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Volker Benkert serves as Associate Professor in Arizona State University's School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, with additional affiliations at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Melikian Center, Jewish Studies program, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Education: Dr. Phil., University of Potsdam Staatsexam, University of Bonn Studies in History and English at Universities of Edinburgh, St. Petersburg, and Fribourg Research Focus: Benkert investigates regime change impacts on biographies in 20th century Germany through biographical interviews and discourse analysis. His work examines transmission of apologetic historical narratives across generations, focusing on German-Jewish relations, Holocaust representation, and generational identity formation. Key methodologies include comparative genocide pedagogy and media memory studies , with publications spanning German reunification impacts and DDR generational studies. Publication Trends: Recent output (2013-2022) reveals three dominant strands: 1) Comparative genocide education (collaborative works on Holocaust/Rwanda pedagogy), 2) German generational history (particularly the "last DDR generation" born circa 1970), and 3) Critical analysis of Holocaust representation in German media. His edited volumes consistently explore memory politics through generational lenses. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in provided materials. Advising & Grants: Mentored seven Honors Theses and 35+ honors contracts at ASU, plus two Master's theses. Secured collaborative funding through Arizona Holocaust Education Initiative and partnerships with USC Shoah Foundation, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and Anti-Defamation League for genocide education workshops. Research Teams: Co-organizes International Comparative Genocide Symposium and Terrortimes, Terrorscapes conference series. Leads ASU's Holocaust education initiatives with Jason Bruner and Lauren Harris, developing digital tools for comparative genocide teaching.

• German History
• Holocaust Studies
• Genocide Studies
• +4 more

Friedemann Weidauer is a Professor in German Studies at the University of Connecticut, specializing in post-1945 East and West German culture, 20th-century literature, and DEFA films. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with prior education at Freie Universität Berlin and Reed College. Education: Ph.D., German, University of Wisconsin-Madison MA, German, University of Wisconsin-Madison Zwischenprüfung, German, American Studies, and Education, Freie Universität Berlin BA, Classics, Reed College Weidauer's research focuses on East and West German film, minority literatures, and the intersection of Kulturpolitik with DEFA cinema. His recent work includes editorial contributions to the Brecht Yearbook (Volumes 33–37, 2007–2012) and studies on authors like Jurek Becker and Wolfgang Borchert. Contact details: Email friedemann.weidauer@uconn.edu , phone +1 860 486 1533, office in Oak 261. Office hours are conducted via WebEx by appointment.

• 20th Century Literature
• East German Film
• West German Film
• +5 more

Katarzyna Marciniak is Professor and Department Chair of Media Arts & Culture at Occidental College, appointed in 2019 after serving as Distinguished Visiting Professor during the 2019-20 academic year. Her office is located in Weingart 112 with regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her academic credentials include: Master of Arts from the University of Lodz Master of Arts from the University of Montana Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oregon Professor Marciniak's research interrogates the aesthetics and politics of transnational visual cultures, with rigorous focus on representations of foreignness, immigration, national (un)belonging, and border zones as sites of contention. She integrates feminist theory, refugee studies, and postsocialist media analysis—particularly regarding Eastern European cultures—to examine how visual media construct identities in contexts of displacement. Her pedagogical innovations emphasize ethics in teaching trauma cinema and creating transnational classrooms that engage critically with migration narratives. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a cohesive scholarly trajectory centered on refugee cinema, transnational visual representation, and socialist/post-socialist cultural studies. Her work consistently applies feminist and ethical frameworks to dissect cinematic mediation of migration, border politics, and cultural alienation, while pioneering pedagogical approaches for teaching difficult subjects through film. Her distinguished recognition includes: 2025 Linda and Todd White Teaching Prize Modern Language Association Florence Howe Award for Outstanding Feminist Scholarship (2010) for her article 'Pedagogy of Anxiety' in Signs While the source text does not specify graduate student mentorship or research grants, Professor Marciniak's prolific scholarly output and editorial leadership demonstrate active academic community engagement. She serves as Lead Editor for Palgrave's Global Cinema series and has co-edited five major volumes including The Oxford Handbook of Communist Visual Cultures (Oxford University Press). Her authored monographs include Alienhood: Citizenship, Exile, and The Logic of Difference (University of Minnesota Press) and Streets of Crocodiles: Photography, Media, and Postsocialist Landscapes in Poland (Intellect/University of Chicago Press). Her forthcoming co-authored book Refugee Cinema with Bruce Bennett (Lancaster University) is scheduled for Oxford University Press publication in 2025.

