Michael Lucey is the Sidney and Margaret Ancker Chair and Distinguished Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His work bridges French literature from the 19th to 21st centuries with social theory, sexuality studies, and linguistic anthropology. He has authored the critically acclaimed What Proust Heard: Novels and the Ethnography of Talk (2022) and Thinking about Sexuality with Novels (forthcoming). As founding director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Culture , he has shaped interdisciplinary research in queer theory and gender studies. Current research focuses on novels as ethnographic tools Specializes in Proust, Balzac, Woolf, and contemporary French fiction Translation work includes Didier Eribon and Édouard Louis His recent articles explore phonetics in narrative, readability frameworks, and sociological implications of literary form. He actively engages with comparative methodologies and critical theory, while his teaching spans British and American literature’s intersections with French modernism. Lucey’s academic leadership includes directing Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Sexual Culture, which supports global discourse through fellowships and conferences. His office hours are held in Dwinelle Hall and via Zoom. Contact: mlucey@berkeley.edu
Professor Hendrik Vollmer is a faculty member in the Accounting Group at Warwick Business School , University of Warwick, since 2020. He previously served as Head of the Accounting Division at the University of Leicester (2015–2020) and worked at Bielefeld University in Germany for 16 years. His research bridges accounting, sociology, and environmental studies, focusing on accounting as a social practice and its role in addressing ecological challenges. Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Associate Editor of European Accounting Review Member of editorial boards for Zeitschrift für Soziologie, Accounting, Organizations and Society, and Social and Environmental Accountability Journal Active in sustainability accounting research and education Contributor to interdisciplinary accounting literature Recent publications explore accounting's role in climate change mitigation, public value creation, and the spatialization of worth. His teaching modules include Accounting for Sustainability, People, Planet and Financial Accounting: Theory and Context .
Kyle Bellucci Johanson serves as a Visiting Critic in Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, Department of Art. Holding an MFA from California Institute of the Arts and a BA in Art and Reconciliation Studies from Bethel University, he merges artistic practice with critical theory through performance architecture and collaborative media. Whitney Independent Study Program (2022–23) Founding fellow at land's edge free school (Los Angeles) Teaching experience at SAIC, UIC, CUNY, and Cooper Union His research investigates: Power structures through spatial interventions Critical theory applications in art practice Post-capitalist imaginaries Hauntology and historical materialism Transdisciplinary approaches to social critique Project trends reveal: Reinterpretation of Soviet design principles Investigation of worker identity in post-industrial contexts Temporal and spatial dislocation in artistic practice Monument critique through performative methods Quantum theory-inspired architectural concepts Reimagining of common spaces as political sites Scientific awards include: Creative Research Grant (2025) Whitney ISP participation (2022–23) Automata Studio Residency (2022) Artists Run Chicago Grant (2021) BOLT Residency (2020–21) Through projects like KLUB WRKR —a nomadic workers' club reimagined for the gig economy—and table (2018–2022), a Chicago-based experimental space for artistic practice, he interrogates institutional frameworks while fostering community through discursive meals and collaborative exhibitions.
Susan Scott is a Professor of Management and Artificial Intelligence at Imperial College London, holding a joint appointment with the Imperial College Business School and IX, the university’s AI initiative. She previously held academic roles at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), including Professor of Information Systems and Innovation and Faculty Group Lead in the Department of Management. Her research spans Information Systems, Organization Theory, and Technology Management, with a focus on sociomateriality, digital transformation, and ethical innovation. Scott earned a PhD in Management (Information Systems) from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Information Systems from LSE, and a BA in History and Politics from SOAS, University of London. Her work bridges theoretical and applied domains, addressing challenges in digital accountability, institutional displacement, and the societal impacts of emerging technologies. She has contributed to major initiatives like the SWIFT financial network analysis and explored ethical dimensions of AI and big tech. Her articles critically examine topics such as crowd-based accountability, digital undertows in industry standards, and the material-discursive practices shaping organizational practices. Though no awards are listed, her extensive publications reflect a commitment to rigorous qualitative and mixed-methods research, emphasizing phenomenon-focused theorizing in Information Systems. Scott’s research agenda integrates academic and practical insights, addressing future challenges like AI governance, digital responsibility, and the sociotechnical reconfigurations reshaping institutions and industries.
