Dr. Jennifer L. Weaver is Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music at Dallas Baptist University , where she leads academic initiatives in the College of Fine Arts . She earned her B.M.E. from Cedarville University , followed by her M.M. and Ph.D. in Music Theory from the University of North Texas . Educational Background: B.M.E., Cedarville University; M.M. and Ph.D., University of North Texas Dr. Weaver’s research focuses on the twentieth-century music , the history of music theory , opera , and music theory pedagogy . Her doctoral dissertation examined Herbert Eimert’s contributions to the twelve-tone system. She is a co-host of the Note Doctors podcast, which explores music theory education. Scientific Awards and Recognitions : Priddy Fellowship in Arts Leadership (2006-2007) Outstanding Adjunct Professor, Dallas Baptist University Department of Music Outstanding Full-time Faculty Member, Dallas Baptist University Department of Music Dr. Weaver is actively involved in arts leadership and community engagement. She sings in the Dallas Symphony Chorus and is a member of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.
Dr. Pauline Jung is a Lecturer in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Curry College, specializing in flute performance and music education. She actively serves as a Private Music Instructor at Curry College and Weston Public Schools, alongside roles as an Education and Community Engagement Teaching Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and flute faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Flute Workshop. Bachelor of Music, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Master of Music, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Doctor of Musical Arts, Boston University A renowned flutist, Dr. Jung has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Slovak State Opera Chamber Orchestra, Mid Atlantic Wind Symphony, and University of North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. She holds principal flutist roles with the Boston Civic Symphony and has guested with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and Lexington Symphony Orchestra. Third Prize at National Flute Association Young Artist Competition Second Prize at James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition First Prize at Doriot Anthony Dwyer Flute Merit Award
Luis Alberto Barron Cedeno is an Associate Professor at the Department of Interpretation and Translation, University of Bologna since 2022, where he previously served as Senior Assistant Professor from 2019-2022. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Universitat Politècnica de València (2012) and has worked at Qatar Computing Research Institute (2014-2019) and TALP Research Center (ERCIM fellowship, 2012-2014). PhD: Universitat Politècnica de València (2012) MSc: AI (Universitat Politècnica de València, 2009) MSc: Computing Science (UNAM, 2007) BEng: Computing (UNAM, 2004) His research focuses on NLP applications for analyzing text qualities like originality (plagiarism detection) and intent (hate speech, propaganda). Recent work includes persuasion techniques in spam emails , misogyny detection using argumentation theory, and Spanish language varieties analysis. He has published over 100 papers with 20+ in top-tier conferences. Key awards include SemEval 2020 Best Task for propaganda detection and ACL 2020 Best Demo . He serves as Specialty Chief Editor for Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence (NLP) since 2023. His students include PhD candidates Arianna Muti (misogyny detection), Katerina Korre (hate speech), and Paolo Gajo (inceldom analysis). 2020: SemEval Best Task 2020: ACL Best Demo 2012: PhD International Mention 2009: Best MSc Thesis 2007: MSc Cum Laude 2004: BEng Cum Laude He organizes the annual CheckThat! lab at CLEF since 2018 and chaired CLEF 2022. His teaching includes NLP courses, computational linguistics, and game localization for translation students.
Małgorzata Skorupa is a Professor at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Poland. She graduated from the Academy with a specialization in violin under Prof. Henryk Keszkowski and further refined her skills through international performance courses in Austria, Italy, and Hungary. Her career spans roles as a concertmaster, soloist, and chamber musician, with notable collaborations including the Baltic Opera and Trio Sopot. She also teaches at the General Primary and Secondary Music School in Gdańsk and has served on juries for over 30 national and regional music competitions. Education: First-degree (1996) and second-degree (2002) qualifications from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. Her research and artistic practice focus on violin performance, contemporary Polish music, and chamber ensemble work. She has premiered numerous compositions by Polish creators and contributed to recordings for Polish Radio and albums by composers like Grzegorz Wieczorek and Krzysztof Olczak. Skorupa held the position of Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk from 2016 to 2019, demonstrating leadership in academic administration.
