Ali Yaycıoğlu is an Associate Professor of History at Stanford University, serving as Director of the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies Forum. His work focuses on Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey, integrating digital tools to analyze political, economic, and legal institutions. He holds affiliations with the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. B.S. in International Relations (Middle East Technical University, 1994) M.A. in History (Bilkent University, 1997) Graduate Studies in Islamic Studies (McGill University, 1998) Ph.D. in History and Middle Eastern Studies (Harvard, 2008) His research explores Ottoman political and financial systems, with current projects examining debt networks (The Order of Debt) and Ottoman political communities. He leads digital initiatives like Charting the Empire and Mapping Ottoman Epirus, using spatial analysis to map fiscal records and power structures. His work bridges historical analysis with digital humanities, producing visualizations of Ottoman networks. Notable publications include Partners of the Empire (2016) and essays on Ottoman global connections. He co-edited a special digital humanities issue of the Journal of Ottoman and Turkish Studies (2023). His research has been supported by grants including the Stanford Data Science Seed Grant (2018). Yaycıoğlu advises the Stanford Ottoman World Series and engages in public scholarship through media commentary on Turkish politics. His artistic projects under 'Critical Imagination' explore historical themes through visual arts, further bridging academic and creative domains.
Dina Le Gall serves as Associate Professor of History at the Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY), and concurrently holds the position of Deputy Director and Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center (MEEMAC). Her research specializes in Middle Eastern and Islamic History with concentrated expertise in Sufism, Ottoman religious dynamics, and the socio-cultural roles of saints in Muslim societies. She has pioneered extensive scholarship on Naqshbandi Sufi brotherhoods within the Ottoman Empire, examining their institutional evolution and spiritual practices from the 15th through 17th centuries. Her publication trajectory reveals deep engagement with pre-modern Islamic mysticism, intra-Sufi theological conflicts, and the adaptation of religious traditions across historical contexts. This scholarly focus bridges rigorous historical analysis with contemporary discourse on religious identity and community formation in Muslim-majority regions. Dr. Le Gall's research excellence has been recognized through prestigious accolades: Annemarie Schimmel Scholarship from the Institute of Ismaili Studies (2011) National Endowment for the Humanities Faculty Research Award (2009/10) Lehman College Faculty Development Award and Scholar Incentive Award (2009/10) Multiple PSC-CUNY Research Awards As Deputy Director of MEEMAC, she advances interdisciplinary Middle Eastern studies through academic programming and research initiatives. Professional service includes editorial advisory roles for the Journal of Sufi Studies and committee positions with the American Research Institute in Turkey and Middle East Studies Association. No graduate student advising details or specific grant projects beyond the listed awards appear in the source materials.
Dzovinar Derderian is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on social and cultural history with an emphasis on Armenian communities in the Middle East and the Caucasus. Her work explores the roles of marginalized groups in imperial modernization processes, particularly within the Ottoman Empire during the 19th century. PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2019) MA from Georgetown University (2009) BA from Tufts University (2007) Dr. Derderian's research examines how provincial Armenian communities navigated multi-ethnic and multi-religious environments, shaping power dynamics in the Ottoman Empire. She co-edited the 2016 book The Ottoman East in the Nineteenth Century: Societies, Identities and Politics with Tolga Yaşar Cora and Ali Sipahi, contributing a chapter on Kurdish representations and power contestation in the 1860s. Her fields of interest include Armenian history , Ottoman Empire , and Russian Empire , with a focus on social practices, discursive structures, and imperial governance in transnational contexts. She can be reached at derderian@berkeley.edu in Dwinelle Hall.
Kathryn Babayan is a Professor at the University of Michigan , affiliated with the Middle East Studies department. Her research focuses on the cultural, social, and political histories of the Persianate world, particularly Iran, Iraq, Anatolia, and Central Asia. Her work integrates gender and sexuality studies , Safavid dynasty analysis , and material culture approaches to explore historical narratives. She is currently researching literacy practices in early modern Isfahan through her book The City as Anthology , examining how anthologies (majmu'a/muraqqa') reshaped urban experience and individual sovereignty. Collaborations include co-authoring Slaves of the Shah with Susan Babaie, Massumeh Farhad, and Ena Baghdiantz-McCabe, and co-editing Islamicate Sexualities with Afsaneh Najmabadi. Her publications bridge historiography , religion , and visual culture .
