Cassie Adcock is an Associate Professor of History and South Asian Studies at Washington University in St. Louis , where she teaches courses on Modern South Asia , Religion and Politics in South Asia , and Secular and Religious: A Global History . Her research focuses on the intersections of religion, politics, and secularism in modern India, particularly examining how debates over religious freedom and proselytization have shaped the subcontinent's political development. Education: PhD in History, University of Chicago BA in History, Bard College Adcock's publications explore South Asia's colonial and postcolonial secularism, with particular attention to the Arya Samaj movement , cow protection debates , and the politics of caste . Her monograph The Limits of Tolerance: Indian Secularism and the Politics of Religious Freedom (Oxford University Press, 2013) has been widely recognized for reinterpreting secularism through the lens of Indian political struggles. Key scientific awards include the Kluge Fellowship (Library of Congress, 2016), NEH-American Institute of Indian Studies Senior Research Fellowship (2015), multiple Washington University Summer Research Grants (2014-2015), and international Fulbright recognition (2010-2011). Her teaching includes advanced seminars on Religion and the Secular: Struggles over Modernity and Gurus, Saints and Scientists: Religion in Modern South Asia .
Amelia Acker is an Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor/Director of Masters Studies at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Information. Her work focuses on the emergence of new information objects in wireless networks, digital preservation, and cultural memory. She holds a PhD with award-winning research on SMS standardization and mobile communication infrastructure. Prior to UT Austin, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh's iSchool and worked as an archivist/librarian in Southern California. Her research is funded by NSF and IMLS grants, and has been published in journals like JASIST and Archival Science. She teaches courses on metadata, information studies, and cultural heritage informatics. Her current projects address digital traces in mobile computing and data justice issues. She previously worked with artist John Baldessari as an arts cataloger and has extensive experience in library preservation practices. Key contributions include analyses of Venmo social payments, Palantir's surveillance systems, and API-driven social media archives. She emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to sociotechnical systems and data ethics in emerging technologies.
Javier Villa-Flores is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University. He holds a PhD in Latin American History from UC San Diego (2001), an MA (1998) from the same institution, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Guadalajara (1990). His research focuses on religion, colonialism, and social history in colonial Mexico, particularly examining the intersections of power, language, and legal systems. His major works include *Dangerous Speech: A Social History of Blasphemy in Colonial Mexico* (2006) and his current project on trust and risk in Bourbon New Spain through analysis of 'crimes of falsity.' He has contributed to journals like *Colonial Latin American Review* and co-edited volumes on archives, emotions, and colonial libraries. Teaching specialties include millenarian movements and religious martyrdom in Latin America. Villa-Flores has held fellowships from institutions including the NEH, Huntington Library, and Max Planck Institute. His work explores how colonial authorities used legal frameworks to enforce social control through concepts like blasphemy, forgery, and perjury, revealing how marginalized groups navigated these systems. Recent publications highlight the role of trust and its betrayal in shaping colonial governance and identity formation. Collaborative projects include special journal issues on archives and edited volumes on emotional history and library destruction. His research bridges historiography with interdisciplinary methods, emphasizing archival material and performative aspects of colonial power.
Elizabeth MacGonagle is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Kansas and Director of Graduate Programs at the Center for Global & International Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University (2002). Her research focuses on identity formation in African and Diasporan contexts, with a particular emphasis on history, memory, and contested heritage sites linked to slavery. She has conducted extensive research in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, supported by grants from Fulbright, Fulbright-Hays, the Social Science Research Council, and the American Philosophical Society. Her scholarly work includes her book Crafting Identity in Zimbabwe and Mozambique (2007), which challenges notions of tribalism through a four-century analysis of the Ndau region. She collaborates on projects such as digitizing the Onitsha Market Literature collection at KU's Spencer Research Library, making Nigerian popular literature accessible. Her current research explores intersections of history and memory at slavery heritage sites. MacGonagle speaks Portuguese, Shona (Ndau), and has studied Kiswahili and French. She has held roles such as Director of [redacted] from 2013-2021 and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives through centers like the Kansas African Studies Center.
