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Andrea Lanza serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Italian Studies within the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto. Originally from Italy, he completed his academic training in France at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), earning both his Diplôme d'Études Avancées and Doctorat degrees, following his Laurea from Università degli Studi di Milano La Statale. His scholarly profile demonstrates extensive transnational engagement with French political thought while maintaining institutional affiliation with Italian Studies. Doctorat, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) Diplôme d'Études Avancées, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris) Laurea, Università degli Studi di Milano La Statale Lanza's research focuses on the historical intersections between political thought and social science, with particular emphasis on Early French Socialism (1800-1850), the making of French working classes, and Contemporary French Political Thought. His scholarly trajectory follows two interrelated axes: the emergence of socialist discourse in 19th century France and historic-philosophical debates on democratic society, especially regarding French thinkers like Lefort, Gauchet, Rosanvallon, Foucault, and Rancière. His work demonstrates remarkable interdisciplinary range, connecting political philosophy with historical anthropology, sociology, and religious studies. His recent publications reveal a growing engagement with contemporary issues including decolonization debates, cancel culture, and the epistemological challenges facing social sciences today. Lanza has also held significant administrative roles, serving as Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Italian Studies during 2022-2023. Administrative Service: Associate Chair - Undergraduate, Department of Italian Studies (2022-2023) Lanza's scholarly network extends across North America and Europe, with collaborations spanning multiple disciplines. His recent editorial work on Claude Lefort's political philosophy and Marcel Gauchet's theories of democratic society demonstrates his position at the forefront of contemporary political thought scholarship.

• Early French Socialism (1800-1850)
• Political Thought
• Social Science
• +7 more

Dr. Tim Clarke is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Student Support in the Foundation Year Program at the University of King's College. He holds a PhD in English from the University of Ottawa (2018), focusing on Spinoza’s philosophical influence on 19th- and 20th-century American literature. His research bridges literature and philosophy, particularly modernist vitalism, decadence, and affect theory. Education: BA in English and Historical Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland (2011) MA in English, Queen’s University (2012) PhD in English, University of Ottawa (2018) Research Focus: Dr. Clarke explores intersections of literary modernism with continental philosophy, emphasizing decadence, vitalist thought, and death’s role in literature. His current project, Morbid Vitalism , examines how modernism synthesizes life-affirming and death-oriented ideas through the decadent tradition. He has published on Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood and co-translated works by Brazilian geographer Milton Santos. Teaching & Engagement: He teaches courses like After the End: The Idea of Decadence and Reflections on Death , blending critical theory with contemporary aesthetics. His translations and co-edited volumes on Milton Santos highlight global Southern perspectives in geography and sociology.

• Literary Modernisms
• 19th- and 20th-Century American Literature
• Decadence
• +4 more

Luca Somigli is a Professor at the University of Toronto, holding the Emilio Goggio Chair in Italian Studies. His research focuses on European and Italian modernism, avant-garde movements, futurism, detective fiction, genre literature, and comics. Born in Florence, he earned a Laurea from the Università degli Studi di Firenze and a PhD in Comparative Literature from SUNY Stony Brook. Educational Background: PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook Laurea, Università degli Studi di Firenze Luca's scholarship explores tensions between modernism and postmodernism, colonial narratives in Italian crime fiction, and the intersection of visual narratives with cultural themes. His recent publications include co-edited volumes on futurism and modernism, alongside articles analyzing authors like Marinetti, Pirandello, and Camilleri. Key research trends include: Colonialism in Italian historical fiction Symbolist and avant-garde artistic movements Visual storytelling in comics and film The legacy of fascist ideology in literature Scientific awards highlight his contributions: the 2019 Visiting Scholar at Université de Haute-Alsace and the 2003 American Association for Italian Studies Book Award. Luca has co-authored works with scholars like Federico Luisetti and Eleonora Conti, and his conference presentations address neomodernist novels and modernist historiography. He serves as Chair of the Department of Italian Studies (2021-present) and previously as Associate Chair – Graduate (2020-2021).

• European Modernism
• Italian Modernism
• Futurism
• +5 more

John Zilcosky is a Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto. He specializes in modern European literature, psychoanalysis, trauma studies, travel writing, and the history/philosophy of sports. His affiliations include the Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures and the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies. Zilcosky has authored influential books like Kafka’s Travels (winner of the MLA Scaglione Prize) and Uncanny Encounters , exploring themes such as colonialism, trauma, and literary theory. He has received prestigious awards including the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His research bridges interdisciplinary fields, examining literary responses to trauma, sport narratives, and temporalities. Zilcosky’s grants include SSHRC funding and NEH support, reflecting his impactful contributions to scholarship. He currently teaches courses on Kafka, Sebald, and modernist literature, maintaining an active role in academic leadership, including honorary presidency of the International Comparative Literature Association’s Literary Theory committee.

