romance and Reality of AIDS Altruism in Africa (2017, co-authored with Susan Watkins) Talk of Love: How Culture Matters (2001) Habits of the Heart (1985, co-authored)
Wael B. Hallaq is the Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University’s Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies. His work focuses on Islamic law, intellectual history, and the socio-political impacts of modernity. He critiques Orientalist paradigms and explores the interplay between moral theory and legal history in Islamic traditions. His research spans structural dynamics of legal change in pre-modern law, moral theory’s role in Islamic legal history, and the critique of modern state sovereignty. His influential books include *The Impossible State* (2013), which earned Columbia University Press’s Distinguished Book Award, and *Shari‘a: Theory, Practice, Transformations* (2009). Education: No explicit educational details provided in text. His writings bridge legal theory, history, and political thought, challenging Eurocentric frameworks in Islamic studies. His analyses of pre-modern legal systems and modernity’s moral dilemmas have been translated into multiple languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian. Awards: Columbia University Press Distinguished Book Award (2013–2015) No grants, labs, or advising details explicitly mentioned in the text.
Professor Sandesh Sivakumaran is a Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, serving as Director of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law and Fellow of St Edmund's College. He holds affiliations with the Lieber Institute for Law and Warfare, the University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre, and the Centre on Armed Groups. His expertise spans public international law, humanitarian law, human rights, and the law of armed conflict. Prof. Sivakumaran's research focuses on non-international armed conflict, armed groups' obligations, and the development of international law. He authored The Law of Non-International Armed Conflict , which has earned multiple prestigious awards, and co-authored Oppenheim's International Law: United Nations . His work has been cited by international courts and tribunals, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Prof. Sivakumaran advises governments, international organizations, and NGOs, and contributes to legal reform initiatives. He is a member of the ICRC's Commentaries Reading Committee and the advisory board of Geneva Call. His training programs target diplomats, military personnel, and UN staff, emphasizing practical applications of international law. His academic career includes roles at the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, the International Court of Justice, and Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge (MA, PhD) and New York University School of Law (LLM). Prof. Sivakumaran's honors include the Francis Lieber Prize and European Society of International Law Book Prize. His scholarship bridges theoretical and applied dimensions, addressing contemporary challenges such as humanitarian access, gender-based violence, and the evolving role of non-state actors.
Professor Lionel Bently is the Emmanuel College Professor of Intellectual Property Law (Herchel Smith) at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Law. He holds a B.A. in Law from Cambridge (1986) and has held academic positions at King's College London and visiting roles at institutions like Columbia University and the University of Toronto. His research focuses on intellectual property law, copyright, trademark law, and legal history, with particular emphasis on historical developments and European frameworks. He directs the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law (CIPIL) and co-founded the International Society for the History and Theory of Intellectual Property (ISHTIP). His publications include seminal works such as Intellectual Property Law (co-authored) and Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Problems Facing Freelance Creators in the UK Media Market Place . He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Cambridge Law Journal and contributes to multiple editorial boards, including the European Intellectual Property Review . Bently's work spans theoretical and practical dimensions of IP law, with a strong emphasis on historical analysis. His articles and book chapters address topics like the Berne Convention's签署, utility models in UK law, and pharmaceutical trademark limitations. He also leads initiatives such as the Primary Sources on Copyright project, digitizing historical IP materials. His professional network includes roles as Honorary Legal Advisor to the Royal Historical Society and advisory positions with UCL’s Institute of Brands and Innovation Law. Bently’s research has influenced both academic discourse and policy-making in intellectual property, reflecting his dual commitment to historical scholarship and contemporary legal challenges.