Laura Knoppers is the George N. Shuster Professor of English Literature and Department Chair at the University of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters. She specializes in seventeenth-century British literature, with a focus on John Milton, early modern women writers (e.g., Margaret Cavendish), and the intersections of gender, politics, and religion. Her research bridges literary criticism, cultural history, and book history. Education: PhD and M.A. in English Literature from Harvard University; B.A. in English Literature from Calvin College. Research Interests: Milton’s works and context, early modern women’s authorship, the English Revolution, luxury culture, and political iconography. Her notable works include Politicizing Domesticity (2011), Constructing Cromwell (2000), and the award-winning Complete Works of John Milton (2008 edition). Publications: Over 20 authored/edited books and 40+ journal articles/chapters. Recent work includes the Oxford History of Poetry in English (2024) and studies on Margaret Cavendish’s medical writings. Awards: Milton Society’s John T. Shawcross Award (2008), NEH grants, and the 2016 Honored Scholar distinction. She edited Milton Studies (2009–2018) and currently chairs the English Department at Notre Dame. Grants & Service: Secured $500K NEH Challenge Grant for Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Active in professional organizations like the Milton Society of America and Renaissance Society of America. Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary projects on early modern literature and culture. Collaborates with institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library and international scholars on luxury studies and Cromwellian representation.
Dr. Borna Izadpanah is a Lecturer in Typography & Graphic Communication at the University of Reading. His research focuses on the history of printing and type design, particularly in Persian and Urdu languages using the Arabic script. He emphasizes decolonizing curricula and promoting inclusivity through interdisciplinary collaborations and open access initiatives. Education: PhD in Typography (2021), University of Reading MA in Typeface Design (2015), University of Reading MA in Graphic Design (2010), London College of Communication BA in Graphic Design (2006), Soore University Research Interests: Decolonizing typography, preservation of endangered archival materials, digital humanities, and the historical development of Arabic-script typography. His work bridges print history, art history, and Islamic studies, using non-European language sources. Articles Trends: Recent publications explore Urdu typography’s colonial influences, Persian printing in Qajar Iran, and the global history of Arabic-script type design. His research highlights underrepresented communities and historical gaps in type design practices. Awards: Type Directors Club Awards (2024, 2023, 2017) Granshan Typeface Design Competition (2015–2017) Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral research in Persian and Asian typography, with a focus on underrepresented communities. Collaborates on projects like the Typodiversity exhibition and workshops on non-Latin type design. Labs/Teams: Involved in the Type Design intensive (TDi) program and co-leads courses at the British Library. Active in the Royal Asiatic Society and Google Fonts collaborations.
Vanessa I. Corredera is a Professor and Department Chair of the Department of English at Andrews University. Her research explores the intersection of Shakespeare, race, and contemporary performance, with a focus on critical race theory and cultural appropriation in global contexts. She teaches courses on Shakespeare, race, and adaptation, and contributes to foundational Honors curricula in Western heritage. BA, Andrews University PhD, Northwestern University Her work examines representations of race in premodern and modern literature, particularly through Shakespearean adaptations in film, theater, and popular media. She also investigates anti-racist pedagogies, diversity initiatives, and intersectional frameworks in higher education. Recent publications analyze racial euphemisms in Shakespeare appropriation, decolonial strategies in modern retellings, and the role of Shakespearean performance in challenging systemic domination. Her research spans topics like physiognomy in 16th-century literature, gendered narratives in postcolonial adaptations, and equity-driven course design. 2023: Folger Shakespeare Library Virtual Fellowship 2021: Daniel S. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award 2020-2021: Andrews University Faculty Teaching Fellow 2018: Undergraduate Research Mentor Award Corredera actively mentors students and serves on university committees, including the Faculty Senate and Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Action Council. She contributes to professional organizations as an editor and trustee, advocating for inclusive scholarship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr Fleur Stolker is the Herchel Smith Teaching and Research Fellow in Law at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. From October 2024, she will serve as Director of Studies in Law at Emmanuel and an Affiliated Lecturer in Law at the Law Faculty. Her scholarly work bridges legal history, socio-legal analysis, and interdisciplinary studies. Education: LLB and LLM in Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law from Leiden University; LLM in Health Law from University of Amsterdam; MSt and DPhil in Legal History from University of Oxford Fleur’s research focuses on early modern English legal history, particularly equity and bankruptcy systems, examining their socio-legal context and intersections with Roman legal traditions. Her current project explores cross-border insolvency and financial rehabilitation in 16th–18th century English, Dutch, and colonial legal systems, drawing parallels to modern social justice challenges. Her publications include studies on the Office of the Lord Chancellor’s equitable function and historical bankruptcy frameworks. She teaches undergraduate Civil Law, Equity, and Land Law at Emmanuel, alongside Legal History lectures for postgraduates at the Law Faculty. Scientific Awards: Junior Research Fellowship at New College, Oxford Fleur combines academic rigor with diverse professional experience, including roles at legal libraries, law firms, and auction houses. Her teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary connections across legal fields.
