Lillie Padilla is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Sam Houston State University's Department of World Languages and Cultures. Holding a Ph.D. and M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from Arizona State University alongside a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ghana, her research explores interdisciplinary connections between: Afro-Latinx representation in educational materials Discourse analysis and language ideologies Sociolinguistic studies in Equatorial Guinea Critical race theory applications in language teaching Her work focuses on Spanish subject pronoun expression patterns in multilingual contexts and curriculum development for inclusive pedagogy. Recent publications examine: Representation gaps in Spanish language textbooks Methodological challenges in Equatorial Guinea research Critical discourse analysis of Netflix's Elite series Intersectional representation of Afro-Latinx women Scientific achievements include: Finalist for American Association of Linguistics 2025 award for co-edited volume Representation, Inclusion and Social Justice in World Language Teaching Padilla's research continues to shape conversations about linguistic diversity and marginalized voices in language education through both empirical studies and theoretical frameworks.
Jacob Eyferth is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, jointly appointed in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, the Department of History, and the College. His research focuses on the social and cultural history of twentieth-century China, particularly rural communities, gender dynamics, and the intersection of technology and everyday life. Key research themes include the impact of industrialization, collectivization, and revolution on non-elite populations, with an emphasis on rural women's labor and cultural resistance. His current project explores cotton production, clothing, and gender during China's socialist era. Eating Rice from Bamboo Roots (2009) How China Works (2006) Rural Development in Transitional China (2004) He received the 2011 Joseph Levenson Prize for his first book. Eyferth has taught courses on topics such as class inequality, everyday life under socialism, and revolutionary China, and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford, Harvard, and Rutgers.
Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she is affiliated with the Department of Economics within the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She co-founded and co-directs the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and holds the position of Chaire, Pauvreté et politiques publiques at the Collège de France. Duflo also serves as President of the Paris School of Economics, demonstrating her significant international influence in economic policy and research. Her educational background includes first degrees in history and economics from Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT in 1999. This strong foundation has enabled her to become one of the most influential economists of her generation. Duflo's research focuses on understanding the economic lives of people living in poverty, with the explicit aim of informing effective social policy design and evaluation. Her work spans critical areas including health, education, financial inclusion, environmental sustainability, and governance. What distinguishes her approach is the rigorous application of randomized controlled trials to evaluate development interventions, bringing scientific precision to poverty alleviation efforts. Her research methodology has revolutionized how economists approach development questions, moving beyond theoretical models to evidence-based policy recommendations. Her scholarly output demonstrates remarkable breadth and impact, with publications spanning from technical academic papers to influential books for general audiences. Duflo's work consistently bridges the gap between academic research and practical policy applications, with recent publications addressing contemporary challenges including climate change adaptation, pandemic response, and economic policy for hard times. Her research trends reveal a deepening commitment to translating complex economic concepts for broader audiences while maintaining scholarly rigor. Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (2019, with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer) Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences (2015) A.SK Social Science Award (2015) Infosys Prize (2014) John Bates Clark Medal (2010) MacArthur 'Genius Grant' Fellowship (2009) Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2017) Duflo has supervised numerous graduate students and collaborated extensively with researchers worldwide through J-PAL, which has grown into a global network conducting field experiments across multiple continents. Her grant portfolio includes substantial funding from major foundations and government agencies supporting large-scale development research. Beyond traditional academic advising, Duflo has mentored a generation of development economists through J-PAL's training programs and field research opportunities. Her primary institutional home is the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), which she co-founded at MIT. J-PAL has grown into a major research center with offices worldwide, connecting academic researchers with policymakers to ensure that program evaluations inform real-world decisions. Duflo also leads research teams at the Collège de France and the Paris School of Economics, creating a transatlantic network focused on evidence-based poverty reduction strategies.
Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau is the Susan Beth Horwitz WARF Professor of Computer Sciences and Catherine A. Erickson Professor in the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been a professor at UW-Madison since January 2000 and currently serves as Graduate Advising Chair for the Computer Sciences Department. Her research focuses on computer systems with primary emphasis on file and storage systems, but also making significant contributions in distributed systems, virtualization, and scheduling. According to csrankings.org, she has published the fourth-most papers in premier systems conferences (SOSP and OSDI) and the most at the top file and storage conference (FAST). Professor Arpaci-Dusseau's recent publications demonstrate continued leadership in storage systems research, with increasing focus on cloud architectures, persistent memory technologies, and system reliability. Her work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations, consistently addressing real-world challenges in modern computing environments. ACM SIGOPS Mark Weiser Award 2018 (highest honor in systems field) UW-Madison Van Hise Outreach Teaching Award 2017 Multiple Best Paper awards at FAST, SOSP, OSDI, and EuroSys conferences Carolyn Rosner Award for Excellence in Teaching (2010, 2017) Co-chaired major conferences including USENIX ATC '04, FAST '07, OSDI'18, and SOSP'24 Professor Arpaci-Dusseau has co-advised 28 Ph.D. students and is deeply committed to educational outreach through the CaTaPuLT project, which connects UW-Madison students with K-12 schools to teach computational thinking using Scratch. This initiative has reached hundreds of students across Madison and earned her significant recognition for teaching excellence. She leads the Arpaci-Dusseau Systems Lab (ADSL) and is involved with the Wisconsin Institute on Software-defined Datacenters in Madison (WISDoM), where her research group continues to advance state-of-the-art solutions in computer systems.
Dr. Luisa Calè is a Professor of Romantic and Nineteenth-Century Literature & Visual Culture and Research Lead at Birkbeck, University of London. She holds degrees from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' (1993), University of Genoa (1997), and the University of Oxford (M.St. 1998, D.Phil 2002). Her research explores the interplay between literature and visual/material culture, focusing on book history, intermediality, and practices of reading/collecting. Her Leverhulme Trust-funded project 'The Book Unbound' examines how works by Blake, Walpole, and Dickens subverted traditional book formats. Education: PhD in Literary Studies, University of Genoa (1997) D.Phil., University of Oxford (2002) M.St. in English, University of Oxford (1998) Letters Degree, University of Rome (1993) Her research interests include Romantic aesthetics, material texts, and critical disciplinarity. Notable publications include Fuseli’s Milton Gallery (2006) and co-edited volumes like Dante on View (2007). She edits Blake/An Illustrated Quarterly and serves on editorial boards for Word & Image and Romantic Circles Gallery . Recent awards include a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship (2019) and a Mercator Fellowship (2018-19). She supervises graduate students in Romantic literature, material culture, and book history.
Andrew Lynch serves as Professor and Associate Dean for Program Development in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami. His academic leadership extends beyond teaching responsibilities to include significant administrative contributions to program development across the institution. Lynch's research interests center on sociolinguistics with particular focus on Spanish language dynamics in Miami, heritage language socialization, bilingualism, and language ideology. His work examines how language functions within specific social contexts, especially in workplace environments where Spanish heritage speakers navigate linguistic demands. He investigates the complex interplay between language, identity, and social structures in postmodern urban settings, with special attention to the Cuban diaspora experience in South Florida. His publication record reveals consistent scholarly engagement with heritage language education, Spanish language variation, and the sociolinguistic landscape of global cities. Lynch's research demonstrates how language practices in Miami reflect broader patterns of linguistic adaptation and resistance within diasporic communities. His work often addresses the tension between linguistic heritage and social integration, examining how language ideologies shape educational practices and community identity. Lynch's scholarly contributions span multiple formats, including single-authored books, co-authored publications, handbook chapters, and journal articles in both English and Spanish. His work frequently appears in high-impact sociolinguistics and language education journals, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that bridges theoretical linguistics with practical educational implications.
