Rebecca Brings is a Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Missouri’s College of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on contemporary postcolonial literature from South Africa and Nigeria, with a particular interest in how animals are integrated into postcolonial narratives to critique neocolonial worldmaking practices. She also explores African/African Diasporic speculative fiction and the intersection of sustainability rhetoric with global animal welfare frameworks. Education: PhD, Oklahoma State University MA, University College London (UCL) BA, Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelm Universität Bonn Her work challenges the seamless integration of animals into neocolonial systems by analyzing how narratives expose gaps in welfare discourses that perpetuate unequal futures. Upcoming publications in Research in African Literature and ARIEL address globalized animal welfare institutional practices. No specific grants or lab affiliations are listed in the provided materials. Contact: rbkh5@missouri.edu | Office: 205 Tate Hall.
Laura Beard is a Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta, and currently serves as Associate Dean (Access, Community and Belonging) in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Previously held roles include Associate Vice President (Research) and Chair of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies. She holds a PhD, MA, and BA in related fields. Her research focuses on life narratives, Inter-American Studies, Indigenous literatures, and cultural heritage tourism. Notable projects include analyzing John S. McClintock’s memoir on Deadwood’s history and studying Scottish samplers as community archives. She co-edited The Divided States: Unraveling National Identities in the Twenty-First Century and authored Acts of Narrative Resistance: Women’s Writing in the Americas . Key awards include two Fulbright Scholarships and teaching/research accolades. Her work explores intersections of memory, identity, and colonialism through literary and cultural analysis. Courses taught include MLCS 410 (Capstone) and MLCS 653 (Research Methods). SSHRC Insight Grant (2019-2022): “Wanted: A Life Narrative in Deadwood” Consulting editor for a/b Autobiography Studies Steering committee member, International Autobiography Association Chapter of the Americas
Louise Hardwick is a Professor of Francophone Studies and World Literature at the University of Birmingham, where she has held roles including Programme Director of the MA in Contemporary Literature and Critical Theories and School Head of Research. She specializes in Francophone Caribbean literature, postcolonial studies, and translation studies, with a focus on memory, colonialism, and biopolitical frameworks. Her academic journey includes degrees from Trinity College, Oxford, and postdoctoral research at Homerton College, Cambridge. She has held visiting positions at Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Oxford. Her research is supported by grants from the AHRC and EU, totaling over £500k. Key research areas span Francophone Caribbean cinema, Negritude theory, and biopolitical ecocriticism. Notable works include Joseph Zobel: Negritude and the Novel (2018) and Creole Cinema: Memory Traces (2025). She founded the FRANCOPOCO Network and collaborates with international institutions, including in the Caribbean and France. Her awards include Associate Fellowships at Cambridge and AHRC Peer Review College membership. She actively engages with public audiences through media contributions, including radio interviews and exhibitions.
Elisabeth Schäfer is a philosopher and academic based at the University of Vienna, holding positions in the Department of Philosophy and Gender Studies. She also teaches at institutions including the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Goethe University Frankfurt, and Université Paris VI Vincennes. Her academic career includes postdoctoral research roles in FWF-funded projects and a current habilitation project on 'Language Wounds: Alterity. Trauma. Difference.' Her work intersects philosophy, gender studies, and the arts, focusing on deconstruction, queer-feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and artistic research. Education: PhD in Philosophy from the University of Vienna (2006-2012), followed by translational research and postdoctoral positions. Notable projects include collaborations on artistic installations (e.g., 'Komplizenschaft in der Sichtbarkeit') and radio broadcasts exploring philosophical themes. She has edited several volumes on feminist and performance philosophy, including works by Hélène Cixous and co-authored monographs like 'Die offene Seite der Schrift' (2008). Research interests span feminist ethics, trauma theory, queer performativity, and the philosophy of writing. Her articles bridge literary analysis with critical theory, addressing topics like gender binaries, materiality, and the ethics of ugliness. She actively participates in interdisciplinary collaborations, merging philosophy with visual and performance art. Grants include FWF PEEK projects like 'Performing Primal Communism' (2020-2023) and 'Topographien des Körpers' (2019). Key performances include 'WHICH ZONES' (2023) and exhibitions at mumok. She co-edits journals like 'Sublin/mes' and 'Performance Philosophy Journal', contributing to queer-reviewed academic discourse.
