Find Academic Supervisors

Audrey BennettView profile

Professor

• Graphic Design
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Interactive Aesthetics
• +4 more

Audrey Bennett is a University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor and Professor of Art & Design at the University of Michigan. She holds affiliations with the U-M Department of Communication and Media. Her research focuses on cross-cultural design, interactive aesthetics, and the impact of images on global culture. She has conducted NSF-funded studies on HIV prevention in Kenya and Ghana and STEM education diversification through indigenous art curricula. Bennett's work emphasizes democratizing image control via technology-enabled collaboration. Education: MFA in Graphic Design, Yale University BA in Studio Art, Dartmouth College Research Interests: Bennett explores interactive aesthetics to foster social change, including HIV prevention strategies and STEM education reforms. Her Engendering Interaction with Images book argues for user-driven design to enhance cross-cultural communication. She investigates how technology bridges design processes between professionals and lay users, advocating for inclusive, participatory frameworks. Recent Article Trends: Her recent work addresses AI governance, community-based economies, and anti-racist pedagogy. She merges computational methods with cultural equity, emphasizing ethical AI, decolonial computing, and sustainable food systems. Awards: 2015 Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Scholar 1997 College Art Association Fellow Best Poster Paper Award (CoDesign 2000) NSF Career Award (2007) Grants & Advising: Bennett leads NSF- and Google-funded projects. She co-edited the Icograda Design Education Manifesto and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Communication Design . Her lab, Baohouse , focuses on design innovation for social justice.

Edward W. De BarbieriView profile

Professor

• Community Economic Development
• Housing Law
• Land Use
• +4 more

Edward W. De Barbieri is a Professor of Law and Director of the Community Economic Development Clinic at Albany Law School. He joined the faculty in 2016 and holds degrees from Boston College (B.A.), Yale Divinity School (M.A.R.), Brooklyn Law School (J.D.), and the National University of Ireland, Cork (LL.M., Fulbright Fellow). His scholarship focuses on public engagement in land use approvals and economic development, emphasizing reforms in social and economic systems. He has published in prominent law reviews including the Fordham Law Review and Yale Law & Policy Review. He authored the 6th edition of Local Government Law , part of West Academic’s hornbook series. Primary research areas: Property Law, Housing Law, Community Economic Development, and State and Local Government Law Prior roles include directing a community economic development clinic at Brooklyn Law School and serving as Adjunct Professor at NYU School of Law Recipient of Fulbright and Equal Justice Works fellowships De Barbieri’s work bridges legal practice and policy, with a focus on clinic-based advocacy for marginalized communities. His recent publications analyze housing instability during crises, tax incentives for economic development, and equitable community benefits agreements.

Kemi Salawu AnazodoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Employment equity
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Identity management
• +7 more

Kemi Salawu Anazodo, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor in the Management Department at the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. Her research focuses on equitable employment, diversity & inclusion, identity negotiation, and stigma management for marginalized populations. Key research directions include: Employment reintegration for justice-involved individuals Racialized workforce experiences Digital ethics in hiring practices Gender dynamics in employment training Recent grant activities include: SSHRC Partnership Grant (Stage 1) - $25,000 Odette RIF grant - $8,000 SSHRC Insight Development Grant - $58,785 Scientific recognition: Professor of the Year (Management & Labour Studies) - Odette Commerce Society

Nancy WatkinsView profile

Assistant Professor

• Educational Leadership
• Equity-Driven Leadership
• Educational Policy
• +3 more

Dr. Nancy Watkins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), where she also serves as Director of the Ed.D. Program. With over 30 years of experience in K-12 education, she specializes in equity-driven leadership, educational policy, and curriculum design. Her research focuses on the intersection of teacher influence in policy-making, inclusive educational practices, and leadership development in diverse school environments. Education: Ed.D., Educational Leadership, UC Irvine/CSU Joint Doctoral Program M.A., Public Policy, Claremont Graduate University Her research interests emphasize equitable access to education, administrative leadership efficacy, and the role of educators in shaping policy. Dr. Watkins advocates for systemic reforms to ensure just opportunities for all students, particularly through her work on advanced placement access for English learners and LGBTQ+ school administrators' experiences. Her publications explore topics ranging from antiracist leadership frameworks to the political dynamics of school governance. She teaches courses in educational leadership and pedagogy across multiple institutions, integrating real-world policy challenges into her curriculum. Dr. Watkins collaborates with CSUF's College of Education to advance programs that prepare leaders for equity-centered educational systems. Her work is supported by the Department of Educational Leadership, with an institutional commitment to accessibility and innovation in higher education.

