Katherine Saltzman-Li is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultural Studies, the Program in Comparative Literature, and the Department of Theater and Dance. Her research focuses on Japanese performing arts, particularly Kabuki theater, Japanese literature, and folklore. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Her work examines Edo-period Kabuki playwriting through studies of rare treatises like Kezairoku , interactions among Edo artists, and adaptations of puppet theater into Kabuki. She co-edited Cultural Imprints: War and Memory in the Samurai Age (2022) and Realisms in East Asian Performance (2023), challenging Eurocentric theatrical realism frameworks. She co-curated exhibitions on Japanese theater prints at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and directs the Japanese Performing Arts Research Consortium (JPARC). Her teaching spans Japanese literature, folklore, and performance studies, including courses on traditional theater, comparative drama, and digital humanities applications in theater research.
Patrick Finglass is the Henry Overton Wills Professor of Greek at the University of Bristol, leading the Department of Classics & Ancient History. He holds academic memberships in the Academia Europaea and Niedersächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. His research focuses on ancient Greek literature, particularly lyric poetry and tragedy, with notable expertise in Sophocles, Euripides, Pindar, Sappho, and Alcaeus. Education: MA, DPhil (Oxford). Prior roles include Professor of Greek and Head of Department at the University of Nottingham, and Director of the AHRC South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership. He served as a Leverhulme Major Research Fellow (2020–2023) and was a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. Research highlights include a 2024 monograph on Euripides’ lost plays and ongoing critical editions of Sappho and Alcaeus. He has published over 170 works, including editions of Sophocles’ plays and co-edited volumes on Sappho and Stesichorus. Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2012) and Rudolf Meimberg Preis (2019). Teaching and supervision: Advised 8 PhD students as principal supervisor. Taught courses on Archaic Greece, Sappho’s poetry, and Greek tragedy. Editorial roles include editorship of Classical Quarterly and advisory boards for major classical publications.
Matt Bribitzer-Stull is a Professor in the Music Department at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus). His research focuses on Wagner studies, film music, and analytical approaches to composition. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of leitmotifs in both operatic and cinematic contexts. Primary Affiliation: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Department: Music Email: mpbs@umn.edu His scholarly work explores the intersection of Wagnerian compositional techniques and modern film scoring, with a particular emphasis on harmonic associativity and thematic development. He has published extensively on topics related to Schenkerian analysis and the application of operatic motifs in non-traditional media. Research output trends indicate a strong focus on Richard Wagner's influence across multiple domains, including opera, orchestral music, and film. His 2015 book on leitmotifs synthesizes these themes, while earlier articles examine Wagnerian harmonic practices in works by Strauss and other composers.
Dr. Isaias Fanlo serves as University Lecturer in Modern Iberian Literary and Cultural Studies within the Spanish & Portuguese Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. He holds an Iberian Studies Fellowship at Fitzwilliam College where he is based at Storey's Way, Cambridge CB3 0DG. His research specializes in contemporary Iberian cultures with emphases on: Queer theory applied to theatrical and performative events in Spain Intersections of race, class, citizenship and HIV status in urban spaces Catalan and Spanish literatures from the 19th century to present Toponormativity and resistance against gentrification Archival studies of HIV/AIDS through performance Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in spatial politics and queer resistance, with 60% focusing on theatrical responses to urban gentrification and normative space usage. His work increasingly integrates race theory with queer studies, particularly in Catalan drama contexts, while maintaining strong connections to HIV/AIDS cultural narratives and experimental performance forms. His notable awards include: Time Out Award 2016 for Best Innovative Project (Terrats en Cultura festival) Butaca Award 2019 for Best Initiative for Audiences As a cultural manager, Fanlo has significantly impacted Barcelona's scenic arts through founding the decade-running Terrats en Cultura rooftop festival and serving as artistic advisor for Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and Teatre Lliure. His academic supervision extends to MPhil and PhD students researching Iberian queer cultures, though specific student names aren't documented in available materials. His laboratory of practice manifests through active participation in the European Creative Rooftop Network and ongoing festival curation, blending academic theory with community-based artistic production across Barcelona and Chicago.
