Professor Tony Kushner is the James Parkes Professor of History at the University of Southampton , affiliated with both the History Department and the Parkes Institute . His work spans Jewish migration history , Refugee studies , and Representation and memory of the Holocaust , with additional expertise in Bystander studies and Heritage, history and memory . Current Research: Cultural history of Jacob Harris (18th-century Jewish triple murderer); co-presentations to the Holocaust with Dr Aimee Bunting. Key Article Trends: Focus on Holocaust memory, urban Jewish communities, migration patterns, and intersections of race, colonialism, and genocide. Scientific Awards: BA Fellowship (Dr Jennifer Craig-Norton) K Pieren Postdoc Research Fellowship Hannah Ewence Postdoc Research Fellowship Kushner Rothschild Parkes Intl Summer School in Jewish Heritage PhD Supervision: Currently supervising 7 PhD students across History and Geography. Grants: Sponsored research projects from the British Academy and Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe.
Simon Stern is a Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, where he has taught since 2007, holding progressively senior positions from Assistant to full Professor since 2019. He serves as Chair in Innovation Law (2020-present) and Director of the Center for Innovation Law & Policy (2012-present). His research bridges legal doctrines with literary/intellectual history, focusing on legal fictions, the "reasonable man" standard, and intersections between law and sexuality. Ph.D. in English (UC Berkeley), J.D. (Yale), B.A. in English (Yale, magna cum laude) Editor-in-Chief of Yale Journal of Law & Humanities during law school Research interests include: law and literature, legal history, sexuality and the law, criminal law, and intellectual property. His work examines narrative techniques in legal reasoning, evidentiary standards, and historical evolution of legal concepts through literary frameworks. Recent publications analyze legal fictions, reasonable person standard evolution, and 19th-century tort law narratives. He co-edits Oxford University Press' Law and Literature series and the New Rambler Review. 2012 SLS Partnership Award for student advocacy 2023-2026 President of academic organization Serves on SSHRC Insight Grants Committee and multiple editorial boards
Allyson Nadia Field is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies and affiliated with The College at the University of Chicago. She is also an Affiliated Faculty member at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture and the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality. Ph.D., Harvard University Her research explores African American cinema, silent film, and archival studies. She focuses on how cinema shapes race and gender representation, particularly in nontheatrical and nonextant films. Her work bridges film form, media theory, and cultural analysis. Field’s recent publications examine archival rediscovery, speculative methodologies in film history, and the legacy of early Black filmmakers. She co-edited projects on the L.A. Rebellion and nontheatrical film, emphasizing Black feminist curation and institutional critique. 2024-2025 NEH Public Scholars Grant 2020-2021 ACLS/Burkhardt Fellowship 2019 Academy Film Scholar 2021 National Film Preservation Board appointee She has organized major exhibitions, including the 2023 Sojourner Truth Festival of the Arts, and currently co-edits a collection on the visual afterlives of slavery. Her teaching includes courses on silent cinema, experimental film, and archival theory.
Geraldine Heng is the Mildred Hajek Vacek and John Roman Vacek Chair in English at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is cross-appointed to Middle Eastern Studies, Women's Studies, Jewish Studies, and the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Social Justice. Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023 and a Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America, she founded and directs the Global Middle Ages Project (G-MAP), a major interdisciplinary initiative promoting global perspectives on premodernity. With a Ph.D. from Cornell University, Heng has pioneered the field of premodern critical race studies, fundamentally challenging the assumption that race is a modern construct. Her research focuses on literary, cultural, and social encounters between worlds, particularly through the lenses of race, gender, sexuality, class, and religion, with special attention to medieval Europe's interactions with Asia and Africa. Heng's scholarly work reveals how medieval global connections shaped cultural production and identity formation long before the so-called 'Age of Exploration.' Her approach synthesizes literary analysis, historical research, and critical theory to uncover the deep roots of globalization and its implications for understanding contemporary identity politics and cultural exchange. Her publications demonstrate a consistent trajectory toward increasingly global frameworks, moving from studies of medieval romance to comprehensive examinations of early global interconnectedness. This evolution reflects her commitment to dismantling Eurocentric narratives of the medieval world and revealing the complex networks of exchange that characterized premodern societies across Afro-Eurasia. 2019 PROSE prize in Global History 2019 Academy of American Literature prize in Historical Studies 2019 Robert W. Hamilton Grand Prize 2020 Otto Gründler prize Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America Heng has secured approximately $750,000 in grants for digital projects and held eight major fellowships at research centers. She co-edits the Cambridge University Press Elements series in the Global Middle Ages and the University of Pennsylvania Press series RaceB4Race: Critical Studies of the Premodern. Her teaching encompasses courses on early global literatures, premodern race, Crusades literature, Arthurian traditions, and feminist theory. As founder and director of the Global Middle Ages Project (G-MAP), Heng has built an international scholarly network that challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries and promotes collaborative approaches to studying premodern global connections. The project has fostered numerous digital initiatives, publications, and conferences that have significantly reshaped how scholars understand medieval intercultural exchange.