Yu XiaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Collaborative Learning
• Design Thinking
• Socioemotional Practices in Learning Ecosystems
• +3 more

Dr. Yu Xia is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Design & Technology and Program Director of the School of Library & Information Management at Emporia State University. She holds a PhD in Learning, Design, and Technology from Pennsylvania State University and an MEd in Instructional Technology from the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on collaborative learning, design thinking, socioemotional practices in learning ecosystems, and technology-enhanced student engagement. Dr. Xia has published in Journal of the Learning Sciences and presented at international conferences such as ISLS and AERA. Her work emphasizes innovation in educational technology applications and pedagogical strategies for diverse learning environments. Key research trends in her publications include analyzing socioemotional dynamics in collaborative settings, evaluating educational technologies for synchronous learning, and exploring identity negotiation among early-career faculty. Notable contributions include her 2020 award-winning cybersecurity curriculum and studies on improvisation in engineering education. Professional affiliations include the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), International Society for the Learning Sciences (ISLS), American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE). She is actively involved in curriculum development and open to research collaborations in her areas of expertise.

Stefanie GeroldView profile

Researcher

• Socio-Ecological Economics
• Labor Market Policy
• Platform-Mediated Work
• +5 more

Dr. Stefanie Gerold is a researcher at BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg’s Faculty 5, Department of Sociology of Technology and Environmental Sciences. She holds a PhD in Economics and Social Sciences from Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) and has conducted extensive research on working time reduction, platform-mediated labor, and socio-ecological policy frameworks. Her roles include serving as the representative of the decentralized Equal Opportunities Officer for Faculty 5 and academic advisor for the MA Transformation Studies program. Her research focuses on labor market transitions, time use patterns during crises, and inequalities in working conditions. Notable projects include the BMBF-funded ReZeitKon (analyzing pandemic impacts on work) and Platform Cleaners (examining digital labor platforms in cleaning sectors). Her work bridges ecological economics, critical labor studies, and policy design, emphasizing postwork perspectives and sustainable work models. Key publications explore platform-mediated labor dynamics, time wealth enhancement strategies, and critical reappraisals of work’s societal role. She collaborates with institutions like the Hans Böckler Foundation and contributes to interdisciplinary sustainability research. Gerold’s academic trajectory reflects a commitment to rethinking work’s centrality in societal structures and fostering equitable labor practices.

Steven FosterView profile

Professor

• Legal Education
• Bar Exam Preparation
• Academic Achievement
• +3 more

Steven Foster is a Professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he serves as Director of Academic Achievement. He specializes in preparing students for the bar exam and designing programs to enhance academic success throughout their legal education and professional careers. BA, University of Oklahoma J.D., Oklahoma City University School of Law His research focuses on legal education reform, bar exam accessibility, and addressing educational inequities through asynchronous learning tools. He has published extensively on these topics, including analyses of bar exam validity and judicial abrogation impacts on treaty rights. Recent publications explore trends in legal pedagogy, emphasizing technology-driven solutions for student support and standardized testing in law. These works highlight his commitment to equitable legal education and professional readiness. CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for top grades in 17 classes Judge Dwain Box Memorial Award for Outstanding Appellate Advocate American Bankruptcy Institute’s Medal of Excellence School of Law’s Outstanding Graduate Award for Most Likely to Succeed Professor Foster teaches courses such as Advanced Bar Studies and Remedies , while managing programs like the Conquer the Bar lecture series and Student Led Reviews. His prior legal practice focused on insurance defense and products liability.

• Open Access
• Scholarly Communication
• Open Educational Resources (OER)
• +4 more

Julia E. Rodriguez is an Associate Professor and Scholarly Communication and Open Knowledge Librarian at Oakland University. She specializes in open access, scholarly communication, and open educational resources (OER). Her roles include coordinating the Affordable Course Materials Initiative (ACMI) and managing the OUR@Oakland repository. Rodriguez teaches faculty about author rights and alternative publishing methods, and she advises the Health Sciences - Public and Environmental Wellness Department and the Writing program. Dr. Rodriguez holds a Master of Library and Information Science (2005) from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Arts Administration (Museum Studies, 2002) from the University of Oregon. Her research focuses on faculty research behaviors, copyright law, and the impact of social media in education. She has been recognized with the 2014 Faculty Recognition Honoree award for Exemplary Librarianship and served as a SPARC Open Education Leadership Fellow (2018-2019). Her service contributions include roles on the University Senate committees (General Education, Library, and Research), leadership in the Affordable Course Materials Initiative, and professional involvement with organizations like SPARC and ACRL. Rodriguez frequently presents at conferences on OER, copyright, and library instructional strategies, advocating for equitable access to educational resources and promoting open knowledge practices.