Anthony Kaldellis is the Gaylord Donnelly Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on the history, culture, and literature of the eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire from antiquity to the 15th century. He holds a PhD from the University of Michigan (2001). Education: Ph.D. in Classical Philology, University of Michigan, 2001 His research interests include the reception of Hellenic culture, Roman imperial matrices in Byzantine thought, and the evolution of ethnic identities. He has published extensively on topics such as Procopius of Caesarea, the Parthenon’s Christian transformation, and Byzantine ethnography. His recent work emphasizes the continuity of Roman imperial frameworks in Byzantine society, as seen in The Byzantine Republic (2015) and Romanland (2019). He translates medieval Greek texts into English and created the academic podcast Byzantium & Friends . His 2023 book The New Roman Empire offers a comprehensive narrative history of Byzantium. Grants and Advising: No specific grants or advising roles are listed in the provided text. Labs/Teams: Host of the podcast Byzantium & Friends , fostering academic outreach in Byzantine studies.
Reşat Kasaba is a Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, holding the Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Chair in American Foreign Policy. He has taught for over 30 years, specializing in Middle Eastern history, U.S. foreign policy, and socio-political dynamics. His research focuses on migration, state-society relations, urbanization, and Turkey's modern political trajectory. Kasaba currently directs the Near and Middle Eastern Studies Ph.D. program and previously served as Jackson School director (2010-2020). Education: PhD in Sociology (SUNY Binghamton, 1986), MA Sociology (SUNY Binghamton, 1978), BSc Economics/Statistics (Middle East Technical University, 1976) Award: UW Distinguished Teaching Award Research examines transnational migration patterns, Ottoman legacy in modern Turkey, and socio-economic transformations. His recent work analyzes urban-rural divides in Turkey and U.S. foreign policy impacts. He actively engages in global academic networks as former APSIA president and MESA board member.
Adam T. Smith is Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences in Anthropology at Cornell University, where he has been faculty since 2011. He is a leading scholar in Eurasian archaeology with a focus on the South Caucasus, particularly Armenia. Smith co-founded Project ArAGATS, a long-term archaeological program in Armenia, and co-directs the Aragats Foundation and Caucasus Heritage Watch, organizations dedicated to heritage preservation in the region. His educational background includes: Ph.D. (1996) in Anthropology from the University of Arizona M.A. (1993) in Anthropology from the University of Arizona M.Phil. (1991) in Social and Political Science from the University of Cambridge B.A. (1990) in Anthropology and Political Science from Brown University Smith's research centers on the role of material culture in political life, examining how objects, landscapes, and built environments shape political procedures and values. His work spans archaeological theory, political anthropology, and heritage studies, with a particular focus on the South Caucasus region. He investigates the long-term social and political dynamics from the Bronze Age to contemporary times, exploring themes of sovereignty, heritage preservation, and the political dimensions of material culture. His approach integrates theoretical frameworks with empirical fieldwork to understand political power through material evidence. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the archaeology of power and politics in Eurasia, with increasing attention to contemporary heritage issues. Smith's work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical research, particularly through his long-term fieldwork in Armenia and the Caucasus region. His scholarship shows a progression from studies of ancient political systems to contemporary issues of cultural heritage and political violence, with a strong emphasis on ethical engagement with archaeological practice and heritage management. Smith has received numerous prestigious awards including: 2023-2025 Fellow, Milstein Program in Technology and Humanity, Cornell University 2023 Finalist, Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year, Social Sciences and Humanities 2023 Certificate of Communal Partnership, St. James AME Zion Church, Ithaca NY 2010-2011 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow 2010-2011 Fellow, Cornell University Society for the Humanities 2006-2007 Fellow, Howard Foundation Smith has directed multiple field seasons and collaborative research projects in Armenia, involving both American and Armenian scholars. His work with Project ArAGATS has received continuous support over two decades, while Caucasus Heritage Watch represents a newer initiative addressing urgent heritage preservation needs through satellite monitoring. He has supervised numerous graduate students and secured significant research funding for his projects, demonstrating strong leadership in both academic and community-engaged research contexts. Smith leads several research initiatives including Project ArAGATS, the Aragats Foundation, and Caucasus Heritage Watch. His Landscapes and Objects Laboratory at Cornell serves as a hub for material culture studies, while his work with the St. James AME Zion Community Excavations demonstrates his commitment to community-engaged archaeology. These teams bring together interdisciplinary scholars to address complex questions about political power, material culture, and heritage preservation across time, with particular attention to how archaeological practice can engage with contemporary political issues and community needs.
Dana Sajdi is an Associate Professor of History at Boston College, affiliated with the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a B.A. from the American University in Cairo and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her research focuses on premodern social and cultural history of the Arabic-speaking Eastern Mediterranean, with a current project, In Defense of Damascus , exploring the city’s history through local descriptions from the 12th to 20th centuries. She pioneered the Podcasting the Ottomans course, establishing a History Department Pod Studio, enabling undergraduates to produce scholarly podcasts. This initiative has been featured on the Ottoman History Podcast. Her work bridges academia and public engagement, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to history. Key publications include analyses of Syrian sacred landscapes (2022), responses to historical theory (2021), and studies on Ottoman Levant literacy and urban life (2020). Her scholarship integrates textual analysis, spatial history, and cultural critique, reflecting her commitment to innovative historical methodologies.
