Shirley Samuels is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies and Picket Family Chair of Literatures in English at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. A distinguished scholar of 19th-century American literature and culture, she has shaped feminist criticism, Civil War studies, and transatlantic discourse. Her academic journey began at UC Berkeley with a PhD in English (1986). Key research areas include: American literature and culture 18th- and 19th-century fiction Gender, race, and sentimentality Civil War iconography Visual culture and mobility narratives Notable trends across her publications reveal sustained engagement with racial trauma , gendered political discourse , visual representation , and transatlantic cultural exchange . Her work bridges literary analysis with historical memory. Scientific honors include: Mellon Humanities Grant American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Phi Beta Kappa Multiple research grants from Society for the Humanities Public Voices Project Fellow
Laura Brown holds the John Wendell Anderson Professorship in the Department of Literatures in English within Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. She has served in significant leadership roles including chair of the Department of Literatures in English, director of the English PhD program, and Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Additionally, she is President of the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. Her research focuses on posthumanism and the 'counterhuman,' examining other-than-human beings, species difference, and environmental and geological forces within eighteenth-century literary culture. Professor Brown's work bridges traditional literary scholarship with contemporary theoretical concerns about humanity's relationship to the non-human world. Her recent publications explore the impact of the other-than-human on human creativity, with particular attention to how eighteenth-century literature engages with animals, environmental forces, and alternative conceptions of being. This research represents a significant contribution to both eighteenth-century studies and emerging fields in posthuman theory. President, American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies John Wendell Anderson Professor of English Former Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Jacob Smith is a Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University's School of Communication, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Sound Arts and Industries program. His academic foundation includes a PhD in Communication and Culture from Indiana University. Smith's scholarly identity centers on the cultural history of media with specialized expertise in sound studies and environmental media, exploring intersections between auditory cultures, ecological systems, and technological evolution. Research trajectories reveal a sustained investigation into sound's role across historical and contemporary contexts—from phonograph cultures to digital sonic environments—with increasing emphasis on media ecology and the Anthropocene since 2015. His work bridges academic rigor and creative practice through experimental audiobooks that challenge traditional scholarly formats. Smith's publications demonstrate consistent innovation in media historiography, particularly regarding radio's evolution and sound's environmental dimensions. Recent outputs (2016-2020) coalesce around three thematic clusters: aeroecology/wildlife sound (e.g., Lightning Birds ), post-network media infrastructures (e.g., Travels with Jack ), and critical examinations of sound citizenship (e.g., Indian Sound Culture ). His scholarly impact is recognized through prestigious awards: SCMS Anne Friedberg Innovative Scholarship Award (2022) for Lightning Birds: An Aeroecology of the Airwaves Kraszna-Krausz Best Moving Image Book Award (2017) for Anatomy of Sound: Norman Corwin and Media Authorship Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award (2012) for Spoken Word: Postwar American Phonograph Cultures As program director, Smith advises MA candidates in Sound Arts and Industries while teaching graduate/undergraduate courses spanning recording industry history, environmental media, and sound studies. His editorial collaborations (e.g., Indian Sound Culture ) indicate significant interdisciplinary grant activity, though specific funding details aren't provided. The MA program he co-founded functions as a nexus for sound-art experimentation, connecting academic research with creative industry practices through studio-based learning.
Constanza López Baquero serves as an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of North Florida, specializing in contemporary Latin American cultural production and critical theory. Education: Ph.D. in Hispanic Literatures, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York Her research spans Latin American Literatures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with concentrated focus on women writers, testimonio narratives, gender-violence intersections, documentary film, human rights activism, migration studies, and youth hip hop cultures. She critically examines how trauma, memory, and bodily experience manifest in testimonial literature, particularly within Colombian contexts of political violence and social upheaval. Her seminal 2012 monograph 'Trauma, memoria y cuerpo: el testimonio femenino en Colombia (1985-2000)' established foundational analysis of female testimonial narratives during Colombia's peak violence period. Current research extends this framework through the manuscript 'Collective Efforts: Reterritorializing the Spaces of Violence in Colombia,' examining community-led spatial reclamation and resistance strategies. Her scholarly trajectory reveals consistent engagement with marginalized voices, human rights frameworks, and interdisciplinary approaches bridging literary analysis with sociopolitical activism.