Loretta Lees is a Professor & Faculty Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University. She previously held professorships at Leicester University and King’s College London. Her research focuses on gentrification, urban regeneration, global urbanism, and urban policy. She has authored/co-authored 14 books, including seminal works like Planetary Gentrification and Gentrification . Lees is a leading scholar-activist, advocating for just urban policies through collaborations with residents, planners, and policymakers. She chairs the London Housing Panel and has been recognized with fellowships from Academia Europaea (2022), UK Higher Education Academy (2018), and the Royal Society for the Arts (2012). Education: University of Edinburgh, U.K. Research Interests: Gentrification processes and their global manifestations Urban public space and defensible space theory State-led urban regeneration and displacement Activism and urban policy advocacy Awards: Marilyn J. Gittell Activist Scholar Award (2022) Fellow of Academia Europaea (2022) Fellow of Royal Society for the Arts (2012) Grants & Advocacy: Lees has worked with the Mayor of London and Trust for London to address housing inequities. Her research often bridges academic rigor with practical policy interventions, emphasizing participatory approaches. Labs/Teams: She leads the Initiative on Cities, a multidisciplinary urban research hub at Boston University.
Lady Rojas Benavente is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics at Concordia University, where she has been teaching since her appointment as Assistant Professor in 1996, with promotion to Associate Professor in May 2003. Prior to joining Concordia, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at The University of Western Ontario, where she taught second language methodology, French and Spanish. Dr. Rojas Benavente received her PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University Laval in 1991, following an MA in Spanish Literatures (Cum Laude, 1985) and BA in History and Spanish (1983), both from the University of Ottawa. She also holds a Diploma qualifying as a Secondary School teacher specializing in Spanish Language and Literature, Psychology and Philosophy from the National Pedagogic University of Women in Lima, Peru (Cum Laude, 1968). Her research focuses on Critical Feminism in Peruvian & Latin-American Women Writers, with special emphasis on contemporary Peruvian and Mexican narrative, drama, poetry and essay. Her work encompasses Cultural Studies and Literary and Critical Theories, Latin American History, Post-colonialism, Human Rights, Women Studies, Feminist Theories, Gender Issues, Latin America Black History, Indigenous and Minorities Studies, and Comparative Studies in Education. She has published nine books (two poetry collections and seven critical interpretations) and over 50 refereed papers in Latin American Women's literary work, particularly focusing on Peruvian and Mexican authors. Dr. Rojas Benavente's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of gender, ethnicity, and power structures in Latin American literature. Her recent publications explore the works of contemporary Peruvian women writers, examining how they address issues of violence, racism, and gender in post-independence national contexts. Her research trajectory reveals a deepening focus on decolonial perspectives, indigenous resistance, and the intersection of gender with other social categories. Hispanic Literary and Cultural Institute's Honor Diploma (2010) Publication Award from the University of New Brunswick for the Anthology, Constructing Memory: Latino-Canadian Women Writers in the New Millennium Recognition by Mouvement Desjardins in celebration of International Women's Day (2008) As president of the Society for Literary Criticism of Spanish American Women Writers' work (CCLEH), Dr. Rojas Benavente has facilitated connections between Concordia colleagues, local artists, international writers, and the Latino-Montreal community. She serves on the editorial boards of Alba de America, a literary magazine from the United States, and Voces, a Peruvian cultural magazine. Her leadership extends to organizing numerous conferences on Latin American women writers across Canada, Latin America, and Montreal, including multiple meetings of Hispano-Canadian Women Writers and events commemorating significant figures in Latin American literature.
