Carys Kresny is an Adjunct Teaching Professor in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame's College of Arts and Letters. Her work spans theatre, physical performance, and opera, with notable collaborations across diverse venues such as the San Francisco Giants' stadium, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and the Scottsdale Museum of Modern Art. She has directed performances ranging from intimate tabletop adaptations of A Christmas Carol to large-scale events, often integrating unconventional elements like jazz musicians, marching bands, and inanimate objects. Her teaching and directing career includes roles at institutions such as Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington, and Echo Glen Children's Detention Center, emphasizing accessible and interdisciplinary performance education. Carys grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an early (unrealized) aspiration to become an oceanographer. Though no scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed, her professional narrative highlights contributions to experimental performance and community-driven arts. She currently holds an office at the 230 DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
Daniel Rettenwander is a Full Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NTNU, leading the Battery Materials Team @ FACET. He directs the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Solid-state Batteries and serves as Principle Scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH. His research focuses on solid-state battery materials, including electrolytes and electrodes, with applications in energy storage for electric vehicles. He has held academic positions at institutions including TU Graz (now NTNU) and has secured significant funding for projects such as the Christian Doppler Laboratory (2020–2027) and the OPERA initiative (2023–2026). His work addresses challenges in solid-state battery interfaces and mechanical stability. Research interests emphasize solid-state electrolytes, lithium-ion transport mechanisms, and battery material degradation. He has authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles, edited book chapters, and holds patents on battery materials. His awards include the 2022 Emerging Investigators (Chem. Comm.) and the 2016 Christian-Doppler Award for Natural Science. Rettenwander advises numerous PhD and master’s students and collaborates internationally on projects like COMBAT (composite electrolytes) and SOLIMEC (mechanical stability). He teaches courses on functional materials and hydrogen technology. His teams actively engage in interdisciplinary research, bridging materials science and electrochemistry for next-generation energy solutions.
Mary Anne Mohanraj is a Clinical Associate Professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago, specializing in speculative fiction and South Asian diaspora literature. She founded Strange Horizons , a Hugo-nominated speculative literature magazine, and Jaggery , a journal for South Asian writers. Her work explores themes of ethnicity, sexuality, and identity through novels like Bodies in Motion (a USA Today Notable Book) and The Stars Change . Mohanraj has received awards including the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship and a Breaking Barriers Award. She also serves as Executive Director of DesiLit and the Speculative Literature Foundation, and directs the Kriti Festival of Art and Literature. Her research focuses on intersectional narratives in speculative genres, blending science fiction with cultural critique. Recent publications appear in Clarkesworld , Asimov's , and Lightspeed , alongside nonfiction essays in Roxane Gay’s Unruly Bodies . Mohanraj’s creative works include cookbooks like A Feast of Serendib and forthcoming titles Vegan Serendib and Jump Space . Community involvement includes school board service in Oak Park, Illinois, and futurist advisory roles with the XPrize and Plurality University. Her writing often addresses marginalized voices through innovative storytelling, bridging literary and popular genres.
Elbio Barilari is a composer, performer, and writer born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1953. He studied in Uruguay, Brazil, and Germany, earning a Master of Music from Universidad de la República, and moved to the U.S. in 1998. Currently, he is a Professor of Latin American Music at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) within the School of Theatre and Music, where he teaches MUS 127: Latin American Music Education . Performer affiliations: Orquesta Filarmónica de Montevideo, Orquesta de la Radio y Televisión de España, Colorado Symphony, Grant Park Festival Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta Chamber, Ravinia Festival, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Children’s Choir, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Chicago Arts Orchestra, and Baroque Band Residencies: Latin American Music Center (Bloomington-Indiana), St. Francis University, Ragdale Foundation Additional roles: Artistic Director of the Latino Music Festival (founded in Chicago in 2005) and host of the internationally syndicated radio program Fiesta! on WFMT 98.7 Barilari is also a member of the experimental electric band Volcano Radar , where he plays electric guitar, electric viola, and sax. His work bridges classical and contemporary Latin American music, with performances by renowned ensembles such as Avalon String Quartet, Kaia String Quartet, and soloists like Paquito D’Rivera and Orbert Davis. The Latino Music Festival he directs attracts approximately 10,000 attendees annually.
