State University of New York at OswegoUnited States
Erik Wade is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Creative Writing at SUNY Oswego. He holds a PhD from Rutgers University and has taught at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn in Germany. His research focuses on race, sexuality, and national identity in early medieval English literature, with a particular emphasis on how these themes intersect with religious texts and cultural narratives. He currently directs the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor and serves on the advisory board for Exemplaria: Medieval, Early Modern, Theory . Educational Background: PhD in English, Rutgers University (2018) MA in English, University of Oregon (2011) BA in English and History with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, SUNY Oswego (2009) AA in Humanities, Onondaga Community College (2007) Research Interests: Interrogates racial and sexual discourses in medieval literature Examines how early English texts constructed national identity through contested themes like rape culture and racial hierarchies Investigates global influences (e.g., Byzantine theology) on medieval English thought Challenges Eurocentric narratives in medieval studies Recent Publications Highlight: His work analyzes trans and queer themes in medieval hagiography, the racialized language of 'Anglo-Saxon' terminology, and the intersections between animal studies and gender relations. He co-authored a Smithsonian Magazine article deconstructing the term 'Anglo-Saxon.' Teaching and Advocacy: Teaches courses on medieval global literature, critical theory, and premodern identity. Actively promotes inclusive pedagogy and addresses systemic racism in academic disciplines through published opinion pieces and collaborative projects like the upcoming Race in Early Medieval England (Cambridge UP).
Kimberly Killion is a Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in American environmental history and the history of science and medicine. Her research examines the development of nutrition science in late 19th and early 20th century America, with focus on agricultural research at land-grant universities. Her work investigates: The relationship between laboratory and field research in nutrition science Connections between scientific research, government policy, and food industry development Transformative changes in American foodways during the scientific agriculture movement She has received multiple prestigious fellowships supporting archival research on the history of agricultural science. Her dissertation analyzes how chemists at midwestern and western land-grant universities shaped nutritional science and its practical applications.
Shenila Khoja-Moolji is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and holds the Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Chair of Muslim Societies. Her work critically examines intersections of gender, race, religion, and power in Muslim contexts across South Asia and the diaspora. She earned degrees from Brown University, Harvard University, and Columbia University, with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on: Colonial/postcolonial education systems Sovereignty and affective politics Ismaili diaspora communities Anti-Muslim racism and security studies Notable awards include the 2019 Jackie Kirk Book Award, 2022 ISA Theory Section Best Book Award, and 2024 Nautilus Award. She serves on boards for the American Academy of Religion and Ismaili Tariqa & Religious Education USA. Her recent works analyze: "The Impossibility of Muslim Boyhood" (2025) "Rebuilding Community" (2023) "Sovereign Attachments" (2021) Her scholarship bridges anthropology, sociology, and critical theory to challenge hegemonic narratives around Muslim societies. Current projects explore carceral logics and global affective economies.
Natalia Molina is a Distinguished Professor and Dean’s Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, where she is a leading scholar in U.S. history, Latinx studies, immigration, race, and public health. She is Vice President and President-Elect (2028) of the Organization of American Historians and a 2020 MacArthur Fellow, recognized for her transformative work on racial formation. Her education includes a B.A. in History and Women’s Studies from UCLA, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Molina’s research centers on the interconnected histories of race, place, gender, and citizenship. She is best known for her theory of racial scripts , which explains how racial categories are constructed relationally across groups and time. Her work spans public health history, foodways, and immigrant placemaking, with a deep commitment to community-centered storytelling and public engagement. Her recent publications explore Latinx cultural identity through food, sports, and media, reflecting a shift toward personal and public narratives that connect historical scholarship with contemporary life. Her books have received numerous accolades, including a James Beard Award nomination and the PROSE Award finalist status. MacArthur Fellowship (2020) James Beard Award Media Nominee (2023) PROSE Awards Finalist (2023) Pacific Coast Branch of the AHA’s Norris & Carol Hundley Award Susanne M. Glasscock Humanities Book Prize LA Times Essential Book New York Times Best Books About California Molina is a dedicated mentor and public intellectual, having advised university diversity initiatives and served on the boards of the Huntington Library and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. She has held leadership roles at UC San Diego, including Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Equity. Her current research focuses on the immigrant workers who built and sustained the Huntington Library, reclaiming their overlooked contributions. She is also a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians and has been a fellow at the Huntington Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her public writing in outlets like the Los Angeles Times , Washington Post , and Inside Higher Ed demonstrates her commitment to bridging academic scholarship with broader societal conversations.
