Rebecca Hains is a Professor of Media and Communication at Salem State University. Her research focuses on children's media culture, gender representation, and marketing to children through critical/cultural studies. Ph.D. in Mass Media and Communication from Temple University (2007) Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Temple University (2007) M.S. in Mass Communication from Boston University (2000) B.A. in English/Communication Arts from Emmanuel College (1998) Her work has been featured in major news outlets like BBC, The New York Times, and NPR. She has authored two monographs: The Princess Problem (2014) and Growing Up with Girl Power (2012), and co-edited three collections on children's media and toys. Recent publications analyze: Barbie's body politics and diversity marketing Gendered marketing in LEGO toys Intersectional analysis of media's impact on children Critical perspectives on youth media consumption She actively engages in public scholarship through RebeccaHains.com , social media, and media commentary. Key research trends show: Continuity in examining gendered consumer culture Evolution from girl power narratives to contemporary princess culture Increasing focus on intersectional analyses of race, gender, and class Interdisciplinary approach combining media studies, sociology, and gender studies Her teaching includes courses like: MCO 222 How Advertising Works MCO 303 Media and Race MCO 475 Critical Analysis of Media and Culture MCO 330 UX Research in Digital Media
Geraldine Heng is the Mildred Hajek Vacek and John Roman Vacek Chair in English at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is cross-appointed to Middle Eastern Studies, Women's Studies, Jewish Studies, and the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Social Justice. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023 and a Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America, she founded and directs the Global Middle Ages Project (G-MAP), a major interdisciplinary initiative promoting global perspectives on premodernity. With a Ph.D. from Cornell University, Heng has pioneered the field of premodern critical race studies, fundamentally challenging the assumption that race is a modern construct. Her research focuses on literary, cultural, and social encounters between worlds, particularly through the lenses of race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion, with special attention to medieval Europe's interactions with Asia and Africa. Heng's scholarly work reveals how medieval global connections shaped cultural production and identity formation long before the so-called 'Age of Exploration.' Her approach synthesizes literary analysis, historical research, and critical theory to uncover the deep roots of globalization and its implications for understanding contemporary identity politics and cultural exchange. Her publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory toward increasingly global frameworks, moving from studies of medieval romance to comprehensive examinations of early global interconnectedness. This evolution reflects her commitment to dismantling Eurocentric narratives of the medieval world and revealing the complex networks of exchange that characterized premodern societies across Afro-Eurasia. 2019 PROSE prize in Global History 2019 Academy of American Literature prize in Historical Studies 2019 Robert W. Hamilton Grand Prize 2020 Otto Gründler prize Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America Heng has secured approximately $750,000 in grants for digital projects and held eight major fellowships at research centers. She co-edits the Cambridge University Press Elements series in the Global Middle Ages and the University of Pennsylvania Press series RaceB4Race: Critical Studies of the Premodern. Her teaching encompasses courses on early global literatures, premodern race, Crusades literature, Arthurian traditions, and feminist theory. As founder and director of the Global Middle Ages Project (G-MAP), Heng has built an international scholarly network that challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries and promotes collaborative approaches to studying premodern global connections. The project has fostered numerous digital initiatives, publications, and conferences that have significantly reshaped how scholars understand medieval intercultural exchange.