Dr. Emma Cheatle is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Landscape , University of Sheffield, specializing in interdisciplinary architectural humanities. She serves as the School Director of Research and Innovation and chairs the Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA) . Her work bridges architecture, feminism, and decoloniality, focusing on domesticity, health, and urban common land. Research Interests : Feminist theory, autotheory, urban common land, maternity in architecture, decolonial spatial practices Teaching : Coordinates architectural humanities modules, leads critical spatial writing, and supervises PhD students in feminist and decolonial pedagogy Awards : 2014 RIBA President's Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis Projects : AHRC Major Award (2019–2022) on urban common land, editorial leadership in the field: A Free Journal of Architecture Collaborations : Hélène Frichot (University of Melbourne), Victoria Bates (University of Bristol), and the Sheffield School of Architecture Feminist Library steering committee Her recent publications include Lying in the Dark Room: Architectures of British Maternity (2023) and co-authored works on urban common land. She employs creative-critical writing and ethnographic methods to explore embodied spatial histories and contemporary conditions.
Giovanna Montenegro is an Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Romance Languages at Binghamton University, serving as Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Program (LACAS). Her research focuses on colonialism in Latin America and the Caribbean, with interdisciplinary interests in German Studies, cartography, ecocriticism, and visual culture. She has published extensively on topics including the Welsers’ colonial venture in Venezuela and Indigenous environmental resistance in the Guianas. Education: PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Davis. Research interests include colonial history, environmental humanities, Indigenous and Maroon studies, and digital humanities. She has led study abroad courses in Peru and collaborated on projects addressing land rights for Saamaka communities in Suriname. Her work has been supported by prestigious fellowships such as the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, Newberry Library grants, and the American Association of University Women. Notable awards include the 2019 LASA-Venezuela Section Best Article Prize for her analysis of German cultural memory around the Welser colony. In teaching, she offers courses on colonialism, environmental literature, and world literature, reflecting her commitment to linking academic scholarship with public engagement through initiatives like mapping projects and community advocacy.
Dr. Kylie Budge is a Senior Research Fellow (Urban Living and Society) and Adjunct Researcher at Western Sydney University's Institute for Culture and Society. Her research focuses on intersections of technology, culture, and society, with emphases on digital/material cultures of art/design, cultural institutions, and social media engagement. She holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne (2014) and a Master of Arts in Education from Macquarie University (1998). Her work critically examines how creative producers, audiences, and social media shape urban spaces and cultural narratives. Key themes include visual culture's role in identity construction via platforms like Instagram, and the evolving role of museums in digital engagement. She previously worked in Australia and Japan within universities and the GLAM sector (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums). Publications span journals like Australian Geographer , Continuum , and Curator: The Museum Journal , reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with cultural geography, media studies, and art education. Research highlights include analyzing 'makerspaces' as urban innovation hubs and the agency of museum objects in digital contexts. Dr. Budge serves on the Advisory Board of the Australasian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres, reflecting her commitment to advancing cultural research networks.
Deirdre Lyons is an Earl S. Johnson Instructor of History in the MAPSS program at the University of Chicago's Department of History. She specializes in the history of gender, family, and racial politics in the French Antilles, focusing on slavery and post-emancipation societies. Her research combines archival work in France, Martinique, and Guadeloupe to explore how enslaved and freed populations navigated legal and social systems. Education: PhD in History, University of Chicago MA in History and MA in Social Sciences, University of Chicago BA in History, New York University Her research interests include slavery’s legal and social structures, gendered resistance strategies, and the intersection of family dynamics with colonial policies. Her current book manuscript examines how family became a contested site during and after abolition, emphasizing the agency of enslaved women in shaping post-slavery societies. Recent awards include fellowships from the Schomburg Center (2024), John Carter Brown Library (2023), and the Omohundro Institute (2022-23). She has also contributed to public history projects, including co-curating exhibitions and consulting for anti-human trafficking NGOs. Academic service includes roles as Assistant Reviews Editor for the Journal of African History and Tech Officer for the French Colonial Historical Society. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement, emphasizing the global legacies of colonial histories.
