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Charles Athanasopoulos is an Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies & English at The Ohio State University. His research focuses on intersections of Black rhetorics, media, and culture, with expertise in The Black Radical Tradition, Rhetorical Theory, and Cultural Critique. He earned his Ph.D. in Rhetoric & Communication from the University of Pittsburgh. His work analyzes racial progress, public symbols, and post/Ferguson America through lenses of iconoclasm and critical race theory. Education: Ph.D., Rhetoric & Communication, University of Pittsburgh. Research interests span Black American and Diasporic Cinema, Afro-Caribbean and Greek-Roma identity critiques. He has published in venues like Lateral: The Journal of the Cultural Studies Association and Western Journal of Communication. His 2024 book Black Iconoclasm explores dismantling racial symbols in public discourse. Recent articles address Fanonian thought, anti-racist campus rhetoric, and transnational Blackness studies. His publications critically engage with visual activism, film analysis, and decolonial theories. Current projects include studies on sonic rhetorics in Black women’s music and global race discourses in Mediterranean contexts.

• The Black Radical Tradition
• Rhetorical Theory
• Cultural Critique
• +3 more

Ruxandra Paul is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Amherst College, where they teach courses ranging from introductory to advanced levels including POSC 470: International Migrations and Politics and POSC 436: European Democracy. Their academic work bridges political science, migration studies, and European Union politics, with a particular focus on how mobility transforms national politics and international relations. Education: PhD (Government), Harvard University A.M. (Government), Harvard University B.A., summa cum laude, PBK (Political Science - International Relations; French), Williams College Paul's research examines how migrations transform national politics and international relations, with particular attention to European citizenship enabling free movement across borders. Their work explores political developments in a world where people's experiential space transcends national territories, especially focusing on Central and Eastern Europe. Current research projects include "Citizens of the Market: Free Movement and Political Change in Central and Eastern Europe" (under contract at Oxford University Press) and studies on pandemic politics, cyberpolitics, and aging/ageism. Paul's publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output in migration politics, with a concentration on European contexts. Their work spans theoretical contributions on transnational citizenship and practical analyses of migration crises, showing an evolving focus from foundational migration studies toward contemporary challenges including pandemic politics and digital governance. Scientific Awards and Affiliations: Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University - Visiting Scholar and Local Affiliate Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Chateaubriand Fellowship of the French Government Weatherhead Center for International Affairs research grant Krupp Foundation research grant Certificate of Excellence in Teaching, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning Paul has received multiple competitive research grants and teaching awards, demonstrating excellence in both research and pedagogy. Their teaching portfolio includes innovative courses like POSC 109: Pandemic Politics: Democracy versus Disease and POSC 239: Acceptable Prejudice: Age, Aging, Ageism, reflecting their commitment to connecting academic research with contemporary issues. Outside of formal academic work, Paul teaches fitness classes (Barre and Barre Cardio) at the Amherst Gym and maintains diverse interests including music, dance, art, and long-distance running.

• Migration Politics
• European Union Politics
• International Relations
• +5 more

George Palacios, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Languages at Clemson University's College of Arts and Humanities. His work focuses on racialization and multiculturalism in Latin American nation-states through an Afro-diasporic lens, examining socio-political mobilizations and cultural expressions reshaping identities across Latin America and the Global South. Education: Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pittsburgh (2013); M.A. in Spanish from Purdue University (2004). Courses taught include Hispanic Literary Texts, Latin American Cultural Studies, and Spanish Language Immersion programs. Research Interests: Afro-Latin America, Colombian and Brazilian Literatures, US-Latin American Relations, and Global South Cultural Dynamics. He has published extensively on Afro-Colombian intellectual figures like Manuel Zapata Olivella, earning the 2021 Best Book Award from the Asociación de Colombianistas and the 2022 Clemson University Research Award. Articles and Books: His 2020 monograph Manuel Zapata Olivella (1920-2004) analyzes Zapata Olivella's radical political thought. Recent works critique mestizaje narratives and explore Blackness in colonial contexts. Articles appear in Revista de Estudios Colombianos , PALARA , and Escritos . Awards: Recognized for scholarly excellence in Afro-Latin American studies, including awards highlighting his contributions to decolonial theory and cultural critique. Professional Activities: Maintains an active research profile via Google Scholar (FTvxUjgAAAAJ) and engages in international academic collaborations.

