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Brett Welch is an Assistant Professor and Biostatistician at the University of Houston with dual appointments in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Dr. Welch's educational background includes: Ph.D. in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley B.S. in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders – Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Austin Dr. Welch's research sits at the intersection of psychology and communication. He seeks to understand how psychological processes like personality and psychopathology influence communication behaviors, and conversely, how communication behaviors impact psycho-social well-being. His work leverages quantitative methods, cross-sectional studies, and intensive longitudinal designs to interrogate the dynamic interplay between psychological processes and voice and communication behaviors. This research aims to advance understanding of functional voice disorders, improve assessment of psychopathology, and promote well-being for people with and without communication disorders. Dr. Welch has received several notable awards: Honors Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders PhD Scholarship (2024) New Century Scholars Doctoral Scholarship from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (2023) New Investigator Forum from The Voice Foundation (2021) As an academic, Dr. Welch serves as an ad hoc peer reviewer for various scientific journals in speech-language pathology and psychology. He is also a mentor in the Students to Empowered Professional Mentoring Program and a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. His teaching includes Special Problems: Introduction to Quantitative Modeling (COMD 8398). Dr. Welch maintains an active research program focused on the intersection of psychology and communication, with particular emphasis on voice disorders and their psychological correlates. His work combines biostatistical approaches with clinical insights to advance understanding in this specialized field.

• Psychology
• Communication Disorders
• Voice Disorders
• +4 more

Scott D. Landes is a Professor in the Sociology Department at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He holds affiliations with the Aging Studies Institute, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, and Center for Aging and Policy Studies. Landes earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Florida in 2014. His research focuses on disability mortality disparities, veteran health outcomes, and the intersection of disability with medical and social theory. Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Florida, 2014 Research Interests: Landes investigates mortality trends for disabled adults and veterans, disability theory integration with life course frameworks, and data equity in disability measurement. His work addresses systemic undercounting of disability in federal surveys and explores racial/ethnic disparities in lifespan outcomes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Recent Research Trends: His publications analyze pandemic impacts on IDD populations, combat veteran longevity, and diagnostic overshadowing in mortality reporting. Recent work critiques Washington Group disability measures' limitations and advocates for improved data collection methods. Awards: 2025 Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award O’Hanley Faculty Scholar (Syracuse University) NIH-funded research projects on aging policy and mortality disparities Advising & Grants: Recipient of multiple National Institutes of Health grants. Advises on disability data equity initiatives and participates in interdisciplinary teams addressing veteran health disparities. Supervises graduate research on IDD lifespan trajectories and pandemic vulnerability. Labs/Teams: Core member of Syracuse’s Aging Studies Institute and Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion. Collaborates with the Center for Aging and Policy Studies on federal health data projects. Engages with national disability advocacy groups through research briefs and policy consultations.

• Sociology of Disability
• Medical Sociology
• Aging and the Life Course
• +3 more

Nebiyou Tilahun is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), within the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA). He leads the Mobility Urban Systems and Equity Lab , focusing on equitable transportation solutions. His roles include teaching courses such as Transportation Planning Methods, Spatial Statistics, and Plan Making Studio. Dr. Tilahun holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota (2010), with earlier degrees in Civil Engineering (B.Sc., 2001; M.Sc., 2005). His career includes post-doctoral research at UIC’s Urban Transportation Center and the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, as well as professional experience at the Washington State Department of Transportation. Research Interests : His work bridges transportation equity, urban planning, and policy evaluation. Key areas include: Transport accessibility and equity Automated traffic enforcement (e.g., speed/red-light cameras) Social networks and travel behavior Disability and mobility challenges Intergenerational poverty and spatial mobility Recent Research Trends : His publications emphasize equity in urban systems, such as analyzing racial disparities in traffic stops, evaluating automated camera efficacy, and exploring how residential choices shape young adults’ travel patterns. He also investigates transit accessibility gaps in Chicago and the role of technology in urban informatics. Labs/Teams : Directs the Mobility Urban Systems and Equity Lab, which develops tools like the Chicago Accessibility Explorer to visualize transit equity. Collaborates on projects like Seeing Cities Through Big Data , applying data science to urban planning challenges. Grants/Advising : While specific grants are not detailed here, his lab’s work implies funding in transportation equity and technology. No advisees are listed in the provided materials.