Dr. Esther Chadwick is a Lecturer in Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London. Her research focuses on eighteenth-century British art within global contexts , particularly its connections to transatlantic enslavement and cross-cultural encounters . She has held prestigious fellowships at institutions including the Paul Mellon Centre and the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts. Education : University of Cambridge (BA), Yale University (PhD, 2016) Chadwick’s work interrogates the political agency of art during revolutions , the materiality of printed images , and the visual culture of colonialism . Her 2024 monograph, The Radical Print: Art and Politics in Late Eighteenth-Century Britain , explores how printmaking shaped artistic criticality and won the 2025 IFPDA Foundation Book Award. She has co-curated major exhibitions such as Entangled Pasts, 1768-now (Royal Academy, 2024) and William Blake’s Universe (Fitzwilliam Museum, 2024), and her recent publications analyze topics like Haitian postrevolutionary aesthetics and Indigenous London . A committed educator, she teaches courses on portraiture , radical art , and the global print . Scientific Awards : IFPDA Foundation Book Award (2025) Paul Mellon Centre Fellowship (London) Huntington Library Fellowship (California) Lewis Walpole Library Fellowship (Connecticut) CASVA Fellowship (Washington D.C.) Chadwick supervises PhD students including Damiët Schneeweisz (history of portrait miniatures in the Atlantic) and Claire Ó Nualláin (antiquarianism in eighteenth-century Ireland). Her curatorial projects and writings emphasize decolonizing art history and recontextualizing imperial legacies .
Ori Yehudai is the Saul and Sonia Schottenstein Chair in Israel Studies and Assistant Professor in the Department of History at The Ohio State University. His work bridges modern Jewish history, Zionism, migration, and transnational dynamics, with a focus on post-Holocaust Jewish communities and Israeli-Palestinian relations. He holds a BA from Tel Aviv University and a PhD from the University of Chicago. Education: BA, Tel Aviv University; PhD, University of Chicago Postdoctoral Positions: University of Toronto, NYU, McGill University, Center for Jewish History (New York) His research examines Jewish emigration from Palestine/Israel post-1945, intermarriage dynamics post-Holocaust, and reactions to Palestinian attacks in 1970s Israel. His book Leaving Zion (2020), a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, explores Jewish emigration’s challenges to Zionist narratives. He teaches courses on Zionism, modern Israel, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Awards: ACLS fellowship, NEH grants, YIVO recognition, Israel Institute support, and Wiener Library acknowledgment. Research Projects: Current work investigates Israeli societal responses to 1970s Palestinian attacks. His interdisciplinary approach integrates archival research and transnational frameworks.
Marissa Nicosia is an Associate Professor of Renaissance Literature in the English Department at Penn State Abington, part of the Pennsylvania State University system. She also serves as an Associate Professor in the Writing Program. Her academic work bridges literary studies, food history, and digital humanities, making significant contributions to our understanding of early modern English culture through innovative interdisciplinary approaches that combine textual analysis with practical experimentation. Dr. Nicosia received her Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and her B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Barnard College, Columbia University in 2007, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Before joining Penn State Abington, she taught at Scripps College, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Her research focuses on the intersections of early modern English literature, food studies, book history, and political theory. Dr. Nicosia examines how literary texts and historical documents reveal cultural practices, particularly around food and temporality. Her methodology combines historical formalism and critical bibliography to uncover how early modern writers engaged with questions of time, politics, and material culture. She has developed innovative approaches that bridge academic scholarship with public engagement through recipe reconstruction and digital humanities projects. Dr. Nicosia's publications demonstrate a consistent engagement with how historical texts can inform contemporary understanding across multiple formats. Her work spans academic monographs, edited collections, peer-reviewed articles, and public-facing digital humanities projects. She has established herself as a leader in bringing early modern studies to broader audiences through accessible scholarship that connects historical practices to modern experiences in meaningful ways. Franklin Research Grant, American Philosophical Society, 2024-2025 Dibner Research Fellow in the History of Science and Technology, The Huntington Library, 2024-2025 Faculty Senate Outstanding Research Award, Penn State Abington, 2023 Margaret Hannay Fellow, Folger Shakespeare Library, 2022-2023 Ogontz '65 Career Development Professorship, Penn State Abington, 2021-2023 Resident Scholar, Penn State Humanities Institute, 2022 Chief Ogontz Award, Penn State Abington, 2022 President's Award for Engagement with Students, Penn State, 2022 Dr. Nicosia has secured significant grant funding for her research, including a Summer Stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities (2021) and the Pennsylvania Grants for Open and Affordable Learning (2021-2022). Her innovative teaching approaches have been recognized with multiple awards, including the President's Award for Engagement with Students from Penn State (2022) and the Faculty Senate Outstanding Teaching Award at Penn State Abington (2018). She has mentored numerous undergraduate students through research projects, particularly through her 'What's in a Recipe?' initiative that engages students with early modern manuscript transcription. Her public humanities project 'Cooking in the Archives' has gained national recognition, being featured in the Washington Post, HuffPost: Taste, Edible Philly, CNN.com, and on Talk of Iowa (NPR). This initiative curates transcribed and updated recipes from early modern English household manuscripts, creating a valuable resource for food historians, students, culinary enthusiasts, and the general public. The project has attracted approximately 300,000 visitors and demonstrates Dr. Nicosia's commitment to making academic research accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.
