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Vishal AhujaView profile

Associate Professor

• Healthcare Operations
• Operations Management
• Service Operations
• +7 more

Vishal Ahuja is an Associate Professor and Corrigan Research Professor at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, with adjunct faculty status at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He focuses on decision analytic tools for healthcare improvement through operations management. PhD, University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business His research interests span healthcare operations, service optimization, and AI applications in clinical decision-making. He collaborates with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Parkland Hospital, and pediatric institutions to address care quality and delivery efficiency. Recent publications emphasize predictive modeling for chronic disease management, adaptive clinical trial design, and regulatory healthcare policy. Awards include the Dlin/Fischer Clinical Research Award (2021), INFORMS Pierskalla Award (2012), and 2025 AI75 recognition for Dallas-Fort Worth AI leadership. D CEO Excellence in Healthcare Award - Outstanding Healthcare Innovator (2023) NSF Game Changer Academies for Advancing Research Innovation (2022) C. Jackson Grayson Faculty Innovation Award (2022-23) At SMU, he teaches graduate courses in operations, supply chain, and service management, integrating corporate sector experience from chemical and consumer goods industries. His work has been cited by the FDA in safety labeling changes workshops.

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Tangible User Interfaces
• Playful Interactions
• +9 more

Lucca Geurts is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences at KU Leuven, where he is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science. He serves as chairman of the Leuven Centre for Accessible Health Technology, subdivision head of Subdivision 3, Campus Group T Leuven, and Head of Education of the OC Innovative Health Technology. Additionally, he is an active member of DigiSoc – KU Leuven Institute for Digital Society. His research focuses on Technology for Tangible and Playful Interactions, particularly in healthcare applications. Dr. Geurts leads numerous research projects including therapeutic games for children with visual disorders, flexible activity measurement systems, intimate interactive systems, and early-stage glaucoma screening platforms. His work bridges human-computer interaction with accessible health technology, emphasizing user-centered design principles and practical healthcare solutions. Dr. Geurts' publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental interaction techniques to applied healthcare contexts. His recent work shows increasing sophistication in squeeze interactions, emotion regulation through tangible interfaces, and medical applications of interactive technology. The research trends indicate a growing focus on accessible medical diagnostics, therapeutic applications, and user experience in healthcare technology. As an educator, Dr. Geurts teaches across multiple domains including Electronics, Computer Architectures, Health Entrepreneurship, Sensors and Circuits for Healthcare Applications, and Extended Reality. His educational leadership extends to Master's theses and internships in health engineering, reflecting his commitment to training the next generation of healthcare technologists. Committee for Culture, Art and Heritage Faculty Council of Industrial Engineering Sciences Evaluation Committee of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences POC Advanced Education Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences Secretary of the OC Innovative Health Technology Departmental Council for Computer Science Interfaculty Council for Global Development (as substitute member) Dr. Geurts maintains an active research profile with numerous publications in top-tier human-computer interaction conferences and journals. His work shows a clear progression toward increasingly impactful healthcare applications, with strong emphasis on accessibility and user experience in medical technology development.

• Creative Writing
• Creative Nonfiction
• Science Fiction
• +8 more

Sarah E. Einstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). She is a creative nonfiction writer and academic whose work interrogates the intersection of Jewish and Appalachian identities, ethical research methodologies in personal writing, and narrative structure. Education: PhD in Creative Writing from Ohio University (2016), MFA in Creative Nonfiction from West Virginia University (2011) Her research explores: Ethical boundaries when writing about friends/family Travel as a research methodology in narrative nonfiction Authorial selfhood in first-person writing Hybrid identities (Jewish/Appalachian) Her recent publications include a 2025 Judith Magazine essay on selfhood, 2022 Hippocampus and Brevity articles on research ethics, and a 2016 Assay journal piece analyzing authorial responsibility. Key themes across her work: cultural hybridity, memory ethics, and narrative voice in nonfiction. Academic Recognition: Pushcart Prize winner AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction recipient Featured in Best of the Net anthology As organizer for UTC's Urban League STEAM Enrichment Program (2021-2025), she has mentored students in narrative design. Current service roles include Faculty Senate President Elect (2025-2026) and General Education Committee membership (2024-2025).