Professor Will Bateman is a distinguished academic at the Australian National University (ANU) College of Law, where he serves as a Professor and recently completed his term as Associate Dean (Research) from 2021 to 2024. He is also a Chief Investigator for the ANU Grand Challenge project "Humanising Machine Intelligence" and a Fellow at the Gradient Institute, a leading ethical AI research organization based in Sydney. Professor Bateman's educational background is impressive, having earned a PhD and LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge and a BA/LLB (Hons) from the Australian National University. Prior to his academic career, he worked in appellate litigation, commercial disputes, and banking as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills, and served as an associate to Justice Stephen Gageler AC of the High Court of Australia and Justice Steven Rares of the Federal Court of Australia. Professor Bateman's research spans two major interdisciplinary domains that sit at the intersection of law with finance and technology. His work on financial regulation focuses on the legal aspects of central banking, sovereign debt markets, digital currencies, and sustainable investing. He has provided expert evidence to the UK Parliament's House of Lords Inquiry into Quantitative Easing, and has collaborated with major financial institutions including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England. His research on artificial intelligence examines regulatory frameworks for AI in the public sector, with collaborations including the Minderoo Foundation and the Gradient Institute. His recent publications demonstrate a remarkable breadth across legal theory, financial regulation, and AI governance. The articles reveal a consistent theme of examining how traditional legal frameworks adapt to new financial technologies and monetary policy challenges. His work bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical policy implications, as evidenced by his numerous government consultations and collaborations with central banks worldwide. 2020 Yorke Prize by the University of Cambridge for his work on public finance and constitutionalism Top 10 all-time most downloaded SSRN paper on central banking ("Central Bank Money: Liability, Asset, or Equity of the Nation?") Professor Bateman actively supervises research students, currently mentoring Benjamin Ettinger who is pursuing a PhD on "Legal Method, Cartels and Public Monopolies: A View From the High Court 1908 - 1948." He has secured significant research funding, including projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), and The Minderoo Foundation. His "Rebuilding Macroeconomics Initiative: Legal and Economic Conceptions of Money" received £245,000, while the "FA Mann" project was funded with €620,000 (approximately A$1,012,500). He leads the "Humanising Machine Intelligence" project, an ambitious interdisciplinary initiative involving computer scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, and lawyers aimed at developing democratically legitimate machine intelligence. He also co-led a major project with the University of Western Australia to formulate model legal frameworks for AI regulation in the public sector, funded by The Minderoo Foundation.
Mark J. Loewenstein is the Monfort Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Colorado Law School, where he has been a faculty member since 1979. He teaches courses in Business Associations, Securities Law, and Contracts, and has established himself as a leading scholar in business law. Professor Loewenstein previously practiced business law at a Chicago law firm before joining academia and has maintained strong connections with the legal profession throughout his career. Professor Loewenstein's educational background includes: JD from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana BA from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana Professor Loewenstein's research focuses on business associations, agency law, and securities law, with particular expertise in corporate governance. His scholarly work examines the legal structures of business organizations, fiduciary duties in unincorporated entities, and the evolving landscape of corporate law. He has made significant contributions to understanding LLC governance, veil piercing doctrines, and the application of good faith principles in business contexts. His comparative work on stakeholder protection in Germany and Japan demonstrates his international perspective on corporate governance issues. Analysis of Professor Loewenstein's publications reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of business organization law and corporate governance. His work spans theoretical examinations of agency principles, practical analyses of LLC structures, and historical perspectives on corporate law developments. A notable trend in his scholarship is the examination of how traditional corporate law concepts apply to newer business forms, particularly limited liability companies. His publications also demonstrate a strong interest in the balance between state and federal regulation of business entities. Professor Loewenstein has received significant professional recognition: Monfort Professor of Commercial Law (endowed chair) Fulbright Scholar at Hokkaido University, Japan (1990-91) Visiting Professor at University of Michigan Law School (1999) Throughout his career, Professor Loewenstein has demonstrated exceptional service to both the University of Colorado Law School and the broader legal community. He served as associate dean for academic affairs for nine years and associate dean for research for four years. He was a member of Colorado's Securities Board from 1995 to 2000 and contributed to the drafting of the 1994 Colorado Business Corporation Act. As a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates (1999-2005) and active member of the ABA's business law committee, he has influenced business law development at the national level. His service extends to editorial roles for legal publications and frequent presentations at professional conferences. Professor Loewenstein maintains strong connections with the legal practice community through his ongoing service on the Colorado Bar Association's Corporate Law Revision Committee and his contributions to continuing legal education programs. His work bridges academic scholarship and practical legal application, making him a valued resource for both students and practitioners.
