Find Academic Supervisors

• Media representations of Islam
• Multiculturalism in Europe
• Media and democracy in post-communist Europe
• +6 more

Dr. Galina Miazhevich is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Journalism, Media and Culture (JOMEC) at Cardiff University, UK. Previously, she served as a lecturer at the University of Leicester's School of Media, Communication and Sociology (2013-2017) and as the Gorbachev Media Research Fellow at the University of Oxford (2008-2012). Her academic career focuses on media representations in post-communist contexts, with particular expertise in Russian and Eastern European media landscapes. Dr. Miazhevich earned her PhD from the University of Manchester, where she subsequently worked for two years as a Research Associate on an AHRC-funded project examining representations of Islam as a security threat. Her educational background has informed her research trajectory, which bridges media studies, political communication, and cultural analysis of post-Soviet societies. Dr. Miazhevich's research spans several interconnected domains: media representations of Islam and multiculturalism in Europe; media and democracy in post-communist Europe; gender, media, and emergent forms of post-Soviet identity; feminism; Eurovision and popular culture; and diaspora, transnationalism, and media. Her work consistently examines how media shapes and is shaped by political transitions, identity formation, and social movements in post-Soviet contexts, with particular attention to marginalized voices and resistance practices. Analysis of Dr. Miazhevich's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on resistance, identity, and power dynamics in post-Soviet media environments. Her work increasingly examines gender and sexuality as political categories, particularly through the lens of feminist and LGBTQ+ resistance to authoritarian regimes. The Eurovision Song Contest serves as a recurring analytical framework for understanding cultural diplomacy and nation-branding strategies. More recently, her research has pivoted toward documenting anti-war resistance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, examining how celebrities and media figures navigate political dissent under authoritarian conditions. Dr. Miazhevich has received several notable recognitions for her scholarly contributions: AHRC Leadership grant 'A Quiet Revolution: Discursive Representations of Non-heteronormative Sexuality in Russia' (2018-2020, £250,960) Visiting Fellowship at the Davis Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University (Fall 2023) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) Associate Editor for the Oxford Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Communication (2024) Dr. Miazhevich actively mentors the next generation of scholars, currently co-supervising PhD students Diyana Dobreva (with Professor Martin Innes) and John Tasker (with Professor Paul Bowman). She welcomes PhD proposals in areas including digital culture and resistance, media management and misinformation, media and democracy, representation of minority groups, post-communist identity politics, gender and feminism, Eurovision and popular culture, and geopolitics and nation-branding. Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained success in securing competitive research funding, including leadership of an AHRC grant and participation in the Academy of Finland project FEMCORUS (2021-2025). Dr. Miazhevich is deeply engaged with academic communities, serving as co-convenor of the (Digital) Media and Culture group at the British Association for Slavic and East European Studies (BASEES) since 2016 and as a member of the Advisory Board of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) since 2021. Her work extends beyond academia through public engagement, including invited talks at prestigious institutions like Harvard University and participation in policy-relevant events at Chatham House addressing LGBTQ+ politics in Russia.

• Media Studies
• Gender Politics
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
• +7 more

Carolina Matos is a Professor at City, University of London's School of Communication & Creativity, specializing in media studies, gender politics, and communications research with a particular focus on Brazil and Latin America. Her scholarly work bridges academic inquiry with practical advocacy, especially in the areas of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), feminist media studies, and democratic processes in the Global South. Dr. Matos's research interests span several interconnected domains: Gender politics and feminist media studies, with particular attention to Brazilian and Latin American contexts Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) communications and advocacy across global contexts Media democratization and public service broadcasting in Brazil and Latin America Digital activism and online networks for social change and gender equality Health communication in the age of misinformation, particularly regarding women's health in politically polarized environments Journalism's role in democratic processes and political transitions Her recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining how marginalized communities, particularly women in the Global South, navigate complex media landscapes around reproductive health. Her methodology frequently employs focus group research designed to empower participants while gathering insights on media consumption and interpretation. She has conducted significant research in partnership with NGOs like Reprolatina in Brazil and Open Arms in Florida, examining how disadvantaged communities process health communications in contexts of political polarization and misinformation. Dr. Matos has made substantial theoretical contributions through both foundational and recent works: Her book "Globalization, gender politics and the media" (2016) examines changing media representations in relation to feminist movements globally Her seminal work "Journalism and Political Democracy in Brazil" (2009) analyzes media's critical role in Brazil's democratization process following the military dictatorship She has conducted extensive comparative research on how NGOs communicate about SRHR across the Global North and South Her research on "New Brazilian feminism and online networks" (2017) documents the emergence of digital feminist activism in Brazil Her methodological approach consistently combines rigorous academic frameworks with practical applications, often utilizing mixed methods including content analysis, discourse analysis, and participatory research techniques designed to center marginalized voices while advancing scholarly understanding of media, gender, and power dynamics.