Dr. Sven Lautenbach is a Professor and Chief Scientist at the Institute of Geoinformatics, University of Heidelberg , affiliated with the HeiGIT research group. His work bridges geospatial analysis, environmental modeling, and public health, with a focus on urban systems and land-use decision-making. Current role: Chief Scientist at HeiGIT gGmbH Key affiliations: Department of Geoinformatics, University of Heidelberg Research Interests : Lautenbach's interdisciplinary research addresses: Trade-offs in land use decisions and ecosystem services Health geography and spatial epidemiology Application of machine learning and AI to urban geospatial data Open data quality assessment (OpenStreetMap, social media) Climate adaptation strategies for urban environments Vector-borne disease risk modeling Publication Trends : Recent work emphasizes: Geo-social media for pandemic early warning systems Deep learning for infrastructure mapping (e.g., road surfaces) Flood impact analysis on urban accessibility Heat stress mitigation in pedestrian routing Multi-modal urban human dynamics during crises Open data quality evaluation for humanitarian applications Project Leadership : Lautenbach directs initiatives including: myGreen: Urban green space analysis Climate Change and Spatial Epidemiology Summer School OPERAs/FP-7: Ecosystem science-policy integration CONNECT: Biodiversity-ecosystem service synergies
Lara Ciekiewicz is an MPS Instructor in Voice at the Desautels Faculty of Music, University of Manitoba. She has established herself as a dynamic singing-actress with a reputation for fully transforming into characters across genres. Her career includes notable performances in operas such as Susannah , Gianni Schicchi , and Le nozze di Figaro , collaborating with organizations like Manitoba Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, and Edmonton Opera. Bachelor of Arts - Honours (Voice) from University of Winnipeg Master of Music (Opera) from McGill University Lara is increasingly recognized as an adjudicator and teacher, with alumni status from prestigious programs including l’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program. Her recent awards include the Winnipeg Arts Council RBC On the Rise Award and a CGS Master's Scholarship from SSHRC.
Micah Gleason is a highly accomplished conductor and singer who recently completed a Conducting Fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music under the mentorship of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. She has been recognized with prestigious opportunities such as the Dallas Opera's Hart Institute for Women Conductors and the Taki Alsop Conducting Award. Affiliated with Curtis Institute of Music (Conducting Fellowship) Collaborated with ensembles including Iceland Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Spoleto Festival Orchestra Active in both symphonic and opera conducting Research & Artistic Focus: Specializes in symphonic and opera conducting Engages in interdisciplinary collaborations through co-founded artistic partnership LOAM Active in chamber music performance Focus on community building through music Performance Highlights: Music Director for Argento’s A Waterbird Talk and JL Marlor’s The Final Veil opera premiere Assistant conductor roles with Washington National Opera, Opera Philadelphia, and Glimmerglass Festival Upcoming engagements: Tanglewood conducting seminar, Cliburn Competition, and National Youth Symphony tour Scientific Awards: Recipient of the 2024 Taki Alsop Conducting Award Additional Activities: Co-founder of LOAM, a semi-immersive theatrical and musical works partnership Worldwide representation by Intermusica
María Luisa Guardiola serves as Professor and Department Chair of Spanish at Swarthmore College, where she is a core faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and also affiliated with the Program in Comparative Literature. Based in Kohlberg Hall 342, she maintains regular office hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 PM and is accessible by appointment. Her leadership extends to shaping the Spanish curriculum and fostering interdisciplinary connections across campus. Academic preparation: Ph.D. in Spanish Literature, University of Pennsylvania Licenciada en Filología Hispánica, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona Professor Guardiola's research program centers on Iberian literary and cultural production from the 19th to 21st centuries, with a pronounced emphasis on women's writing. She investigates turn-of-the-century transformations, Catalan women authors, cinematic representations, and urban narratives. Her work critically examines memory politics, national identity formation, migration dynamics, and the intersections of gender, labor, and class in Spanish and Catalan contexts. Courses she teaches reflect these interests, including specialized seminars on the Spanish Civil War, women writers, and urban cartographies. Her publication record features critical editions that illuminate foundational Spanish texts, such as García Gutiérrez's El trovador (2013) and Valera's Pepita Jiménez (2001), alongside a monograph analyzing gender in 19th-century drama. These works collectively underscore her commitment to recovering marginalized voices and contextualizing literary production within broader socio-historical frameworks. Current projects continue this trajectory with a focus on working-class women. Recognition for her scholarship includes: Franklin Research Grant, American Philosophical Society (2024), supporting her book manuscript on Spanish women workers in tobacco and textile factories at the turn of the century Academic service and program development: Served as Faculty Advisor for Off-Campus Study, guiding students through international academic opportunities for three years Directed multiple study abroad programs in Madrid for Hamilton College and St. Lawrence University, restructuring them to deepen cultural immersion Designed and led Swarthmore's embedded study abroad courses, taking students on educational journeys across Spain Her ongoing research, funded by the 2024 APS grant, explores literary representations of working-class women in late 19th- and early 20th-century Spain, with a particular focus on tobacco and textile factory workers and retail employees.