Laura Salsini is a Professor of Italian at the University of Delaware, affiliated with the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures within the College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD in Italian Literature from Indiana University, complemented by a BA in Journalism from Marquette University. Her expertise spans 19th-20th century Italian literature with a focus on female writers, Italian-American cultural expressions, and feminist literary criticism. Her research emphasizes women's contributions to Italian literary traditions, particularly in epistolary fiction and theater. Key works include Gendered Genres: Female Experiences and Narrative Patterns in the Works of Matilde Serao and Addressing the Letter: Italian Women Writers’ Epistolary Fiction , alongside co-edited volumes exploring identity performance in Italian culture and WWII representations. Teaching responsibilities include advanced Italian language courses and literature seminars. She actively contributes to programs like the Delaware Bridge Program and the Language Proficiency & Tutoring Center. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis with cultural history, examining themes of gender, space, and identity in works ranging from post-unification novels to contemporary film.
Kathleen Venema is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg. Her work bridges literary scholarship with critical disability studies, focusing on aging, dementia, care narratives, and auto/biographical forms. She holds a B.Ed. and B.A. (Hons English) from the University of Winnipeg, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Language and Literature from the University of Waterloo. Her research explores intersections between graphic narratives, memory studies, and end-of-life meaning-making. Notable works include her 2018 memoir Bird-Bent Grass (shortlisted for the Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award) and critical analyses of Alzheimer’s narratives in archives. Venema’s teaching emphasizes Canadian literature, disability representation, and biblical texts in cultural studies. Publications span journal articles, book chapters, and invited blog posts for institutions like Durham University’s Institute for Medical Humanities. Her work frequently addresses ethical dimensions of caregiving, archival practices, and the role of storytelling in navigating illness and aging. Awards include the Gabrielle Roy Prize for Canadian Graphic (2016) and nominations for the Hilda Neatby Prize. Her scholarship bridges literary analysis with interdisciplinary fields like medical humanities and disability studies.
Ken Chen is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Creative Writing at Barnard College, Columbia University. His work bridges poetry, literary criticism, and cultural analysis with a focus on Asian American experiences and postcolonial discourse. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley. Chen’s research explores intersections of poetry, ethnicity, and modernism, with notable publications including Juvenilia (2009 Yale Series of Younger Poets) and essays in N+1 , The Yale Review , and The New Republic . His forthcoming book Death Star reimagines the underworld through a migrant’s lens. His awards include the Bess Hokin Prize (2019), Cullman Fellowship (2019–2020), and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships. Chen has advised on migrant justice initiatives, led the Asian American Writers’ Workshop (2008–2019), and co-founded CultureStrike and Arts & Letters Daily .
Karin Bacon serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Global Diversity, Sustainability & Intercultural Education at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, with academic credentials including an EdD (2012), M.Ed (1994), and B.Ed (1988) from Trinity College Dublin. Her institutional affiliation reflects a dedicated career in teacher education and curriculum development within Irish primary education contexts. Her educational background comprises: Doctorate in Education (EdD), Trinity College Dublin (2012) Master of Education (M.Ed), Trinity College Dublin (1994) Bachelor of Education (B.Ed), TCD Froebel College of Education (1988) Dr. Bacon's research centers on Inquiry Based Learning methodologies, Auto/Biographical Research approaches, Integrated Curriculum Models, and SESE (Social, Environmental and Scientific Education) for young learners. She investigates practical applications of inquiry frameworks in primary classrooms, emphasizing coherence in curriculum design and the role of visual arts as pedagogical stimuli. Her work bridges theoretical educational concepts with classroom implementation strategies, particularly focusing on teacher training and student engagement. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2016-2023) reveals consistent thematic focus on inquiry-based pedagogy across diverse formats: scholarly journals, professional teacher publications, conference presentations, and book-length works. Recent outputs (2020-2023) increasingly address curriculum integration challenges and personalized learning frameworks, while maintaining strong connections to Irish historical narratives through auto/biographical lenses. The publication record demonstrates interdisciplinary reach spanning education theory, historical research, and practical classroom applications. No scientific awards or professional honors were documented in the source materials. While the text confirms her active lecturing role and publication productivity, specific details regarding graduate student advisement, research grants, or laboratory affiliations were not provided. Her professional activities include webinar presentations for international education institutes and commissioned research for organizations like the NCCA and Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, indicating ongoing engagement with educational policy development.