Dr. Leonardo Franchi serves as a Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith at the University of Glasgow's School of Education. He is an internationally recognized scholar in Catholic education, holding significant editorial roles including Series Editor for both Catholic Education Globally - Challenges and Opportunities (Springer) and Education and Integral Human Development (Catholic University of America Press). In September 2024, he was appointed co-convenor of the Scottish Catholic Historical Association and maintains an active role as Executive Member of the Association of Catholic Institutes of Education. Franchi's educational background includes a Master of Arts (Hons), Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Master of Education, Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, and a PhD. His academic journey reflects both theoretical depth and practical teaching experience in educational settings. His research interests center on Catholic education with particular focus on religious education, teacher formation, and the integration of liberal arts in higher education. Franchi has made significant scholarly contributions through the Reclaiming the Piazza series and numerous publications exploring how Catholic educational philosophy can address contemporary challenges while maintaining theological integrity. His work consistently examines the intersection of faith, culture, and educational practice, with increasing attention to character formation, intercultural dialogue, and the application of Catholic social teaching to educational policy. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent trajectory examining Catholic educational identity in pluralistic contexts, with growing emphasis on character formation, teacher professional identity, and the integration of Catholic intellectual tradition with contemporary educational challenges. His 2023-2025 work shows increased focus on Scottish Catholic educational history, the application of papal encyclicals to educational practice, and the role of music and arts in religious formation. Series Editor for Catholic Education Globally - Challenges and Opportunities (Springer) Series Editor for Education and Integral Human Development (Catholic University of America Press) Co-convenor of Scottish Catholic Historical Association (since 2024) Executive Member of Association of Catholic Institutes of Education (since 2016) Academic Adviser to Academic Advisory Forum for Religious Education Reform in England and Wales (2019-2022) Franchi actively supervises doctoral students on diverse topics including professional identity of Catholic school teachers, music and religious education, Jesuit educational charism, and solidarity in Jesuit higher education. His supervision portfolio demonstrates his commitment to both theoretical exploration and practical application in religious educational contexts. He has received grant funding, including £10,000 from Porticus UK to support academics from developing countries attending the ACISE 2018 conference. Franchi also serves on multiple editorial boards including Review of Religious Education, Formation and Theology, and Studia Pedagogica Ignatiana. His professional activities extend to international presentations, with keynotes at institutions including Australian Institute of Theological Education and Radboud University, demonstrating his global influence in Catholic educational discourse. Franchi also serves as Director of Mater Christi Multi Academy Trust in Lancaster and holds a 0.5 FTE position as Professor of Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame Australia.
Jonathan P. Wong is a Senior Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. His work bridges academic research and defense policy, focusing on military strategy, acquisition, force planning, and the integration of emerging technologies into military operations. Education: Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Policy Analysis (Pardee RAND Graduate School), M.A. in Security Studies (Georgetown University), B.A. in Political Science (UC San Diego) Professional Experience: U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer (2001–2011), Consultant at Boston Consulting Group, current RAND researcher and professor Wong’s research interests center on defense innovation, military logistics, artificial intelligence in warfare, space capabilities, and the human dimension of military operations. He has led studies on human-machine teaming, non-lethal weapons, defense acquisition reform, and U.S. military posture in the Indo-Pacific. His work emphasizes practical, policy-relevant insights grounded in operational experience. The trends in his recent publications reveal a deep engagement with modern defense challenges: integrating commercial technologies into military systems, improving acquisition agility, enhancing battlefield awareness, and ensuring that defense innovation serves warfighter needs. His research spans strategic, operational, and tactical levels, often focusing on the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Wong has not received public recognition in the form of listed awards in the provided texts, but his leadership in congressionally mandated studies and high-impact policy research suggests significant influence in defense circles. Advising & Grants: Co-led major projects such as the Long Range Precision Fires study and research on integrating women into Marine Corps infantry. His work is frequently funded by the Department of Defense and other federal entities, though specific grant details are not listed. Wong is affiliated with RAND’s defense and national security research teams, contributing to strategic analysis and policy development. He is not associated with a formal lab but works within RAND’s collaborative research environment, often partnering with other veterans and defense experts to produce actionable insights for military leaders and policymakers.