Carolyn Rouse is the Ritter Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and an HMEI Associated Faculty member in the Grand Challenges Program. Her work interrogates the intersections of race, religion, healthcare disparities, and development through ethnographic and visual anthropological methods. Research Interests: Development, medical anthropology, visual anthropology, resistance, critical race theory, consciousness, North America, Ghana, environmental humanities, and environmental policy/ethics. Key Affiliations: Department of Anthropology, Princeton University; Environmental Humanities and Environmental Policy and Ethics through HMEI Grand Challenges Program. Her research critically examines how evidence shapes narratives of social inequality, particularly in healthcare access, racial disparities, and international development. She authored Engaged Surrender , Uncertain Suffering , and Televised Redemption , and created the Ethnographic Data Visualization Lab (VizE Lab) in 2016 to bridge biological and social scientific data. Recent publications explore necropolitics, liberal bias in the Trump era, and epistemological challenges in evidence-based policy. Her films include Chicks in White Satin (Academy Award-nominated), Purification to Prozac , and Listening as a Radical Act . Scientific Awards: 1995 American Anthropological Association Award for Excellence ( Tales from Arab Detroit ) Academy Award nomination for Chicks in White Satin
Phaedra C. Pezzullo is a Professor in the Department of Communication within the College of Communication, Media, Design & Information at the University of Colorado Boulder. She also holds affiliations as a Faculty Associate of Environmental Studies and Faculty Affiliate of both Ethnic Studies and Media Studies, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to environmental communication and justice. Dr. Pezzullo's research focuses on environmental and climate justice studies, rhetorics of social movements, and environmental communication in public spheres. Her work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, particularly through her concept of environmental communication as a care discipline rather than solely a crisis discipline. She examines how communities use storytelling, tours, and other communication practices to address environmental injustices. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on plastic pollution, care ethics in environmental contexts, climate justice communication, and the intersection of environmental issues with carceral systems. Her work increasingly focuses on networked cultures of care and how communities build resilience through communication practices. Tarla Rai Peterson top Book Award in Environmental Communication Diamond Anniversary Book Award Book of the Year Award in Critical and Cultural Studies Jane Jacobs Book Award from the Urban Communication Foundation Dr. Pezzullo actively engages with numerous organizations including the American Bar Association, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, University Cooperation for Atmospheric Research, The Pulitzer Center, and the Sierra Club. She has been quoted in major media outlets including The Guardian, TIME, Los Angeles Times, Open Canada, and CNN Travel. She directs the Sustainability and Storytelling Lab and co-directs several initiatives including C3BC, the Just Transition Collaborative, Inside the Greenhouse, and the CU Boulder Graduate Certificate in Environmental Justice.
Justin Leidwanger is an Associate Professor of Classics at Stanford University with a courtesy appointment in Oceans at the Doerr School of Sustainability, specializing in Mediterranean maritime archaeology through fieldwork in southeast Sicily and southwest Turkey. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World from the University of Pennsylvania (2011) M.A. in Nautical Archaeology and Anthropology from Texas A&M University B.A. in History & Classical Studies from Loyola University Chicago Leidwanger's research centers on Mediterranean mobilities, maritime communities, and exchange systems from the Roman period through late antiquity, using shipwrecks and port sites to analyze socioeconomic dynamics. His work integrates ceramic analysis, port network studies, and digital heritage methods to explore ancient technologies of distribution and long-term maritime interactions. Recent publications reveal consistent focus on Roman/late antique maritime economies with growing emphasis on digital documentation (3D modeling, GIS) and contemporary relevance through migration studies. Key trends include transport amphorae standardization, underwater survey methodologies, and the intersection of ancient maritime heritage with modern migration patterns in the central Mediterranean. Leidwanger actively advises students in classical archaeology while leading major field projects including the Marzamemi 'church wreck' investigation (2013-2019) and ongoing 'U Mari research in Sicily. His work combines underwater survey, community-based archaeology, and heritage activism addressing both ancient tuna fishing traditions (mattanza) and contemporary migration routes. He directs the Maritime Archaeology and Digital Heritage Lab (MEDLab) at Stanford's Archaeology Center, which supports advanced digital modeling (photogrammetry, laser scanning, network analysis) and ceramic analysis (petrography, pXRF, computational morphometrics) for field research and museum collaborations.