Muhammad A S Abdel HaleemView profile

Professor

• Qur'anic Studies
• Islamic Theology
• Islamic Family Law
• +3 more

Professor Muhammad A S Abdel Haleem, OBE, is the King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies at SOAS University of London, within the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics. He holds a BA from Cairo University and a PhD from the University of Cambridge (Cantab), with additional qualifications including FCIL (London). His research focuses on Quranic language, style, and translations, alongside Islamic family law and Arab society. Key interests include Qur’anic exegesis, comparative religious studies, and the intersection of scripture with contemporary issues like disability ethics and interfaith relations. Professor Haleem has supervised numerous PhD candidates exploring topics such as divine states in Sufism, gender relations in the Quran, and charitable work in multicultural societies. He has authored over 60 works, including translations of the Quran and influential studies on Quranic structure and theology. Awards: Order of the British Empire (OBE) Publications: Over 60 books and articles, including Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style and translations of the Quran. His work bridges academic theology with practical ethics, emphasizing contextual interpretation and intercultural dialogue. Current research continues to explore Quranic coherence, legal hermeneutics, and the Quran’s role in modern society.

• Political Philosophy
• Immigration Law & Policy
• Citizenship Studies
• +7 more

Thom Brooks is Professor of Law and Government at Durham University's Law School and will become Principal of Collingwood College, Durham from September 2024. He serves as an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies and holds associate memberships in both the Philosophy Department and School of Government & International Affairs. Previously, he was Durham Law School's longest-serving Dean (2016-2021) and has held visiting positions at numerous prestigious institutions including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Columbia, and Chicago Law Schools. Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of Sheffield M.A. in Philosophy, University College Dublin M.A. in Political Science, Arizona State University B.A. Music and Political Science (dual major), William Paterson University of New Jersey Professor Brooks' research spans multiple interconnected fields at the intersection of law, philosophy, and public policy. His work on immigration law and policy has significantly influenced UK policy debates, particularly regarding citizenship tests and integration strategies. In penal theory , he has developed a unified theory of punishment that integrates retributive and consequentialist elements, which has been cited in landmark legal cases including the Connecticut Supreme Court decision abolishing capital punishment. His scholarship on Hegelian political philosophy offers a systematic reading of Hegel's Philosophy of Right that has reshaped contemporary understanding of Hegel's contributions to legal and political thought. His work in global justice has pioneered a cross-cultural approach that bridges theoretical rigor with practical policy applications. Brooks' recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on practical applications of philosophical principles to contemporary policy challenges, particularly in immigration, citizenship, and criminal justice. His work bridges theoretical rigor with policy relevance, often directly informing parliamentary inquiries and government policy development. A notable trend is his increasing focus on AI applications in immigration law and policy, reflecting his commitment to addressing emerging challenges through interdisciplinary scholarship that connects academic research with real-world policy implementation. Fellow, Royal Statistical Society (2024) Jenny Jeger Prize, Fabian Society (2022) Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2022) Elected Member, Academia Europaea (2021) Dean's Award, Durham Law School (2022) Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award, Durham University (2016) Professor Brooks has supervised 9 PhD and 3 MJur students to completion, including Gianluca Andresani, Hayley Whitaker, Jianxuan Hu, and Professor Oliver Crisp. His mentorship extends beyond formal supervision through his leadership roles, including as founding editor of the Journal of Moral Philosophy and service on 20 editorial boards. His policy impact is substantial, with his research on UK immigration policy directly influencing parliamentary committees and government policy development. Brooks currently serves as Chair of the American Philosophical Association's Committee on Public Philosophy and is an Academic Bencher of Inner Temple, demonstrating his commitment to connecting academic scholarship with practical legal and policy applications through extensive media engagement (over 2,000 appearances since 2013) and advisory roles with governmental bodies.