Clayton NeighborsView profile

Professor

• Health Psychology
• Social Norms and Interventions
• Substance Abuse
• +3 more

Dr. Clayton Neighbors is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. He serves as Director of the Social Influences and Health Behaviors Lab and holds the Moores Professor chair. His research examines social and motivational factors in health behaviors, including alcohol and substance abuse, problem gambling, body image, intimate partner violence, and aggressive driving. Education: Ph.D. and B.A. from University of Houston and Lamar University, respectively Dr. Neighbors' work integrates social norms, self-determination theory, and social identity into interventions for substance use and health behaviors. His studies often focus on college students and veterans, with funding from NIH institutes (NIAAA, NIDA, NIMH), Department of Defense, and the National Center for Responsible Gaming. Recent research trends include gamified digital interventions, religious drinking norms, and longitudinal analysis of drinking identity and social networks. He mentors graduate students in grant writing and publication, emphasizing preparation for academic or applied research roles. His lab is a leader in event-specific prevention strategies and personalized feedback interventions.

Xiaoze XieView profile

Professor

• Contemporary Art
• Political Art
• Library Installations
• +7 more

Xiaoze Xie serves as the Paul L. & Phyllis Wattis Professor of Art at Stanford University within the Department of Art & Art History under the School of Humanities and Sciences. An internationally recognized artist, he maintains a studio practice deeply engaged with political and cultural memory. His academic journey includes a Master of Fine Arts from the Central Academy of Arts & Design in Beijing and the University of North Texas, complemented by a Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture from Tsinghua University. Research interests center on contemporary political art, particularly examining archival practices, library systems, and institutional memory through painting, drawing, and video installations. His notable series include Theater of Power analyzing political iconography, Library projects documenting knowledge institutions, and Tracing Banned Books in China confronting censorship. His work consistently explores the intersection of personal memory and collective history within Chinese cultural contexts. Critical reception highlights his contributions through reviews in The New York Times , Art in America , and ARTnews . His artistic output reveals persistent engagement with temporal fragmentation, archival materiality, and political documentation across media. Recent exhibitions at major biennales demonstrate evolving focus on urban transformation and post-pandemic cultural memory. Asia Game Changer West Award (2022) Academic Award in Painting, Nanjing International Art Festival (2016) Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Grant (2013) Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (2003) Dallas Museum of Art Artist Award Phoenix Art Museum Artist Award Xie's artistic practice functions as scholarly research, generating significant discourse through permanent collections at major institutions including Baltimore Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum, and Museum of Fine Arts Houston. His GSA Art-in-Architecture Commission for the US Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa demonstrates public art engagement. Current projects continue his exploration of cultural memory through the Reinventing the Library Cave in Dunhuang initiative, connecting historical preservation with contemporary practice.

Sabine HarrerView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Game Design
• Ethics
• Critical Game Studies
• +5 more

Sabine Harrer is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Game Design , Uppsala University, Campus Gotland. Contact: sabine.harrer@speldesign.uu.se , Tel: 073-461 81 74. Research Interests Harrer specializes in critical game design , focusing on ethics , queer theory , and decolonial studies . Key areas include: Transgender allyship in game systems Racial bias in European game studies Colonial narratives in board games Intimate game design and player vulnerability Indigenous heritage preservation through games Anti-racist and decolonial game methodologies Publications & Collaborations Harrer's work spans 15+ years, addressing game ethics , cultural representation , and critical pedagogy . Notable collaborations include the Sami Game Jam and critiques of games like Assassin's Creed: Origins and Afrikan Tähti . Labs & Teams Active in the Sami Game Jam , Harrer explores collaborative game design for cultural sustainability and Indigenous storytelling.