Maxim Kuzin is a Lecturer in Chamber Orchestra and Orchestral Conducting at the University of California, Santa Barbara's Department of Music. He also serves as Music Director for the Palisades Symphony Orchestra, Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, UC Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, and Irvine Classical Players Youth Orchestra. His roles include co-directing the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Chorale and leading opera productions internationally. Education: Doctorate of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting (UCLA, under Neal Stulberg); studies at Tchaikovsky National Musical Academy of Ukraine and Lysenko Specialized Boarding Music School. Professional experience includes leadership at Ukraine's National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, and Dnipro Glinka Conservatory Opera Program. Research interests focus on orchestral and opera conducting, contemporary music curation, and youth musical education. He has conducted over 20 opera productions (e.g., Rossini's Barber of Seville , Stravinsky's Mavra ), founded Kyiv's Ricochet New Music Ensemble, and pioneered modern music festivals across Ukraine. Awarded the Elaine Krown Klein Scholarship and recognized as an 'Emerging Artist,' Kuzin's work spans TV appearances ( Dancing with the Stars in Ukraine) and academic lectures (Harvard University on opera's cultural impact). He actively nurtures talent through competitions like Colibri International Arts and Philadelphia International Music Festival.
Christina McCarthy is a Lecturer and Director of Performance in the Department of Theater and Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). As a multi-disciplinary artist, she specializes in dance, aerial circus arts, theater, puppetry, film, and visual art. Her work integrates movement training across ballet, modern techniques, and aerial disciplines, emphasizing collaborative projects with UCSB's Music Department and external theater companies. Her teaching focuses on contemporary dance technique, choreography, puppet making, and interdisciplinary performance practices. Notable collaborations include the puppet theater adaptation of Mozart's The Magic Flute (performed in NYC Opera For Kids! series) and site-specific performances for UCSB's Library and Arts Walk events. She has directed numerous musical theater productions in Santa Barbara, including Something Rotten , Grease , and Cabaret . McCarthy is the resident movement director for Naked Shakes and has contributed puppet designs to productions like State Street Ballet's Sleeping Beauty and Ensemble Theater Company projects. Her ceramic art has been exhibited locally, showcasing her diverse creative portfolio. Her professional engagements include roles with Lit Moon Theater Company, Proboscis Theater, and the Arizona Shakespeare Festival. She was featured as a puppet artist at the 2018 Santa Barbara International Puppet Palooza Festival, highlighting her innovative contributions to puppetry and theater.
Greg Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Theatre Design at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where he teaches courses in scenic design, digital rendering, and projection techniques. His work spans international collaborations in opera, site-specific theatre, and cross-cultural productions. BFA in Theatre Design from Pennsylvania State University MFA in Theatre Design from New York University Tisch School of the Arts Research interests focus on integrating technology and tradition, with notable projects including scenic design for Nepal’s first Western-style opera Arjuna’s Dilemma , projection mapping in Panama’s 400-year-old Convento de las Monjas, and immersive theatre at New York’s Coney Island Boardwalk. Mitchell’s work bridges historical preservation and modern media, emphasizing cultural storytelling in architectural spaces. Recent articles highlight his opera in Nepal’s UNESCO site and Panama’s ruins, underscoring themes of cultural healing and site-specific innovation. Awards include nominations for the Helen Hayes Award and BroadwayWorld Awards. He has collaborated with over 30 theatre companies nationally and internationally, including Opera Panama, Washington Stage Guild, and the Kennedy Center. Teaching includes foundational and advanced design courses, as well as special projects in 3D printing, CAD drafting, and laser cutting. His work extends beyond academia to commercial clients like ESPN and Burning Man installations.