Alpha Yacob ArsanoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Sustainable Building Design
• Bioclimatic Strategies
• Low-Carbon Architecture
• +5 more

Alpha Yacob Arsano is an Assistant Professor of Architecture and Building Scientist at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on low-carbon, equitable bioclimatic building strategies to address climate challenges in vulnerable communities. She develops analytical methodologies and digital tools like ClimaPlus to optimize early-stage design decisions using large-scale building stock data from the global South. Education: Ph.D. in Building Technology, MIT (Feb 2022) SMArchS in Building Technology, MIT (June 2017) BSc in Architecture, Ethiopian Institute of Architecture (Mar 2013) Her work emphasizes global accessibility through initiatives like a MOOC on edX with 50,000+ learners. Research funding includes support from TATA Foundation and MIT Energy Initiative. Notable awards include the MIT TODA Award and Presidential Fellowship. Awards also include competition recognitions for climate innovation and urban design. Prior to MIT, she held roles at Transsolar Energietechnik and Allmann Sattler Wappner, blending academic and professional expertise.

Gail RamsterView profile

Researcher

• Inclusive Design
• Participatory Design
• Social Impact Design
• +6 more

Gail Ramster is a design researcher at the Royal College of Art (RCA), working within the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (HHCD) in the School of Design. She has been with HHCD since 2009 and co-leads the Public Toilets Research Unit with Professor Jo-Anne Bichard. As an RCA PhD supervisor and lecturer in inclusive and participatory design, she contributes significantly to academic programs while leading impactful research projects that address social challenges through community engagement. Gail graduated from RCA in 2007 with an MA in Industrial Design Engineering and previously worked internationally as a mechanical engineer. Her professional background spans wayfinding, product design, and industrial design, providing a strong foundation for her current research in inclusive design. Her research focuses on addressing social challenges through participatory and co-design methods with citizens and communities, particularly in the areas of public space accessibility, healthcare design, and urban environments. She has explored community engagement at multiple scales, from workplace design to neighborhood planning, with a special emphasis on public toilet accessibility. Her work consistently emphasizes how design processes can capture and respond to people's attitudes and aspirations across various contexts, from childhood obesity to autonomous vehicles. Ramster's publication record shows a consistent focus on inclusive design research with practical applications. Her work spans public infrastructure (particularly toilet accessibility), community engagement methodologies, healthcare design, and future urban environments. A notable pattern is her ability to translate research into tangible outcomes like The Great British Public Toilet Map and practical design guidelines that influence policy and practice. Good Toilet Commendation, Work of the Public Toilets Research Unit 2020-21 Japanese Toilet Association 2021 BSI Standards Makers Award 'Guidance on Safe Working during the COVID-19 pandemic' (advisory panel member), 2020 Finalist (Outstanding Impact in Society), The Great British Public Toilet Map, ESRC Impact Awards 2016 Finalist (Digital Health), The Great British Public Toilet Map, AbilityNet Tech for Good Awards 2016 Runner-up, The Great British Public Toilet Map, TSO Open.Up Awards 2010 Winner, Sat-Lav, Westminster Innovate 2007 As a PhD supervisor at RCA, Ramster mentors the next generation of design researchers while leading significant funded projects including Engaged: A toilet on every high street (funded by LEAP, Mayor of London), Air-Control-Reimagined (with Tata Consultancy Services), and the Global Healthcare Index (funded by WSP). Since 2020, she has co-led the Helen Hamlyn Design Awards, recognizing outstanding RCA graduate projects that improve people's lives. Her research has secured funding from diverse sources including the Open Data Institute, Nominet Trust, ESRC, AHRC, and various foundations. Ramster co-directs Public Convenience, a social enterprise spun out from RCA that manages The Great British Public Toilet Map. Through the Public Toilets Research Unit, she has conducted five major public toilet research projects, creating practical tools and knowledge exchanges like the Toilets Innovation and New Knowledge Exchange (TINKLE). Her work bridges academic research with real-world application, demonstrating how design can address pressing social challenges through meaningful community engagement.

Susan PrenticeView profile

Professor

• Public Policy
• Social Policy
• Childcare Policy
• +4 more

Susan Prentice is the Duff Roblin Professor of Government at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Arts, within the Department of Sociology and Criminology. Her research focuses on social inequality, public policy, and systemic discrimination, with specialties in family/social policy (particularly childcare), gender relations, and higher education equity. She holds a PhD and MES from York University. Prentice leads interdisciplinary projects addressing childcare accessibility, non-standard work challenges, and the intersection of care work with gender and social movements. She collaborates with feminist advocacy groups, unions, and governments to influence policy. Her teaching spans Political Science and Sociology, mentoring students across disciplines like Anthropology, Economics, and Women's Studies. Her research highlights childcare's role in economic development and social justice, with recent work analyzing pandemic-era childcare provider struggles and sexist AI interactions. Awards include the 2023 Trailblazer Award and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Prentice actively engages in outreach, mobilizing knowledge for policymakers and marginalized communities. Her advocacy extends to co-producing knowledge with social movements, emphasizing community-university partnerships. Current affiliations include the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, and she advises on national childcare system design. Past work exposed systemic gender pay gaps at the University of Manitoba and shaped Manitoba's childcare policies.