• Transportation Equity
• Transport Accessibility
• Travel Behavior Analysis
• +4 more

Nancy Hirschmann is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Political Science. Her work focuses on political theory, disability rights, feminist theory, and the intersection of gender with public policy. A former Vice-President of the American Political Science Association, she has held leadership roles in academic institutions and research centers globally. Her research examines freedom through a disability lens, analyzing how bodily constraints shape political thought. Key contributions include *Gender, Class, and Freedom in Modern Political Theory* (2008) and *The Subject of Liberty* (2003), which won the 2004 Victoria Schuck Award. Hirschmann has held prestigious fellowships at the National Humanities Center, Stanford University, and Princeton University’s Institute for Advanced Study. Teaching spans modern political theory, feminist theory, and disability studies. She previously taught at Cornell University and Swarthmore College. Her recent projects include exploring disability’s role in citizenship and analyzing populism’s impact on democratic processes. Office hours are available via email despite sabbatical leaves. Education Background: Extensive academic career with prior roles at Cornell and Swarthmore before joining Penn in 2002. Research Interests: Disability theory, gender policy, political thought history, and public policy frameworks. Awards: 2004 Victoria Schuck Award for *The Subject of Liberty*. Grants & Fellowships: ACLS, National Humanities Center, Stanford Center for Advanced Study. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary groups on disability studies and feminist political theory.

• Disability Rights and Theory
• Gender Policy and Discrimination
• History of Political Thought
• +3 more

Dr. Michele Shaul serves as Professor of Spanish and Chair of the World Languages Department at Queens University of Charlotte, where she also directs the Center for Latino Studies. A dedicated scholar and educator, she co-founded the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and leads community-focused initiatives bridging academia and social outreach. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Spanish-American Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill M.A. in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville B.A. with honors in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville Dr. Shaul's research interrogates Latinx identity through literary criticism, translation, and creative writing, emphasizing intersectional experiences of race, gender, and disability within U.S. institutions. Her work actively challenges monolithic narratives while centering marginalized voices in both scholarly and artistic contexts. Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2023) reveals a cohesive trajectory exploring bilingual expression, cultural memory, and systemic inequity. Edited volumes on Latinx literature in Spanish and theater demonstrate scholarly rigor, while creative works like poetry and short stories employ personal narrative to examine reincarnation, hybrid identity, and border-crossing experiences. Her contributions have earned significant recognition: Queens’ 2016 Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award for pedagogical excellence 2023 Con A de Arte Award from the Latin American Coalition for cultural leadership Through the student/faculty Latino Studies Project, Dr. Shaul mentors researchers documenting Charlotte's Latino community history while collaborating with artists on tolerance-focused initiatives. Her editorial work with international scholars demonstrates sustained commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices across academic and creative domains. Dr. Shaul co-leads the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and directs the Latino Studies Project, fostering collaborative research between students, faculty, and Charlotte's Latino community. Her social outreach partnerships integrate art installations and performance to address diversity through experiential learning and public engagement.

• Latinx Literature
• Spanish-American Literature
• Translation Studies
• +3 more

Gulsah Akar is a Professor and Chair of the School of City & Regional Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology. She specializes in sustainable urban mobility, focusing on built environment-travel connections, equity, and new mobility technologies. Her research has been supported by grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Prior to Georgia Tech, she held a professorship at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she led the PhD Program in City and Regional Planning from 2015–2021 and served as Research Program Lead at OSU’s Sustainability Institute (2019–2021). Her research interests include transportation equity, multimodal travel behavior, and smart city technologies. She co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals, with recent work examining pandemic impacts on urban resilience, autonomous vehicle adoption, and aging populations’ travel patterns. Akar holds editorial roles, including former Editor of the Journal of Planning Literature (2015–2021), and actively contributes to Transportation Research Board committees. Educated at Middle East Technical University (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and the University of Maryland (Ph.D.), her academic career bridges transportation engineering and urban planning. Key research trends in her publications focus on: 1) built environment interactions with travel behavior, 2) equity in mobility access, and 3) innovation in transportation systems. Her articles consistently analyze data from major U.S. cities like Columbus, Seattle, and New York.

• Sustainable Urban Mobility
• Transportation Planning
• Urban Sustainability
• +5 more

Rachel Best is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on the intersections of politics, culture, inequality, and health, with a particular emphasis on disease advocacy, disability discrimination, and the sociological implications of medical policy. She directs the Sociology graduate program and leads computational studies on disease stigma, advocacy strategies, and ADA litigation outcomes. Her work bridges medical sociology, legal studies, and public health, addressing how societal structures shape health outcomes and policy responses. Her research interests include analyzing how disease campaigns influence health policy, the political consequences of overestimating individual health control, and the role of stigma in disability rights litigation. Notable projects use computational methods to trace policy advocacy impacts and explore visibility dynamics in disability cases. Recent publications (2022–2025) highlight her focus on disease stigma’s societal effects, legal interpretations of invisible disabilities, and the evolving nature of advocacy in health policy. Her earlier works, such as Common Enemies: Disease Campaigns in America , critique single-disease advocacy frameworks and their unintended policy consequences. Rachel Best advises on graduate studies and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams. Her research has been supported by grants focusing on sociological methods in health policy analysis. She is affiliated with the University of Michigan’s Sociology Department and the LSA College, contributing to discussions on inequality and institutional sociology.