Simon Harel is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal's Département de littératures et de langues du monde within the Faculté des arts et des sciences. He holds a PhD in French and Comparative Literature from Université Paris 7 (1986). His research bridges literary studies with interdisciplinary practices, focusing on narrative forms, migration, and urban cultural dynamics. He is the director of the Laboratoire sur les récits du soi mobile (Lab on Mobile Self-Narratives) and co-director of the Centre de recherche des études littéraires et culturelles sur la planétarité (CELCP). Education: 1986: Doctorat nouveau régime de littérature française et comparée, Université Paris 7 Research Interests: Interdisciplinary approaches to narrative studies, migration and intercultural relations, medical humanities, urban marginalization, and the intersection of literature with healthcare. His work emphasizes collaborative creation with marginalized communities, including incarcerated women and refugees. Recent projects explore narrative forms in organ transplantation contexts and the therapeutic potential of storytelling in healthcare settings. Grants & Collaborations: McConnell Foundation Chair in Research-Creation on Narratives of Organ Donation and Life in Healthcare Contexts (2019-2023) FQRSC-funded projects on incarcerated women's theater and refugee narratives Partnerships with CRCHUM (Centre de recherche du CHUM) and RéCITS (Réseau de Création International et Transversal sur le Soin) Awards: Trudeau Fellowship (2009-2012), Royal Society of Canada membership (since 2009), and multiple recognition for contributions to Quebec cultural studies and intercultural dialogue. Advisees & Mentorship: Supervised over 30 graduate theses spanning migration literature, queer theory, Indigenous narratives, and medical storytelling. Notable advisees include Valentina Pancaldi (PhD on Antonio D’Alfonso), Justin Leduc-Frenette (MA on Pierre Michon), and Méléda Bordeleau (MA on embodied writing). Labs & Initiatives: Founded L’Organon, a platform for health-literature collaborations, and co-created RéCITS, a transnational network for medical humanities. Active in urban cultural projects like the 'Montréal, territoire et terrain' initiative and the Pavilion V research-creation hub.
Dr. Rob Gallagher is a Lecturer in Digital Media Industries and Programme Co-Director of the Digital Futures MA at King's College London's Culture, Media & Creative Industries department. His research focuses on digital media cultures, particularly gaming, identity, and embodiment. He has held academic positions at institutions including Royal Holloway, the University of East Anglia, and Manchester Metropolitan University. He is affiliated with the Centre for Digital Culture and contributed to projects like the ERC-funded Ego-Media initiative. Research interests include digital games, networked subcultures, and critical theories of identity. He explores topics like indie game creators, ASMR videos, and alt-right memes. His work intersects media theory, game studies, and queer/trans theory. Recent publications analyze NPC memes, autobiographical games, and digital self-presentation. He has collaborated on podcasts like 'Reactionary Digital Politics' and contributed to exhibitions such as the 'Dear Diary' project. Teaching focuses on creative-critical approaches and online pedagogy, with a postgraduate teaching certificate and HEA fellowship. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Association Advising and grants include leadership roles in SSHRC-funded modding studies and AHRC projects on political ideology. Active in interdisciplinary research, he collaborates with artists like Janina Lange and Marija Bozinovska-Jones on immersive installations and motion capture projects. Labs/Teams: Centre for Digital Culture, Technoculture, Art and Games lab (Concordia), and Ego-Media project collaborations.
Dr. Béatrice Vernier is an Associate Professor at Lakehead University, specializing in 19th-century French literature, art-literature intersections, and intimate writings such as letters, autobiographies, and 'filiation narratives.' She joined Lakehead in 2003 and holds a Ph.D. in French Literature from Dalhousie University, preceded by an MA from Dalhousie and an Honors BA from Acadia University. Her research explores the personal writings (letters, diaries, autobiographies) of French painters like Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Léger to understand their dual artistic and literary expressions. She also examines 'narratives of filiation,' where authors write about lesser-known ancestors to reflect on their own lives. Her work appears in journals like The Literary Encyclopedia , Dalhousie French Studies , and Revue des sciences humaines . Dr. Vernier’s publications span analyses of Gauguin’s correspondence, Zola’s L’Œuvre , and colonial narratives in French-Canadian literature. She frequently contributes to scholarly encyclopedias and book reviews. She supervises Honors theses and maintains a focus on interdisciplinary connections between literature, art, and cultural history.