Ilaria CompagnoniView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Language Education Technology
• Virtual Reality in Language Learning
• AI Ethics in Pedagogy
• +3 more

Ilaria Compagnoni is an Adjunct Professor at Ca' Foscari University of Venice's Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies. Her research focuses on integrating Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital storytelling into language education. She holds a PhD in Language Sciences from Ca' Foscari University and the University of Primorska, Slovenia, and has conducted research at institutions including the University of Arizona and Technical University of Munich. Her teaching roles include adjunct lecturer positions at Ca' Foscari and University of Verona, specializing in English language instruction and digital pedagogy. Key research interests include VR's impact on collaborative learning, AI ethics in education, and innovative language teaching methodologies. She has presented at international conferences such as EuroCALL and CALICO, and published in journals like AILA Review and Glottodidattica . Awards include the DAAD Short-Term Grant and Fulbright Scholarship. Her work emphasizes bridging traditional pedagogy with emerging technologies to enhance language acquisition and intercultural competence. Teaching responsibilities include courses in English language instruction (FT0130) across multiple degree programs. She actively collaborates with educational technology initiatives like Immerse Language Learning and the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL). Office hours are held remotely via Zoom or in-person on Wednesdays.

Lawrence GreenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Innovation Management
• Creativity and Strategy
• Design Thinking
• +3 more

Lawrence Green is a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University's Business School, with 25 years of academic experience across institutions like the University of Manchester, Oxford University, and Birmingham City University. He has held leadership roles including Director of Research: Art and Design and Acting Associate Dean: Research and Innovation. His research focuses on innovation, creativity, strategy, and design's role in business and public policy. Green has authored over 70 publications and led 25 major research projects totaling £15 million in funding from bodies like UK Research Councils, Innovate UK, and the European Commission. His work spans innovation networks, public-private collaboration, and sustainable futures modeling. He actively supervises doctoral candidates and reviews academic programs, including the AHRC M3C Doctoral Training Partnership. His recent articles (2019-2020) emphasize design thinking in business models, bio-pharmaceutical alliances, and SME innovation in India. Earlier work (2008-2013) explored hidden innovation in creative sectors, policy frameworks for innovation, and skill development strategies. He also engages in music-based creative practice, blending academic and artistic endeavors. Notable collaborations include projects with Nesta, the British Council, and the R&D Management Association. His research bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges in both private and public sectors.

• Citizen Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Sharing
• +6 more

Gefion Thuermer is a Research Fellow in Informatics, specializing in the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies. Her work focuses on citizen science, AI ethics, data governance, and digital participation in political processes. She has contributed to projects like Impetus (funded by TSB Technology Strategy Board), exploring privacy implications in citizen science and participatory auditing frameworks for trustworthy AI. Her research interests span citizen engagement in data-driven innovation, transparency in AI systems, and the ethical use of digital tools in political contexts. Notable projects include developing methodologies for participatory harm auditing in AI (PHAWM project) and analyzing political parties' use of online platforms in Germany. Thuermer has published widely on topics such as AI transparency, misinformation countermeasures, and data management in citizen science. She has over 16 citations and collaborates internationally, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals through her work on open data and equitable technology access. As a Co-Investigator on the Impetus project, she investigates privacy and data sharing challenges in collaborative innovation programs. Her work bridges technical, legal, and societal dimensions, aiming to create inclusive and accountable technological systems.

Jesus Esteban Carcar BenitoView profile

Part-Time Lecturer

• Health Rights and Law
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Public Policy and Governance
• +3 more

Jesús Esteban Carcar Benito is a Part-Time Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Social Anthropology, and Public Finance at the Faculty of Law, University of Murcia. He holds a PhD from UNED (National University of Distance Education) with a thesis titled 'La redefinición del derecho a la salud desde las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación' (2009), supervised by Dr. Ana María Marcos del Cano. His research focuses on the intersection of law, technology, and healthcare, particularly exploring how emerging technologies like AI reshape healthcare rights, administrative systems, and social equity. Key themes include legal frameworks for AI in medicine, digital rights, and public policy for equitable healthcare access. He contributes to the Political Analysis Group and has been part of the Grupo de Análisis Político. Dr. Benito's recent articles highlight trends in AI's legal applications, neuroethical challenges of brain implants, and institutionalized healthcare systems. His work critiques existing legal gaps while advocating for transparent, inclusive digital governance models. Though part-time, his scholarship bridges political science, administrative law, and technological ethics, with outputs often addressing Spain's regulatory context.