Michael Rauhut is a Professor at the University of Agder where he leads the PhD specialization in popular music performance and represents subject teachers within scientific disciplines at the Department of Rhythmic Music . His academic work focuses on popular music studies and musicology, with supervisory responsibilities for master's and doctoral candidates. Rauhut's research explores the intersection of music, politics, and society, with particular emphasis on: Popular music history in socialist contexts (especially the GDR) Cultural transfer during the Cold War Blues, rock, and jazz as forms of cultural expression Youth cultures and music under authoritarian systems Church-state dynamics in musical expression His work demonstrates how music functioned as both state propaganda and vehicle for dissent. Analysis of Rauhut's publications reveals consistent focus on: Cultural mechanisms in socialist states (75% of recent works) Transnational music exchanges across the Iron Curtain Archival methodologies for reconstructing musical histories Identity formation through popular music State censorship and artistic resistance strategies His documentary filmography expands these themes into visual media. As PhD supervisor, Rauhut guides research in popular music performance and musicology. His extensive conference participation includes keynote addresses in Germany, USA, Georgia, and Ukraine, covering topics from blues reception to music's role in political revolutions.
Michael T. Rizzo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He directs the Developing Equitable Minds Lab (DEML Lab), which focuses on promoting social equity in childhood through research on children's developing conceptions of fairness and social biases. Dr. Rizzo earned his B.S. from the University of California, San Diego (mentor: Dr. David Liu), his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park (mentor: Dr. Melanie Killen), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New York University (mentor: Dr. Marjorie Rhodes). His research program examines three interrelated questions: (1) How do conceptions of equity develop? (2) How do social biases develop? (3) How can we promote concern for equity and disrupt social biases? Using a constructivist approach, his work investigates how children experience, interpret, and respond to the world around them. His primary research areas include conceptions of fairness, racism and racial bias, social status and structures, theory of mind, and unmoderated remote research with children. His work has been published in top journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , American Psychologist , Child Development , and Developmental Psychology . Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on understanding the developmental origins of racial bias, particularly how children's beliefs about social norms and racial inequalities shape their developing racial attitudes. His work demonstrates how children distinguish between structural and individual causes of inequality, and how social status influences children's understanding of fairness and others' mental states. His research has increasingly incorporated innovative methodologies, including unmoderated remote research with children. Dr. Rizzo's work has been funded by prestigious organizations including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and Beyond Conflict. He is deeply committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion through three primary pathways: transforming university spaces, advancing psychological research practices, and engaging with broader society. His lab partners with organizations like Embrace Race, Story Starters, and We Stories to develop anti-racist education programs and parenting materials. The DEML Lab has created a platform called Developing Minds Online (DMO) that allows for unmoderated remote research with children, enabling families to participate from anywhere.
Lisa Heldke is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College and an affiliated faculty member in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. She has been a longstanding contributor to the academic community, teaching courses such as Modern Philosophy, American Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, Critical Race Theory, and specialized seminars on food and eating. Her interdisciplinary work bridges philosophy with social justice, education, and culinary ethics. B.A. in Music and Philosophy from Gustavus Adolphus College M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Northwestern University Her research centers on American Philosophy , Feminist Philosophy , Critical Race Theory , and most notably, the Philosophy of Food . She critically examines food adventuring, colonialist attitudes in cuisine, and the ethical dimensions of eating. Her work explores how food shapes identity, community, and moral responsibility. Her recent and forthcoming publications reveal a deepening inquiry into biological interdependence—particularly parasitism and mutualism—suggesting a novel ontological framework rooted in eating relationships. This innovative direction reflects her ability to connect everyday practices with profound philosophical questions. Lisa Heldke’s scholarly contributions include influential books such as Exotic Appetites: Ruminations of a Food Adventurer and Philosophers at Table: On Food and Being Human , as well as co-editing Oppression, Privilege and Resistance . She is also on the editorial board of The Encyclopedia of Food and Agriculture Ethics (Springer). While specific details about student advising are not listed, her long-standing teaching career and mentorship through seminars suggest active engagement with students. She has no listed scientific awards in the provided texts, but her sustained publication record and editorial roles indicate significant recognition in her field. She is deeply involved in experiential learning, combining her philosophical inquiries with hands-on activities like baking bread in a backyard mud oven and studying sustainable agriculture. Her current research promises to expand the boundaries of philosophical thought by integrating ecological and biological realities into metaphysical and ethical frameworks.