Ben Nobbs-Thiessen is an Assistant Professor of History and Chair of Mennonite Studies at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a PhD from Emory University (2016), with prior roles as a research associate at Arizona State University (2016–18) and a teaching fellow at Washington State University (2018–2020). His research focuses on Mennonite migrations across the Americas, environmental change, and indigenous-settler relations. He teaches courses on Latin American Mennonites and Mennonite Studies II. His research combines archival work, field studies, and oral histories from Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. His 2020 book Landscape of Migration examines Bolivia’s lowland colonization and its intersection with Mennonite and indigenous communities. Current projects include a century-long study of Mexico-Canada Mennonite migrations linked to water scarcity and neoliberal reforms. His publications span journals like Journal of Latin American Studies and Agricultural History , addressing topics like frontier development, foodways, and border conflicts. His transnational approach bridges environmental, migration, and colonial histories. He contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Newberry Consortium in American Indian Studies and the Centre for Rupert's Land Studies.
Amanda Phillips is an Associate Professor at Georgetown University, affiliated with the Departments of English, Film and Media Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and American Studies. Their research focuses on feminist and queer theory in digital media, with a particular emphasis on critical game studies and digital humanities. Selected publications include Gamer Trouble: Feminist Confrontations in Digital Culture and co-editing the Queer/Trans/Digital book series. Their scholarship appears in journals such as ROMchip , Feminist Media Histories , and Games and Culture . Research Interests: Digital media and gender politics Queer theory in gaming contexts Decolonial and anti-racist digital humanities Critical analysis of game mechanics Digital labor and precarity Affective histories of gaming Scientific Awards: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellow Academic Leadership: Former chair of the American Studies Association Digital Humanities Caucus Co-founder of the #transformDH Collective Editorial work on special issues of Game Studies and Antares: Letras e Humanidades Previous Institutions: IMMERSe Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Davis Ph.D. recipient from University of California, Santa Barbara with emphasis in Feminist Studies
Matthew Potolsky is Professor of English at the University of Utah, specializing in nineteenth-century literature and literary theory. His career spans from 1998 Lecturer at Harvard University to current University Professorship. He earned a BA in Comparative Literature and Philosophy (1990), followed by MA and PhD in Comparative Literature (1992, 1997) from UC Irvine. Chair of English Department (2013-2016) University Professor (2014-2016) Research focuses on Decadence , Mimesis , Finance-Aesthetics intersections , and Government Secrecy . His work traces connections between financialization and decadent aesthetics, revealing how economic cycles influence artistic production. Key themes include: Decadent anti-realist literary movements Finance capital's cultural impact Decadent counterpublic formations Victorian aesthetic education debates Sublime aesthetics in national security Cosmopolitanism in literary communities Recent publications analyze: Decadent style as financialization rhetoric Reintroduction of verisimilitude theory Decadent responses to financial crises Mimetic labor in artistic production Decadent cosmopolitan counterpublics Historical parallels between financialization and literary decadence
Joshua D. Angrist is the Ford Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has been a faculty member since 1996. He is also a co-founder and director of MIT's Blueprint Labs and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Angrist shares the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with David Card and Guido Imbens for their methodological contributions to the analysis of causal relationships. Angrist received his B.A. from Oberlin College in 1982 and completed his Ph.D. in Economics at Princeton University in 1989. Prior to joining MIT, he taught at Harvard University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His academic journey began somewhat unconventionally, as he left high school early after 11th grade, worked for over a year, and only later discovered his passion for economics through an inspiring teacher at Oberlin. Angrist's research focuses on developing and applying innovative econometric methods to answer important economic questions using natural experiments. His work spans labor economics, education economics, and causal inference methodology. He is particularly known for his contributions to instrumental variables methods and the Local Average Treatment Effect (LATE) framework developed with Guido Imbens. His research explores the economics of education and school reform, the impact of social programs on labor markets, and the effects of immigration and regulation. His recent publications reveal a continued focus on causal inference methods applied to education policy questions, labor market issues, and health economics. The trend shows increasing sophistication in research design, with particular attention to addressing selection bias and developing methods for external validity. His work spans theoretical econometric contributions alongside empirical applications in education, labor markets, and health. Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (2021) Fama Prize for Graduate Education (2018) Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow of the Econometric Society Angrist is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring. He has developed influential econometrics textbooks including 'Mostly Harmless Econometrics' and 'Mastering Metrics' with Jörn-Steffen Pischke. At MIT, he teaches courses including Labor Economics I (14.661), Econometric Data Science (14.32), and Labor Economics and Public Policy (14.64). He emphasizes selecting UROP students who have mastered foundational economics through courses like 14.64 and 14.32. Beyond MIT, Angrist co-founded Avela, a software startup using cutting-edge research to help schools improve enrollment and operations. Angrist co-founded and directs MIT's Blueprint Labs, which brings together researchers from economics, computer science, and education to develop innovative solutions for educational challenges. Through Blueprint Labs and Avela, his work bridges academic research with practical applications in education policy and technology.