Eero Vaara serves as a Visiting Distinguished Professor in the Department of Management Studies at Aalto University, where his research centers on organizational and strategic change through discursive and narrative lenses. His work critically examines strategy processes, radical transformations like mergers and acquisitions, institutional legitimation, multinational corporation dynamics, and historical perspectives on management. His research interests encompass organizational change, strategic discourse, narrative analysis, institutional theory, and multinational corporate identity. Vaara investigates how language constructs organizational realities during crises, mergers, and cross-cultural interactions, with particular attention to power dynamics in identity politics and the role of historical narratives in strategic renewal. His scholarship bridges theoretical rigor with practical implications for managing complex change in global contexts. Recent publications (2020-2022) reveal consistent thematic focus across top management journals including Academy of Management Journal and Strategic Management Journal. Key trends include the interplay of language and social inequality during global crises like COVID-19, entrepreneurial phenomena in isolated economies such as North Korea, strategic ambiguity in organizational protection, and national identity construction within multinational corporations. His methodological innovations integrate critical discourse analysis with computational approaches like structural topic modeling. Scientific awards highlight his scholarly impact: Best Article Finalist 2023 (Academy of Management Discoveries) 2014 OMT Best Published Paper Award for advancing theoretical understanding of organizations While specific advising relationships and grant funding details aren't documented in the source material, Vaara's collaborative publications demonstrate extensive international research partnerships. His work with scholars across Europe and North America indicates active supervision of doctoral research and leadership in multinational research consortia, particularly in discourse-focused organizational studies. Though laboratory affiliations aren't specified, his methodological work suggests engagement with digital humanities research groups and discourse analysis laboratories, especially evident in publications combining computational text analysis with critical theoretical frameworks.
Adam Reed is an Associate Professor in Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, School of Philosophical, Anthropological & Film Studies. His research spans multiple interconnected fields including legal anthropology, urban studies, literary anthropology, and the anthropology of ethics. With extensive fieldwork experience in Papua New Guinea, the UK, and Australia, Reed has developed a distinctive approach to understanding social phenomena through ethnographic engagement with diverse communities. His research interests form five interconnected strands: Legal Anthropology focusing on cultures of incarceration in Papua New Guinea Anthropology of the City examining London through walking tour guides and digital journal keepers Anthropology and Literature studying literary societies and reading practices Anthropology of Ethics investigating animal welfare campaigning in Scotland Anthropology of Migration analyzing Papua New Guinean experiences in Western Australia Reed's recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward ethical subjectivity and human-animal relationships, with numerous 2023-2025 works exploring moral dilemmas in animal protection, silence practices in zoos, and character theory. His work increasingly bridges anthropology with literary studies, philosophy, and environmental science, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach while maintaining ethnographic depth. His scientific recognition includes prestigious awards such as the Junior Research Fellowship at Clare College, Cambridge (1997), Emslie Horniman Award from the Royal Anthropological Institute (1994), and multiple early-career funding awards. Reed has led three major research projects including 'Listening to the Zoo' and 'Compatriot Sociality' focusing on Papua New Guinean migrants. As an active academic, Reed has supervised 9 postgraduate students, participated in 59 scholarly activities including conference organization and invited talks, and maintains strong engagement with both theoretical debates and practical applications of anthropological knowledge, particularly regarding sustainable development goals related to ethical practices and cultural understanding.