Joseph Cermatori is an Associate Professor and Director of Periclean Honors Forum in the English Department at Skidmore College. He holds an A.B. from Princeton University, an M.F.A. from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University, establishing a robust foundation spanning literary studies, creative writing, and critical theory. Dr. Cermatori's educational trajectory reflects his interdisciplinary approach: A.B., Princeton University M.F.A., Yale University Ph.D., Columbia University His scholarly work centers on the philosophical dimensions of theatrical and literary forms, with research interests spanning Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Critical Theory , alongside Modern and Contemporary Drama, Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama, Opera and Music-Theatre, Media and Performance Studies, and Queer Theory and Gender Studies . Cermatori's approach consistently bridges historical periods, connecting early modern theatrical practices with contemporary performance innovations while maintaining critical engagement with questions of spectatorship, media, and political dimensions of performance. His scholarship demonstrates a unique ability to synthesize complex theoretical frameworks with close analysis of theatrical and literary works. Cermatori's recent publications reveal a sustained trajectory exploring the philosophical underpinnings of theatrical practice. His 2024 article "On Criticism: Seven Meditations" continues his longstanding engagement with critical theory, while his 2023 pieces on Walter Benjamin and Hans-Thies Lehmann demonstrate his deep connection to foundational theoretical frameworks in performance studies. His book "Baroque Modernity: An Aesthetics of Theater" (2021) represents a significant contribution connecting historical theatrical aesthetics with modern practice. His scholarship appears consistently across prestigious venues including CoSMO, Salmagundi, PMLA, and PAJ, reflecting his standing in both literary and performance studies communities. His scholarly recognition includes: Anna Balakian First Book Prize honorable mention, International Comparative Literature Association, 2022 Summer Research Fellowship, Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, 2022 Helen Tartar First Book Award and Subvention, American Comparative Literature Association, 2021 Multiple Faculty Development Grants from Skidmore College (2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) As Director of the Periclean Honors Forum, Cermatori plays a pivotal role in mentoring high-achieving students through interdisciplinary honors programs that connect academic work with social engagement. His extensive teaching portfolio spans foundational writing seminars to advanced courses in drama, Shakespeare, queer theory, and literature and philosophy. His critical work published in The New York Times and PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art demonstrates his commitment to bridging scholarly and public discourse on contemporary performance.
Julie Deramond is a Lecturer in Information and Communication Sciences at Avignon University and a member of the Norbert Elias Center - UMR 8562 (as of 2024). Her work bridges cultural mediation, heritage studies, and digital humanities. Education: Doctor of Contemporary History (University of Toulouse II - 2009) Research Areas: Cultural mediation, heritage interpretation, sensory experiences in museums, digital humanities, agritourism, and historical communication. Her recent publications focus on olive tree heritage and its role in regional development , with interdisciplinary approaches combining museum studies , tourism analysis , and sensory experience design . Co-presented at the 2024 MidiSciences conference with Pauline Grison on olfactory-based cultural mediation. Key themes across her work include: Heritage commercialization and symbolic requalification Digital and physical mediations in cultural spaces Sensory marketing in museum contexts Cross-cultural agritourism models
Eric Mentzel serves as Professor of Voice at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, specializing in historically-informed vocal performance. An internationally acclaimed concert soloist, he has performed with leading conductors including Andrew Parrott and Howard Arman at venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Edinburgh Festival across Europe, Japan, and Australia. His extensive discography of nearly 60 recordings for labels like Sony and Harmonia Mundi has earned multiple international awards including the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik and Diapason d'Or. Mentzel earned his Master of Fine Arts in Early Music Performance from Sarah Lawrence College (1983) and Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Temple University College of Music (1980). His academic training established the foundation for his expertise in historical performance practices spanning medieval to contemporary repertoire. His research focuses on Music Performance, Vocal Performance, Choral Studies, and Historical Performance Practice, with particular emphasis on medieval and Renaissance vocal music including works by Hildegard von Bingen and 15th-century German songbooks. He has also premiered contemporary compositions by Alfred Schnittke, Henri Pousseur, and Garrett Fisher, demonstrating exceptional versatility across historical periods. Mentzel's recent recordings (2001-2016) reveal a consistent scholarly approach to medieval and Renaissance repertoire, especially German and French sources from the 12th-15th centuries, alongside significant contemporary opera projects. His critically acclaimed Vox Iberica series and Hildegard von Bingen recordings have significantly shaped modern understanding of early music performance practices. His major awards include: Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Grammy) Diapason d'Or de l'Annee Choc de Musique Diapason d’Or Dix de Repertoire At the University of Oregon, Mentzel mentors undergraduate and graduate students in voice performance and historical practices. He has held guest professorships at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, and University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, while directing workshops at Vancouver Early Music Programme and Amherst Early Music. Mentzel founded the ensemble Vox Resonat in Germany (1998), re-forming it in Oregon (2013) for innovative programs including Day of the Dead concerts in Eugene's Masonic Cemetery. Since 2015, he has served as Artistic Director of the Seattle Medieval Women’s Choir and maintains long-standing collaborations with ensembles including Sequentia and Huelgas Ensemble.