Ato Quayson is the Jean G. and Morris M. Doyle Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Stanford University, where he also chairs the Department of African and African American Studies. He previously held professorships at New York University (2017–2019) and the University of Toronto (2005–2017), where he was inaugural director of the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies and became a University Professor (2016), the university's highest honor. His academic journey includes a B.A. (First Class Honors) in English and Arabic from the University of Ghana (1989) and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Cambridge (1995). He held a Junior Research Fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford, and was a Reader in Commonwealth and Postcolonial Literature at Cambridge (1995–2005), concurrently directing the Centre for African Studies and serving as Pembroke College Fellow. Quayson’s research explores postcolonial literature, urban studies, disability studies, and cultural theory. His work bridges global and local contexts, with notable publications such as Oxford Street, Accra (Urban History Association Prize) and Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature (Warren-Brooks Prize). He co-edits the Cambridge History of Postcolonial Literature and chairs initiatives like Contours: The Cambridge Literary Studies Hour . His accolades include fellowships from the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006), the Royal Society of Canada (2013), the British Academy (2019), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023). He has also served as President of the African Studies Association (2019–2020). Quayson curates the YouTube channel Critic.Reading.Writing , discussing literature and urban studies, and teaches courses on global Black diaspora studies and Toni Morrison’s work. His current projects include Accra Chic: A Locational History of Fashion and studies on exile in African literature.
Claire Mercer is a Professor of Human Geography at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), based in the Department of Geography and Environment. Her research focuses on urbanization in Africa, particularly in Tanzania, examining how middle-class identities are constructed through suburban housing and self-build practices. She explores themes of class reproduction, urban inequality, and the intersection of civil society with development policies. Mercer is a leading scholar in African urban studies, with expertise in diaspora networks, postcolonial geographies, and NGO dynamics. Her current research project, funded by the ESRC, investigates how self-build housing in Ghana and Tanzania drives urban and economic growth. She has authored multiple books and articles, including the upcoming monograph The suburban frontier: middle class construction in Dar es Salaam (University of California Press, 2024). Mercer serves on editorial boards for journals such as the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Antipode , contributing to critical debates in development geography. Her work spans interdisciplinary themes including African urbanism, spatial inequality, and the politics of belonging. Key regions of focus include Tanzania, Cameroon, and the UK. Mercer’s research bridges theoretical frameworks from human geography with empirical studies of African urbanization, emphasizing the material and aesthetic dimensions of class formation in peripheral urban areas.
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.
Naomi Murakawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the reproduction of racial inequality in American politics, particularly in the realms of crime policy and the carceral state. Her scholarly work bridges political science, critical race theory, and legal studies. Key areas of interest include mass incarceration, racial liberalism, the historical development of crime control, and the paradoxes of reform within the criminal justice system. Her research, reflected in publications such as The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America and numerous journal articles, reveals how ostensibly progressive policies have contributed to the expansion of the prison system. Themes across her work include the racialized foundations of state power, the limitations of liberal reform, and the structural persistence of racial inequality in law and governance. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Fellowship from Columbia Law School’s Center for the Study of Law and Culture Fellowship from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Program Professor Murakawa has advised graduate students and contributed to major scholarly and public conversations on race and justice. Her work has been supported by significant research grants and fellowships, enabling deep historical and theoretical analysis of the American carceral state. She is a leading voice in interdisciplinary debates on decarceration, abolition, and transformative justice. She is affiliated with research initiatives focused on race, law, and inequality, contributing to collaborative teams examining the intersections of policy, history, and social movements. Her ongoing scholarship continues to challenge conventional narratives about crime, punishment, and racial progress in the United States.
Jens Rydgren is Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University, where he holds the Chair in Sociology since 2009. He is affiliated with the Department of Sociology within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Rydgren graduated from Stockholm University in 2002 and has been a visiting scholar at Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, Copenhagen University, and Utrecht University. He is a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters. Professor Rydgren's primary research interests lie in political sociology, particularly the study of radical right-wing parties and their voters, with a focus on explaining variation over time and across countries. He also has a longstanding interest in social networks and how relational and contextual factors influence individuals' beliefs, opportunities, and actions. His additional research interests include ethnic conflict, belief formation processes, collective memory, fanaticism, and sociology through literature. Much of his work combines theoretical insights with empirical analysis to understand complex social phenomena. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on radical right-wing politics, xenophobia, nationalism, and social network analysis. Rydgren frequently employs comparative and multi-method approaches to examine political behavior and social phenomena. His work often intersects political sociology with social network theory to understand how contextual factors shape political attitudes and behaviors. He has made significant contributions to understanding how social networks influence various outcomes, from political attitudes to health behaviors. Fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters Rydgren is currently the Principal Investigator (PI) of the research project "Why do working class voters support the populist radical right?" funded by the Swedish Research Council. Previously, he was PI for the ERC Starting Grant project "Individual Life Chances in Social Context: A Longitudinal Multi-Methods Perspective on Social Constraints and Opportunities" (2011-2018), which combined survey data and register data to study the importance of egocentric networks for young adults' life chances. His research has important implications for understanding contemporary political challenges and developing evidence-based policy responses.