• Modern European Literature
• Psychoanalysis
• Trauma Studies
• +4 more

Dr. Gaoheng Zhang is an Associate Professor of Italian Studies at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts. His research analyzes cultural mobilities within Italy's and Western Europe's global networks with Asia, America, and Africa, focusing on transculturality and dialogism through multilingual and multisited methodologies. Key Focus Areas: Migration/Postcolonial Studies, Gender and Masculinity, Film/Communication Studies, Italian-Chinese Relations Teaching: Italian Food/Fashion Cultures, Mafia Movies, Pandemic Literature, (Post-)Colonial Cultures His scholarship includes pioneering works on China-Italy cultural exchanges through Mobility, Architecture, Chronotopes (2023), and the upcoming monographs Italian Dumplings and Chinese Pizzas (2025) and Fashion Communications Between Italy and China (2025). He is co-editing The Handbook on Modern China-Italy Relations (2026-2027) with Valentina Pedone. Dr. Zhang's research has received prestigious recognition including: SSHRC Insight Grant (2025-2029) UBC Killam Faculty Research Fellowship (2022-2023) Jean Monnet Fellowship (2022-2023) SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2018-2020) Provost’s Postdoctoral Scholarship at USC (2012-2014) He serves on the executive committee of UBC's Centre for Migration Studies and advisory board of Green College, while maintaining affiliations with the Centre for European Studies and Asian Canadian/Asian Migration Studies program.

• Migration Studies
• Mobility Studies
• Postcolonial Studies
• +10 more

Tamara L. Mitchell is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of British Columbia, located in Vancouver. She is affiliated with the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies within the Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on 20th- and 21st-century Latin American literatures and cultures, with a particular emphasis on Mexican and Central American narrative fiction. She explores the intersections of aesthetics, politics, and literary tradition under advanced capitalism, as well as sound studies, political philosophy, and border/diaspora studies. Education: Ph.D., Latin American Literatures, Indiana University (2019) M.A., Spanish Literature, University of Kansas (2009) B.A., English Literature and Spanish, Washburn University (2006) Research Interests: Her work examines postnational literary forms in the neoliberal present, with current projects including a monograph on Novel Distortions: Postnational Form in Mexican and Central American Narrative and a second project on sound and extraction in Mexican literature. She co-edited a special issue on 'Latin American Literary Aurality' and has been commissioned to write a thematic review on Latin American sound studies. Awards and Grants: SSHRC Insight Grant (2024–2029) Dean of Arts Graduate Mentorship Award (2023) Hampton New Faculty Research Grant (UBC) Multiple SSHRC and travel grants Teaching and Mentorship: She teaches courses on Latin American literatures and cultures, and has mentored undergraduate and graduate researchers. Currently not accepting new graduate students. Labs/Teams: Organized conferences and workshops, including The Sounds of Latin American Literature (2022) and co-founded panels on sound studies and Latin American literature at international conferences.

• 20th- and 21st-Century Latin American Literatures
• Sound Studies
• Political Philosophy
• +3 more

Gregory Hanlon is the George Munro Chair in History and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of History at Dalhousie University. He specializes in early modern European history with a particular focus on Italy and France, employing interdisciplinary approaches that integrate history with behavioral sciences. His educational background includes: Licence és Lettres from Bordeaux MA from Toronto Doctorat du 3e cycle from Bordeaux Hanlon's research focuses on behavioral history, examining how human ethology and social psychology can illuminate historical societies. His work spans several interconnected areas including early modern Italian and French history, Baroque civilizations, war and society, material culture, and the application of evolutionary psychology to historical analysis. He has pioneered approaches that extend the Annales tradition by combining history with social and behavioral sciences, taking a neo-Darwinian approach that places ideologies in a secondary position. Hanlon's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across multiple decades, with recent work focusing on historical demography, particularly infanticide patterns and sex ratios in early modern Europe. His research employs innovative methodologies that combine archival evidence with insights from evolutionary psychology and human ethology, revealing new perspectives on population control practices and social behaviors in historical contexts. Among his notable scientific achievements: 1984 Prix Tonnadre, Société Académique d'Agen, for doctoral thesis 1992 Brewer Prize, American Society for Church History 1998 Marraro Prize, Society for Italian Historical Studies 2017 Induction into the Académie Nationale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Bordeaux 2019 Dalhousie University, Munro Professor of History 2022 Dalhousie University, Distinguished Research Professor Hanlon teaches a range of courses including 'Intro. to European History: The early modern era,' 'European Military History 1550-1750,' and specialized seminars on topics like 'Renaissance and Baroque Rome' and 'Florence & Tuscany under the Medici Principality.' His teaching reflects his research interests, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and primary source analysis. He leads research initiatives examining behavioral patterns in early modern Europe, particularly focusing on Italian and French contexts. His projects often involve collaborative work with scholars from multiple disciplines, creating interdisciplinary teams that bring diverse methodological approaches to historical questions.