• Transnational Visual Cultures
• Refugee Representations
• Feminist Media Studies
• +5 more

Omer Bartov is the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, where he holds a prominent position in the Department of History within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is recognized globally as a leading scholar on the Holocaust, genocide, and war in modern Europe, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and memory politics. His academic journey began with a BA from Tel Aviv University and a DPhil from Oxford University, followed by a distinguished career marked by leadership in research and teaching. Born in Israel BA, Tel Aviv University (1979) PhD, Oxford University (1983) Bartov's research explores the dynamics of ethnic coexistence and violence, especially in borderlands such as Galicia. His work bridges military history, cultural studies, and memory studies. He has authored seminal books including Hitler's Army , Mirrors of Destruction , Anatomy of a Genocide , and Tales from the Borderlands , all of which have shaped contemporary understanding of genocide and historical memory. His recent scholarship incorporates environmental history and personal political reflection, particularly regarding Israel-Palestine. His publications reveal a consistent engagement with themes of mass violence, denial, representation, and historical accountability. Articles such as 'Blind spots of genocide' and 'What is the Environmental History of the Holocaust?' demonstrate his innovative approach to integrating memory, ethics, and interdisciplinary perspectives. His work often centers on microhistories, like the town of Buczacz, to explore broader questions of community collapse and survival. Bartov has received numerous accolades, including: National Jewish Book Award (2018) Zócalo Book Prize (2019) Ab Imperio Award (2018) Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2005) John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship (2003–2004) National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships Berlin Prize Fellowship He has held visiting fellowships at Harvard, Princeton, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies. His teaching includes courses on modern genocide, Germany, and Israel-Palestine. While specific advisees are not listed, his senior academic rank and editorial roles suggest extensive mentorship. He is currently active in research and publication, with recent and forthcoming books on first-person history and the political history of Israel and Palestine.

• Holocaust Studies
• Genocide Studies
• Modern European History
• +9 more

Christina Gerhardt is a Professor and Henry J. Leir Endowed Chair in Foreign Languages and Cultures at Clark University. Her research focuses on environmental humanities, blending literary and cultural analysis with climate science. She has held prestigious visiting positions at Princeton University’s High Meadows Environmental Institute as Barron Visiting Professor of Environmental Humanities and multiple terms as Senior Fellow at the Rachel Carson Center (Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich). Her work bridges environmental studies and cultural critique, exemplified by her award-winning book *Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean* (2023), recognized by *New Scientist* as a top science book. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of *ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment*. Her academic trajectory includes visiting roles at Harvard, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and the Free University of Berlin. Notable fellowships include the Newberry Library Short-Term Fellowship (2022–2025) and multiple Woodrow Wilson Center and Freiburg Insitute for Advanced Studies grants. Her publications span environmental atlases, German cinema studies, and transnational revolutionary movements. Current research explores climate change’s cultural and geographic impacts, particularly in coastal regions and urban centers. Awards: New Scientist 'Best Popular Science Book' (2023), Barron Visiting Professorship (Princeton), Rachel Carson Center Senior Fellowships Grants: Newberry Library Fellowship, Woodrow Wilson Center Fellowship, Freiburg Insitute for Advanced Studies Grant Labs/Teams: Leads Clark University’s environmental humanities initiatives, collaborates with global institutions on climate atlases and cultural memory projects

• Environmental Humanities
• Climate Change Studies
• Literature and Environment
• +5 more