Professor Helen Finch (University of Leeds) is a leading scholar in German Literature , with a focus on Holocaust Studies , Queer Memory , and German-Jewish Cultural Production . Affiliated with the School of Languages, Cultures and Societies and the Centre for Jewish Studies , she co-leads the LCS Queer Area Studies Network and contributes to equality initiatives through the LGBT+ staff network . Research: Holocaust representation in German works, queer identity in postwar literature, transnational memory studies, curriculum design in German studies Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) Academic Output : Her 15 most recent publications span Holocaust poetics , queer life writing , translation ethics , and Sebaldian intertextuality , with a particular focus on intersections between trauma , identity , and intergenerational testimony . Supervision : Currently guides PhD research on topics including transnational transphobia , queer art practices , and LGBTQ+ cross-cultural representation . Her students explore areas from German exile photography to postcolonial queer narratives .
Dr. Mario Rebosura serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACE), part of the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology at the University of Queensland. His work bridges fundamental research and practical engineering solutions for sustainable urban water systems. His academic credentials include: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (2009) from the University of the Philippines Los Banos Masters of Engineering in Environmental Engineering (2012) from the Catholic University of Korea PhD in Chemical Engineering (2020) from the University of Queensland Rebosura specializes in integrated urban water management with emphasis on anaerobic technologies and resource recovery. His research investigates iron salt applications throughout urban water cycles, contaminant fate analysis, and advanced wastewater treatment processes. He combines chemical engineering principles with environmental science to develop circular economy solutions that transform waste streams into valuable resources while improving infrastructure resilience. His publication record reveals consistent focus on optimizing iron-based interventions across the urban water system—from sewer networks to treatment plants—with recent expansion into micropollutant management and enhanced anaerobic digestion. This trajectory demonstrates increasing sophistication in addressing complex water-energy-resource nexus challenges through interdisciplinary experimentation. Rebosura actively contributes to scholarly discourse as Editor for the International Research Journal on Innovations in Engineering, Science and Technology and as a reviewer for leading water research journals. His conference presentations have generated international recognition through speaking invitations and workshop leadership. He has secured significant research funding including: Australian Research Council project 'An integrated approach to iron salt use in urban water systems' (2014–2019) Meat & Livestock Australia initiative 'Wastes to Profits: Advanced Anaerobic Digestion' (2018–2022) As a core member of ACE, Rebosura leverages world-class facilities for laboratory and pilot-scale water research, collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to advance sustainable water management solutions for global challenges.
Dr. Shanshan Lan is a researcher affiliated with the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, where she contributes to the Moving Matters programme group. Her work focuses on urban anthropology, migration patterns, and racial formations across Asia and Euro-America. She examines transnational student mobility, global cities, African diasporas in China, and Chinese diasporas in the U.S., with a particular emphasis on class dynamics and social change. Her research employs ethnographic methods, including walking ethnography in urban environments, to explore how race and migration intersect with globalization. Notable projects include studies on African communities in Guangzhou, the role of the Catholic Church in African diasporas, and the experiences of Western entrepreneurs during the pandemic. Key Interests: Transnational migration, racial knowledge circulation, pandemic sociology, and global urban studies. Recent Focus: Whiteness studies in China, precarious migrant identities, and the impact of globalization on education and labor markets. Lan has received recognition for her work, including the Honorary Mention of the 2006 SUNTA Graduate Student Prize. Her publications span academic journals and edited volumes, addressing topics from racial inclusion policies to transnational business networks.