Miriam Stock is Professor of Cultural Studies at the Institute of Humanities at Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd, where she also serves as Director of the Cultural Studies Department and Spokesperson for the Master's program 'Interkultur und Integration.' She is a founding member of the Center for Migration and Integration Studies 'Migration – Society – School.' Dr. Stock holds a PhD in Geography from Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and completed her diploma in Geography at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Her academic journey includes research fellowships, organizational roles in international projects, and advisory work with refugee communities. Her research focuses on migration geographies, cultural theories, postcolonial approaches, urban development from post-migrant perspectives, and qualitative research methodologies. She examines migration and flight between the Arab region and Europe, urban development and consumption, rural perspectives on migration society, anti-discrimination in schools, critical masculinity and family studies, and theoretical-practical approaches. Dr. Stock's recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on transnational migration experiences, particularly Syrian refugee families, with attention to emotional dimensions, gender dynamics, and educational contexts. Her work frequently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications through projects like Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program 'Education, Migration, and Diversity' (2024-2030). Success Story 2020 award for the Enable project As an advisor, Dr. Stock has supervised PhD candidates like Sara Mazzei (University of Calabria/PH Schwäbisch Gmünd) working on Arab-Islamic education systems in migrant experiences. Her grant portfolio includes significant Erasmus+ projects such as Enable (Self-learning for Arab refugee children) and PARENTable (Communicating with parents of newly migrated children), alongside research funded by the Werner-Zeller Foundation. Dr. Stock leads the Institute for Humanities and directs Cultural Studies department activities, including organizing lecture series on topics like 'Right Established - How the New Right Changes Education and Society,' 'Migration and Body,' and 'Emotions in Migration Society.'
Naoko Shibusawa is an Associate Professor of History and American Studies & Ethnic Studies at Brown University. She holds a PhD and MA from Northwestern University and a BA from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on U.S. political culture, empire studies, and transnational Asian American identities. She explores Cold War ideologies, the Lavender Scare, and race relations through a transnational lens. Her key works include America's Geisha Ally: Reimagining the Japanese Enemy (2006) and ongoing projects such as Ideologies of US Empire and Queer Betrayals: The Treason Trial of John David Provoo . Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with critical race theory, gender studies, and global power dynamics. Shibusawa’s research areas include Cold War studies, US empire and capitalism, gender/sexuality studies, and race/ethnicity. She teaches courses on empire and transnational histories, emphasizing intersections between political culture and material conditions. Her recent publications analyze topics like transpacific solidarity, queer anticolonialism, and the ideological foundations of American exceptionalism. She critiques dominant narratives of US history through interdisciplinary frameworks, emphasizing marginalized voices in global power structures.
Shenila Khoja-Moolji is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and holds the Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani Chair of Muslim Societies. Her work critically examines intersections of gender, race, religion, and power in Muslim contexts across South Asia and the diaspora. She earned degrees from Brown University, Harvard University, and Columbia University, with a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on: Colonial/postcolonial education systems Sovereignty and affective politics Ismaili diaspora communities Anti-Muslim racism and security studies Notable awards include the 2019 Jackie Kirk Book Award, 2022 ISA Theory Section Best Book Award, and 2024 Nautilus Award. She serves on boards for the American Academy of Religion and Ismaili Tariqa & Religious Education USA. Her recent works analyze: "The Impossibility of Muslim Boyhood" (2025) "Rebuilding Community" (2023) "Sovereign Attachments" (2021) Her scholarship bridges anthropology, sociology, and critical theory to challenge hegemonic narratives around Muslim societies. Current projects explore carceral logics and global affective economies.
Natalia Molina is a Distinguished Professor and Dean’s Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, where she is a leading scholar in U.S. history, Latinx studies, immigration, race, and public health. She is Vice President and President-Elect (2028) of the Organization of American Historians and a 2020 MacArthur Fellow, recognized for her transformative work on racial formation. Her education includes a B.A. in History and Women’s Studies from UCLA, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Molina’s research centers on the interconnected histories of race, place, gender, and citizenship. She is best known for her theory of racial scripts , which explains how racial categories are constructed relationally across groups and time. Her work spans public health history, foodways, and immigrant placemaking, with a deep commitment to community-centered storytelling and public engagement. Her recent publications explore Latinx cultural identity through food, sports, and media, reflecting a shift toward personal and public narratives that connect historical scholarship with contemporary life. Her books have received numerous accolades, including a James Beard Award nomination and the PROSE Award finalist status. MacArthur Fellowship (2020) James Beard Award Media Nominee (2023) PROSE Awards Finalist (2023) Pacific Coast Branch of the AHA’s Norris & Carol Hundley Award Susanne M. Glasscock Humanities Book Prize LA Times Essential Book New York Times Best Books About California Molina is a dedicated mentor and public intellectual, having advised university diversity initiatives and served on the boards of the Huntington Library and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. She has held leadership roles at UC San Diego, including Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Equity. Her current research focuses on the immigrant workers who built and sustained the Huntington Library, reclaiming their overlooked contributions. She is also a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians and has been a fellow at the Huntington Library and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her public writing in outlets like the Los Angeles Times , Washington Post , and Inside Higher Ed demonstrates her commitment to bridging academic scholarship with broader societal conversations.