Nancy Reagin is a Professor in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at Pace University’s Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and has established herself as a leading scholar in European history, particularly in German gender history, consumer culture, and the cultural politics of fandom. Her interdisciplinary work bridges history, gender studies, and popular culture. PhD, Johns Hopkins University, 1990 MA, Johns Hopkins University, 1985 BA, University of California at Berkeley, 1983 Her research focuses on the intersections of gender, national identity, and domestic life in modern Germany, with significant contributions to understanding how consumer culture and household practices shaped national ideologies from the 19th century through the Nazi era. She has also pioneered scholarly exploration of fan communities, historical reenactment, and the use of science fiction and fantasy literature as sites of historical imagination and political analogy. Her work often examines how popular media reinterprets and refracts historical narratives. Her recent publications reveal a strong trend toward analyzing fandom as a form of historical engagement, particularly in transatlantic contexts. She investigates how Western reenactment, Star Wars , and Harry Potter serve as vehicles for processing historical trauma, constructing identity, and negotiating political ideologies. These works span cultural history, media studies, and reception theory, demonstrating her interdisciplinary reach. LGBTQ Educator of the Year Award, Pace University, 2015 Kenan Award for Teaching Excellence, Pace University, 2014 Undergraduate Research Initiative Award, Pace University, 2011 Distinguished Faculty Research Award, Dyson College, 2010 Special Service Award, Pace Student Government Association, 2001 Nancy Reagin has been deeply involved in academic leadership and mentoring, having chaired the Department of Women's and Gender Studies, the Faculty Council, and served as interim Academic Associate Provost. She has secured significant research funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright, and Verizon, supporting projects on educational resources and historical research. While specific advisees are not listed, her leadership in undergraduate research and teaching excellence underscores her commitment to student mentorship. Her work on educational initiatives, including the 'Reacting to the Past' pedagogical model, reflects her engagement with innovative teaching methods that immerse students in historical role-playing. She has also contributed to public-facing scholarship through edited companions to fantasy and science fiction literature, expanding the reach of historical analysis beyond academia.

• European History
• German Gender History
• Gender and Sexuality
• +11 more

Joan Clinefelter is a Professor in the Department of History at the University of Northern Colorado, affiliated with the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. She specializes in Modern European History, focusing on 20th-century Germany, Nazi Germany, and Cold War cultural dynamics. Her research explores propaganda, media, and gender studies in historical contexts. Education: A.B., German and European Studies, Grinnell College M.A., Modern European History, Indiana University Ph.D., Modern European History, Indiana University Research Interests: Dr. Clinefelter investigates the intersection of media, politics, and ideology in 20th-century Europe. Her work analyzes Cold War radio propaganda (e.g., RIAS Berlin broadcasts), Nazi art policies, and gender dynamics in historical media. She emphasizes audience reception and cultural control mechanisms in totalitarian regimes. Key Articles: Her recent work examines Cold War women’s radio programming, Nazi-era art, and propaganda strategies in films like Der ewige Jude . These studies highlight how media shaped societal perceptions under political regimes. Awards/Honors: Jack and Anita Hess Faculty Fellow (2015, 2012) National Endowment for the Humanities Grant Recipient (2008, 1996) Multiple awards for Outstanding/Favorite Faculty (1995–2017) Grants & Advising: Secured grants from the NEH, Provost’s Office, and DAAD. Advises students in Modern European History, though specific advisees are not listed here. Active in promoting Holocaust education and archival research. Labs/Teams: Engaged with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum through faculty fellowships, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on Nazi Germany and Cold War media.