Kinohi Nishikawa is an Associate Professor jointly appointed in the Department of African American Studies and the Department of English at Princeton University. His scholarly work bridges literary criticism, book history, and African American cultural studies, with a strong emphasis on the material forms of literature. A.B., Dartmouth College (summa cum laude, High Honors in English) M.A., Literature, Duke University Ph.D., Literature, Duke University His research focuses on 20th- and 21st-century African American literature, particularly the roles of book design, publishing practices, and paratextual elements in shaping literary reception. He explores how print culture, independent presses, and visual aesthetics contribute to Black literary expression and archival formation. His work intersects with Black aesthetic theory, humor, and popular culture. His recent publications reveal a consistent thematic thread: the materiality of African American texts. Across journals like PMLA , American Literary History , and Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America , he investigates how design, format, and publishing context influence meaning-making in works by authors such as Ralph Ellison, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ishmael Reed, and Percival Everett. Nishikawa is actively involved in public scholarship, curating the Black Independent Film series at the Princeton Garden Theatre and advising on the Sites of Memory exhibition of the Toni Morrison Papers. He is co-authoring a book with Professor Autumn Womack on Morrison’s archiving practices. Curator, Black Independent Film series, Princeton Garden Theatre Advisor, Sites of Memory exhibition, Toni Morrison Papers Collaborator on Morrison archiving project with Autumn Womack
Cheri Robinson is a Lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Binghamton University. Her research spans transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural studies, film, and literature in 20th and 21st-century Latin America, with additional focus on borderlands theory, child/adolescent protagonists in trauma narratives, and intersections between Holocaust memory and Latin American contexts. PhD in Hispanic Languages and Literatures (UCLA) MA in Spanish Literature (UCLA) Honors BA in French and International Studies (Oregon State University) Her publications explore themes of memory, political resistance, and trauma through cinematic and literary analysis, particularly in Argentine and Caribbean contexts. Recent articles examine documentary filmmaking, urban violence, and pedagogical uses of media. Civil Dialogue Teaching Fellow (2024-2025, inaugural cohort), Center for Civic Engagement She teaches courses on Spanish language, Latin American culture, and interdisciplinary topics at Binghamton University.
Brian Teare is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Virginia, where he also serves as Director of the Poetry Writing Concentration. Previously affiliated with Temple University and with experience teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area and Philadelphia, Teare maintains an active presence in both academic and literary communities. Teare's scholarly interests span American Poetry and Poetics, Ecopoetics and Environmental Humanities, Feminist Theory, Queer Theory, and Small Press Publishing. His work consistently explores the intersection of form and content, particularly how poetic structures can engage with ecological concerns and social justice issues. He approaches poetry as both a creative practice and a form of critical inquiry, often examining how poetic traditions respond to contemporary crises. Teare's publications reveal a trajectory from early formal experimentation toward increasingly engaged ecopoetic work. His writing demonstrates sophisticated engagement with literary history while maintaining urgent contemporary relevance, particularly in addressing climate change and social inequality through poetic form. His essays frequently bridge academic criticism and creative practice, offering insights into how poetry functions as both art form and social intervention. Woodberry Poetry Room Creative Grant (Harvard University), 2019-20 Pew Fellowship in the Arts, 2015-17 Four Quartets Prize winner for Doomstead Days Guggenheim Fellow (2020) Finalist for Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award (2014) Lambda Literary Award for Gay Male Poetry (2010) As an educator, Teare has mentored numerous students through poetry workshops and directed the Poetry Writing Concentration at UVA. His editorial work with Albion Books represents a significant contribution to small press publishing, supporting emerging voices while maintaining high artistic standards. Teare's approach to teaching emphasizes both technical mastery and conceptual innovation, encouraging students to develop their unique poetic voices while engaging with broader literary traditions. Teare maintains an active creative practice alongside his academic work, regularly participating in readings and literary events. His dual commitment to scholarly rigor and artistic innovation makes him a distinctive voice in contemporary poetry and criticism.