• Early Modern History
• Italian History
• French History
• +7 more

Sara Saljoughi is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Toronto Scarborough . She is currently on leave for the 2024–2025 academic year. Her interdisciplinary work bridges cinema studies, critical theory, and postcolonial studies, with a particular focus on non-Western and postcolonial cinemas, Iranian film, and feminist theory. Education & Training: While specific degrees are not detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record and fellowship history indicate advanced training in cinema studies and critical theory. Research Interests: Professor Saljoughi’s scholarship centers on the intersection of aesthetics and politics , particularly in relation to non-Western, postcolonial, and Iranian cinemas. Her work draws from film theory, feminist theory, and postcolonial studies to examine how cinematic form engages with questions of collectivity, statelessness, and transnational feminism. She is completing a monograph on collectivity in Iranian cinema during the 1960s and 1970s , and developing a second book project titled Stateless Cinemas: Aesthetics, Autonomy, Mobility , which explores the cinemas of stateless peoples. Grants & Fellowships: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Andrew W. Mellon Foundation American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Social Science Research Council (USA) Connaught Foundation Mellon Early Career Fellow, Jackman Humanities Institute Editorial & Scholarly Service: She is co-editor of the book 1968 and Global Cinema (Wayne State University Press, 2018) and co-editor of Discourse: Journal for Theoretical Studies in Media and Culture .

• Cinema Studies
• Critical Theory
• Postcolonial Studies
• +3 more

Erin Campbell serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Art History & Visual Studies within the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria. Holding a BA, MA, and PhD from the University of Toronto, she has established herself as a leading scholar in Early Modern European art with particular expertise in domestic interiors, aging studies, and gender representation. Her educational journey began with a fascination for European art during her undergraduate studies at Toronto, followed by archaeological fieldwork at Kommos, Crete during her MA program. Her PhD research under Philip Sohm rekindled her passion for European art, particularly focusing on Italian art theory and criticism through extensive research in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Professor Campbell's research centers on Early Modern European art and material culture, with specific focus on the domestic interior, representations of aging, and gender dynamics. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges art history with anthropology and sociology, examining how objects function within domestic spaces across the life course. She explores cross-cultural connections, particularly in the context of imported goods like porcelain in Venetian households, and investigates how material culture reflects social structures and individual identities. Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of aging, domesticity, and material culture across two decades. Campbell's publications reveal a methodological evolution from traditional art historical analysis toward more interdisciplinary approaches incorporating material culture theory, sensory studies, and ecological frameworks for understanding domestic spaces. SSHRC Insight Grant (2016-2024) University of Victoria Internal Research Grant (2013-2014) Learning and Teaching Curriculum Development Grant (2013) Nelson Prize: Best manuscript submitted to Renaissance Quarterly in 2010 (2011) Faculty of Fine Arts Excellence in Teaching Award (2010) SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2009-2012) Professor Campbell has secured substantial research funding, most notably multiple SSHRC grants supporting her work on domestic interiors and aging in Early Modern Europe. Her recent SSHRC-supported project focuses on art and the stages of life in early modern domestic interiors in Bologna. She has also been recognized for her teaching excellence with the Faculty of Fine Arts Excellence in Teaching Award. Beyond traditional academic outputs, Campbell has curated significant exhibitions including Life Stories at the Legacy Art Gallery and co-edited special journal issues that extend her scholarly impact into public engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue. Her scholarly networks extend internationally through conference presentations at venues like the Renaissance Society of America and Sixteenth Century Studies conferences. She has collaborated with colleagues across disciplines, including sociologist Stephen Katz on aging studies, demonstrating her commitment to interdisciplinary research approaches.