Giovanni SemiView profile

Professor

• Urban Studies
• Gentrification
• Urban Sociology
• +6 more

Giovanni Semi is a Full Professor in Urban Sociology at the Interuniversity Department of Territorial Sciences, Planning and Policies (DIST) at Politecnico di Torino. His academic career spans multiple institutions, with significant teaching contributions to doctoral programs at both the University of Milan and University of Turin over the past decade. University of Milan (2013-2023): Multiple cycles of Sociology and Methodology of Social Research University of Turin (2016-2018): Sociology and Methodology of Social Research His research focuses on three interconnected areas: urban studies (particularly gentrification, platform capitalism, and public spaces), migration studies (Mediterranean circulations and daily multiculturalism), and sociology (ethnographic methods, class analysis, and housing dynamics). Semi's work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical fieldwork, often employing qualitative methodologies to examine contemporary urban transformations. Semi's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the evolving nature of urban inequality, particularly examining how short-term rental platforms, post-pandemic conditions, and gentrification processes reshape urban landscapes and social relations. His work often centers on Turin as a case study while maintaining broader theoretical implications for Southern European urban contexts. As an academic, Semi has contributed significantly to methodological discussions through his practical guide to participant observation, now in its second edition. His research has appeared in prominent journals including Cities, European Urban and Regional Studies, and Identities. His work on urban sociology, particularly concerning gentrification processes and the impact of platform economies on housing markets, has established him as a significant voice in contemporary urban studies, with particular expertise on Southern European urban contexts.

Ji-Hyun AhnView profile

Associate Professor

• Media globalization
• Korean television and popular culture
• Asian multiculturalism
• +6 more

Ji-Hyun Ahn is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Washington Tacoma, where she is affiliated with the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and the Global Honors program. She specializes in media globalization, Korean television and popular culture, Asian multiculturalism, and critical mixed-race studies. Her research examines how media practices facilitate the re-imagination of national identity from global perspectives. Dr. Ahn received her educational training from prestigious institutions across two continents: Ph.D. in Media Studies from University of Texas at Austin (2013) M.A. in Visual Communication from Yonsei University (2007) B.A. in British & American Culture from Sogang University (2005, Summa Cum Laude) Her research interests focus on three interconnected agendas: race and nation in South Korean media, anti-Korean sentiment in postcolonial East Asia, and transnational K-culture. She approaches race as a fundamental principle shaping global social order, particularly examining how racial globalization interacts with transnational media flows in East Asia. Her work bridges media/cultural studies with critical race studies to situate Korean media racialization within global contexts. Dr. Ahn's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining racial politics in East Asian media, with increasing attention to transnational dynamics of anti-Korean sentiment. Her work spans book publications, journal articles in top communication and cultural studies journals, and book chapters addressing mixed-race politics, multiculturalism, and regional tensions in East Asia. Her significant scholarly recognition includes: Distinguished Speaker of Korean Studies (2020-2023) for the Northeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies Multiple Top Paper Awards for her research Royalty Research Fund grant (2016-2017) from the University of Washington Academy of Korean Studies grant (2017-2018) Beyond research, Dr. Ahn is dedicated to building globally-engaged learning environments. As an affiliated faculty in the Global Honors program and member of the Honors Executive Committee of the Institute for Innovation & Global Engagement, she develops globally focused curricula. She previously served as a visiting professor at Yonsei University and continues to foster scholarly communities of Asian Studies in North America through her distinguished speaker engagements.