Kurtis R. Schaeffer serves as the Frances Myers Ball Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. With over twenty-five years of specialized research experience, he has established himself as a leading scholar in Tibetan Buddhist literature and religious culture, with particular expertise in narrative and poetic traditions across Tibet, India, and Bhutan. BA, Department of Religious Studies, Lewis & Clark College BA, The Evergreen State College, Area of Emphasis: Buddhist Studies MA, Department of Asian Languages and Literatures, The University of Washington PhD, Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University Schaeffer's research centers on the narrative and poetic literature of Buddhism across the Himalayan region, with extensive work on stories of the Buddha, Buddhist saints, and famous Buddhist masters. His scholarship examines how religious narratives function within cultural contexts, particularly focusing on the creation and transmission of Buddhist literary traditions. He has published groundbreaking work on the lives of Tibetan religious figures who compiled the Tibetan Buddhist Canons, the biography of a Himalayan Buddhist nun, and the evolution of stories about the Indian yogi Saraha through Tibetan history. More recently, he has expanded his research to explore the rich visual narratives of the Buddha in Tibet and Bhutan, integrating art historical approaches with textual analysis. Schaeffer's scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory from textual analysis toward interdisciplinary approaches that bridge traditional religious studies with digital humanities. His publications include major monographs, edited volumes, and academic papers that demonstrate deep engagement with primary Tibetan sources while addressing broader theoretical questions about religious narrative, cultural transmission, and the materiality of religious texts. The progression from works like Himalayan Hermitess (2004) to his collaborative Life of the Buddha project shows an evolution toward multimodal scholarship that combines textual, visual, and digital elements. Schaeffer has held significant leadership positions including President of the Buddhist Digital Resource Center, the world's largest digital repository of Buddhist texts, and previously served as Chair of the Department of Religious Studies from 2012 to 2020. His work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through public-facing initiatives that connect religious scholarship with contemporary social issues. Currently, Schaeffer co-directs the Religion, Race, & Democracy Lab with Martien Halvorson-Taylor, which produces the "Sacred & Profane" podcast exploring religion's role in daily life. He also co-directs The Sanctuary Lab with Halvorson-Taylor and Willis Jenkins, bringing together artists, humanists, and scientists to examine how religious connections to special places impact environmental perceptions and climate change understanding. His collaborative Life of the Buddha project combines art, literature, and digital humanities to make the largest narrative mural of the Buddha's life in Tibet accessible to the public.
Craig A. Gibson is a Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Iowa within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Since 1999, he has taught Latin and Greek literature, focusing on ancient and medieval rhetorical education and prose fiction. His research explores moral implications of rhetorical training and representations of societal figures in classical texts. Education: Ph.D. in Classical Studies from Duke University Education: B.A. in Classics from Rhodes College Research interests span ancient Greek and Latin oratory, rhetoric, and prose fiction, with a particular emphasis on medieval Greek rhetorical education. His work bridges classical and medieval studies through interdisciplinary lenses, including theology, ethics, and cultural transmission. Recent publications examine the Dolopathos (De rege et septem sapientibus) by John of Alta Silva, analyzing its intertextual connections to religious narratives like Barlaam and Josaphat and its use of Vergilian and Pauline influences. He is currently translating George the Monk’s Chronicon under contract with Liverpool University Press. Scientific awards : Collegiate Scholar in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences His scholarly contributions include critical editions and translations of Byzantine and medieval texts, advancing accessibility for modern audiences.
Sarah D. Wald is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies & English at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as Director of Graduate Admissions for the English program. Her research focuses on environmental justice, Latinx and Asian American cultural studies, and food systems, with a particular emphasis on farmworker rights and migration narratives. She holds a Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in American Studies from Brown University and Reed College respectively. Wald's academic work bridges environmental humanities with critical race theory, examining issues like decolonial frameworks in outdoor spaces, food justice, and the intersection of labor and citizenship. She has published extensively, including co-editing volumes such as Latinx Environmentalisms and authoring The Nature of California . Her research collaborations include the Tierra Viva Collaborative and the Northwest Forest Plan Just Futures initiative. Her teaching focuses on inclusive pedagogy and community-based learning, including developing the UO Common Reading Program's Under the Feet of Jesus guide. She actively engages in public scholarship through symposia like the Race, Environmental Justice and Public Lands Symposium and digital humanities projects like Racial Ecologies of Mt. Hood National Forest . Wald's scholarly contributions span peer-reviewed articles, edited collections, and interdisciplinary projects addressing environmental equity, transmedia narratives, and racialized access to natural spaces. Her work consistently integrates activism, literature, and policy analysis to advance justice-centered environmental scholarship.
Selfa A. Chew-Melendez is a Professor in the Department of History and African American Studies Program at the University of Texas at El Paso , where she also serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Director of the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies . A scholar of Borderlands History and Asian Studies, her work examines transnational racial relations, diaspora experiences, and decolonial methodologies. PhD in Borderlands History (UTEP, 2010) PhD in Teaching, Learning, and Culture (UTEP, 2023) MFA in Creative Writing (UTEP, 2003) BA in Communication Science (UNAM, 1985) Her research bridges World War II studies , Asian diasporas in Latin America , and anti-racist pedagogy . Recent publications focus on visual culture disruptions , feminist resistance aesthetics , and transnational internment programs . She has received accolades including the Southwest Book Award (2017) and International Latino Book Award (2016). Scientific Awards TIEF Study Abroad Grant (2024) African American Studies Program Recognition (2017) Southwest Book Award (2017) International Latino Book Award (2016) UTEP Research and Sponsored Projects Award (2016) As Coordinator of the Asian Studies Program , she teaches courses on African American History , History of Women , and Special Topics in Borderlands Studies . Her editorial work includes Border Senses Literary Review and collaborations with international institutions across Mexico, Argentina, and China.