• Modern European History
• 20th-Century Europe
• Modern Germany
• +4 more

Ramona Curry is an Associate Professor Emerita in the Department of English at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Specializing in cinema and media studies, she focuses on gender, race, and class in media, cross-cultural adaptations, and the historiography of cinema. Her research emphasizes challenging stereotypes through trans-Pacific film flows, particularly Chinese cinema's impact in America. She taught at Hong Kong Baptist University (2004 Fulbright Award) and Uppsala University (2015 Fulbright Distinguished Chair). Education: B.A. from University of Chicago; M.A. from University of Tübingen, Germany; Ph.D. in Radio/TV/Film from Northwestern University. Her monograph Trading in Cultural Spaces: How Chinese Film Came to America , funded by NEH grants (2008, 2011), re-examines American cinema history through Chinese film's trans-Pacific influence. Research interests include sociocultural impacts of media institutions, German cinema history, and international film distribution. She has published widely on figures like Mae West and Benjamin Brodsky, with articles in Cinema Journal , Journal of Women’s History , and others. Awards include NEH grants, a Mid-Career Faculty Release Time Award, and Fulbright recognitions. Her teaching spans film theory, popular culture, and writing about cinema, including courses on gender in film, documentary approaches, and transmedia adaptations. Her current work continues archival research on underrepresented cultural narratives in cinema history, aiming to diversify film historiography.

• Cinema Studies
• Media History
• Gender Studies
• +6 more

Sunka Simon is the Henry C. and Charlotte Turner Professor at Swarthmore College with a joint appointment in German and Film and Media Studies. She currently serves as the interim chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and holds affiliations with Global Studies, Environmental Studies, Film & Media Studies, and German Studies programs. M.A. in German and American Literature from Universität Hamburg Ph.D. in German and Literary Theory from Johns Hopkins University Professor Simon's research focuses on German literature, film, television, and popular culture with special emphasis on television studies, transnational media formats, and epistolary forms in postmodern contexts. Her work examines how media formats negotiate cultural specificity within global frameworks, with particular attention to German television crime dramas, popular music shows, and diaspora representations. Her publications reveal strong trends in examining German media through transnational and historical lenses, with increasing focus on digital media's impact on traditional formats. Simon's research connects German cultural production to broader European and global contexts, particularly exploring how regional identities interact with global media flows. Simon has been instrumental in developing globally networked teaching models, co-creating Swarthmore's first internationally connected classroom with Ashesi University in Ghana. Her teaching innovations include student television production projects and interactive media installations like PERCEPTICON that challenge unconscious bias in media reception.

• German Literature
• Film Studies
• Television Studies
• +5 more

Mark Edward Ruff is a Professor and Chair of the Department of History at Saint Louis University's College of Arts and Sciences. Specializing in Modern European History, his research examines Nazi Germany, Cold War religious tensions, and the interplay between Catholicism and political culture. Ph.D., Brown University, 1999 M.A., Brown University, 1992 B.A., University at Buffalo, 1991 Ruff’s work focuses on postwar German religious history, confessional divides, and historical memory. He has co-edited volumes on transnational Catholicism, Cold War media controversies, and the role of Catholic elites in shaping post-Nazi Germany. His research explores secularization debates, unintended consequences of religious conservatism, and media’s role in historical discourse. His scientific awards include NEH and ACLS fellowships, multiple Mellon and DAAD grants, and teaching excellence awards. Ruff actively contributes to edited volumes and journal articles, analyzing topics like the Reichskonkordat, Hochhuth’s theatrical controversies, and the legacy of Catholic youth organizations.

• Modern European History
• Nazi Germany
• Cold War History
• +7 more

Timothy Scott Brown is incoming Chair and Professor of History at Northeastern University's College of Social Sciences and Humanities. With a PhD in Modern European History from UC Berkeley (2000), his academic career spans multiple institutions including Pomona College and the Rachel Carson Center in Munich. Research Interests His scholarship focuses on European history through the lens of cultural and political movements, particularly: Transnational dynamics of the 1960s global protests Cold War Germany's social and cultural transformations Environmental history during Cold War periods Urban radicalism in divided cities Music and media as political tools Scientific Awards 2019 Carson Center Writing Fellowship 2016-17 ACLS Fellowship 2016 Berlin Prize recipient Multiple Fulbright Fellowships Faculty Research Grants Hunt Fellowship from American Council on Germany His publications include monographs and edited volumes analyzing the interplay between avant-garde culture, social movements, and Cold War geopolitics, with a particular focus on transnational connections between Germany and other global regions.