Steven Kelts is a Lecturer at Princeton University, affiliated with the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and the Department of Computer Science . He leads the Integrated Ethics in CS program and has served as Director of the non-profit All Tech Is Human. Research Focus: Kelts examines ethical frameworks in technology innovation, historical political economies, and the intersection of democratic theory with corporate responsibility. His work spans Measuring ethics education in computing Evolving corporate structures for ethical action Locke's economic justice theories Machiavelli's republican ideals Madison's institutional designs Publications reveal trends in: Utilitarian logic in Agile teams Roman censorship models 17th-century English economic debates Mill's social value legislation Scientific Recognition: Recipient of Princeton's Council on Science and Technology grants for Agile Ethics program Google seed grant for corporate ethics frameworks University-wide award for GradFutures AI ethics leadership Advisory Roles: Includes ethics advisor to the Responsible A.I. Institute and institutional design mentor for political theory projects.
Dr. Amelia Simpson holds the position of Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University (ANU), specializing in constitutional law with a focus on discrimination principles and federalism. She earned her BA Hons and LLB Hons from ANU, followed by an LLM and JSD from Columbia University. She is a practicing Barrister and Solicitor in the High Court of Australia. Her research critically examines constitutional frameworks, particularly regarding state residence discrimination under Section 117 and interstate free trade jurisprudence. Her work has been cited in landmark High Court and Federal Court rulings, solidifying her reputation as a leading scholar in public law. Amelia’s contributions include co-authoring Hanks Australian Constitutional Law: Materials and Commentary (2016) and contributing to the Oxford Handbook of Australian Constitutional Law (2018). Her research on social equality and functionalist approaches to non-discrimination has advanced scholarly discourse on constitutional values. Notably, her 2017 paper Social Equality in Australia critiques the historical neglect of equality principles in constitutional interpretation. Her publications span constitutional doctrine, class actions reform, and environmental policy, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. She ranks among Australia’s top 20 most prolific legal scholars in high-impact journals (2000–2010). Her work bridges theoretical analysis with practical legal challenges, influencing both academia and judicial practice.
Dr. David Jordan is a Senior Lecturer in Defence Studies at King's College London, based at the Defence Academy of the UK. He serves as Co-Director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute and holds roles such as Academic Director (Air) for the Advanced Command & Staff Course. His research focuses on air and space power, military history, and strategic studies, with notable works including Understanding Modern Warfare . He has contributed to radio/TV commentary on air power and defence matters and is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Royal Historical Society, and Royal Society of Arts. Education: Doctorate in relevant field (not explicitly stated). Affiliations: RAF Centre for Air & Space Power Studies (RAFCASPS) Chief of the Air Staff’s Air Power Workshop His teaching includes modules on air power theory, the Falklands War, and Royal Air Force history. He supervises PhD students researching topics like space power theory, air power doctrine, and British military history since 1914. Recent research highlights include analyses of air power in the Falklands Conflict, RAF maritime operations, and space strategy. He has authored over 30 publications, including peer-reviewed articles on historical battles and contemporary military operations. Grants and projects involve collaboration with institutions like the Freeman Air and Space Institute, focusing on independent research into air and space power issues. His work often intersects with policy analysis, such as NATO operations and defense reviews.