Prof. Dr. Sabrina Zajak serves as Head of the Consensus & Conflict Department at the Deutsches Zentrum für Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (DeZIM-Institut) and holds an adjunct professorship at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Ruhr University Bochum. A founding member of the Institute for Protest and Movement Research (ipb), she also serves on the board of Research Committee 47, 'Social Movements and Social Classes,' of the International Sociology Association. Her academic trajectory includes significant positions at Humboldt University Berlin, the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies Cologne, and the Social Science Center Berlin (WZB). Zajak's research centers on political sociology with dual emphases on consensus and conflict dynamics in plural societies. Her consensus research examines civil society engagement, refugee assistance networks, alliance formation, and everyday solidarity practices, while her conflict research analyzes protest movements, diversity challenges, and discrimination patterns. She has pioneered studies on transnational civil society alliances, particularly examining how social movements navigate national boundaries and build cross-border solidarity. Her recent publications reveal a decisive shift toward analyzing intersectional dynamics of race, migration, and social movements in European contexts. With significant attention to the Black Lives Matter movement's reception in Germany, her work demonstrates how global racial justice movements are adapted to local contexts. Her research increasingly addresses civil society responses to refugee crises, examining both supportive engagement and exclusionary practices, while also investigating structural barriers to diversity in German federal administration and cultural institutions. As a prolific academic leader, Zajak has served as (co-)editor for special journal issues including Development and Change (2017), Industrial Relations (2018), Social Movement Studies (2021), Competition and Change (2020), Moving the Social (2020), and European Cultural and Political Sociology (2022). Her department currently manages over 20 active research projects spanning discrimination experiences in Saxony, diversity in federal administration, Muslim youth association work, and violence protection in refugee accommodations, demonstrating the breadth and policy relevance of her research agenda.
Dawn Martin-Hill , Professor Emeritus in Indigenous Studies at McMaster University , is Canada’s first Indigenous cultural anthropologist and the founder of McMaster’s Indigenous Studies Program (1992). She also holds the role of Academic Co-Chair of the Indigenous Education Council and has served as Director of Indigenous Studies since 1998. A Mohawk scholar residing at Six Nations of the Grand River, she integrates Indigenous knowledge systems with Western science to address critical issues of water security, health, and sovereignty. Education & Training: PhD, Cultural Anthropology Research Interests: Dr. Martin-Hill’s work centres on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) , community-driven water security , and Indigenous methodologies . Her flagship program Ohneganos co-creates bilingual tools—apps, VR, water sensors, Indigenous mapping, films, and podcasts—to empower First Nations in monitoring and managing water resources. She explores intersections of climate change, maternal health, mental health, and Indigenous governance . Research Impact: Spanning hydrology, medical anthropology, and digital health, her recent publications address urgent issues such as water insecurity’s impact on maternal mental health , climate-driven hydrological extremes , and digital mental-health tools for Indigenous youth . Collectively, her work advances decolonizing methodologies and supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Scientific Awards & Honours: Inaugural Fulbright Indigenous Canada–U.S. Scholar Award Inaugural Chair, CIHR-IPH Secretariat on Traditional Medicine in Health Research Outstanding Teaching Award, Aboriginal Consortium 2022 University of Oklahoma International Water Prize Oklahoma Universities Water Technologies Award Princeton Book Award for forthcoming Ohneganos volume Funding & Training: Principal Investigator on four Global Water Futures grants that have supported over 30 graduate students and nine Indigenous Studies undergraduates , plus 45 secondary First Nations students receiving McMaster certificates. She has served as co-investigator on CIHR-IPH ARHNets Center funding 80+ First Nations, Métis, and Inuit graduate students . Leadership & Service: Member of the UNESCO Hydrology Committee for Canada , board member of CIHR Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health and CIHR Anti-Racism Committee , former Chair of the CIHR College of Reviewers. She spearheaded the McPherson Chair in Indigenous Studies and secured multiple Indigenous student scholarships and bursaries.