Lisa CordesView profile

Professor

• Latin Literature
• Fiction and Figurative Representation
• Authorship and Literary Theory
• +7 more

Lisa Cordes is a Professor of Latin Studies at the Institute of Classical Philology , Humboldt University of Berlin, since 2023. Her research focuses on fiction, literary figures, and authorship in Latin literature , with a strong emphasis on panegyric rhetoric, gender studies, and cultural theory . She has held notable positions, including a Humboldt Foundation Visiting Fellowship (2024-2025) and a Feodor Lynen Fellowship (2022-2023). PhD in Classical Philology, LMU Munich (2016) Juniorprofessorin für Latinistik at HU Berlin (2019-2023) Lisa Cordes' research explores panegyric fictionality , gendered first-person discourse , and literary character theory in premodern texts. Her work bridges classical philology with modern frameworks like discourse analysis and digital humanities , focusing on authors such as Cicero, Seneca, and Ovid. Her recent publications (2025-2021) analyze literary character modeling , Cicero’s dialogues , and authorship performativity , with recurring themes of imperial representation and autobiographical elements . She co-edits the Handbuch der lateinischen Literatur (Band 3.2) and leads the BridgeClassics research group for digital classics. Scientific Awards: Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship (2022-2023) Member, Jungen Akademie der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz (since 2020) As a visiting fellow at Princeton University (2024-2025) and visiting scholar at Cambridge (2022-2023), Cordes has collaborated internationally. She has also contributed to digital classics projects and interdisciplinary workshops on textualization and authorship.

Ilaria RiccioniView profile

Associate Professor

• sociological theory
• critical sociology
• qualitative research
• +4 more

Ilaria Riccioni is an Associate Professor of General Sociology at the Faculty of Education , Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. She earned her PhD in Social Theory and Research from Sapienza University in Rome and has been a tenured academic since 2007. Her work bridges sociological theory with applied research in multicultural contexts. Education: PhD in Social Theory and Research, Sapienza University, Rome. Research Focus: Sociological theory, avant-garde art as critique, multicultural coexistence, and institutional roles in education and social dynamics. Her recent publications analyze theatre's role in mediating social boundaries, art's relationship with capitalist markets, and methodologies for integrating qualitative research with artistic expression. As President of the ISA's Research Committee RC37 (Sociology of the Arts), she leads global discourse on art's sociological implications. Scientific Leadership: President of RC37 (ISA), 2025–. Teaching: Courses include Epistemology of Educational and Social Sciences and Fundamentals of General Sociology. Her empirical studies focus on South Tyrol's trilingual society, examining how artistic practices foster cohesion across cultural divides and redefine public spheres in digital globalization.

Matteo GianniView profile

Professor

• Normative Political Theory
• Migration and Mobility
• Urban Citizenship
• +15 more

Matteo Gianni is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Geneva, Faculty of Social Sciences. He has been a faculty member since 2011, previously serving as Associate Professor and progressing from assistant and senior lecturer roles. He is affiliated with the Institute for Citizenship Studies (where he briefly served as Director in 2024) and the Institute for Gender Studies. He also holds a significant role in the NCCR – On the Move research consortium based at the University of Neuchâtel, leading research and serving on its management board since 2018. His research interests span a broad and interconnected set of themes in political theory and social policy, including Normative Political Theory, Migration and Mobility, Urban Citizenship, Deliberative Democracy, Integration of Muslims in Europe, Theories of Justice and Recognition, Secularism, and Epistemology of the Social Sciences . He has extensively examined the political integration of Muslims in Switzerland and Europe, the ethics of migration, and the role of public deliberation in democratic societies. The most recent publications reflect a sustained focus on issues of epistemic justice, multicultural citizenship, and the political dynamics of religious pluralism. His work often analyzes how migration, security policies, and integration discourses shape democratic citizenship in mobile and multicultural societies. He frequently collaborates with scholars across Europe and North America, as seen in his leadership of international research projects and co-supervision of PhD students. Matteo Gianni has supervised numerous doctoral students, many of whom have completed their theses on topics related to migration, citizenship, and political integration. He has received research funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation and has conducted scientific visits to Rutgers University and the University of Toronto. He was Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences from 2016 to 2020 and is co-chair of the ASSP Political Theory Group. He has led major research projects such as Narratives of Crisis and Their Influence in Shaping Discourses and Policies of Migration and Mobility and Perimeters of Multilayered Democratic Citizenship in a Mobile and Multicultural World . He is actively involved in knowledge transfer and public engagement, as evidenced by his media contributions such as the article "We must make race visible" in Le Courrier (2022). His work bridges academic research and policy development, particularly through partnerships with public institutions like the Department of Social Cohesion in Geneva to create local participatory forums.