Karen Esquivel is a Senior Instructor of Voice and Director of the Opera Ensemble at the University of Oregon's School of Music and Dance . With a career spanning performance, teaching, and directing, she specializes in opera, vocal performance, and choral studies, with a focus on Spanish opera and baroque traditions. Education: BME and Master's in Voice/Opera Theater (University of Nebraska), MM in Opera Production (Florida State University), DMA in Voice Performance (Florida State University) Her research interests align with her performance and directorial expertise, including national opera identity, vocal pedagogy, and cross-cultural opera production. Esquivel has performed contralto roles in major oratorios and operas, such as Handel’s Messiah , Rossini’s Stabat Mater , and roles in Eugene Onegin and The Mikado . She has directed over 50 stage productions and co-founded Opera Nova Costa Rica to nurture emerging opera talent.
Gina Beck is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the Berklee College of Music Conservatory , affiliated with the Musical Theater and Voice/Opera departments. She specializes in vocal technique, blending physiology and voice science to support genre-agnostic training, with a focus on healthy vocal practices. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creating a supportive, positive environment for students. Education M.M. in Opera Performance from Boston Conservatory B.M.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) Beck's research interests include cross-genre vocal training , voice health , and creative pedagogy . She has performed internationally in Italy, Massachusetts, Colorado, and New Hampshire, and works as a freelance classical soloist in New England while maintaining an active private voice studio in Boston since 2007.
Dr. Laura Moore is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Music at the University of South Alabama. She serves as Director of Choral Activities, leading the Concert Choir and Chorale while teaching conducting and music history at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in Music (Davidson College), Master of Music in Piano Performance (Peabody Conservatory), and Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting (University of North Carolina at Greensboro). Her research and professional interests center on choral conducting pedagogy, historical performance practices, and collaborative piano. She has conducted internationally, including European tours with the Alabama Ambassadors of Music (2009, 2011) and a residency in China (2017). Dr. Moore maintains active leadership roles, including Chair of Region 8 for the National Association of Schools of Music and President of the South Alabama chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. She previously held leadership positions with the Alabama ACDA and NATS chapters. Professional collaborations include: Chorus master for Mobile Opera (2009-present) Artistic Director of Eastern Shore Choral Society (2023-present) Clinician/adjudicator across four Southern states
Martin J. Hoffmann is a Researcher at the Institute for Media and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. He is also a PhD candidate since October 2022. Education: Amsterdam University College Master of Media Culture Analysis, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Research Focuses: Porn Studies Film, Video, and Moving Image Sciences Body Images and Discourses Cybernetics and Human-Machine Interaction Online and Digital Culture Professional Activities: Lecturer at the Institute for Media and Cultural Studies since 2021 Worked as a student assistant at WDR's "Aktuelles Fernsehen" editorial team (2016-2018) Worked in the marketing department of Schüßler-Plan Ingenieurgesellschaft (2019-2020) Intern at the selection committee of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (2017) Projects and Works: Soundtracks for the dance project "Resonance" (Freiraum Düsseldorf, 2021) E-Guitarist for the opera "Akademia" by Aylin Leclaire (Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, 2019) Development of wearable synthesizer interface "Sound-Body-Network" (2018-2020) Teaching: 2024/25 (Winter): "The Digital Affect, the Digital Emotion: Media Applications as Mediators of Feelings" 2024 (Summer): "Love in Film: Modern Forms, Discourses, and Representations of Love" 2023/24 (Winter): "Cybernetics: Theories of Human-Machine Interaction" 2023 (Summer): "Introduction to Porn Studies" 2022/23 (Winter): "Touching the Screen: Touch in Moving Images" 2021/22 (Winter): "Modern Love: Love in the Media since Modernity" 2021 (Summer): "Online Pornography as a Global Media Phenomenon" 2021 (Summer): "Film and Body: Film Studies Approaches to Corporeality"