Ayşe Baltacıoğlu-Brammer is an Assistant Professor of History and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University (NYU), and Steering Committee Chair of the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Initiative (OTS-NYU). Her work focuses on early modern Middle Eastern history, particularly the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, with an emphasis on sectarian dynamics, statecraft, and identity formation. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in History from Ohio State University, alongside B.A. degrees in History (Koç University) and Communication (Ankara University). Education: Ph.D. in History, Ohio State University M.A. in History, Ohio State University B.A. in History, Koç University B.A. in Communication, Ankara University Her research explores the Sunni-Shi‘i divide as a geopolitical and fiscal struggle, analyzing its impact on political legitimacy and socio-economic landscapes in early modern Anatolia and Iran. Current projects include a forthcoming book, Boundaries of Belonging , examining sectarianism’s enduring legacy. She has held prestigious fellowships, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship (2020–2021) and NYU Center for the Humanities Fellowship (2020–2021). Publications span academic monographs, edited volumes, and forums, addressing themes like Safavid origins, sectarian politics, and empire-state dynamics. While no grants or advising roles are explicitly listed, her work bridges historical analysis and contemporary Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Michael Cook is the Class of 1943 University Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. He specializes in Islamic history, thought, and religious values, with a focus on medieval Islamic civilization and the role of religious obligations like al-amr bi’l-ma'ruf. Cook earned degrees from Cambridge and SOAS in London, later teaching at SOAS before joining Princeton in 1986. His research spans Ottoman population history, Islamic legal and ethical traditions, and comparative studies of ancient religions and modern politics. Notable works include Commanding Right and Forbidding Wrong in Islamic Thought and Ancient Religions, Modern Politics . He has supervised over 30 doctoral dissertations, covering diverse topics such as medieval Islamic law, sectarian identities, and cross-cultural historical comparisons. Cook’s teaching emphasizes Arabic textual analysis and graduate mentorship, including seminars on dissertation writing. His publications reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, bridging history, theology, and comparative politics.
M. Şükrü Hanioğlu is a Professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University and Chair of the Near Eastern Studies Department. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Istanbul University and has taught courses on late Ottoman political and diplomatic history at institutions including Istanbul University, Bosphorus University, the Turkish Naval Academy, Columbia University, and Princeton. Focuses on Ottoman intellectual history, nationalist movements, and diplomatic history Supervised multiple Ph.D. dissertations at Istanbul University and Princeton on topics related to Ottoman-Turkish history Publishes extensively on the Committee of Union and Progress and late Ottoman political life Selected Publications: His works include A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire (2008) and Young Turks in Opposition (1995), with archival research spanning Turkish, German, Austrian, French, Swiss, Italian, Greek, and British collections.
Adeeb Khalid is the Jane and Raphael Bernstein Professor of Asian Studies and History at Carleton College, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. His scholarship bridges Central Asian history, Soviet studies, and postcolonial theory, with a focus on cultural transformations under imperial and revolutionary contexts. PhD and MA from University of Wisconsin-Madison President of Central Eurasian Studies Society (2005-06) Executive Board, Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (2013-15) Key research areas include: Modern Central Asian history (1860s-present) Islam under Russian/Soviet rule Nation-building and colonialism Comparative imperial formations Language and identity politics Anticolonial movements in Eurasia His publications have been translated into Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Korean. Recent articles examine: Post-Soviet Islamic historiography Colonial Turkestan's exclusion/inclusion dynamics Decolonizing Central Asian national identities Methodological debates in area studies Scientific recognitions: Wayne S. Vucinich Book Prize (2008) Reginald Zelnik Book Prize (2016) Honorable Mention, Joseph Rothschild Prize Active in international academic collaborations, Khalid has held visiting positions at Maison des Sciences de l'Homme in Paris and the Library of Congress's Kluge Center. He teaches courses on Russian Empire, Soviet Revolution, and Middle Eastern cultural history.