C. Michael Sampson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the Faculty of Arts , University of Manitoba . Holding a PhD in Classical Studies (2009) from the University of Michigan, an MA in Classics (2003) from Dalhousie University, and a BA (First Class Honours) in Classics and Early Modern Studies (2001) from the University of King's College, Sampson is a broadly trained philologist specializing in Greek and Latin literature with a focus on poetry, and a papyrologist working on fragmentary texts from Egypt. Research interests: Greek/Latin literature, papyrology, reception studies, Hellenistic literature Current project: The Books of Karanis (interdisciplinary study of Greek literary culture in Egypt) Awards: SSHRC Insight Grant (2021-2025), SSHRC Connections Grant (2020-2022), Community Engagement Award (2018) Editorial roles: Digital Corpus of Literary Papyri, Pylon: Editions and Studies of Ancient Texts Teaching: Courses on Ancient Greek culture, Roman comedy, Euripides, and Archaic poetry
Professor Catherine Richardson serves as Professor of Early Modern Studies and Director of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Kent. She joined the university in 2007 from The Shakespeare Institute and has held significant leadership positions including Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (Humanities) (2017-20), Deputy Head of School of English (2014-7), and Director of Research for the School of English (2012-7). Her research centers on the relationship between texts and material circumstances of production and consumption in early modern England, with particular focus on how material culture shaped social and cultural practices. Richardson examines the birth of creative industries in drama and performance cultures, skilled craft practices influenced by international migration patterns, and the evolution of cultural practices from the sixteenth century to present. She currently leads the AHRC-funded project 'The Cultural Lives of the Middling Sort, writing and material culture 1560-1660' in collaboration with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Weald and Downland Living Museum. Richardson's extensive publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with material culture studies, with recent works increasingly incorporating digital humanities approaches. Her scholarship spans monographs, edited collections, and numerous journal articles examining domestic life, object biographies, and the intersection of physical artifacts with cultural narratives in early modern England. Her notable recognitions include: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2018) AHRC Peer Review and Strategic Review College Member (2017-22) The Malone Society council member (2002-) and Orders Secretary (2002-22) Pasold Research Fund Governor (Expert Member since 2019, 2021-present) As a dedicated supervisor, Richardson welcomes graduate students working on interdisciplinary projects related to early modern dramatic, social and cultural history. Her current AHRC project represents significant grant activity, developing digital resources that explore inclusion/exclusion dynamics in early modern English writing practices. She also serves as General Editor for the Oxford Complete Works of Christopher Marlowe and Series Editor for Arden Studies in Early Modern Material Culture. Through her directorship of the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries, Richardson fosters research that bridges historical material culture studies with contemporary creative industry practices, creating innovative pathways for engaging with historical materials through modern technological approaches.
Isobel Hurst is a Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research specializes in Classical Reception Studies, focusing on the interplay between Greek and Roman literature and 19th-century women's writing. Academic qualifications: D.Phil. (2003), M.Phil. in English Studies (2000), BA in Classics and English (1995) - all from the University of Oxford Her research explores how women writers like Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George Eliot creatively engaged with classical texts to challenge gender norms and societal constraints, particularly through reworkings of Homeric and Virgilian themes. She examines intersections between domesticity and epic traditions, feminist reinterpretations of mythology, and the role of classical education in women's authorship. Recent publications analyze Louise Glück's mythic poetry, Victorian epic traditions, and transatlantic classical dialogues. She supervises PhD students working on topics including Sapphic poetics, prophetic figures in literature, and epic subversions in contemporary forms. Isobel contributes to academic discourse through her involvement with the Decadence Research Centre and Centre for Comparative Literature, bridging classical traditions with modern literary innovations through both teaching and research.
David M Feldshuh is a Professor in Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University with over 40 years of service, uniquely combining a board-certified emergency medicine physician career with theater artistry. As founding Artistic Director of the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, he leads a resident company of professional actors collaborating with students across Cornell. His education spans Dartmouth College (B.A. Philosophy, Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude), London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and dual Ph.D. (Theatre) and M.D. (Medicine) from the University of Minnesota, followed by Emergency Medicine residency at Hennepin County Medical Center and board certification. Feldshuh’s research centers on theater as a vehicle for social change, particularly at the arts-healthcare intersection. He pioneers creativity training methodologies derived from Zen meditation, Gestalt Therapy, and martial arts to enhance professional presence. His work examines ethical dilemmas in medical practice through performance, with emphasis on cultural bias mitigation and historical trauma processing. His creative output reveals consistent focus on social justice narratives, evolving from historical adaptations like Antigone to contemporary explorations of systemic inequity. Recent works demonstrate increasing formal innovation through multi-role performance structures and transmedia storytelling approaches that bridge academic and public engagement. Major honors include: Pulitzer Prize Finalist and 5 Emmy Awards for Miss Evers' Boys Cornell’s Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowship (highest teaching honor) Distinguished Service Award from Tuskegee University’s National Bioethics Center AMA “Freddy” Award for medical film excellence CINE Golden Eagle for documentary work Feldshuh mentors through honors tutorials and developed the globally adopted eCornell course Acting in Public , teaching 1,600+ students across 15 countries. His Schwartz Center leadership established institutional grant frameworks supporting large-scale productions like Bernstein’s Mass with 138 performers. Current initiatives include leadership workshops for Cornell Tech and corporate clients, extending his presence-training methodology beyond academia. He maintains active creative practice through the Schwartz Center’s resident company, directing major productions while integrating medical ethics into performance pedagogy. His stadium announcing role at Cornell commencements for 20+ years exemplifies his commitment to institutional community engagement.