Silvia Lindtner is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan's School of Information and Director of the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing (ESC). She holds courtesy appointments in the Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design and the Digital Studies Institute. Her work focuses on the social and cultural study of technology in China and globally, with a focus on data-driven governance, AI ethics, and the intersection of technology and labor. Lindtner has conducted nearly two decades of fieldwork in China, examining innovation ecosystems, digital economies, and the affective dimensions of state control. She is the author of the award-winning *Prototype Nation: China and the Contested Promise of Innovation* (2020) and co-author of *Technoprecarious* (2020). Education: PhD in Information and Computer Sciences from University of California, Irvine; BS/MS in Media Technology and Design from University of Hagenberg, Austria. Research Interests: Science and Technology Studies (STS), China Studies, HCI, Critical Computing, AI Ethics, Data Governance, Labor Studies, and Transnational Digital Economies. She explores how technological systems shape governance, labor practices, and everyday life, particularly in contexts of global inequality and state surveillance. Awards: Joseph Levenson Prize (2021), Francis L.K. Hsu Book Prize (2021), ACM Distinguished Member (2022), and fellowships from the National Committee on US-China Relations (2021-2023) and China-US Scholars Program (2021-2022). Grants: Supported by NSF, IMLS, Intel Labs, Google Anita Borg, and Chinese National Natural Science Foundation. Leads interdisciplinary initiatives including Tech.Culture.Matters research group and Michigan Interactive and Social Computing (MISC) research group. Labs/Teams: Directs the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing (ESC) and collaborates with the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. Current projects include studies on affective control in AI governance and transnational data practices in healthcare and labor.
Rhonda Goldman is a Full Professor in the Clinical Psychology Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, Illinois. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois and runs her private practice, Emotion-focused Therapy, Chicago, where she sees both couples and individuals. Dr. Goldman is a founding board member of the International Society of Emotion-focused Therapy and serves as President of the Emotion-focused Therapy Institute. Dr. Goldman earned her academic credentials from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in 1987, Master of Arts in 1991, and Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology in 1997. She taught at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology for 22 years before transitioning to her current position at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology following the closure of the Illinois School. Dr. Goldman is a leading expert in Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), a therapeutic approach that integrates elements of client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and modern emotion theory. Her research focuses on EFT for couples, emotional processes, empathy, vulnerability, depression, case formulation, and self-soothing. She has authored six texts on EFT and two professional videos published by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Goldman teaches graduate courses in Humanistic and Experiential Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Seminars, and Emotion-Focused Therapy, emphasizing the importance of emotional processing in therapeutic change. Dr. Goldman's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on advancing Emotion-Focused Therapy through both theoretical development and practical application. Her work spans individual therapy, couples therapy, case formulation, and therapist training, with recent emphasis on adapting EFT for online delivery. Her research shows how emotional awareness and processing serve as central mechanisms of change in psychotherapy, with applications across various clinical issues including depression and relationship distress. Dr. Goldman is actively involved in professional organizations that support the development and dissemination of Emotion-Focused Therapy. She serves as a founding board member of the International Society for Emotion-focused Therapy, past-president of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration, Action-Editor for the Journal of Person-centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, and member of the Society for Psychotherapy Research. As an educator and clinician, Dr. Goldman has mentored numerous professionals in the field of psychotherapy. She travels internationally conducting training workshops for mental health professionals in Emotion-focused therapy for Couples and Individuals across Europe, Asia, and North America. Her work bridges research and practice, emphasizing the importance of emotional processing in therapeutic change while maintaining a strong commitment to evidence-based practice. Dr. Goldman co-founded the Emotion-focused Therapy Institute (EFTI), which facilitates and fosters training and educational opportunities for psychologists and therapists interested in incorporating EFT into their professional practices. Through EFTI and her international workshops, she has created a global community of practitioners dedicated to advancing Emotion-Focused Therapy.