Eliot Quataert is a Professor of Astronomy and Physics at UC Berkeley, where he directs the Theoretical Astrophysics Center. He received his B.S. in Physics from MIT (1995) and Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University (1999), followed by postdoctoral work at the Institute for Advanced Study. His research focuses on compact objects, galaxy formation, and high-energy astrophysics. He has made significant contributions to understanding black hole accretion, galactic winds, and plasma astrophysics through collaborations including the FIRE galaxy formation simulations and the Dedalus project. Quataert teaches a wide range of astrophysics courses, from introductory classes to specialized graduate topics on stellar evolution and accretion processes. He has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in theoretical astrophysics.
Yavuz Köse is a University Professor of Turkology at the Department of Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of Philology and Cultural Studies, University of Vienna. He currently serves as Head of the Institute of Oriental Studies (since June 2024) and previously as Deputy Head (October 2022-June 2024). Before joining the University of Vienna in 2019, he was W3 Acting Professor for Turkology at the Asia-Africa Institute of the University of Hamburg (2010-2018). His educational background includes a Master of Arts in History and Culture of the Near East as well as Turkology, Psychology and Economics from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2001). Professor Köse's research focuses on social, economic and consumer history of the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, environmental and tourism history, history of science, and migration and workers' history. His work examines Ottoman social structures, economic transformations, cultural heritage, and identity formation, with particular attention to urban contexts and cross-cultural interactions. His recent publications show a strong emphasis on Ottoman social history, with particular attention to conversion narratives, cultural exchanges, and urban economic structures. The 2025 edited volume Becoming Ottoman represents a significant contribution to understanding identity formation in the Ottoman Empire. Among his notable recognitions is the Emerald Literati Award (2020) Professor Köse has supervised numerous doctoral students at both the University of Vienna and University of Hamburg, with research topics spanning cultural heritage in Turkey, migration histories, women's work and property, and Ottoman economic history. He has secured significant research funding including projects funded by FWF, DFG, and VolkswagenStiftung, such as the current 'Lebensmittelhändler von Istanbul' project examining Istanbul grocers as urban actors in supply chains. He is actively involved in academic leadership, serving as Head of the Institute of Oriental Studies and Deputy Spokesperson of the Doctoral School for Philological and Cultural Studies. He co-founded and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Diyâr. Journal for Ottoman, Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies and is a member of numerous scholarly organizations including the Society for Armenian Studies and the Society for Turkology, Ottoman Studies and Turkey Research.
Arjun Guneratne is a Professor of Anthropology and Chair at Macalester College, specializing in socio-cultural anthropology, ethnic identities, globalization, and environmentalism, with a focus on South Asia (Sri Lanka and Nepal). He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has conducted extensive research on the Tharu ethnic group in Nepal, exploring their identity formation, environmental transformations, and state interactions. Education: B.A. in Anthropology from Dartmouth College PhD in Anthropology from the University of Chicago Research Interests: His work bridges anthropology, environmental studies, and colonial history. Notable projects include studies on Tharu ethnicity, biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka, and the history of Sri Lankan ornithology. He co-edited Pathways to Power: The Domestic Politics of South Asia and authored Many Tongues, One People: The Making of Tharu Identity in Nepal . Professional Roles: Former Editor of Himalaya journal Committee member of the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka Contributor to environmental NGOs like the Environmental Foundation Ltd. Teaching: Courses include Ethnographic Interviewing, Environmental Anthropology, and South Asian Societies. His work often intersects with science, such as his course Anthropology through Science Fiction and research on ornithology. Grants & Labs: Active in environmental and cultural conservation initiatives, though specific grants are not detailed. Collaborates with South Asian scholars and institutions on regional studies.