Joël Thibeault is a Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa and Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina . His research focuses on the teaching and learning of French grammar in Francophone minority contexts, the integrated instruction of French and English, and the use of children’s literature in linguistic education. He has secured major funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for studies on bilingual grammar pedagogy. Research Themes: Francophone minority education, plurilingual approaches, drama-based pedagogy, and curriculum innovation. Awards: Received the Prix du nouveau chercheur (2024) from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education. Recent Publications emphasize inductive grammar strategies, plurilingual vocabulary instruction, and drama/literature integration in minority language classrooms. His work bridges policy, practice, and technology in Canadian French-language education. Scientific Awards: SSHRC Grant (2024) Prix du nouveau chercheur (2024)
James P. Bednarz is a Professor of English at Long Island University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Columbia College and earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. A respected scholar of Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, Bednarz has made significant contributions to early modern literary studies through his publications, editorial work, and public engagement. His research focuses on Shakespeare and his contemporaries, including Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, John Marston, and John Donne. He is the author of Shakespeare and the Poets’ War (2001), acclaimed as an 'International Book of the Year' by The Times Literary Supplement , and Shakespeare and the Truth of Love (2012), praised for transforming understanding of Shakespeare's work. His scholarship explores literary rivalry, intertextuality, authorship, and the political and religious contexts of Renaissance drama. His recent publications span topics such as Jonson’s satire of Shakespeare, the performance history of Volpone , the dating of Twelfth Night , and the cultural significance of quotation in early modern literature. These works reflect a deep engagement with textual analysis, historical context, and theatrical performance, particularly within the 'War of the Theaters' and Jacobean literary circles. Trustees’ Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU) Abraham Krasnoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Scholarship (LIU) David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching (LIU) NEH Shakespeare Fellow Beverly Rogers Literary Award Essay (2020) Bednarz has advised university presses and journals, served on the PMLA advisory committee, and contributed to scholarly organizations such as the Shakespeare Association of America. He has also worked with theater groups like the Red Bull Theater and Theater for a New Audience to enhance public understanding of Shakespeare. Though no specific students are named, his mentorship extends to graduate education and teacher training programs. He has not received external grant funding mentioned in the text, but his fellowships from the Huntington Library underscore sustained research support. He is actively involved in academic and performance communities, serving as a consultant on Shakespearean productions and as a judge for the North Shore Student Shakespeare Festival. His work bridges the gap between scholarly research and public humanities, demonstrating a commitment to both rigorous criticism and accessible education.
Dr. Hester Lees-Jeffries is a University Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of St Catharine's College, where she serves as Director of Studies in English. She earned her BA and MA (Hons.) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, before completing her PhD at Cambridge as a Commonwealth Scholar. Her academic career includes a Research Fellowship at Magdalene College (2003-2006) and ongoing fellowship at St Catharine's since 2006. Her research focuses on Shakespeare and early modern literature, with particular expertise in performance studies, visual culture, and material textuality. She investigates topics including Renaissance textiles, costume semiotics, garden symbolism, and material objects in literature. Her interdisciplinary approach connects literary analysis with cultural history and performance theory. Lees-Jeffries maintains an active publication record with scholarly works spanning Shakespearean criticism, material culture studies, and Renaissance literature. Her research demonstrates consistent focus on textual materiality, performance interpretation, and interdisciplinary methodologies bridging literary analysis with visual and material culture. Her forthcoming publications include monographs on textile symbolism in Shakespeare and an introduction to Shakespeare's histories. Honors and Awards: Commonwealth Scholarship Research Fellowship, Magdalene College (2003-2006) Fellowship, St Catharine's College (since 2006) She coordinates exhibitions for the Centre for Material Texts and regularly contributes to Shakespeare Survey as London theater reviewer. Her innovative #SlowShakespeare projects provide daily literary analysis of Shakespeare's plays through social media platforms.