Mashood Baderin is a Professor at SOAS University of London's School of Law, where he has established himself as a leading scholar in Islamic law, international law, and human rights. With over 90 publications spanning more than two decades, Professor Baderin has made significant contributions to bridging Islamic legal traditions with contemporary international legal frameworks. Professor Baderin's research interests focus on the intersection of Islamic jurisprudence with modern legal challenges. His work explores how Islamic legal principles can inform contemporary human rights frameworks, international criminal justice systems, and social reform initiatives in Muslim-majority countries. He has extensively examined Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh), the application of Islamic law in modern contexts, and the relationship between Islamic law and international legal norms. His most recent publications reveal a continued focus on the universality of international law from Islamic perspectives, the application of Islamic law in African contexts, and the relationship between Islamic principles and human rights frameworks. Professor Baderin has edited significant works including 'Islamic Legal Theory' (2014) and authored the widely recognized 'Islamic Law: A Very Short Introduction' (2021). Professor Baderin has supervised numerous doctoral students working on Islamic law topics with regional focus on Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. His students' research often examines gender issues, legal reform, and the practical application of Islamic law in contemporary settings.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rebstock is a former full professor of Islamic Studies at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, holding the position from 1993 to 2017. He specializes in Islamic history, Arabic studies, and African Islamic contexts, with a focus on Mauritania and North African intellectual traditions. His work bridges historical documentation, manuscript studies, and the analysis of administrative and legal practices in Islamic societies. Rebstock earned his doctorate in 1983 on Ibadi movements in the Maghrib and completed his habilitation in 1990 on computational practices in the Islamic Orient. Research interests include Islam in Africa, usul al-fiqh (Islamic legal theory), and Arabic mathematical history. He has led major projects such as the publication of the Mauritanian historical encyclopedia Kitāb Ḥayāt mūrītāniyā and the Moorish Literary History series. Current projects involve developing a collaborative web-based system for annotating Arabic texts to create complex indices. Key contributions include critical editions of historical manuscripts, studies on Moorish legal opinions, and analyses of reformist movements in Sudan. His work often emphasizes the intersection of textual analysis with socio-political contexts in Muslim-majority regions.
Jennifer D. Oliva is a Professor of Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law where she holds the Val Nolan Faculty Fellow position. She maintains significant interdisciplinary affiliations as a Research Scholar at Georgetown University Law Center's O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law and as a Senior Scholar with the UCSF/UC Law Consortium on Law, Science & Health Policy. Her academic work bridges legal scholarship with practical health policy development, focusing on the intersection of constitutional protections, public health needs, and modern surveillance technologies. Professor Oliva's research interests center on health law, privacy law, and drug policy with particular expertise in prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), health information privacy, and the legal dimensions of the opioid crisis. Her scholarship critically examines how law enforcement surveillance of prescription data impacts patient privacy rights, particularly for vulnerable populations including those with substance use disorders. She has developed significant expertise in how constitutional privacy protections apply to health data in the digital age, especially following the Supreme Court's decision in Carpenter v. United States. Her recent publications reveal a growing focus on algorithmic regulation in healthcare, examining how risk scoring systems and coverage algorithms can perpetuate health disparities. She has published extensively on the intersection of reproductive rights and health data privacy in the post-Dobbs landscape, analyzing how prescription monitoring systems could be weaponized against individuals seeking reproductive healthcare. Her work consistently connects doctrinal legal analysis with public health realities, advocating for evidence-based policy approaches that prioritize patient privacy and health equity over punitive enforcement. Dosing Discrimination: Regulating PDMP Risk Scores (2022) The "New" Drug War (2024) Prescription Drug Policing: The Right to Health Information Privacy Pre- and Post-Carpenter (2020) Opioid Multidistrict Litigation Secrecy (2019) Surveillance, Privacy, and App Tracking (2020) Professor Oliva actively engages with policymakers and has contributed to amicus briefs in significant cases including Ruan v. United States. Her scholarship has been cited in legal proceedings and she regularly presents at major academic conferences including the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting. She has collaborated with scholars across disciplines including public health researchers, medical ethicists, and data scientists to address complex challenges at the intersection of law, technology, and healthcare.
Khaled Anatolios is the Department Chair and John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame's College of Arts and Letters. His work bridges Patristic theology with contemporary theological discourse, focusing on the doctrinal coherence of early Christian thought. Primary Area: History of Christianity Secondary Area: Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity Research Interests encompass: Trinitarian Theology Christological Debates Soteriological Frameworks Patristic Biblical Exegesis Ecumenical and Contemporary Theological Engagement His publications, including Retrieving Nicaea and Athanasius: The Coherence of his Thought , analyze key figures like Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. Recent articles highlight: Continuing relevance of Nicene hermeneutics Liturgical theology in Eastern Christianity Methodological developments in Patristic thought Contact: kanatoli@nd.edu | Office: 242 Malloy Hall