• Early Modern European art
• Material culture studies
• Domestic interior studies
• +5 more

Patrick Moran is an Associate Professor of French in the Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts. He joined UBC in 2018 after teaching positions at Université Paris-Sorbonne, Université Lyon 2, Université Montpellier 3, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, and Université Laval. Moran holds a PhD from Université Paris-Sorbonne and is an alumnus of the École Normale Supérieure (Paris). Moran specializes in medieval French literature with particular focus on Arthurian romance from the 12th and 13th centuries. His research uniquely bridges literary theory—especially reader-response theory, narrative theory, and cognitive poetics—with material philology and codicology. He has also published significant research on fantasy fiction and modern medievalism, while himself being an author of two fantasy novels and multiple science fiction short stories. His scholarly work examines medieval narrative genres, manuscript studies, and the intersection between theoretical approaches and textual materiality. Moran's research output shows a clear trajectory from his doctoral work on inter-romanesque networks in Grail cycles to broader investigations of genre theory, narrative structure, and the reception of medieval literature. His 2019 Cambridge University Press monograph The Canons of Fantasy: Lands of High Adventure represents a significant expansion of his scholarly interests into fantasy literature studies. His recent publications increasingly explore the connections between medieval narrative techniques and contemporary interactive media. SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2019-2022): Literary Genre in the French-Speaking Middle Ages: From Manuscript Studies to Cognitive Theory UBC Public Humanities Hub Project (2020): Tracing the Scribe: Reassessing Professional Networks in the Paris Book Trade (collaborative project) Moran maintains an active research agenda with publications spanning medieval French literature, Arthurian studies, narrative theory, and fantasy literature. His work demonstrates how medieval textual practices continue to inform contemporary narrative forms, from traditional scholarship to digital media and interactive fiction.

• Medieval French Literature
• Arthurian Romance
• Narrative Theory
• +7 more

W.J. Torrance Kirby is a Professor of Ecclesiastical History at McGill University and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society . He has served as Director of the Centre for Research on Religion (CREOR) since 2008 and held visiting fellowships at institutions including St John’s College (Oxford), New College (Edinburgh), and the American Academy in Rome. His academic journey includes a DPhil in Modern History from Oxford University (1988) and earlier degrees in Classics from Dalhousie University. Education: BA & MA in Classics (Dalhousie), DPhil in Modern History (Oxford) Current Role: Professor, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University Visiting Appointments: Clare Hall (Cambridge), Princeton Centre of Theological Inquiry Dr. Kirby’s research centers on Reformation political theology , Christian Platonism , and the emergence of the early modern public sphere through rhetorical practices like Paul’s Cross sermons. He leads collaborative projects funded by SSHRC , including a 2020 Insight Grant for 'The Reception of German Mysticism in Early Modern England' and a 2009 Standard Research Grant for 'Paul's Cross and the culture of persuasion'. His work bridges patristic theology , Renaissance humanism , and transnational Reformation studies , particularly focusing on Italian and Swiss reformers like Peter Martyr Vermigli. His 15 most recent publications include the 2017 Oxford edition of Paul's Cross Sermons , analyses of Richard Hooker’s Neoplatonic jurisprudence , and studies on Reformation-era political theology across England, Switzerland, and Italy. Special attention is given to public preaching as a catalyst for religious identity transformation and civil-military dynamics in Tudor England. Scientific Distinctions include a 2011 Royal Historical Society Fellowship , a 2013 Smith College Kennedy Professorship , and ongoing McCord Fellowship at Princeton Centre of Theological Inquiry since 2019. He has supervised over 28 doctoral and master’s theses on topics ranging from medieval mysticism to early modern religious conversion . As Director of CREOR , he has organized lecture series on themes like Conversion and Modernity (2012) and Neuro-theology (2011). Current projects involve collaborations with the Forms of Conversion initiative and the Metaphysics of Conversion research group.

• Reformation Thought
• Christian Platonism
• Political Theology
• +3 more

Gauvin Alexander Bailey is a Professor and Bader Chair in Southern Baroque Art at Queen's University's Department of Art History and Art Conservation. He holds prestigious fellowships, including the Guggenheim Fellowship (2010) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His research focuses on Late Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo architecture and art in Europe, as well as colonial architecture in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. Key publications include The Architecture of Empire: France in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia (2022) and Architecture and Urbanism in the French Atlantic Empire (2018). He has curated exhibitions for institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. Bailey's work explores global art history, colonialism, and the intersection of religion and architecture. He has received grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and others. His Colonial Architecture Project website provides a global photographic database of colonial structures. Awards: 2016 Queen’s University Research Prize, Correspondent of the French Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres Teaching: Courses include Baroque Art, Latin American Art, and Global Art Encounters International Engagement: Guest professorships at institutions like the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte (Munich) and the Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá)