• Health Policy
• Medical Sociology
• Disease Advocacy
• +3 more

Melissa Landers-Potts is an Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Programs and Principal Lecturer at the University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences (Department of Human Development and Family Science). She focuses on active and universal design for teaching and learning, emphasizing inclusive excellence. Her roles include overseeing undergraduate programs, aligning with the college's 2025 Strategic Plan, and fostering teaching excellence. She earned a Ph.D. (1998), M.A. (1994), and B.A. (1990) in Sociology/Anthropology from the University of Georgia and Carleton College. Her research explores socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and technology's impact on human development, with a focus on marginalized populations. She designs inclusive curricula and integrates service-learning, partnering with private-sector mental health companies for global adolescent mentorship programs. Recent studies include effects of economic stress on children, racism/classism, and technology's role in military youth well-being. Recipient of numerous awards, including the UGA Teaching Excellence Award (2022), she mentors faculty in active learning and service-learning initiatives. She chairs multiple committees (e.g., College Curriculum, Scholarships) and advises Phi Upsilon Omicron. Her outreach emphasizes experiential learning and inclusive educational practices.

• Socioeconomic Status and Development
• Race and Ethnicity Studies
• Lifespan Well-Being
• +3 more

Ari Schlesinger is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Georgia (UGA), directing the Socially Responsible Tech Lab. She holds a PhD from the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on anti-discriminatory computing, technology policy, and equitable sociotechnical systems. She advocates for reducing computing-enabled harm to advance justice in technology. Education : PhD in Human-Centered Computing (HCC), Georgia Tech Affiliations : ACM's U.S. Technology Policy Committee Her work spans Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and broader CS applications. Key interests include addressing algorithmic bias, inclusive design, and policy frameworks for ethical computing. She has developed strategies to mitigate discrimination in technical systems through frameworks like anti-discriminatory computing. Awards include the 2021 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award and a Best Paper Award at CHI 2018. Her research has been featured in venues like CSCW and CHI, focusing on topics from chatbot ethics to decentralized social networks. Lab : Socially Responsible Tech Lab at UGA Grants/Advising : Advises graduate student Eddie Alexander Gomez Schieber. Active in policy advocacy and academic leadership roles.

• Human-Centered Computing
• Anti-Discriminatory Computing
• Technology Policy
• +4 more

Crytal Lee is an Assistant Professor in Computational Media and Design at MIT, with a joint appointment in the Schwarzman College of Computing and Comparative Media Studies/Writing. She is also a Faculty Associate at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, co-leading the Ethical Tech Working Group, and a Senior Fellow at Mozilla's Responsible Computing Challenge. Her research focuses on data visualization, disability studies, and ethical technology, emphasizing the 'life-cycle of data representations.' Education: PhD in History, Anthropology, Science, Technology, and Society from MIT (2022); MA and BA (High Honors) in History of Science from Stanford University (2016 and 2015). Research Interests : Crystal examines how data is curated, visualized, and contested, with a particular lens on disability justice and accessible design. Her work bridges STS, HCI, and critical data studies, addressing issues like misinformation, algorithmic bias, and inclusive technology. Awards & Grants : Honorable Mentions at EuroVis 2022 and CHI 2021; NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant; SSRC Social Data Fellowship. Advising & Mentorship : Advised projects on accessible visualization, participatory AI, and disability inclusion. Current book project: Crip Computation . Labs & Teams : Co-leads Ethical Tech Working Group at Berkman Klein; involved in MIT's Data + Feminism Lab and Accessible Interactions projects.

• Ethical Technology
• Data Visualization
• Disability Studies
• +4 more

Jesse J. Helton, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University, where he has been since 2014. His research focuses on child maltreatment, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), food insecurity, and disability, with notable work published in JAMA Pediatrics , Child Maltreatment , and Preventative Medicine . He holds editorial roles at the Child Maltreatment journal and serves on the Prevention Committee of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Dr. Helton’s community partnerships address child abuse prevention, food security, and family violence mitigation in collaboration with statewide and local organizations. Education: Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Illinois; M.A. in Social Work, University of New Hampshire. Research Interests: Dr. Helton’s work explores intersections between childhood trauma, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes. Key themes include the impact of food insecurity on caregiver-child dynamics, disparities in ACEs among marginalized groups, and policy interventions to reduce maltreatment. His studies often employ mixed-methods approaches, combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative insights from affected communities. Awards: Recipient of the 2020 Association of Jesuit Colleges Leadership Institute award, 2018 Outstanding Young Alumni from Eureka College, and a 2014 Innovative Teaching Fellowship from SLU’s Reinert Center. Teaching: Courses include Principles of Statistics and Data Analysis , Research Methods for Diverse Societies , and Science of Helping . He emphasizes evidence-based practices and culturally responsive pedagogy. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across universities and NGOs, focusing on translational research to inform child welfare policies and community programs.