Chelsey R. Carter is an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Yale School of Public Health with a secondary appointment in the Department of Anthropology. A Black feminist anthropologist of medicine, public health, and race from St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Carter's interdisciplinary work bridges public health, anthropology, and critical race studies to address health inequities, particularly focusing on neurodegenerative diseases like ALS in Black communities. Dr. Carter received her BA in Anthropology from Emory University (2012), followed by an MPH and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis (2021), and completed a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University (2022). Her educational background reflects her commitment to both anthropological theory and public health practice. Her research examines the relationship between social determinants of health (particularly anti-Black racism, socioeconomic status, and gender) and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron diseases. Dr. Carter employs ethnographic research and qualitative methodologies to investigate how embodied inequality impacts diagnosis, treatment, and engagement in clinical trials for Black individuals with ALS. She also leads research on precision medicine and genomic research in Black communities through The Black Genome Project and studies caregiving among persons impacted by ALS. Her scholarship has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, and the Wenner Gren Foundation. Analysis of Dr. Carter's recent publication trends reveals a strong focus on health equity, particularly examining how systemic racism manifests in medical settings and contributes to health disparities. Her work spans multiple domains including neurodegenerative diseases, HIV/AIDS care, genomics, and mental health, with consistent attention to intersectional approaches that consider race, gender, and socioeconomic status. A notable pattern in her scholarship is the use of qualitative and mixed methods to center the lived experiences of marginalized communities, challenging dominant biomedical paradigms through a Black feminist lens. Principal's Development Fund Visiting Scholar (2024) Distinguished Teaching Award from Yale School of Public Health (2023) Funding from the National Science Foundation Support from the Andrew Mellon Foundation Wenner Gren Foundation grant Dr. Carter actively mentors students and has developed innovative teaching approaches, including her course 'Biomedical Justice: Public Health Critiques and Praxis,' which encourages students to bring their full selves into the classroom. Her research has been supported by significant grants that enable community-engaged work addressing health disparities. She emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in her research, ensuring that academic work serves and is accountable to the communities being studied. Dr. Carter is Founder and Director of The LEITH (Lived Experiences Igniting Transformations in Health) Lab, which addresses Black invisibility and misdiagnosis for rare neurodegenerative and genetic diseases. The lab brings together persons and caregivers impacted by rare diseases, researchers, clinical providers, educators, students, and activists to develop more humanizing and critical approaches in the rare neurodegenerative field. The LEITH Lab's vision centers on advancing anti-racist research, fostering awareness through education, creating palliative networks for support, and developing a pipeline of health equity scholars.
Prof. Dr. Gert Pickel is a Professor of Sociology of Religion and Church at the Institute for Practical Theology, Faculty of Theology, Leipzig University. His roles include deputy spokesperson for the Competence Center for Right-Wing Extremism and Democracy Research, member of the Center for the Study of Religion, and advisory board member for the Academy of World Religions in Hamburg and the Hannah Arendt Institute at Dresden University of Technology. He heads the "Racism in Institutions" project network and co-directs the Leipzig branch of the Research Institute for Social Cohesion. Research focuses on sociology of religion , democracy , and political culture Current projects: German-Swiss study on religious/political collective identities, modern populism in Europe (East Germany), racism in institutions Research Interests span comparative sociology of religion (secularization, pluralization), political sociology (social capital, populism, radicalism), and integration of migrants in Germany. He explores how religion interacts with politics, addressing issues like euthanasia, abortion, and gender identities through empirical, theory-driven methodologies. Teaching covers religion in Germany/Europe, secularization processes, religion-politics dynamics, group-based prejudices, and intercultural comparisons. Courses are interdisciplinary (social sciences, humanities) with field trips to Central/Eastern Europe. Scientific Awards : No awards explicitly mentioned in the text. Grants and Projects : DFG-funded "Multiple Bible Uses in Late Modern Society" (2021-2024) BMBF-funded "Social Polarization and Radicalization" (2020-2024) EU-funded Jean-Monnet Centre (2020-2024) "InRa-Study" (2021-2024) on institutional racism Labs and Teams : Member of Research Academy Leipzig; co-leader of the Leipzig branch of the Research Institute for Social Cohesion; contributor to the Leibniz WissenschaftsCampus Eastern Europe–Global Area.