• Queer Art Studies
• Gender Studies
• History of Photography
• +6 more

Oliver Klaassen is a research associate at the Institute for Art and Visual Culture (IfKuvK) at the University of Oldenburg and a Ph.D. candidate at the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC) at Justus Liebig University Giessen. They serve as a board member and speaker for the working group Queering: Visual Cultures & Intermediality under the German Gender Studies Association. Additionally, Klaassen acts as a writing assistant for the University of Oldenburg’s Writing Assistance for Term Papers and Theses program and facilitates workshops on sexual orientation/gender identity (SCHLAU Marburg_Gießen). Current affiliations: Institute for Art and Visual Culture (University of Oldenburg), GCSC (Justus Liebig University Giessen) Leadership: Speaker of AG Queering, board member of German Gender Studies Association Collaborations: Editorial roles in On_Culture and gender(ed) thoughts journals Their research focuses on queer(ing) art studies , history and theory of photography , aesthetic ambiguity in contemporary art , and queer museum/curatorial practices . Recent work explores eco-queer critiques in photography, ambiguity’s political role in visual culture, and club culture’s subversive potential. Publications span topics like Dean Sameshima’s counter-surveillance tactics, Wolfgang Tillmans’ Panorama Bar installation, and feminist analyses of Game of Thrones representations. Klaassen’s scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed articles in journals like InMedia and KULT_online , edited volumes such as Queering: Minoritarian In_Visibilities , and book chapters addressing queer relationality during the pandemic, curatorial resistance, and ambiguity-driven research methodologies. Their collaborative projects emphasize open-access publishing through the scholar-led.network initiative and interdisciplinary dialogues on gender, media, and aesthetics. Scientific awards include: Fulbright-Promotions- & Reisestipendium Promotionsstipendium Dr. h.c. Waskönig-Stipendium PROMOS-Stipendium Deutschlandstipendium Klaassen’s teaching experience includes part-time lecturing at Goethe University Frankfurt, JLU Gießen, and Phillips University Marburg. They employ methods of art studies in their Queere Zustände radikaler Ambiguität workshops and have contributed to conferences like Territories that Matter: Gender, Art and Ecology and Digital:Gender – de:mapping politics .

• Nursing
• Child and Adolescent Health
• Family-Centered Care
• +5 more

Margaretha Larsson is an Associate Professor in Nursing at the University of Skövde's School of Health Sciences, Department of Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in nursing science, is a registered nurse, and has specialist training in oncological care and as a district nurse. She serves as Deputy Head of School and research group leader for the Family-Centered Health (FamCeH) research group since 2018, and has been a teaching member of the university board since 2019. Her primary research interests focus on children and adolescent health, family dynamics, and the importance of family in health processes. She also investigates assessment of care needs via telephone counseling and learning during professional training. Her work spans qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with increasing emphasis on digital health interventions and mental health promotion. Recent publication trends reveal a strong focus on intimate partner violence education through innovative methods like virtual patient simulations, existential health during transitions to parenthood, and digital parental support systems. Her work increasingly addresses mental health among young people and the integration of technology in healthcare delivery and education. Margaretha supervises doctoral students, serving as main supervisor for a doctoral student at the University of Skövde and co-supervisor for a student at BTH. She has extensive teaching experience, having been responsible for the school nursing program (2016-2018) and district nursing program (2018 onwards). She leads multiple research projects through the Digital HEAlth Research (DHEAR) environment, including projects focused on strengthening young people's mental health with interactive programs, digital parental support, and virtual patient simulations for intimate partner violence education. Her work demonstrates strong collaboration across institutions including Karolinska Institutet and University of Borås.