• Afro-Latin American Studies
• Latin American Literatures and Cultures
• US-Latin American Relations
• +3 more

Robin Moore is a Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on the intersections of music, race, nationalism, and socialist art aesthetics in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has authored significant works including Nationalizing Blackness , Music and Revolution , and Music of the Hispanic Caribbean . Key Research Areas: African Diaspora music, Cuban music, Caribbean music, race relations in music, music curriculum reform Academic Contributions: Co-author of Danzón: Circum-Caribbean Dialogues in Music and Dance , which explores the hybrid origins of danzón and its influence on early jazz in New Orleans Scientific Awards: Béla Bartók Award for Outstanding Ethnomusicology Book Robert M. Stevenson Award from the American Musicological Society

• Music of the African Diaspora
• Music of Cuba
• Music of the Hispanic Caribbean
• +5 more

Vasudha Narayanan is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Florida, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Bombay and has held leadership roles including President of the American Academy of Religion (2001-2002). Her research focuses on Hindu traditions in India, Cambodia, and America, with particular emphasis on visual culture, gender, and material religion. Educated at the Universities of Madras, Bombay, and Harvard, her work explores themes such as Hindu temple architecture in Cambodia, diasporic religious practices, and gendered expressions of devotion. She has authored nine books, including co-editing the Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism , and has been supported by grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEH, and ACLS. In 2023, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Her research interests span Khmer art history, Bhakti poetry, and the intersection of religion with environmental ethics. She co-founded the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra) at UF, dedicated to advancing scholarship on Hindu culture. Her recent work examines the cultural and religious exchanges between India and Cambodia, as well as the role of performance and ritual in diasporic Hindu communities. Notable awards include the University of Florida’s Teacher Scholar of the Year (2010). Her articles analyze topics ranging from temple iconography to gendered devotional practices, reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary and globally oriented religious studies.

• Hindu Traditions
• Religious Studies
• Cultural Studies
• +4 more

Theodore Levin serves as the Arthur R. Virgin Professor of Music at Dartmouth College, with significant international engagements including Senior Advisor to the Aga Khan Music Programme and former Executive Director of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. His work bridges academic research and cultural advocacy across Central Asia and Siberia. His educational foundation includes a B.A. from Amherst College and both M.F.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University. Levin's research centers on ethnomusicological fieldwork examining the intricate relationships between sound, environment, and cultural identity among nomadic communities, with particular focus on spiritual practices and oral traditions along historical Silk Road routes. His publications reveal consistent thematic trajectories exploring musical preservation in rapidly changing societies, the ecological dimensions of sound production, and cross-cultural dialogue through artistic exchange. These works collectively document endangered traditions while analyzing their contemporary revitalization through international cultural development frameworks. As an educator, Levin teaches world music and American 'roots' music courses at Dartmouth, mentoring students in ethnographic methodologies. His professional activities extend to shaping global cultural policy through former leadership at Open Society Foundations' Arts and Culture sub-board, demonstrating sustained commitment to integrating arts into international development paradigms. Levin maintains active involvement with international initiatives including the Aga Khan Music Programme, where he contributes to preserving musical heritage across Muslim contexts through performance, education, and documentation projects that connect traditional artistry with contemporary creative expression.

• Ethnomusicology
• Musical Ethnography
• Central Asian Music
• +5 more

Linda Herrera is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Education. She also holds affiliations with the European Union Center, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and Center for African Studies at UIUC. Her research focuses on education and power in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with special emphasis on youth and generations, childhood in global context, and the social effects of technological change. Through a lens of critical pedagogy and movements for participatory democracy, her work examines the intersections of education, media, and society in the digital age. Herrera directs the Education 2.0 Research and Documentation Project (2019-2023), which documents Egypt's major education reform initiative. Her publications reveal consistent themes exploring digital citizenship, youth activism, educational reform in the MENA region, and critical democracy. She has authored or edited numerous books including Educating Egypt: Civic Values and Ideological Struggles (2022), Global Middle East: Into the Twenty-First Century (2021), and Revolution in the Age of Social Media (2014). As an international education advisor, she has consulted with Egypt's Ministry of Education and Technical Education and served on advisory boards for European Commission projects including 'Skills and Integration of Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Applicants in European Labour Markets' and 'Power2Youth.' Herrera has curated several YouTube channels including 'Critical Voices in Critical Times,' 'Democracy Dialogue,' and 'Education 2.0,' demonstrating her commitment to knowledge dissemination through digital platforms. She teaches graduate courses on global youth and citizenship, education and power in the Middle East, and advanced graduate seminars in educational policy studies.

• Middle East studies
• Education policy
• Youth and citizenship
• +7 more

Steve Puig is an Associate Professor of French and French Coordinator at St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Languages and Literatures, St. John's University. He also serves as Acting Chair of the department. Ph.D., City University of New York M.A., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Prior to joining St. John's, Dr. Puig taught at the University of North Carolina, Hunter College, and Medgar Evers College in New York. His research focuses on urban literature and culture in France, French Caribbean literature, hip hop studies, and transnational representations of New York in Francophone contexts. His current book project revises his doctoral dissertation on urban literature in France, while a second project examines New York's portrayal in contemporary French and Francophone literatures. His publications explore topics such as postcolonial memory, diaspora identities, and the intersection of music/literature in redefining Frenchness. Dr. Puig has conducted interviews with notable authors like Catherine Cusset and Mabrouck Rachedi, contributing to critical discourse in Francophone studies. He has participated in research initiatives and graduate assistantships, though specific awards or grants are not detailed in the provided information.