Miriam Jorge is a Professor and the Dr. Allen B. and Helen S. Shopmaker Endowed Professor in Educator Preparation and Leadership at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She holds a PhD and MA in Applied Linguistics. Previously, she served as Associate Dean for International Affairs at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2014–2017) and worked with Brazil's Ministry of Education. She has been a visiting scholar at UCSB and UNCC, teaching courses on race relations and the African Diaspora in Brazil. Her research focuses on critical pedagogy, race and racism in education, multiculturalism, and internationalization in higher education. Key themes include academic literacies, teacher education, and social justice. Her work bridges applied linguistics with anti-racist and decolonial frameworks, particularly in language education contexts. Her publications analyze post-pandemic educational challenges, anti-racism in applied linguistics, and decolonial approaches to language teaching. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, but her contributions highlight impactful discourse in educational equity and global pedagogical practices.
Kurt Sengul is a Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF) in the School of Communication, Society and Culture. He holds a PhD in Media and Communications from the University of Newcastle (2022). His research focuses on media populism, far-right movements, and critical discourse analysis, with projects exploring the nexus between media and far-right politics in Australia. He has taught at the University of Sydney and University of Newcastle, specializing in political communication, social media, and digital cultures. Research interests include far-right communication strategies, media populism's impact on democracy, critical discourse studies, and anti-gender movements. His work examines topics like far-right humor, online radicalization via platforms like X/Twitter Spaces, and the discursive construction of victimhood. He has published in journals such as Critical Discourse Studies , Television & New Media , and Communication Research and Practice . Professional roles include serving as NSW Representative for ANZCA and secretary of APSA’s Queer Caucus. Media engagements include commentary for The New York Times , The Guardian Australia , and The Sydney Morning Herald . His forthcoming monograph Far-Right Populism in Australia (Bloomsbury) explores communication and discourse strategies of Australian far-right groups.
Kawtar Najib is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the Department of Geography and Planning , University of Liverpool , specializing in Social and Spatial Inequalities . She is affiliated with the Geographic Data Science Lab and Power, Space & Cultural Change research clusters. PhD : University of Franche-Comté, France Her research examines Islamophobia through mixed methods, analyzing spatialization across global, urban, and embodied scales. Key themes include racism , segregation , urban exclusion , and social justice . Recent work connects global issues of dehumanization , citizenship , and racism to localized geographies. Articles highlight trends in critical Muslim geographies , spatialized injustice , and policy responses to Islamophobia. Her book on 'Spatialized Islamophobia' conceptualizes multi-scalar dynamics of discrimination. Marie Curie Sklodowska Postdoctoral Fellowship She teaches modules on Social and Spatial Inequalities , Geographic Data Science , and Human-Environmental Interactions , with advisory roles for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims and European Parliament . Her research impacts policy through collaborations with NGOs, contributions to the European Islamophobia Report , and media engagements addressing anti-Muslim violence and social justice .
Pooja Khatija serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Organizational Behavior at the Weatherhead School of Management , Case Western Reserve University , where she is also a doctoral candidate. Blending scholarship and practice, she focuses her research on Asian American leadership, holistic and inclusive leadership, and implicit biases tied to gender, geography, and social class in recruitment and career advancement. Education Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology Post Graduate degree in Management Doctoral candidate, Department of Organizational Behavior, Weatherhead School of Management Research Interests Dr. Khatija’s scholarly agenda is anchored in advancing equity within organizations. She investigates how Asian American leaders navigate and transform predominantly white institutions, and she develops integrative models of holistic leadership development that emphasize identity, well-being, and social justice. A second stream of inquiry examines implicit biases in hiring and promotion systems, with particular attention to gendered racism and intersectional invisibility experienced by women of color. Her work bridges theory and practice by translating findings into trauma-informed and healing-centered organizational interventions. She leverages coaching methodologies to cultivate inclusive climates and has co-authored critical reviews on reimagining leadership standards that historically center whiteness. Scientific Awards Graduate Dean’s Instructional Excellence Award (2022) Teaching, Coaching & Grants As an educator, Pooja has instructed graduate students in Applied Multivariate Data Analysis (MGMT573) and undergraduates in Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion (ORBH391) across 2020-2022. For over a decade she has coached Management and Engineering graduate students on career and placement strategies, and she is a certified executive coach through Weatherhead’s coaching program. While specific grant details are not enumerated, her sustained engagement in curriculum development and coaching initiatives reflects ongoing institutional investment in her inclusive-leadership agenda. Labs & Teams While no formal lab is named, Pooja collaborates closely with faculty and doctoral peers within the Department of Organizational Behavior and draws on Weatherhead’s broader ecosystem of leadership development and diversity research initiatives.