Mosa SayedView profile

Associate Professor

• Private International Law
• Islamic Law
• Multiculturalism and Law
• +5 more

Mosa Sayed serves as Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in International Private and Procedural Law at Uppsala University's Department of Law, specializing in legal challenges arising from Sweden's multicultural transformation. Their work critically examines tensions between religious legal traditions and secular state systems, with particular focus on Islamic law's interaction with Swedish jurisprudence. Education: Juris Doctor in Private International Law (2010) Bachelor of Laws (2003) Research concentrates on three interconnected domains: First, international private law complexities in globalized contexts where religious legal rules confront state courts, especially regarding normative pluralism. Second, rigorous analysis of Islamic family and inheritance law systems, identifying conflicts with secular Swedish values and proposing frameworks for legal accommodation. Third, investigation of religious organizations' formal/informal legal functions, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and their societal implications. This tripartite approach reveals systemic tensions in multicultural legal governance while offering pragmatic pathways for coexistence. Publication trends from 2013-2019 demonstrate consistent scholarly engagement with Islamic law's practical manifestations in Swedish legal practice. Key thematic clusters include marital agreements (particularly mahr), inheritance systems across Shia/Sunni traditions, forced marriage interventions, and abortion jurisprudence within Islamic frameworks. Methodologically, the work bridges comparative law, socio-legal studies, and religious studies to expose how normative pluralism challenges state legal monopolies while proposing context-sensitive accommodation models for European legal systems. Awards: No scientific awards documented in source materials Advising and funding activities remain unspecified in available records, though research outputs indicate substantial independent scholarship and collaborative projects with scholars like Margareta Brattström and Göran Larsson. The absence of explicit grant mentions suggests institutional funding or independent research initiatives rather than major external awards. No dedicated laboratories or formal research teams are referenced, though publications indicate cross-institutional collaborations typical of Scandinavian legal academia. Research appears conducted within Uppsala University's Department of Law framework, leveraging Sweden's unique position in European religious-legal accommodation debates.

• Race and Racism
• Intersectionality
• Feminist Theory
• +5 more

Mónica Moreno Figueroa is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow in Social Sciences at Downing College, Cambridge. She is a Black-mestiza, Mexican-British woman whose research focuses on the intersectional lived experience of 'race' and racism in Mexico and Latin America, antiracism and academic-based impact, feminist theory, intersectionality, and racism. She is an expert in qualitative research methods and visual methodologies and thrives in interdisciplinary collaborations. She is currently leading the development of a new research institute on Global Race, Racism and Anti-Racism in the Department of Sociology, secured with seed funding from the W.K.K. Foundation. Her research interests center on understanding the intersectional lived experience of 'race' and racism in Mexico and Latin America, antiracism and academic-based impact, feminist theory, intersectionality, and racism. She is particularly interested in the global flows of notions of race, the workings of racism, and exploring the current 'turn to antiracism' in Latin America and the Global South. Her work examines the emotional impact of oppression for social transformation, the everyday experience of racism, and issues of institutional and structural racism within mestizo contexts. Her most recent publications reveal a strong focus on anti-racism in Latin America, internalized racism, and the politics of mestizaje. The articles demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach spanning sociology, critical race studies, feminist theory, and Latin American studies. Key themes include racial visibility, naming racism, structural inequality, and the emotional dimensions of racial oppression. Her work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical anti-racist organizing. British Academy Mid-Career fellowship 2022-23 for the project: 'Internalised Oppression, Defensiveness and Resentment' Commendation for 'Innovative Teaching' in the University of Cambridge Student Union's Student-Led Teaching Awards (May 2018) Pilkington Teaching Prize in recognition of excellence of teaching at the University of Cambridge (June 2017) Commendation for 'Supporting Students' in the University of Cambridge Student Union Student-Led Teaching Awards (May 2016) Cambridge University Student Union's Women's Campaign 'Academic of the Year' Award 2015-16 (June 2016) As an academic advisor, Professor Moreno Figueroa supervises doctoral students interested in the lived experience of 'race' and racism, racism and antiracism in Latin America, intersectionality, feminist theory, and the interconnections between beauty, emotions & race. She has secured significant funding for her research projects, including a £1m ESRC grant for the 'Latin American Antiracism in a Post-Racial Age' project. She co-leads the Decolonise Sociology Working Group and runs the End Everyday Racism project, a web-based platform to report and monitor racism in higher education. Professor Moreno Figueroa has been deeply involved in institutional anti-racism work, serving as the University of Cambridge Race Equality Co-Champion from 2017-2021 and as a member of the University of Cambridge Legacies of Enslavement Advisory Board from 2019-2022. Since 2010, she has co-led COPERA (Collective for the Elimination of Racism in Mexico), dedicated to making racism public.