Julian Millie is a Professor in Indonesian Studies at Monash University, Faculty of Arts, where he coordinates and teaches in the Indonesian Studies program. His academic work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and Southeast Asian studies, with a focus on the social and political dimensions of Islamic practice in Indonesia. His research centers on embodied Islamic routines, including preaching, ritual, and commemoration of regional Islamic figures. He has led major ARC-funded projects such as Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics and Glocalisation and sub-national Islams , and currently leads the international project Islamic Bureaucracies and Pious Publics in Turkey and Indonesia . Anthropology of Indonesia Islamic Culture and Society Ritual and Religion Public Islam and Preaching Social Change in Muslim Societies Political Anthropology His recent publications (2023–2024) reveal a continued focus on Islamic consumerism, reformist critiques of consumption, ritual embodiment, and the politics of Islamic education. These works span journals like Asian Studies Review and edited volumes on preaching and Malay-Indonesian Islamic studies, showing strong interdisciplinary reach into sociology, cultural studies, and education policy. Julian Millie has contributed to scholarly discourse through editorial roles, including guest editorships for Asian Studies Review (2023) and International Journal of Cultural Studies (2013). His media engagements highlight his commitment to public anthropology, commenting on the state of Indonesian studies in Australia and Islamic education policy. He is actively involved in research grants, including current funding from 2020 to 2025, and has collaborated with scholars across Australia, Indonesia, and Turkey. While no formal advisees are listed, his leadership in research projects suggests mentorship and team coordination. He is a central figure in the study of contemporary Indonesian Islam, contributing to both academic and public understanding.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Sick is Professor of Cultural and Media History/Theory at the University of the Arts Bremen (HfK Bremen) where she leads the Digital Media study program. She founded the Binational Artistic PhD Program, collaborating with institutions including Leiden University, University of Groningen, and University of Gothenburg. Her research explores intersections between technology, art, and cultural production through both academic and curatorial work. Education includes studies in German Studies, Political Science, Cultural Studies, and Art History at Heidelberg, Bremen, and Hamburg universities, culminating in a 2001 PhD from Universität Hamburg on cartographic knowledge systems. She co-directs the art-science project thealit Frauen.Kultur.Labor , producing exhibitions, conferences, and publications. Research focuses span: Technological media's impact on artistic production Art-biology-information technology intersections Performance art history/theory Queer Studies frameworks Artistic research methodologies Generative AI in cultural analysis Her work critically examines how digital tools transform cultural documentation and archival practices. Recent projects include: Latent Museums (AI analysis of museum collections) The Dynamic Archive (ongoing digital archiving project) Re Capitulating.Queer (2024-2026 curatorial project) Administrative roles include: Dean of Art and Design (2012-2018) Co-Rector for Research & International Affairs (2018-2023) Lead of Binational Artistic PhD Program (since 2022) Awards include the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung doctoral scholarship (1998-2001). She mentors 12+ PhD students in artistic research, including projects on sonic archaeology, queer archives, and decolonial practices.
Agnes Lugo-Ortiz serves as Associate Professor of Latin American Literature in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago's Division of the Humanities. Her scholarly profile centers on nineteenth-century Latin American literatures and Caribbean cultural histories within transatlantic frameworks of modernity, with particular emphasis on slavery, visual culture, and archival epistemology. Her educational foundation includes a PhD from Princeton University (1990), followed by teaching appointments at Northwestern University and Dartmouth College before her tenure at Chicago. Her research trajectory examines cultural politics through lenses of national identity formation, anti-colonial projects, and diasporic community reconfigurations, notably through decades of affiliation with the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. Lugo-Ortiz's current book project "The Plantation Gaze: Slavery and Visual Culture in Colonial Cuba (1727–1886)" interrogates the imbrication of visual culture with plantation slavery, analyzing diverse artifacts from religious performances to medical treatises. Her co-edited volume "Slave Portraiture in the Atlantic World" and co-founding of the Working Group on Slavery and Visual Culture (2016) demonstrate her leadership in visual studies of enslavement, recently expanded through the digital exhibit "Palimpsests: Visual Idioms of Enslavement in the Nineteenth-Century and Their Afterlives". Her scholarly impact is recognized through awards including the Latin American Studies Association Prize for Best Essay in Nineteenth-century Studies and the Premio Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. Prestigious fellowships from Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Franke Institute, and Clark Art Institute have supported her research. As co-founder and co-editor of the anti-colonial digital journal "Categoría Cinco. Revista de Política y Cultura", she actively engages Puerto Rican decolonial politics. Her editorial service spans PMLA and University of New England Press publications, while advisory roles include the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project and Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. She maintains robust institutional engagement through affiliations with Chicago's Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Center for Race, Politics, and Culture.