Elizabeth SpencerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Visual Communication
• Digital Media
• Health Communication
• +6 more

Elizabeth Spencer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication (ISC) at the University of Kentucky's College of Communication and Information (CI). She holds a PhD from the University of Kentucky (2020). Her research focuses on visual communication, digital media, and health-related communication, particularly in contexts involving dementia care and medical tourism. Spencer teaches courses in creative strategic communication, multimedia, ethics, and health communication, including graduate seminars in training and consulting. She advises ISC undergraduate and CI graduate students and has professional experience in healthcare and community organization leadership roles. Her work investigates media messaging around healthcare issues, including crisis communication strategies, organizational CSR practices in medical tourism, and ethical challenges in AI-generated healthcare imagery. She has published widely on topics such as healthcare accessibility, pandemic communication, and the intersection of sports media and social issues like domestic violence. Spencer’s teaching portfolio includes courses like CI 723: Seminar in Training and Consulting , ISC 497: Multimedia Storytelling for Tourism , and COM 471: Introduction to Health Communication . Her research emphasizes evidence-based guidelines for healthcare communication and patient advocacy, with a focus on marginalized populations and global health equity.

• Psychometrics
• Mental Health
• Perinatal Period
• +7 more

Cláudia Noémia Soares de Sousa is a Researcher at the Faculty of Psychology and Education , University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias . Her work spans psychometrics , mental health , and inclusive gaming , with a focus on perinatal psychology and self-efficacy in higher education . Affiliation : Faculty of Psychology and Education University : University Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias Her research integrates clinical psychology and interdisciplinary innovation , including collaborations with HEI-LAB and European Union-funded projects . She co-developed the Fear of Birth Scale and investigates neurodiverse inclusion through board game design and digital literacy for older adults . Recent publications highlight her dual expertise in psychological assessment (e.g., scale validation, measurement invariance ) and applied gaming for education and social inclusion . Her 2025 articles include studies on perinatal mental health , self-efficacy , and medical device control , while 2024 outputs emphasize inclusive design and family dynamics . Cláudia actively participates in international conferences and research networks , contributing to peer-reviewed journals and applied projects like INTERSECT (Childbirth Trauma) and HiTOP-SR (Psychological Assessment).

Andrew NormanView profile

Professor

• Contemporary Classical Music
• Orchestral Composition
• Non-linear Narrative in Music
• +4 more

Andrew Norman is a Grammy-nominated composer and Professor at the USC Thornton School of Music, renowned for his genre-defying orchestral works that blend cinematic storytelling with architectural metaphors. His compositions have been performed by leading ensembles including the LA Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Academic Affiliation: Faculty member at USC since 2013 Major Works: Play (Grawemeyer Award winner), The Companion Guide to Rome (Pulitzer finalist), Switch, Split, Suspend Norman's research explores: Non-linear narrative techniques in music Extended instrumental techniques and physical gesture Temporal manipulation and hierarchical control systems Architectural and video game-inspired formal structures Interactive audience perception dynamics Human agency in orchestral performance His works feature in prominent festivals like Ojai and Tanglewood, with recent premieres at Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, and international venues. Key collaborators include Gustavo Dudamel, Jeffrey Kahane, and Colin Currie. Major recognitions include: Musical America Composer of the Year (2017) Grawemeyer Award for Play (2017) Guggenheim Fellowship (2016) Rome Prize (2006) and Berlin Prize (2009) Three-time ASCAP award winner Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Companion Guide to Rome (2012) Norman actively champions music education through: LA Phil’s Composer Fellowship Program Educational residencies nationwide Compositions for youth ensembles Collaboration with music education initiatives

• Psychiatry
• Mental Health
• Digital Health
• +12 more

Rajna Knez is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences at the University of Skövde and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg . She holds a primary clinical role at Skaraborg Hospital as a specialist in adult and child psychiatry with subspecialist expertise in social psychiatry. Her research focuses on digital health interventions for mental health promotion, particularly in Adolescent mental well-being Intimate partner violence education Parental support systems Gut microbiome-mental health interactions Virtual patient simulations Ethical aspects of sustainability Recent publications highlight trends in digital education for healthcare professionals, psychopathology modeling, and environmental factors in youth health. She leads the Family-Centred Health (FamCeH) research group and coordinates regional psychiatry training programs.