Sonya Atalay is a Provost Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Professor of Anthropology at MIT. She serves as Director and Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS). Her work focuses on community-based research with Indigenous and local communities, emphasizing ethical collaboration and the integration of Indigenous knowledges with Western scientific practices. Dr. Atalay holds a BA from the University of Michigan, an MA and PhD from UC Berkeley. Her research explores repatriation, traditional ecological knowledge, and decolonizing institutional practices. She authored Community-Based Archaeology (2012) and is completing Braiding Knowledges , examining how Indigenous and mainstream frameworks coexist to address global challenges. Her awards include the Chancellor’s Medal (2023), Patty Jo Watson Distinguished Lecture Award (2022), and recognition for her NAGPRA-related work. She teaches courses on Indigenous methodologies, public anthropology, and archaeology of food, fostering student engagement with community-driven research. Her current projects include graphic narratives on repatriation and STEM collaborations with Indigenous knowledge systems.
Megan J. Elias is an Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of the Food Studies Program at Boston University. She holds a PhD from the City University of New York (CUNY), an MA from San Francisco State University, and a BA from Cornell University. Her research explores the intersection of food, culture, and history, with a focus on food writing, markets, home economics, and gender. Dr. Elias is the author of seven books, including *Food on the Page: Cookbooks and American Culture* (2017) and *Food in the United States, 1890–1945* (2009), which received the American Library Association’s Outstanding Academic Text award. She serves as editor-in-chief of *Food, Culture & Society* and has been a co-recipient of multiple National Endowment for the Humanities grants. Elias teaches courses such as *History of Food*, *Introduction to Gastronomy*, and *Food and Gender*, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. Her work bridges historical analysis with public engagement, including contributions to Sundance Channel’s *Love/Lust* series and collaborations on museum podcasts like the *Making Objects Speech* project. Her research interests span business history, cultural history, food technology, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. In grants and fellowships, she secured $350,000 as Lead Faculty Mentor for the *Bridging Historias* program and a $74,937 NEH grant for the *Foodways and Humanities Project*. Her awards include the CUNY Chancellor’s Fellowship (2014) and the Culinary Historians of New York Amelia Scholars Grant (2007). She actively mentors faculty and curricular development, reflecting her commitment to academic innovation and educational equity.
Ethan Caldwell serves as an Associate Professor and Academic Advisor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Social Sciences, with office location in George Hall 304 and contact via (808) 956-5354 or ethanlc@hawaii.edu. Education: PhD in African American Studies, Northwestern University, 2017 As an interdisciplinary specialist with mixed-race heritage, Dr. Caldwell investigates how Black diaspora communities construct conceptions of Blackness, race, and empire across Pacific contexts—particularly Okinawa—through post-WWII intersections of Black-Asian relations, militarism, and visual culture. His current book project analyzes historical and visual formations of race/gender/empire dynamics between African American soldiers and Okinawan civilians, complemented by collaborative photography projects examining war memory and foodways. Awards: College of Social Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching (2022) Dr. Caldwell actively mentors students as faculty advisor for the UH Mānoa Black Student Association and engages with the Our History - Our Way Center for Oral History, Island Connections, and Ethnic Studies Student Association, demonstrating commitment to community-based scholarship and student development.