Colm McLaughlin is a Professor of Employment Relations at the UCD School of Business. He serves as Vice-Principal for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the College of Business, Co-Director of the UCD Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS), and UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Coordinator. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has held academic roles at the University of Auckland and postdoctoral positions at Cambridge, alongside industry experience in local government and hospitality. Education : BA and MComm (University of Auckland), PhD (University of Cambridge). Research Interests : Comparative employment relations, institutional regulation, gender equality, training systems, and low-paid work. Professional Appointments : Research Associate at Cambridge’s Centre for Business Research, Visiting Fellow at the University of Sydney and Victoria University Wellington. His recent research focuses on immigration policy as a skills supply mechanism in liberal market economies, trade union legitimation politics, and reflexive regulation frameworks. He has examined how ideational power resources shape labour relations and contributed to debates on corporate social responsibility and sustainable HRM practices. His work bridges theory and practice, particularly in case method pedagogy reform. Colm has received multiple awards, including the AMLE Best Article Winner (2017), Academy of Management Dark Side Case Competition Winner (2013), and University Teaching Excellence Awards (2020). His publications appear in prestigious journals such as Industrial Relations , Journal of Industrial Relations , and Academy of Management Learning and Education . He has served on editorial boards for Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society and Journal of Industrial Relations , and held leadership roles in committees like BITCI Leadership for Sustainability and the SDG Engagement Working Group.
Susan Scott is an Associate Professor in the Information Systems and Innovation Group at the Department of Management of The London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research focuses on the intersection of digital innovation and organizational change, particularly examining how information systems reshape work practices and risk management in financial services, travel, and publishing sectors. Education : PhD in Management Studies (University of Cambridge, 1993-1998), MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems (LSE, 1991-1992), BA in History and Politics (SOAS, 1987-1990) Research Interests Digital Innovation Work Practices and Organizational Structuring Organizational Technologies Strategy, Structures, and Information Infrastructures Managing Change Materiality and Practice Research Her recent publications analyze the materiality of digital systems through case studies in book publishing and travel , while historical studies trace the evolution of financial infrastructure like SWIFT . She explores how metadata, software standards, and social media reshape organizational accountability and risk practices. Scientific Awards ICIS Best Paper in Field Award (2007) Nordic Exchange Scholarship (2000-2001) ESRC PhD Scholarship (1993-1996) Best Paper Nominations (Academy of Management, ECIS, ICIS) Selected for European Research Paper of the Year (2014, 2015) Grants and Professional Roles Recipient of grants from SWIFT , British Academy , and HEFCE . She has served on editorial boards of Information and Organization and Organization Science , and co-chaired conferences like IFIP 8.2 and ICIS .
Karen Barad is Distinguished Professor of History of Consciousness at the University of California, Santa Cruz, with joint appointments in Philosophy and Feminist Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from SUNY Stony Brook and previously held a tenured position in a physics department before transitioning to interdisciplinary work. At UCSC, she is affiliated with the Humanities Division and serves as faculty in the History of Consciousness Department and Philosophy Department. Barad earned her Ph.D. in Physics from SUNY Stony Brook, building a foundation in theoretical particle physics before moving toward more interdisciplinary work. Her unique trajectory from physics to philosophy and feminist studies has shaped her distinctive approach to questions of matter, meaning, and ethics. Barad's research spans multiple disciplines including science studies, multispecies studies, physics, nuclear studies, continental philosophy, epistemology, ontology, ethics, politics, and philosophy of physics. Her theoretical framework of "agential realism" has significantly influenced feminist theory, science studies, and philosophy. She approaches questions of matter, meaning, and ethics through the lens of quantum physics, developing concepts like intra-action, diffraction, and entanglement as philosophical tools. Her work challenges traditional boundaries between subject/object, nature/culture, and human/non-human. Her publications over the last two decades reveal a consistent engagement with the intersections of science, philosophy, and ethics, particularly focusing on how material-discursive practices shape reality. Barad's work increasingly addresses ecological concerns, nuclear legacies, and questions of justice, demonstrating how scientific concepts can inform ethical and political thought. Her writing moves fluidly between theoretical physics, feminist theory, and philosophical inquiry, creating new pathways for understanding the entanglement of matter and meaning. honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University Fulbright fellowship Kresge College Teaching Award Barad has received significant recognition for her scholarship and her research has been generously supported by major funding organizations including the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Hughes Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As Co-Director of the Science & Justice Graduate Training Program at UCSC, Barad has mentored numerous graduate students and shaped interdisciplinary research connecting scientific inquiry with questions of social justice. Her collaborative work with scholars like Jenny Reardon has helped establish science & justice as a vital field of inquiry. Barad's approach to mentoring emphasizes the ethical responsibilities inherent in scientific and philosophical practices. Through her leadership in the Science & Justice Research Center, which she helped found, Barad has fostered innovative collaborations across disciplines, creating spaces where scientists, humanists, and social scientists can work together on pressing contemporary issues. Her work continues to influence multiple fields, with ongoing projects exploring nuclear colonialism, ecological ethics, and the material consequences of scientific practices.