• Fashion Studies
• Social Justice in Fashion
• Disability Studies
• +4 more

Ben Barry is Dean and Professor holding the Joseph and Gail Gromek Endowed Professorship in Fashion Business at Parsons School of Design. With a BA in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto and MPhil/PhD from Cambridge University, he leads transformative initiatives in fashion education focused on equity, sustainability, and justice. His research explores fashion's intersection with disability, fat, trans, and queer identities through mixed methodologies. Research interests span inclusive design, social justice in fashion systems, crip theory applications in fashion, and decolonizing fashion pedagogy. Current projects include the Pathways for Disabled Designers initiative with CFDA and the book Crip Fashion based on participatory research. Awards include recognition in Vogue Business' '100 Innovators' list. Grant funding exceeds $1.5 million from organizations including SSHRC and Ford Foundation. He co-founded the Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program providing scholarships and mentorship.

Gunnar StevensView profile

Professor

• Consumer Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Privacy
• +3 more

Gunnar Stevens is a Professor and Divisional Director of IT-Security and Consumer Computing at the University of Siegen's Faculty of Information Systems and New Media. His research focuses on consumer-oriented technologies, including privacy-enhancing systems, human-robot interaction, sustainable mobility solutions, and explainable AI. Dr. Stevens' work bridges technical security with human-centered design, investigating topics such as algorithmic accountability in dating apps, digital sovereignty, privacy norm formation through gamification, and sustainable transportation behavior. Recent projects examine the digitalization of household administrative labor and renewable energy preferences for EV charging. He has led numerous projects on usable security policies, smart home intelligibility, and trust in voice assistants. His methodological approach combines design studies, living lab implementations, and empirical evaluations of technology adoption.

Eric Van TassellView profile

Assistant Professor

• Lighting design
• Sound design
• Production management
• +2 more

Eric Van Tassell serves as Assistant Professor of Lighting and Sound Design at Hope College, teaching in both the Department of Dance and Department of Theatre since joining the faculty in 2019. He instructs courses including Introduction to Theatre, Stage Production I, Dance Production, Theatre Crafts, and specialized labs in lighting and sound design while also serving as a designer and technician for numerous productions throughout the academic year. His educational background includes: MFA in Lighting Design and Technology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2018) B.A. in Theatre from Hope College (2006) Professor Van Tassell specializes in theatrical lighting and sound design with significant expertise in production management. His professional approach combines technical precision with artistic vision, developed through diverse experiences ranging from experimental storefront theaters to major national venues. His work demonstrates particular strength in creating atmospheric environments that enhance narrative and emotional impact across various theatrical genres, from classical adaptations to contemporary original works. He has established himself as particularly adept at translating complex themes into visual and auditory experiences that serve both performers and audiences. His award-winning portfolio demonstrates consistent excellence in lighting design across a wide range of productions, with notable recognition including the Wilde Award for Best One-Person Show (An Iliad, 2019) and selection for the Kennedy Center National College Dance Festival (2018). His professional honors include: Wilde Award for Best One-Person Show (An Iliad), 2019 Kennedy Center National College Dance Festival selection, 2018 Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Play (The Mother), 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominee for Non-Equity Lighting Design Andes Award for Favorite Lighting Design (Meadow Brook Theatre) Professor Van Tassell is deeply committed to student development, training emerging technicians and designers both in classroom settings and through practical production experience as co-leader of the Arts Technical Staff. He provides individual mentorship on specific projects, fostering hands-on learning that bridges academic theory with professional practice. His extensive industry connections, developed through 15 years of professional work at venues including The Kennedy Center, provide valuable networking opportunities for students. As a core member of Hope College's production teams, he collaborates with faculty and staff across departments to realize ambitious theatrical visions. His dual appointment in both Dance and Theatre departments positions him uniquely to create integrated design solutions that serve the distinctive needs of both disciplines while maintaining cohesive artistic vision across productions.