Kyeyoung Park is Professor of Anthropology and Asian American Studies at UCLA, holding the Korea Times-Hankook Ilbo Endowed Chair in Korean-American Studies. She is a sociocultural anthropologist whose work focuses on inequality, social justice, and the migration of people, particularly displaced populations and their relationship to political economy, critical race theory, and transnationalism. Her research spans Korean American communities in the United States and Korean diaspora communities in Latin America, examining how structural forces shape cultural beliefs and ideologies across different contexts. Ph.D., City University of New York (1990) Professor Park's research centers on urban anthropology, inequality across race, class, and gender dimensions, migration and diaspora studies, and transnational processes. She examines how structural imperatives of migration lead to transformations in gender, kinship, family, politics, and religion among Korean diaspora communities. Her work employs intersectional analysis to understand multi-ethnic relations, with particular focus on Korean communities in both the United States and Latin America, exploring how axes of inequality impact racial minorities and their relationships with each other in global contexts. Her recent scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on Korean diaspora communities across the Americas, bridging urban anthropology with critical race theory to examine how race, class, and gender intersect in immigrant experiences. She has made significant contributions to understanding Korean-Latino relations in Los Angeles and Korean immigrant entrepreneurship in South American textile industries, reflecting her broader interest in immigrant adaptation and inter-ethnic dynamics across diverse geographic settings. Professor Park has received numerous prestigious awards and grants for her scholarship: 1998 Outstanding Book Award from the Association for Asian American Studies for "The Korean American Dream: Immigrants and Small Business in New York City" 1997-98 Visiting Scholar Award from the Russell Sage Foundation 2016-19 Research Grant from The Republic of Korea's Ministry of Education and Korean Studies Promotion Service 2008-09 Translation Grant from The Overseas Korea Foundation for "The Korean American Dream" 2008-09 AAP Faculty Recognition Award from UCLA Professor Park has secured substantial research funding throughout her career, including multiple grants from The Academy of Korean Studies, Korea Foundation, and UCLA research programs. Her funded projects have examined Korean diaspora communities across the Americas, with particular focus on transnational connections between Korean American and Latin American contexts. She has served as Principal Investigator on projects exploring Korean routes of migration in the Americas and second-generation Korean American transnationalism, demonstrating her sustained commitment to understanding immigrant experiences through anthropological and interdisciplinary lenses. Professor Park has been actively involved with UCLA's Center for Korean Studies (CKS) and the International Institute, where she served as Deputy Program Chair for Korean Studies in Latin America from 2006-2011. Her collaborative work extends to research teams examining Korean diaspora communities across the Americas, including partnerships with scholars in Latin America. She has also participated in interdisciplinary initiatives such as UCLA's Urban Humanities Institute Faculty Research Seminar, reflecting her commitment to cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding migration, diaspora, and transnational processes.
Dr. Yanqing Hu is an Associate Professor at the Department of Statistics and Data Science, School of Science, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). With a Ph.D. in Systems Theory from Beijing Normal University (2011) and postdoctoral experience at the Levich Institute, City University of New York (2011-2013), his work focuses on big data analysis of complex systems, particularly in social media dynamics, network resilience, and graph neural network applications. Ph.D.: Beijing Normal University (Systems Theory, 2011) Postdoctoral: Levich Institute, CUNY (2011-2013) Research spans complex network analysis, information spreading mechanisms, and predictability of network structures. His work combines theoretical frameworks with real-world applications in social networks, infrastructure systems, and brain connectivity. Recent publications explore information percolation in social media, resilience quantification in interdependent networks, and intrinsic structure predictability. These studies appear in high-impact journals like Nature Human Behaviour (IF: 24.3), Nature Communications (IF: 17.7), and PNAS (IF: 10). World AI Conference Youth Outstanding Paper Nomination Beijing Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award Guangdong Special Support for Young Talents Guangdong Outstanding Youth Fund Collaborations include leading researchers from Boston University, King's College London, and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Microelectronics. His work informs network defense strategies and efficient navigation mechanisms in complex systems.