• European History
• Cold War Studies
• Social Movements
• +3 more

Corina M Stan is the Bacca Foundation Associate Professor of English at Duke University, part of the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD from Duke University (2010) and previously taught at Leiden University College in the Netherlands. Her work bridges comparative literature with European history, philosophy, and interdisciplinary studies of migration and ethics. Her research explores themes like moral philosophy in 20th-century literature, postcolonial identity, and the intersection of literature with socio-political movements. Education: PhD in Comparative Literature, Duke University (2010) MA in Comparative Literature, Université Paris Diderot (France) BA in Comparative Literature, Sorbonne University (France) Research Interests: Her current projects include studies on European post-decolonization identity (book-in-progress *After the West*), migration narratives in literature and culture, and ethical thinking in modernist works. She co-edited *The Palgrave Handbook of European Migration in Literature and Culture* (2023), analyzing historical and contemporary migration through colonial and postcolonial lenses. Teaching: Teaches courses on comparative modernism, political theater, migration, and contemporary theory. Recent courses include *Modernism and the Arts* (cross-listed with Art History and German Studies) and *Special Topics in Ethics and Literature*. Labs/Initiatives: Co-founded a humanities lab at Duke exploring migration narratives. Previously directed the Brill-Nijhoff Writing Institute in the Netherlands.

• Comparative Literature
• European History
• Literary Theory
• +3 more

Ricardo D. Trimillos is a Professor in Ethnomusicology at the Department of Music, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, with a broad focus on expressive arts in social contexts. He previously served as Chair of Asian Studies at the School of Pacific and Asian Studies and was a Visiting Professor at UCLA in 1994. He holds a B.A. in Music and English Literature from San Jose State University, an M.A. in Music-Ethnomusicology from the University of Hawai’i (sponsored by the East-West Center), and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA (1972). He also studied at Ateneo de Manila (Philippines) and the University of Cologne (Germany). His research spans Asian performance, Hawaiian music and dance, music of Muslim groups in the Southern Philippines, ethnic identity, arts and public policy, and gender in Pacific and Asian arts. He has acted as a consultant to governments (e.g., the former Soviet Union, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong) and institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Asia Society, emphasizing cross-cultural implications and the interrelationships of the arts. His publications explore Asian-American expressive arts, world music in education, Philippine ritual, and Hawaiian music. He is a performer of the Japanese koto, premiering a concerto in 1985, and has directed musical productions like the 1999 Natsu Matsuri at the University of Hawai’i. He has lectured at German universities and contributed to film projects such as Kumu Hula and Ku'u Home .

• Asian Performance
• Hawaiian Music and Dance
• Music of Muslim Groups in Southern Philippines
• +3 more

Thomas Maulucci is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut, specializing in Modern European History. He has over two decades of teaching experience in the U.S. and Germany, holding a BA in International Relations, Economics, and German from Canisius College and a PhD in Modern European History from Yale University. Education: BA (Canisius College), PhD (Yale University) Current Role: Faculty Coordinator for Early College Experience (ECE) HIST 1400 His research spans Twentieth-Century Diplomatic and International History, Modern German History, and Film Studies, with particular focus on Soviet Bloc ideology, Cold War diplomacy, and cinematic representations of historical events. Current projects include analyzing DEFA’s Foreign Ministry Films and the Soviet Bloc’s ideological strategies during the Cold War. Contact: thomas.maulucci@uconn.edu

• Twentieth-Century Diplomatic and International History
• Modern German History
• Film History
• +3 more

Felix Tweraser is Professor of German at University of West Georgia's School of Humanities. His research explores Austrian cultural memory, film history, and the migration of Viennese artists during the Nazi era. Education Ph.D. and M.A. in German Studies - Indiana University, Bloomington M.L.I.S. - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Teaching Approach Tweraser develops global citizenship competencies through foreign-language studies, focusing on transcending cultural stereotypes. He teaches courses from elementary German to advanced seminars on German cinema and cultural identity.

• Austrian Literature
• Austrian Culture
• Film Studies
• +6 more