Devin E. Naar is the Isaac Alhadeff Professor in Sephardic Studies and Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at the University of Washington. He is also Chair of the Sephardic Studies Program at the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies, housed within the Jackson School of International Studies. Education: B.A., summa cum laude – Washington University in St. Louis Ph.D. in History – Stanford University Fulbright Fellow – Greece Research Focus: Dr. Naar’s scholarship centers on the Sephardic Jewish experience, particularly in the transition from the Ottoman Empire to modern nation-states. His work explores Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) culture, transnational migration, and the interplay between Jewish identity and state formation in the Balkans and the Americas. He is currently working on his second book, Reimagining the Sephardic Diaspora , which examines the global dispersal of Sephardic Jews from the Ottoman Empire and the emergence of new diasporic hubs in Europe and the Americas, including Seattle. Publications & Impact: His first book, Jewish Salonica: Between the Ottoman Empire and Modern Greece (Stanford University Press, 2016), received the National Jewish Book Award and the Edmund Keeley Prize. His articles span topics from migration and identity to pre-Holocaust Jewish life in Thessaloniki. Awards & Honors: National Jewish Book Award (2016) – Research Based on Archival Material Edmund Keeley Prize (2017) – Modern Greek Studies Association Fellow, Society of Scholars, Simpson Center for the Humanities (2013–2014) Named to JTNews’ “10 under 40” list of young Jewish leaders in Seattle (2012) Teaching & Mentorship: Dr. Naar teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in modern Jewish history, Sephardic culture, Holocaust memory, and transnational migration. He supervises MA and PhD students in Sephardic Studies, modern Jewish history, and transnational studies. Digital Initiatives & Community Engagement: As chair of the Sephardic Studies Program, he co-founded the Sephardic Studies Digital Library and Archive , a digital repository of over 1,500 Ladino artifacts. He leads public programs and collaborates with UW Libraries and community partners to preserve and promote Sephardic heritage, earning national and international media attention.
Alison Frank Johnson is a Professor of History and Germanic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University, serving as Department Chair. She is affiliated with the Barker Center and the Center for European Studies. She holds a B.A. in German and Russian from Williams College, and an A.M. and Ph.D. in History from Harvard. Additional studies include the Karl Franzens Universität Graz and Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Her research focuses on the Habsburg Empire, German-speaking Europe, and topics like the death penalty, commodity history, and maritime power. Major works include Oil Empire: Visions of Prosperity in Austrian Galicia (2005), awarded multiple prizes. Current projects explore capital punishment in the Habsburg Monarchy and Austria-Hungary’s global commerce strategies. Her articles span dueling, Mediterranean slave trade, Alpine spa towns, and Austria-Hungary’s maritime role. Awards include teaching accolades (Everett Mendelsohn Excellence in Mentoring, Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize) and book prizes. She has held fellowships from ACLS, Fulbright, and Vienna’s Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen. Her advisory roles include the Scientific Advisory Board of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Courses taught include histories of German-speaking Europe, turn-of-the-century Vienna, and commodities in international contexts.
Mark Mazower is the Ira D. Wallach Professor of History at Columbia University, where he has established himself as a leading historian specializing in modern Greece, 20th-century Europe, and international history. He also serves as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Director of the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, which brings together scholars with leading artists, writers, composers and filmmakers from around the world to foster innovative interdisciplinary collaboration. His educational background includes a D.Phil. from Oxford University (1988), an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University (1983), and a B.A. from Oxford University (1981). This strong academic foundation has positioned him as a preeminent historian with expertise spanning multiple historical periods and geographical regions. Mazower's research focuses on modern Greek history, 20th-century European history, and international history, with recent work examining the historical evolution of the Greek islands over the very long term. His scholarship bridges academic rigor with public engagement, as he frequently contributes commentary on international affairs and book reviews to major publications including the Financial Times , The Nation , the London Review of Books , and the New York Review of Books . In 2016, he expanded his public engagement through the film Techniques of the Body , a meditation on the refugee crisis in Greek history created with director Constantine Giannaris. His publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding the complex interplay between national histories and broader international frameworks. Mazower's work often examines how local experiences intersect with global forces, particularly in the context of war, occupation, state formation, and the development of international institutions. His approach combines deep archival research with conceptual innovation, making significant contributions to our understanding of European history, Greek history, and international relations. Mazower's scholarly achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Gennadius Prize (2023) Honorary Citizenship from the Republic of Greece (2022) Fellow of the British Academy (2019) D. Litt., honoris causa , Catholic University of Leuven (2019) D. Litt., honoris causa , University of Athens (2015) Dido Sotiriou Award of the Hellenic Authors Society (2012) Society of Columbia Graduates Great Teacher Award (2011) Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Hitler's Empire: Trilling Award and LA Times Book Prize for History (2009) Salonica, City of Ghosts: Duff Cooper Prize (2005) As an educator at Columbia University, Mazower has mentored numerous students in the Department of History, guiding research in modern European history, Greek history, and international history. His leadership extends to directing the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris, which has received significant funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to support interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and creative artists from around the world. At the Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination, Mazower has created a unique intellectual environment where historians work alongside artists, writers, and filmmakers to explore new approaches to understanding complex historical and contemporary issues. This innovative space reflects his commitment to bridging academic scholarship with creative expression and public engagement, fostering dialogue across disciplinary boundaries to address pressing global challenges.