Wiebke von Carolsfeld serves as a Professor in Cinema at Concordia University, where she holds a primary academic appointment focused on film production and creative practice within the university's cinema program. Her research and creative practice spans directing, screenwriting, and editing across multiple cinematic formats including feature film, independent film, documentary, and shorts . She demonstrates particular expertise in narrative genres such as drama and comedy , with significant experience in international co-productions that facilitate cross-cultural collaborations. Her creative work extends beyond film into prose and novel writing , reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to storytelling. Professor von Carolsfeld maintains active engagement with the film community through her practice-based research and creative output, though specific advising relationships and grant activities are not detailed in available institutional documentation. She remains a current faculty member contributing to Concordia University's cinematic arts education mission.
Dr. Kaya de Barbaro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin (College of Liberal Arts). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California San Diego. Her research focuses on bridging computer science and developmental/clinical psychology, particularly maternal mental health and infant social-emotional development. She directs the Daily Activity Lab, which uses mobile/wearable sensors and machine learning to analyze real-world interactions, aiming to develop just-in-time interventions for new mothers. Key research areas include maternal-infant dynamics, physiological synchronization, and the impact of environmental chaos on development. She has pioneered methods for analyzing high-density data, such as Granger causality and machine learning algorithms to detect behaviors like crying and holding. Recent work emphasizes leveraging ecological momentary assessment surveys and 24-hour LENA audio recordings to understand proximal mechanisms of development. Dr. de Barbaro teaches Psychology 333D (Introduction to Developmental Psychology) and has developed curricula for both in-person and online formats. She is actively involved in training students through the Eureka program at UT Austin. Her lab collaborates on tools like chatbots for postpartum mental health and has published extensively on sensor-based methodologies in developmental science.
Steven Jackson is a Professor of Information Science and Science and Technology Studies at Cornell University's Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, with additional graduate field appointments in Communication and Public Affairs. Since July 2023, he has served as Vice-Provost for Academic Innovation at Cornell, and previously held leadership positions as Chair of Information Science and Dean of William Keeton House. His work bridges academic research with significant institutional leadership in higher education innovation. Dr. Jackson's research focuses on critical intersections of technology, society, and the environment, with three primary strands: technology ethics, law and policy; maintenance, repair and sustainability; and technology, inequality and global development. His work draws from American pragmatism, political economy, and science and technology studies, integrating methods from sociology, anthropology, philosophy, and media studies. He is particularly interested in how computing practices meet social and material worlds, with implications for infrastructure, collaboration, sustainability, and cultural practice. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on repair as both theoretical concept and practical methodology, exploring 'ordinary hope' as a framework for technological engagement and examining unmaking as a necessary counterpart to design. The research spans diverse geographical contexts from the global North to South, addressing caste dynamics in computing, digital authoritarianism, and infrastructure challenges in developing contexts. Dr. Jackson has received significant recognition including an NSF CAREER award and more than twenty paper awards at leading computing and information science venues. His research has been supported by major organizations including the U.S. National Science Foundation, Social Science Research Council, Ford Foundation, Sloan Foundation, World Bank, Intel Research, Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council. As an advisor, Dr. Jackson has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to prominent positions at institutions worldwide. He currently advises Jen Liu, Amy Cheatle, Daniel Mwesigwa, Johan Michalove, and Ritik Batra, while his former students include Palashi Vaghela (Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University), Samir Passi (Responsible AI Researcher at Microsoft), Maggie Jack (Assistant Professor at NYU), and Ranjit Singh (Senior Researcher at Data and Society). Dr. Jackson convenes the Computing On Earth Lab, an experimental collaboration bringing together social scientists, humanists, artists, and engineers to rethink the material and planetary foundations of computing. The lab reflects his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that address computing's environmental impacts and sustainability challenges.