Prof. Dr. Julia Bernstein is a Professor of Discrimination and Inclusion in Immigration Society at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (since 2015), affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Health. Her academic background includes a B.A. in Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, and Art History (1992–1995), an M.A. in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology (1996–2000) from the University of Haifa, Israel, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Goethe University Frankfurt (2009). She leads the research area Social Legacy of National Socialism and coordinates international projects on antisemitism prevention. Bernstein's research examines discrimination through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on: Antisemitism in institutional and everyday contexts Migration, identity, and transnationalism among Russian-speaking Jews Stereotyping mechanisms and racialization processes Holocaust memory and its societal repercussions Food sociology as a marker of cultural identity Her recent publications (2020–2022) demonstrate a strong focus on antisemitism in educational settings, analyzing victim perspectives, teacher training gaps, and pedagogical counter-strategies. She frequently addresses media representations of Jewish communities and the normalization of Israel-related antisemitism. Honors include the Barbara-und-Piergiuseppe-Scardigli-Preis for her dissertation (2011) and nomination for the WISAG-Preis (2010). Bernstein directs federally funded projects like Mach mal keine Judenaktion! (2017–2019) and collaborates with institutions including the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, Anne Frank Educational Center, and Tel Aviv University's Kantor Center. At Frankfurt UAS, she teaches courses on antisemitism, social inequality, and Holocaust legacy in Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Diversity and Inclusion programs. She mentors emerging scholars through the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk and co-leads the Frankfurt meets Haifa academic exchange initiative.
Janna Goebel is an Assistant Professor at the School of Sustainability, Arizona State University. Her research focuses on sustainability, Indigenous studies, comparative education, climate change, and environmental justice. She investigates immersive sustainability solutions with Indigenous communities, educational narratives during climate crises, and the impact of international assessments on education policies. Her work emphasizes relational approaches to environmental challenges, decolonial methodologies, and the intersection of speculative fiction with educational theory. Research includes community-based projects in the Ecuadorian Amazon and critical analyses of academic practices during global crises.
Camillia Cowling is an Associate Professor of Latin American History at the University of Warwick, based in the Faculty of Arts' Department of History. She specializes in slavery and abolition in Brazil and Cuba, with a focus on gendered dimensions of emancipation processes. Her research examines how enslaved and freed women influenced abolition through legal mechanisms and spatial politics. Cowling holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham (2007) and has held prestigious fellowships including the Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (2009-2012). Her major work Conceiving Freedom (2013) analyzes gendered abolition dynamics in Havana and Rio de Janeiro, winning the Roberto Reis Prize. Ongoing research includes Bound Journeys, Freedom Places , exploring spatial politics of slavery in 19th-century Cuba with support from British Academy and Leverhulme grants. Cowling co-edited journal special issues on Mothering Slaves (2017/2020), advancing scholarship on maternal roles in slave societies. Teaching focuses on Latin America, including modules on Brazilian history, Atlantic slave societies, and global empire studies. She actively supervises PhDs on 19th-century Latin America, slavery, gender, and spatial mobilities. Notable supervisees include Dr. Liana-Beatrice Valerio (2020) and Dr. Nicolás Gómez Baeza (2024). Awards include the Frederick Douglass Prize nomination and media engagement through interviews like her 2015 Globo article discussing enslaved women's legal agency. Current projects emphasize archival research in Brazil, Cuba, and Spain, with a focus on spatial dimensions of enslavement and resistance.