• Urban Literature and Culture in Contemporary France
• French Caribbean Literature
• French Hip Hop
• +2 more

El Hadji Samba Amadou Diallo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of African and African American Studies at Washington University, St. Louis. He joined in 2011 to expand Wolof language offerings and now teaches courses on Islam, Sufism, Francophone Africa, and African diaspora studies. His research focuses on religious institutions in West Africa, particularly the Tijāniyya brotherhood, colonial history, and cultural dynamics. He holds a PhD in History and Social Anthropology from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris, 2005). Research interests include historical anthropology of Islam in Senegal, Sufi traditions, youth culture, and diasporic musical connections (Zouk, Kizomba). Current projects explore transnational links through music between Africa and diaspora communities. Diallo organizes events like the annual Ñiari Ràkka conference, fostering dialogue between African Islamic leaders and scholars. Publications analyze French colonial impacts on religious succession conflicts, educational values in Tijāniyya communities, and Sufi knowledge production. He maintains active engagement with African communities in St. Louis through academic and cultural initiatives.

• Islamic Studies
• Historical Anthropology
• West African Culture
• +5 more

Trinh T. Minh-ha is a Professor in the Department of Gender & Women's Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, filmmaker, and theorist known for her work in feminist, postcolonial, and critical theory. Her affiliations include teaching appointments at Harvard, Smith, Cornell, and other institutions globally. She holds degrees from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where she earned two master's degrees and a Ph.D. in music composition. Her research integrates cultural politics, postcolonial discourse, and artistic practice. Minh-ha has produced six feature films—including Reassemblage (1982), Naked Spaces (1985), and A Tale of Love (1996)—which have been featured in 27 international retrospectives. She has also authored eight books and created multimedia installations addressing intersectional identity, decolonial aesthetics, and feminist epistemologies. Minh-ha’s work emphasizes ethical storytelling, challenging dominant narratives through experimental formats. While no specific awards are named, her films and writings have garnered significant academic and artistic recognition. She is currently on Academic Personnel Leave but maintains an office at 660 Social Sciences Building, Berkeley.

• Cultural Politics
• Post-Coloniality
• Contemporary Critical Theory
• +3 more

Lena Retamoso Urbano is a poet and scholar currently serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish at Bennington College since Fall 2021. She earned her PhD in Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures from The Graduate Center of CUNY . Research Focus : 20th/21st century Latin American and Spanish poetry, transnational surrealism, queer theory, avant-garde movements, and transatlantic cultural connections Creative Output : Three poetry collections ( Light of Debris , Miracles of Absence , Blank is the Dream of the Night ) Her academic work explores intertextuality and the poetics of Eros, with publications on Garcilaso de la Vega, Blanca Varela, César Moro, and Luis Cernuda. Her article Sacralizing the Ephemeral (under contract with Vernon Press) examines the dialectic between lovers and the beloved in Cernuda and Moro. She received the NeMLA Creative Writing Award (2022) for her poem and the body rises . Key trends in her scholarship include: cross-Atlantic surrealist dialogues, phenomenological approaches to poetic spatiality, and intersections between literature, film, and music. Her teaching spans Hispanic literature, culture, and creative writing at the college level.

• Contemporary Latin American Literature
• 20th and 21st Century Latin American Poetry
• Spanish Literature
• +12 more

Edith W. Clowes is the Brown-Forman Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Virginia, within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in Slavic from Yale University and is a leading scholar in Russian and Czech literature, culture, and intellectual history. Her work spans philosophy, religion, utopian thought, and the concept of imagined geographies in post-Soviet identity. Her research focuses on the intersection of literature and philosophical thought, particularly in revolutionary and fin-de-siècle Russia. She has pioneered interdisciplinary studies on regional identities in Russia and is currently advancing digital humanities through literary cartography, including the project Mapping Imagined Geographies of Revolutionary Russia (1914–1922) . Her scholarship explores how space, place, and identity are constructed in cultural discourse. The most recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with imagined geographies, regional identity, and digital methodologies. Her work bridges literary analysis, cultural theory, and spatial cognition, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary and multimodal approaches. She frequently publishes in both English and Russian, contributing to international scholarly dialogue. Her scientific awards include prestigious fellowships from ACLS, NEH, DAAD, Fulbright-Hays, IREX, and others, underscoring the recognition and impact of her research. Professor Clowes has served as a past director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Kansas. She mentors through editorial leadership and collaborative scholarship, though specific advisees are not listed. Her research has been supported by major institutional grants, including Title VI, US Army Research Office, DAAD, Open World Institute, and the Institute of Turkish Studies. She is actively involved in editorial work as Associate Editor of Russian Review and serves on the editorial boards of Losevskie chteniia , Region , and Beiträge zur slavistischen Philologie . She also co-founded 'Music Works' to support music education and has collaborated with university museums on art exhibits and conferences.