Emma Maguire is a Lecturer in English and Creative Writing at James Cook University (JCU), specializing in Life Writing and Auto/Biography Studies. Her research focuses on digital media, autobiographical representation, and feminist media history, particularly examining how young women navigate self-mediation in contemporary platforms. She holds a BA (Hons) and PhD from Flinders University, with her doctoral thesis winning the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. Maguire is a Digital Content Editor for a/b: Auto/Biography Studies and active in the International Auto/Biography Association Asia-Pacific Chapter. Her book Girls, Autobiography, Media: Gender and Self-Mediation in Digital Economies (2018) analyzes how girls use digital tools for self-expression. Current research explores #MeToo narratives and transmedia trauma storytelling. Maguire advises JCU students on projects like Searching for the German Modern Girl and Affect and Relationality in #MeToo Narratives . Education: PhD in English Literature (Flinders University, 2016); BA (Hons) in English Literature (Flinders, 2011) Key Affiliations: Life Narrative Lab, Australasian Association of Writing Programs Her work bridges creative criticism and academic rigor, addressing topics like Instagram hoaxes, feminist digital personas, and trauma memoirs. Recent publications investigate neoliberal academia’s impact on researcher profiles and the intersection of motherhood with folk horror tropes. Notable Awards: Vice Chancellor’s Doctoral Thesis Excellence Award (2017) Best Student Paper Award (M/C Journal, 2015) Maguire’s interdisciplinary approach includes creative works like poetry and short stories, reflecting her commitment to blending literary theory with practice.
Andreea Deciu Ritivoi is the William S. Dietrich Professor of English and Department Head at Carnegie Mellon University's Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota and serves as co-editor of the narrative studies journal Storyworlds . Her work bridges political rhetoric, hermeneutics, narrative theory, and migration studies with a focus on cultural memory and ethical alterity. Education: PhD in English from the University of Minnesota. Research specialties include Paul Ricoeur's rhetorical theory, Hannah Arendt's political thought, and the intersections of narrative with ethics and identity formation. Her scholarship spans 4 decades with over 30 books and articles analyzing topics like post-communist memory politics, affective rhetoric in dissident narratives, and transnational intellectual discourse. Notable works include Intimate Strangers (2014) and Paul Ricoeur: Tradition and Innovation in Rhetorical Theory (2006). Editorial contributions include co-editing Outrage! Controversy, Art, and Society (2012) and Interpretation, Relativism, and Identity (2018). Her research consistently explores how narrative forms shape ethical understanding across cultural and political boundaries.
Duygu Erbil Connor is an interdisciplinary scholar and Affiliate Researcher at the Institute for Cultural Inquiry within Utrecht University’s Humanities school. She is associated with the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication and specializes in Comparative Literature . Her academic work bridges cultural memory, political activism, and life writing, with a focus on Turkey and transnational contexts. Research Focus : Cultural memory, life narratives, political activism, Turkey studies, prison literature, visual culture Key Collaborations : Memory Studies Association’s Memory and Activism Working Group, International Auto/biography Association’s Students and New Scholars Network Her research examines intersections between personal narratives and collective memory, particularly in criminalized activist movements. She analyzes how legal discourses, media practices, and cultural forms (court files, protest ephemera, TV shows) shape historical justice. Duygu’s publications since 2018 reveal consistent engagement with memory work across Turkish and American contexts. Her 2025 edited volume Remembering Contentious Lives systematizes cultural approaches to activist remembrance, while earlier work spans Deniz Gezmiş ’s legacy, Gezi Park soundscapes, and digital commemoration tactics. This reflects a broader academic trend connecting political economy of memory with biographical storytelling in repressive contexts. She teaches Life Writing and contributes to digital memory projects, including the American Prison Writing Archive . Her work adopts interdisciplinary methodologies from literary studies, media theory, and cultural sociology.
Aklilu Tetemke is a Junior Fellow at the Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies (BIGSAS) at the University of Bayreuth. His research focuses on the Ethiopian 'National Question,' examining ethnic-based politics and federalism through interdisciplinary lenses of social anthropology, political science, and historical analysis. Research period: 1960s (student movements) to 1990s (federalism implementation) Primary case study: Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) Methodologies: Archival analysis of EPRDF documents, biographical interviews with political leaders, media reports, and political performances This study addresses gaps in historical analysis of Ethiopian liberation war debates and employs Trotha's 'basic narratives' framework to analyze contested cultural/political unity discourses.