• Child Maltreatment
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Food Insecurity
• +3 more

Scott Wolfe is a Professor, Associate Director, and Director of the PhD Program at the School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University. He also serves as Director of the Michigan Justice Statistics Center and has secured funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, and Bureau of Justice Statistics. PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University (2012) MA in Criminal Justice, University of Louisville (2008) BA in Criminal Justice, Ohio Northern University (2006) Scott's research focuses on policing, organizational justice, and criminological theory. He evaluates police training programs for mental health crisis response, disabilities, and driver training, while also studying police supervisor-employee relations, use of force predictors, procedural justice, and the Ferguson Effect. His recent publications address racial disparities in traffic stops, police training effectiveness, de-policing impacts on crime, and procedural justice mechanisms. These works span criminology, public policy, and data analytics, with awards from the American Society of Criminology and Justice Information Resource Network. American Society of Criminology Division of Policing Outstanding Student Article Award (2024) Justice Information Resource Network’s Douglas Yearwood Publication Award (2025, Small SAC division) Scott leads funded projects such as the evaluation of police training programs in Southeast Michigan ($125,000) and the Michigan State Justice Statistics Program ($224,997). His team partners with agencies like the Michigan State Police to analyze disparities and develop training solutions.

• Policing
• Organizational Justice
• Criminological Theory
• +8 more

Professor Linda M. Burton is a leading sociologist and ethnographer specializing in child welfare, poverty, and family dynamics. Currently serving as Dean of Berkeley Social Welfare (2019-2024) and holding the Eugene and Rose Kleiner Chair, she previously held the James B. Duke Professorship at Duke University and directed its Center for Child and Family Policy. Education: PhD in Sociology from the University of Southern California Leadership: Dean at Berkeley Social Welfare, Director of Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy, Co-director of Duke's undergraduate International Comparative Studies program Her research integrates life course theory, developmental frameworks, and ecological perspectives to examine: Intergenerational family structures and role transitions Context/place influences on family dynamics Childhood adultification and accelerated life courses Recent publications focus on health disparities, welfare reform impacts, and multi-method ethnographic approaches. Key subfields include poverty, African-American families, rural/urban contexts, racial inequality, and kinship networks. Scientific honors include: 2022 Fellow of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare 2017 Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award (Duke University) 1996 American Family Therapy Academy Award for Innovative Contributions Burton's ethnographic work spans decades, with landmark studies like the Three-City Study (2002-2006) and the Family Life Project (2003-2008). She has mentored extensively in child development and multi-generational research.

• Child welfare
• Poverty
• Family processes
• +4 more

Lennard J. Davis is a Professor of English at the University of Illinois Chicago, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds cross-disciplinary roles in disability studies, literary theory, and critical theory. His work bridges academic and public scholarship through books like Enforcing Normalcy and The Disability Studies Reader . Education: Columbia University undergraduate and graduate studies, with prior faculty positions at Brandeis University, University of Pennsylvania, and others. Davis’s research focuses on disability studies, biocultures, and the intersections of literature and social structures. He has authored over 25 books, including memoirs like My Sense of Silence and novels like The Sonnets . His recent publications explore themes such as poverty representation ( Poor Things ), biopolitical frameworks ( In the Time of Pandemic ), and the socio-cultural construction of normality. Davis also contributes to public discourse through media commentary and NPR segments. Editorial leadership includes The Disability Studies Reader (5th ed.) and co-edited works on left politics and literary profession. His work challenges traditional academic boundaries, advocating interdisciplinary approaches to identity, disability, and modernity.

• Disability Studies
• Literary Theory
• 19th Century British Literature
• +4 more

Lauren Rivera is the Peter G. Peterson Chair in Corporate Ethics and Professor of Management & Organizations at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management , with a courtesy appointment as Professor of Sociology at the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences . Her research focuses on how merit definitions in organizations perpetuate social inequalities, including studies on hiring bias, gender disparities, and elite labor markets. PhD, Sociology (Harvard University, 2009) AM, Sociology (Harvard University, 2006) BA, Sociology and Psychology (Yale University, 2000) Her work spans disciplines such as hiring discrimination , gender equity , and disability studies , often employing qualitative and mixed methods . Recent articles examine racial bias mitigation , disability exclusion in education, and gendered promotion regimes in law firms. She has authored the best-selling book Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs and contributed to media outlets like the New York Times and Harvard Business Review . Scientific awards include the Granovetter Award , Max Weber Book Prize , and multiple Kellogg Teaching Awards . Her editorial roles include positions at the American Sociological Review and Princeton University Press Series in Cultural Sociology.

• Hiring Discrimination
• Workplace Inequality
• Social Class
• +5 more