• Social Anthropology
• Racism and Nationalism
• Sexuality and Queer Politics
• +5 more

Dr. Paul Mepschen is an Assistant Professor of Social Anthropology at University College Utrecht, Utrecht University, where he has taught since 2019. Holding a PhD from the University of Amsterdam (awarded cum laude in 2016), he specializes in the critical analysis of power structures through ethnographic research focused on Dutch urban contexts. His institutional affiliations include Utrecht University's Institute of Social and Cultural Research (IOS) with research clusters in Contesting Governance, Gender Diversity and Global Justice, and Migration and Societal Change. His educational background centers on social anthropology, culminating in his doctoral dissertation Everyday autochthony. Difference, discontent and the politics of home in Amsterdam (University of Amsterdam, 2016). This foundational work established his methodological approach to studying urban citizenship through longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork in Amsterdam neighborhoods. Mepschen's research critically examines the interconnections of racism, nationalism, and sexuality within contemporary European societies, with particular focus on Dutch contexts. His work interrogates how categories of difference operate in everyday life through: The culturalization of citizenship and belonging Sexual democracy as a tool for exclusionary nationalism Populist discourses framing migration and religious minorities Urban renewal policies affecting marginalized communities The intersection of queer politics with anti-immigrant narratives Rural-urban political divides in identity formation His scholarship consistently reveals how progressive values become weaponized to construct new forms of culturalist exclusion. Analysis of his publication record (2010-2019) demonstrates evolving engagement with super-diversity frameworks while maintaining core focus on autochthony politics. Early work examined sexual nationalism and Orientalism, later shifting to urban citizenship and displacement discourses. Methodologically, he combines ethnographic depth with critical discourse analysis, primarily investigating Amsterdam neighborhoods as microcosms of national identity struggles. Key thematic clusters include culturalist exclusion mechanisms (38% of publications), urban citizenship (29%), and sexuality-nationalism intersections (21%). As an educator at University College Utrecht, Mepschen teaches foundational courses including Introduction to Anthropology , Decolonizing Anthropology , and Citizenship, Difference and the Politics of Belonging . He serves as an academic tutor guiding undergraduate students through their liberal arts curriculum, with office hours conducted by appointment due to temporary mobility limitations from a broken leg. His pedagogical approach emphasizes critical engagement with power structures through community-based learning and activist methodologies. Mepschen operates within Utrecht University's Institute of Social and Cultural Research (IOS) framework, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on projects examining governance challenges in multicultural societies. His research methodology centers on long-term ethnographic immersion in urban Dutch communities, particularly focusing on neighborhood-level dynamics of inclusion/exclusion. Current work extends his analysis to rural-urban political divides and the historical trajectories of leftist movements in shaping contemporary identity politics.