Delila Moseley is a Continuing Lecturer in the Division of Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she holds a B.A. in Dance and an M.A. in Dramatic Art. She is a seasoned choreographer, teacher, and director with extensive professional experience in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. Her career includes performances with renowned companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Repertory-West Dance Company, with tours across the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and Washington, D.C. For fifteen years, Moseley directed UCSB's student Dance Company, organizing performances in Santa Barbara and statewide, including international tours to Mexico and a gala in Washington, D.C. for the American College Dance Festival. She produced over fifty concerts, including Choreographer's Showcases and experimental performances, earning her the 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance. Her choreography spans UCSB, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera. Education: B.A. in Dance, UCSB M.A. in Dramatic Art, UCSB Awards: 2nd Annual Lifetime Achievement Award (1997) Key Roles: Director, UCSB Dance Company Choreographer for Santa Barbara Dance Alliance and City College
Paula Tuttle is a Part-Time Lecturer in cello at the University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University, and Carnegie Mellon University, maintaining an active career as performer and educator. She teaches applied cello studies across academic levels while performing professionally with Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and various chamber ensembles. Education: M.A. from Carnegie Mellon University Post-Graduate Studies at New England Conservatory and University of Akron B.M. in Piano Performance and Strings Education from Eastman School of Music Tuttle directs Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra/Chambersite, producing community concerts and commissioning new works. Her performing ensembles include Diamante Trio (Latin American music), Quartz Quartet, Zaffiro Trio, and Emerald Celtic Trio, frequently supported by university grants for outreach programs. She created the Accelerando podcast exploring music industry topics and maintains an extensive private teaching studio. As orchestral musician, Tuttle performs regularly with Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet orchestras and serves as solo cellist for PBS MyMusic productions, having recorded with over 100 popular artists across genres. Her interdisciplinary work connects classical training with community engagement through innovative educational initiatives.
David Yezzi is a Professor in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University, part of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. His work bridges poetry, literary criticism, and theater. He authored Late Romance: Anthony Hecht—A Poet’s Life (2023) and edited The Swallow Anthology of New American Poets . As an actor, he performed roles like King Lear and Hamlet’s Ghost. His verse play Schnauzer (2018) and libretto for the opera Firebird Motel showcase his creative versatility. Yezzi’s research interests emphasize 20th-century poetry, dramatic adaptation, and poetic biography. His publications span interviews, critical essays, and creative works that explore themes of memory, tragedy, and cultural history. He held a 2022 visiting fellowship at Jesus College, Oxford, and previously directed the Unterberg Poetry Center in New York. His articles reflect a focus on literary figures like Anthony Hecht, T.S. Eliot, and Louise Glück, analyzing their techniques and legacies. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to poetry and criticism are widely recognized. He advises through his teaching and creative mentorship, though specific grant details are not documented here.
Ingrid Gullikstad Hallsteinsen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Technology at NTNU's Faculty of Natural Sciences. Her research focuses on thin films of functional materials like complex oxides and 2D materials, investigating the interplay between atomic structure and functional properties such as magnetism and ferroelectricity. She leads the Thin Film Deposition research area, specializing in Pulsed Laser Deposition and sputtering techniques, and directs the X-ray Diffraction Lab. Collaborations include the Advanced Light Source (USA) and the National Center for Neutron Research (USA). Key projects include the NFR-funded HONEYCOMB (2021-2025) and SuSoltech (2021-2025), as well as the COST Action OPERA (2022-2026) on advanced epitaxy. Her research interests span geometric boundary layer control, antiferromagnetic spintronics, and novel deposition methods. She is a member of the FACET group, integrating materials science, physics, and electronics to explore functional materials. Publications highlight contributions to strain-engineered magnetism, spin current control, and structural characterization of oxide heterostructures. Her work bridges fundamental material science with applications in energy, electronics, and nanotechnology.