• Russian Literature
• Czech Literature
• Literary and Cultural Studies
• +12 more

John Gripentrog is Professor of History and Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities at Mars Hill University, where he teaches in the Department of History and International Studies. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2006 and has been recognized for excellence in teaching with awards from both Mars Hill University and UW–Madison. His research focuses on U.S. foreign relations, particularly the cultural and ideological dimensions of U.S.-Japan relations between the World Wars. He explores how cultural diplomacy, ideology, and public perception shaped international tensions leading to the Pacific War. His scholarship also engages public history, especially regarding the memory of the Civil War and the meaning of Confederate symbols. The published works of John Gripentrog reflect a strong trend in transnational and cultural diplomatic history, blending archival research with accessible narrative. His writings span academic journals like Pacific Historical Review and Diplomatic History , as well as public commentary in outlets like the Asheville Citizen-Times and History News Service . A central theme across his publications is the interplay between ideology, culture, and statecraft in shaping international conflict and understanding. Scientific and Teaching Awards: Robert S. Gibbs Outstanding Teaching Award, Mars Hill University Letters & Science Teaching Award, University of Wisconsin–Madison Dr. Gripentrog advises on historical interpretation and public discourse, contributing to both academic and civic dialogue. His work is supported by deep archival research and informed by extensive international travel and a background in theater and music. He has no formal grants mentioned, but his publications and public engagement reflect sustained scholarly activity. He is involved in shaping curriculum and academic leadership as Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities. Though no formal lab or research team is mentioned, his work engages interdisciplinary themes across history, international relations, and cultural studies. His personal experiences—from performing in theater and music ensembles to traveling in over forty countries—inform his holistic approach to understanding global cultural dynamics.

• U.S. Foreign Relations
• Cultural Diplomacy
• 20th Century U.S. History
• +7 more

Evan Torner is Professor of German Studies and Film & Media Studies at the University of Cincinnati, where he directs the UC Game Lab. His research integrates German cinema, science fiction, and role-playing game studies, with emphasis on East German (DEFA) film, colonial representations, and participatory media. Previously an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow at Grinnell College, he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2013). Education highlights: Ph.D. in German Studies (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2013) M.E. (University of Tokyo, 2014) B.A. (Grinnell College, 2004) Research examines transnational genre cinema, especially kagome metal cultural circuits, and game-based pedagogy. Current projects analyze Cold War cinematic exchanges and larp (live-action role-playing) as pedagogical tools. Publications reflect sustained inquiry into German film history and game studies, particularly DEFA's transnational collaborations and narrative innovations in science fiction. Recent trends show increased focus on role-playing methodologies and game theory applications. Awards & Honors: Dean's Teaching Excellence Award (2017) Outstanding Essay Award in Cinema Studies (2015) DAAD Fellowships (2009-2010, 2012) Block Winter Award for interdisciplinary scholarship (2020) Leads NIH/NSF-funded projects on game-based learning and co-edits the Analog Game Studies journal. Advises students in German-film crossovers and organizes international larp events. Directs the UC Game Lab, fostering research on immersive media and game design pedagogy.

• East German cinema
• transnational genre cinema
• role-playing games
• +3 more

Dr. Fabienne Moore is an Associate Professor in the Department of French and Romance Languages at the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, University of Oregon. She specializes in Early European Romanticism, Chateaubriand studies, and the intersection of French Enlightenment with colonial and postcolonial narratives. Ph.D., Comparative Literature, New York University (2001) Maîtrise, English, Université de Toulouse-Le Mirail (1989) Her research explores prose poetry , bande dessinées , and blue humanities , with a focus on 18th-19th century French literature’s engagement with classical reception, revolutionary ideologies, and spatial theory. Recent works examine Homeric influences in Enlightenment France and Gustave Doré’s visual rhetoric. Notable publications include her 2009/2017 monograph Prose Poems of the French Enlightenment and analyses of Chateaubriand’s Les Aventures du dernier Abencérage . She also contributes to translation studies, notably co-translating Mário Pinto de Andrade’s decolonization theories (2024). Her scholarship bridges literary form with socio-political contexts, emphasizing gendered perspectives , spatial semiotics , and transnational artistic dialogues .

• Early European romanticism
• Chateaubriand
• European Enlightenment
• +5 more