Lok Siu is a Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in transnational Asian American experiences, cultural citizenship, and diasporic communities across the Americas. Her interdisciplinary work bridges anthropology and ethnic studies to examine identity formation in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Her educational foundation includes: PhD in Anthropology from Stanford University (2000) MA in Anthropology from Stanford University (1995) BA in Anthropology with a minor in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley (1993) Professor Siu's research critically engages Chinese diaspora formations , cultural politics of food , and transnational belonging , with particular focus on hemispheric connections between Asia and the Americas. Her scholarship interrogates how marginalized communities navigate citizenship through cultural practices, from Panamanian Chinese communities to contemporary Chino Latin@ foodways. Current projects explore food truck culture as sites of urban hipness and mobile identity. Her publication trajectory reveals evolving methodological and thematic depth—from ethnographic studies of Central American Chinese communities to analyses of food media and transnational Asian American formations. Recurring themes include gendered citizenship, colonial legacies, and the refashioning of ethnic identity through migration and globalization. Her scholarly recognition includes: Social Sciences Book award for Memories of a Future Home: Diasporic Citizenship of Chinese in Panama (2005) Social Sciences Book award for co-edited volume Asian Diasporas: New Formations, New Conceptions (2007) Professor Siu's research has been sustained through significant funding including a $50,000 Rockefeller Foundation grant as Principal Investigator for the Gender and Cultural Citizenship Working Group (2002-2003), alongside multiple institutional fellowships. TACA and Dean's Fellowships at UT Austin (2010, 2009) Goddard and FAS Fellowships at NYU (2003, 2005) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University (2001-2002) Curricular Development grants from NYU (2006)
Lynne McNeill is an Associate Professor in the English Department at Utah State University's College of Arts & Sciences, specializing in folklore studies with a focus on digital culture and contemporary legends. Research Interests: Her work spans folklore theory, digital folklore, contemporary legends, foodways, and internet culture. She has made significant contributions to understanding how folklore manifests in digital spaces, particularly through her extensive research on Slender Man, creepypasta, and Utah food traditions. Publications: McNeill's research demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersection of traditional folklore with modern digital contexts. Her work on Slender Man and creepypasta has been particularly influential in establishing digital folklore as a legitimate field of study. Her recent publications on Utah foodways showcase her commitment to regional cultural documentation. Notable Works: She has authored/co-authored several influential books including "Folklore Rules," "Legend-Tripping Online," and "This Is the Plate: Utah Food Traditions." Her Google Scholar profile shows extensive publication activity from 2002-2021, with particularly active years in 2018, 2020, and 2021.
Marissa Nicosia is an Associate Professor of Renaissance Literature in the English Department at Penn State Abington, part of the Pennsylvania State University system. She also serves as an Associate Professor in the Writing Program. Her academic work bridges literary studies, food history, and digital humanities, making significant contributions to our understanding of early modern English culture through innovative interdisciplinary approaches that combine textual analysis with practical experimentation. Dr. Nicosia received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and her B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Barnard College, Columbia University in 2007, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Before joining Penn State Abington, she taught at Scripps College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her research focuses on the intersections of early modern English literature, food studies, book history, and political theory. Dr. Nicosia examines how literary texts and historical documents reveal cultural practices, particularly around food and temporality. Her methodology combines historical formalism and critical bibliography to uncover how early modern writers engaged with questions of time, politics, and material culture. She has developed innovative approaches that bridge academic scholarship with public engagement through recipe reconstruction and digital humanities projects. Dr. Nicosia's publications demonstrate a consistent engagement with how historical texts can inform contemporary understanding across multiple formats. Her work spans academic monographs, edited collections, peer-reviewed articles, and public-facing digital humanities projects. She has established herself as a leader in bringing early modern studies to broader audiences through accessible scholarship that connects historical practices to modern experiences in meaningful ways. Franklin Research Grant, American Philosophical Society, 2024-2025 Dibner Research Fellow in the History of Science and Technology, The Huntington Library, 2024-2025 Faculty Senate Outstanding Research Award, Penn State Abington, 2023 Margaret Hannay