Xavier Cervantes is a Professor at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Centre for Anglophone Studies (CAS). His academic career began as a Lecturer in 1996, and he was promoted to Professor in 2006. He holds a doctorate (1995) and a habilitation to supervise research (2004), both from French universities, and specializes in 18th-century British cultural and artistic history. Doctorate: 1995, University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail Habilitation: 2004, University of Bordeaux III-Michel de Montaigne Lecturer: 1996–2006, University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail Professor: 2006–present, University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès His research interests include 18th-century British civilization, opera, music, visual culture, Anglo-Italian cultural exchanges, and satire. He explores the cultural politics of Italian opera in London, the Grand Tour, and representations of identity in art and literature. His work bridges musicology, history, literature, and cultural studies. The articles in his recent publication record reveal a consistent focus on 18th-century British cultural life, particularly the intersection of music, politics, and identity. His research often examines how opera and artistic expression served as arenas for national rivalry, religious anxiety, and diplomatic exchange. Themes of cosmopolitanism, insularity, and satire recur, with attention to figures like Farinelli and visual culture such as Batoni's portraits. His editorial work, including a 2023 special issue on Kate Bush, indicates an ongoing engagement with interdisciplinary cultural analysis. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly mentioned in the text. Advising and Grants: Xavier Cervantes has supervised research, as evidenced by his habilitation to supervise research. While specific students and grants are not listed, his editorial roles and collaborative publications suggest active mentorship and participation in academic networks. He has directed collective works and contributed to international conferences, indicating leadership in his field. Labs and Teams: He is a core member of the Centre for Anglophone Studies (CAS) at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, a research unit engaged in multidisciplinary studies of the English-speaking world. His involvement in projects like SpirHAL and HAL/CAS indicates engagement with digital scholarly platforms and open-access dissemination.
Eduardo Navega is a Senior Lecturer in Music and Director of Orchestral Activities at Vassar College since 1999. He leads the Vassar College Orchestra and teaches at the Conductors Institute at Bard College. His roles include conducting orchestras and choirs, composing arrangements, and mentoring students in orchestral and choral conducting. Education: Bachelor’s in Composition and Conducting, State University of Campinas (Brazil) Master’s in Music, University of Sheffield (UK) Artist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting, Hartt School of Music (USA) Research & Interests: Navega specializes in orchestral and choral conducting, Brazilian musical heritage, and modern music. He has conducted world premieres of works by contemporary composers and is renowned for arranging Brazilian popular songs for choirs. His teaching focuses on MUSI 44 (Chamber Music) and MUSI 52 (Orchestra). Awards: 1995 APCA “Up and Coming Conductor of the Year” Other Activities: Guest-conducted the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra and numerous Brazilian orchestras/choirs. Directed opera productions in Brazil and the U.S. Founded and maintained a lasting repertoire of Brazilian choral arrangements.
Susan Bialek is an Adjunct Professor in the Music Department at Vassar College, where she leads the Vassar College Treble Chorus, directs the Music Theory Skills Lab, and teaches Introductory Piano. She has extensive experience in choral education, having previously served as Artistic Director of the Children’s Chorus of Maryland School of Music and Director of Music at Dutchess Day School in New York. Her work emphasizes youth choral development and the Kodály approach to music education. Education: BA from Vassar College and MAT from Manhattanville College, complemented by Kodály Certification from The Hartt School of Music. Professional experience includes guest conducting roles across multiple states, mentorship under Jean Ashworth Bartle, and collaborations with opera companies like Annapolis Opera and Baltimore Concert Opera. Key contributions include building a 90% participation rate in middle school choirs at Dutchess Day School and leading ensembles that performed with prestigious groups such as Cappella Festiva and The Handel Choir of Baltimore. Her teaching philosophy integrates sight-singing, theory, and practical performance skills, informed by summer studies with Phyllis Lehrer and mentorship from luminaries like Morris Borenstein.
Rochelle K. Ellis is a Performance Faculty member in Voice at Princeton University, concurrently serving on the voice faculty at Westminster Choir College. She specializes in oratorio, opera, and chamber music performance, with notable engagements including roles in Porgy and Bess (Serena) and Verdi’s Requiem with the National Opera of China. Her teaching emphasizes vocal technique and cultural context, exemplified in courses like Exploring Art Songs from the African Diaspora . Education: D.M.A. in Voice (Rutgers University), M.M.Ed. (Westminster Choir College) Affiliations: Board Member of New York Singing Teachers Association, Vocal Consultant for Trenton Children’s Chorus Her outreach work includes directing opera education programs through The Princeton Festival and mentoring youth choirs. Ellis’s performances frequently bridge classical traditions with cross-cultural exploration, reflecting her commitment to accessibility and community engagement.