Xiaomei Chen is a Professor of Chinese Literature at the University of California, Davis, affiliated with the Comparative Literature, Performance Studies, Cultural Studies, and CATS (Cinematic and Technological Studies) programs. Her research focuses on modern Chinese literature, theater, cultural studies, and performance studies, with a particular emphasis on revolutionary propaganda, postsocialist cultural reconfigurations, and diasporic narratives. Education: She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University, an M.A. in English Literature from Brigham Young University, and a B.A. in English (equivalent) from Beijing Institute of Foreign Languages. Research Interests : Modern Chinese literature and drama Revolutionary theater and propaganda Women’s literature and feminist critique Cross-cultural performance and comparative literature Postsocialist cultural studies Publications include seminal works such as Staging Chinese Revolution: Theater, Film and the Afterlives of Propaganda (2016), Occidentalism: A Theory of Counter-discourse in Post-Mao China (1995), and edited volumes on modern Chinese drama and cultural studies. Her articles critically examine themes like revolutionary narratives, diasporic identities, and the intersection of theater with political discourse. She has taught courses on modern Chinese literature, film, and drama in English translation, emphasizing cultural analysis and transnational perspectives. Her work bridges historical and contemporary studies, offering insights into China’s evolving cultural landscape.
Paul Richards is a Research Foundation Professor of Music and head of the composition and theory area at the University of Florida since 1999. He previously served as Visiting Professor at Florida State University (2016) and taught at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin. His academic roles include teaching courses in composition, music theory, and orchestration, along with supervising graduate students. He earned a DMA in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin and degrees from the University of Arizona. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Composition, University of Texas at Austin, 1998 Master of Music (MM), Theory and Composition, University of Arizona, 1993 Bachelor of Music (BM), Theory and Composition, University of Arizona, 1991 Research Interests: Richards’ work spans orchestral, vocal, chamber, and theatrical compositions, including operas and wind ensemble pieces. His style blends eclectic influences—from Jewish sacred music to modernist techniques—resulting in works praised for their "strong melodic gift" and innovative orchestration. Commissions have come from prestigious organizations like the Florida Orchestra, Boston Brass, and White Snake Projects. Awards and Recognition: Recipient of numerous international composition prizes, including the St. Mary’s College/Kaplan Foundation Commission Competition and Second Prize in the International Horn Society Composition Competition University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship (2017–2020, 2010–2013) Finalist in the National Opera Association’s Dominic Argento Chamber Opera Competition (2023) Advising and Grants: Richards has advised over 40 graduate students and chaired multiple PhD committees. His grants include support from the University of Florida and the Research Foundation. He has also served as a mentor in composer-in-residence programs, including the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Fresh Ink Competition. Labs and Collaborations: He co-founded the Florida Contemporary Music Festival (2013–2018), fostering collaboration between composers and performers. His work integrates interdisciplinary projects, such as music for dance and film, and he actively collaborates with choreographers and theater artists.
Paize Keulemans is an Associate Professor of Chinese Literature at Princeton University's Department of East Asian Studies. His research focuses on the interplay between oral and written literary traditions in Chinese literature, particularly exploring acoustic dimensions in 19th-century martial arts fiction and the role of gossip and rumor in 17th-century texts. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2004) and a B.A. from Leiden University (Netherlands). His work bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, examining topics like Dutch-Chinese interactions since the 17th century and the adaptation of classical texts like The Three Kingdoms into modern media such as video games. Education: Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature, Leiden University Research Interests: Acoustic imagination in printed novels Rumor dynamics in late-Ming literature Cultural exchanges between the Netherlands and China Modern adaptations of classical Chinese narratives Publications highlight his exploration of Ming-Qing transition narratives through Dutch tragic plays and the sonic dimensions of martial arts fiction. Current projects include analyzing video game adaptations of classical texts and the role of 'idleness' in literary production.
Professor Annie Mahtani is a Professor of Electroacoustic Composition and Practice at the University of Birmingham's Department of Music. She holds a BMus (Hons), MA, MPhil, and PhD from the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University. Her work focuses on electroacoustic music, acousmatic composition, multichannel audio, spatialisation, and field recordings, with significant contributions to site-specific installations and cross-disciplinary collaborations. She co-directs the SOUNDkitchen collective and serves on key boards such as the British ElectroAcoustic Network (BEAN) and the British Section of ISCM. Her research explores the sonic identity of environmental sounds, large-scale multichannel composition, and ambisonic audio techniques. As a performer with BEAST (Birmingham Electroacoustic Sound Theatre), she develops live acousmatic performances and soundwalks. Recent projects include Becoming Tree (an immersive audio retelling of a literary work) and Minimum Monument , performed at Birmingham Hippodrome. She actively collaborates with dance and theatre companies like Rosie Kay Dance Company. Professor Mahtani teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules in electroacoustic composition and is involved in admissions and curriculum leadership. Her works have been performed globally in festivals like Klang! Électroacoustique and Sound + Environment, showcasing her innovative contributions to contemporary music and sound art.
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