Gita Steiner-KhamsiView profile

Professor

• Comparative Policy Studies
• Policy Transfer and Borrowing
• Global Governance in Education
• +3 more

Gita Steiner-Khamsi holds dual appointments as William Heard Kilpatrick Professor of Comparative Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education Policy at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. She serves as Senior Adviser for NORRAG (Network for International Policies and Cooperation in Education and Training), based at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and is a board member of Columbia University's Harriman Institute for Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies. Her educational foundation includes a Dr. Phil. in social psychology with minors in sociology and anthropology from the University of Zurich (1983). Prior to academia, she developed Switzerland's first cantonal policy research unit for multicultural education at the Ministry of Education of Canton Zurich. Her research program spans three interconnected domains: Comparative Policy Studies examining policy transfer/borrowing in education reforms through system-theoretical lenses; Global Governance in Education analyzing soft governance mechanisms like knowledge brokerage and transnational accreditation; and Comparative Methodology advancing mixed-methods designs, social network analysis, and bibliometrics. Geographic specialization focuses on Mongolia and Central Asia, with multilingual analysis (German, English, French, Farsi) informing her work on immigrant/asylum seeker education policies. As past president of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), she has authored thirteen books and numerous articles while holding visiting professorships at Stanford, Humboldt University, Aarhus University, and University of Oslo. Her NORRAG leadership drives research on equity in global education development through a network of 5,800 members.

Louisa WilloughbyView profile

Associate Professor

• Multilingualism
• Language and Identity
• Deaf Studies
• +3 more

Louisa Willoughby is an Associate Professor (Research) in Linguistics at Monash University, Australia. Her work focuses on sociolinguistics and applied linguistics, particularly multilingualism in multicultural societies. She explores how institutions engage with non-English speaking communities, emphasizing language and identity interconnections. Her research includes studies on Deaf sign language users, migrant language communities, and adolescent language behavior. **Research Interests:** Language Policy and Institutional Engagement Deaf Education and Tactile Sign Languages Migrant Language Maintenance Language Attitudes and Social Cohesion Adolescent Communication Practices **Key Projects:** Acquiring Physical Skills: Exploiting Games Technology to Teach Sign Language (2011–2014) Research Bridging the Theory-Practice Gap in Sign Language Teaching (2015–2021) Adapting Sign Languages for Deafblind Communication (2016–2020) Transforming Auslan Education in Australia (2024–2027) **Awards:** Monash Postgraduate Association Supervisor of the Year (2016) Dean's Award for Impact and Engagement (2022) Michael Clyne Prize (2008) **Engagement:** Collaborates with government agencies like the Victorian Deaf Education Institute and the Australian Federation of Deaf Societies. Serves on advisory boards for policy development in language education and accessibility.

Mihaela DariescuView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Higher Education
• Staff Wellbeing and Development
• Leadership
• +5 more

Mihaela Dariescu serves as Senior Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) at the University of Sunderland in London, supporting hospitality and tourism management students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. With 10 years of experience in UK higher education, she teaches tourism, hospitality, and business-related modules while leading academic teams across various institutions. Her professional commitment centers on the transformative potential of education for individuals and society. Dr. Dariescu's educational background includes current PhD studies at Lancaster University, an MA in Education Leadership and Management from the University of Roehampton, and both an MA in Management of Tourist Resources and Activities and BA in Geography from the University of Bucharest. She has also completed a Level 5 teaching qualification, demonstrating her dedication to pedagogical excellence. Her research expertise spans two interconnected domains: higher education systems and hospitality industry practices. Within higher education, she investigates staff wellbeing and development, leadership structures, governance frameworks, organizational culture dynamics, and cross-cultural management approaches. In hospitality research, she examines quality management systems, cultural norms, and cross-cultural dynamics within the industry. Her recent publications (2020-2023) reveal a scholarly trajectory connecting educational practice with hospitality industry applications. These works demonstrate methodological sophistication in examining organizational culture, knowledge management systems, and cross-cultural dynamics across both academic and commercial service contexts. UK Academic and Tutoring (UKAT) - Recognised Leader in Advising (RPA) Advance Higher Education (SFHEA) - Senior Fellow As a Senior Personal Academic Tutor, Dariescu provides comprehensive academic support for students enrolled in BSc (Hons) International Tourism and Hospitality Management and MSc Tourism and Hospitality programs. Her advising philosophy integrates industry leadership experience with academic scholarship, creating a holistic support framework that addresses both educational progression and professional development needs of students in the competitive hospitality sector.