Fellow, Folger Shakespeare Library, 2022-2023 Ogontz '65 Career Development Professorship, Penn State Abington, 2021-2023 Resident Scholar, Penn State Humanities Institute, 2022 Chief Ogontz Award, Penn State Abington, 2022 President's Award for Engagement with Students, Penn State, 2022 Dr. Nicosia has secured significant grant funding for her research, including a Summer Stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities (2021) and the Pennsylvania Grants for Open and Affordable Learning (2021-2022). Her innovative teaching approaches have been recognized with multiple awards, including the President's Award for Engagement with Students from Penn State (2022) and the Faculty Senate Outstanding Teaching Award at Penn State Abington (2018). She has mentored numerous undergraduate students through research projects, particularly through her 'What's in a Recipe?' initiative that engages students with early modern manuscript transcription. Her public humanities project 'Cooking in the Archives' has gained national recognition, being featured in the Washington Post, HuffPost: Taste, Edible Philly, CNN.com, and on Talk of Iowa (NPR). This initiative curates transcribed and updated recipes from early modern English household manuscripts, creating a valuable resource for food historians, students, culinary enthusiasts, and the general public. The project has attracted approximately 300,000 visitors and demonstrates Dr. Nicosia's commitment to making academic research accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
Dr. Kathleen LeBesco serves as Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Communication and Media Arts at Marymount Manhattan College (MMC). With over 25 years of service at MMC, she is a member of the President's Cabinet and has held numerous leadership positions including Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Interim Vice President for Student Success and Engagement, and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. LeBesco earned her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, following B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communication and Rhetoric from The State University of New York at Albany. Dr. LeBesco's research spans several interconnected fields at the intersection of food, culture, and identity. Her work in Food Studies examines how culinary practices reflect and shape social identities, with particular attention to issues of cosmopolitanism, tourism, and national identity. In Body Studies, she has pioneered scholarship on fat identity and representation, challenging dominant cultural narratives about body size and health. Her Media Studies research analyzes how food and bodies are represented across various media platforms, revealing underlying ideologies and power structures. She also contributes significantly to Cultural Studies through examinations of consumption practices, identity formation, and social distinction. Her publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory from early work on body politics and identity to more recent explorations of food systems, tourism, and national parks. While her initial scholarship focused on marginalized identities (particularly fat studies and drag performance), her research has expanded to examine broader cultural systems of meaning-making around food and consumption. A unifying thread across her work is attention to how everyday practices of eating and bodily presentation reflect and reinforce social hierarchies and cultural values. Teaching Excellence Award (awarded by faculty) Outstanding Faculty (named by several graduating classes) Dr. LeBesco has demonstrated exceptional leadership in academic administration, co-chairing two strategic plans, leading the Presidential Task Force to Restart MMC during the early months of the COVID pandemic, and co-chairing the President's Council on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Her administrative work complements her scholarly contributions, reflecting her commitment to creating inclusive educational environments. While specific grant information isn't provided in the available materials, her publication record suggests successful research funding to support her scholarly activities.
Shanti Morell-Hart is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Brown University, specializing in anthropological archaeology and paleoethnobotany with a focus on Mesoamerican societies. She serves as Director of the Integrated Laboratory for Archaeological Sciences (ILAS) and the Paleoethnobotany Laboratory at Brown (PEBLAB). Her research examines ancient agriculture, plant use in ritual and healthcare, and human-environment interactions, particularly in contexts of societal 'collapse' and resilience. Education: PhD in Anthropology (2011, UC Berkeley), MAs (2003 UC Berkeley; 2002 UT San Antonio), BA (1998 Wesleyan University). Major Research Areas: Ancient agriculture, ethnoecology, foodways, Maya studies, and archaeological science. Her funded projects include studies on Maya agricultural practices, resilience in pre-Hispanic landscapes, and interdisciplinary analyses of plant residues. She has received the Sophie Coe Prize (Special Mention) for contributions to food history writing. Teaching includes courses on the anthropology of food, environmental archaeology, and paleoethnobotanical methods. Collaborations involve projects in Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras, leveraging lidar, phytolith analysis, and spatial technologies to explore ancient lifeways.