• Art History
• Colonial Architecture
• Baroque and Rococo Art
• +3 more

Elizabeth Lagresa-Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Associate Head of Romance Studies in the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts. She also holds multiple interdisciplinary affiliations including as Faculty Associate at the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice (2020-2023), Affiliated Faculty at the Centre for European Studies (2022-present), and Faculty Associate at the Global Premodern Research Cluster (2019-present). Her research focuses on early modern Spanish literature and culture at the intersection of gender, visual, cross-cultural and material studies. She specializes in early modern literature and culture, theater, visual and material culture, queer and gender studies, and cross-cultural comparative approaches. Her current research project, funded by an SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2022-2025), examines 'Re-Imagining the Spanish Novella: Cross-Cultural Encounters in Early Modern Fiction by Women (1635-1700).' Dr. Lagresa-Gonzalez's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on early modern Spanish literary production with particular attention to gender dynamics, visual representation, and cross-cultural exchange. Her work often examines how literary texts negotiate power structures, gender identities, and cultural boundaries in the early modern period. SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2022-2026) Hampton Fund Research Grant UBC (2020-2022) Harvard Teaching Prize (2017) Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching (2012, 2014, 2016) UBC Green College Leading Scholar (2019-2021) She has received significant research funding including a $50k SSHRC Insight Development Grant for her project on early modern Spanish fiction by women, $79k as co-applicant for UBC PhD CoLab, and multiple smaller grants supporting her scholarly publications and conference travel. Dr. Lagresa-Gonzalez is currently accepting graduate students for supervision and has been recognized for her teaching excellence both at Harvard and UBC.

• Early Modern Literature and Culture
• Early Modern Theater
• Early Modern Visual and Material Culture
• +6 more

Raúl Álvarez Moreno is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and the Department of French, Hispanic & Italian Studies. He has taught Medieval and Early Modern Spanish literature, culture, and language since joining UBC in 2009, with expertise in historical Spanish linguistics and business Spanish. His academic work bridges literary analysis with economic thought, focusing on Iberian cultural history. Education : Ph.D. from Michigan State University, B.A./R.S. from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Research interests center on intersections of literature and economic theory in medieval Spain, language-ideology dynamics, visual culture, and travel literature. His work reinterprets scholastic economic frameworks through texts like Celestina and Cervantes, while examining how medieval spatial practices inform modern cultural studies. Recent publications highlight trends in economic discourse, intertextuality (e.g., Aesop-Cervantes connections), and the re-functionalization of medieval motifs in Latin American contexts. His scholarship spans annotated editions, specialized journal articles, and collaborations with editorial boards like Celestinesca and Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos , where he serves as Book Review Editor. Current projects include a monograph on Spanish scholastic economic thought and co-editing a special issue on literature-economy interplay (2023). He actively supervises graduate students in Hispanic Studies, emphasizing rigorous engagement with primary sources and interdisciplinary methodologies.

• Medieval and Early Modern Iberian Literature
• Economic Thought in Medieval Literature
• Visual Culture in Spain
• +5 more

Lucia Dacome is an Associate Professor and holds the Pauline M.H. Mazumdar Chair in the History of Medicine at the University of Toronto, affiliated with Victoria College. Her work bridges multiple disciplines, focusing on early modern Italy and the Mediterranean. She has held postdoctoral fellowships at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, the UCLA Center for 17th- and 18th-Century Studies/Clark Library, and a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship at the Centre Alexandre Koyré/CNRS. Education: PhD, University of Cambridge Her research interests center on the social, cultural, and material histories of bodies, health, and medicine, with a focus on gender, slavery, and race. Key areas include the entanglements of medicine and slavery in Tuscany, medical infrastructure managing enslaved communities, and knowledge exchange through spaces like barbershops and coffee shops. She also explores material culture, women’s roles in anatomical practices, and the intersections of science, art, and religion. Recent articles reflect her interdisciplinary approach, analyzing topics such as galley slavery in early modern Italy, lazarettos as medical-political borderlands, and women’s contributions to anatomical studies. Her work highlights marginalized communities’ agency in knowledge systems and the societal frameworks influencing medical practices. Recipient of the 2024 Percy G. Adams Prize for 'Intimate Connections: Marie Marguerite Biheron and her ‘Little Boudoir’' and the 2006 Percy G. Adams Prize for 'To What Purpose Does It Think?: Dreams, Sick Bodies, and Confused Minds in the Age of Reason'. Advising and grants: Supervised eight PhD students, including Myriam Iuorio and Oana Baboi. Her research has been funded by The Jackman Humanities Institute, I Tatti, SSHRC, and the Pauline Mazumdar Fund. She has also contributed to supervisory committees for students like Denisa Popa and Kathleen Burke. Current research projects examine the medical and scientific entanglements of enslaved individuals in Livorno, emphasizing their roles in knowledge networks and the material culture of health systems.

• History of Medicine
• Social History
• Cultural History
• +5 more