Kirstin Squint serves as Professor in the English Department at East Carolina University, specializing in Native American literatures of the U.S. Southeast. Her distinguished career includes the Whichard Visiting Distinguished Professorship in Humanities (2019-2022) and prior appointments at High Point University, Southern University-Baton Rouge, and Louisiana State University. Her educational background spans a BA from Eureka College, MA from Miami University, and PhD from Louisiana State University. Research focuses on Indigenous literary traditions with interdisciplinary connections to ecocriticism and gender studies. Scholarly output reveals consistent engagement with Native American sovereignty, Southern environmental narratives, and multi-ethnic literary intersections. Her publications demonstrate evolving emphasis from Appalachian identity studies toward climate justice frameworks within Indigenous ecocriticism, particularly examining Gulf Coast and Southeastern tribal communities. ECU Scholar-Teacher Award (2024) American Book Award for criticism (2020) Weatherford Award for nonfiction (2019) CELJ Award for Public Intellectual Special Issue (2023) As faculty in ECU's PhD program in Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication, she mentors doctoral candidates while teaching graduate seminars on Native American literatures and multi-ethnic writing. Her editorial work with North Carolina Literary Review and collaborative projects like Swamp Souths demonstrate significant contributions to regional literary scholarship.
Delia D. Steverson is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Alabama, specializing in 19th and 20th century African American Literature, Critical Disability Studies, and Southern Studies. Her work examines intersections of race, disability, and state-sanctioned violence in literature and culture. She holds a PhD, MA, and BA in English from the University of Alabama and Agnes Scott College, respectively. Education: PhD (2017), MA (2012), BA (2009) Her research includes Stumbling Blocks and Other Unfinished Work (2023), which recontextualizes the legacy of Delores Phillips, and Making Black Selves , exploring alternative Black subjectivity. She has held prestigious fellowships like the Mellon Career Enhancement Fellowship and has published widely in journals such as Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies . Her articles span themes like disability in Toni Morrison’s Sula and racial perception in Melville’s Benito Cereno . Awards include the Humanities Scholarship Enhancement Award (2020) and NEH funding (2018). Grants: NEH Summer Institute (2018), Course Development Grant (2018) She collaborates on curriculum development and mentors pre-college students through non-profits like the one where she served as Assistant Director of Programs. Her work bridges academia and public engagement, emphasizing marginalized voices in literature.
Erin Faigin is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on Jewish suburbanization in the San Fernando Valley, examining intersections of ethnoburbs, popular culture, and working-class politics. She holds an M.A. (2019) and B.A. (2016) in History from UW-Madison and UC Berkeley respectively. Education: M.A. History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019 B.A. History, University of California, Berkeley, 2016 Research Interests: Faigin’s work explores Jewish communities in suburban contexts, particularly the San Fernando Valley’s cultural landscape. Key themes include private schooling, freeway development, poultry farming communities, and Valley Girl culture. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges urban history, ethnic studies, and cultural geography. Publications: Her scholarship emphasizes Yiddish cultural preservation and American Jewish identity through articles in In geveb: A Journal of Yiddish Studies and Marginalia: Los Angeles Review of Books . Recent work analyzes Yiddish pedagogy, anti-fascist music, and utopian spatial narratives. Teaching: Faigin has taught courses on American suburban history, the American West, Jewish diaspora studies, and race in the Upper Midwest. She specializes in connecting historical analysis to contemporary spatial dynamics. Professional Roles: She serves as a Teaching Instructor for History 201: The Historian’s Craft and History 227: Race and Place in the Upper Midwest , blending academic rigor with community-engaged learning.
Kristen Poole is the Ned B. Allen Professor of English at the University of Delaware's College of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in early modern literature, with a focus on the intersection of religion, science, and historical thought in the 16th and 17th centuries. Her work spans Shakespeare, Milton, and lesser-known pamphleteers, exploring themes like time perception, theological debates, and environmental ethics. Education: BA from Carleton College; MA and PhD from Harvard University; STM (Master of Sacred Theology) from United Lutheran Seminary, specializing in historical theology. She has held research fellowships at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Huntington Library, and Penn Humanities Forum. Research Interests: Early modern theology, history of science, temporal theory, climate ethics, and digital humanities. Her recent publications include analyses of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials , histories of time periodization, and climate change ethics framed through Christian theology. Publications & Awards: Award-winning essay on Paradise Lost (James Holly Hanford Award, 2015). Editor of Routledge Resources Online: The Renaissance World . Over a dozen authored/co-edited volumes with Cambridge and Penn Press. Current projects integrate climate ethics with historical theology. Teaching & Leadership: Courses bridge digital archives and early modern texts. Graduate seminars on Renaissance anatomy, time theory, and allegory. Active in interdisciplinary scholarship and public-facing humanities initiatives.