Barbara Fuchs is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in early modern European literature across Spanish, English, French, and Italian traditions from the 15th to 17th centuries. Her work emphasizes transnational contexts, theater and performance studies, and cultural production within imperial frameworks, with significant contributions to Mediterranean and transatlantic studies. Education Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Stanford University (1997) B.A./M.A. in Comparative Literature (English, French, Spanish), summa cum laude, Yale University (1992) Research Interests Professor Fuchs' scholarship centers on transnationalism in early modern literature, examining how theater and performance negotiated imperial identities across Mediterranean and transatlantic contexts. Her work critically engages with race and religion in the early modern world, picaresque traditions, and Cervantes studies, revealing how cultural encounters shaped literary production. She bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance through public humanities initiatives focused on classical Hispanic theater. Publication Trends Her recent publications demonstrate interdisciplinary innovation, merging literary analysis with performance studies and material culture. Recurring themes include transnational exchange mechanisms, racial formation processes, and textual materiality, while recent work addresses pandemic-era digital performance and modern adaptations of classical works. This trajectory highlights her commitment to connecting historical scholarship with current social and artistic practices. Scientific Awards Premio Ñ from the Instituto Cervantes (inaugural award) for promotion of Spanish language and culture Advising and Leadership Professor Fuchs mentors undergraduate and graduate students in early modern studies, translation, and performance. She leads the UCLA "Diversifying the Classics" initiative and LA Escena festival, securing institutional support for these collaborative projects. Her editorial leadership includes serving as articles editor for Renaissance Quarterly and co-editing the Norton Anthology of World Literature , demonstrating field-wide influence. Projects and Teams She directs the "Diversifying the Classics" initiative, which collaborates with theater professionals to adapt Hispanic classical works for contemporary Los Angeles audiences, and founded LA Escena—the biennial festival of Hispanic classical theater. These projects unite scholars, artists, and communities to explore historical texts through modern performance lenses, emphasizing accessibility and cultural relevance.
Rachel Cremona is an Associate Professor of Political Science & International Studies and serves as the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Flagler College. She is affiliated with the Department of Humanities, where she teaches courses including Introduction to Political Science, Politics in the U.S., Comparative Government, and US/Latin American Foreign Policy, demonstrating leadership in liberal arts education. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton (2006) M.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton (2003) M.A. in United States Government and Politics from the University of Essex (2001) B.A. in American Studies: Politics and Government from the University of Kent (2000) Study Abroad at the University of California, Berkeley (1998-1999) Dr. Cremona's research critically examines Latin American Politics , U.S./Latin America Relations , the rise of Far Right Political Parties , European Union dynamics, theories of Democratic Representation , and evolving concepts of Citizenship . Her work consistently explores how identity, governance structures, and historical contexts shape political systems across diverse regions. Analysis of her 2004-2012 publications reveals a strong empirical focus on comparative politics, with recurring themes of ethnic diversity in state formation, electoral system impacts on representation, and historical foundations of national identity. Her research bridges African, Latin American, and American political contexts while maintaining methodological rigor in examining democratic processes. No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text. Dr. Cremona actively mentors students as Faculty Advisor for Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) and First Year Advisor. Her sustained scholarly output indicates ongoing research engagement, complemented by significant administrative leadership as Dean of the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences. There is no information about dedicated research laboratories or specialized research teams associated with Dr. Cremona in the provided materials.
Desmond Jagmohan is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in American Politics, Political Theory & Philosophy, and Race and Ethnic Politics. Born in Guyana and raised in Chicago after migrating at sixteen, he served in the U.S. military before pursuing academia. His research focuses on the politics of the oppressed, with particular attention to African American political thought under conditions of subjugation. Dr. Jagmohan's research interests span the History of American and African American Political Thought, Race and American Political Development, History of Conservatism, Property, Slavery, and Nationalism, and Caribbean Political Thought. His work examines how marginalized communities navigate oppression through strategies that often require deception and concealment, as evidenced in his forthcoming book Dark Virtues: Booker T. Washington's Tragic Realism which analyzes Washington's politics of deception under Jim Crow. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on resistance strategies of the oppressed, with articles examining Harriet Jacobs, Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington, and theoretical frameworks for understanding racial oppression. His scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary political theory, particularly exploring how anger functions as a political emotion for oppressed communities. 2025 Social Science Distinguished Teaching Award at UC Berkeley Laurance S. Rockefeller Visiting Faculty Fellow at Princeton's University Center for Human Values (2022-23) National Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford (2018) APSA Best Dissertation Award from the Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Section (2015) Before joining Berkeley, Dr. Jagmohan taught at Princeton as Assistant Professor of Politics and held the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preceptorship. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University and his B.A. in Philosophy and History from Northeastern Illinois University. His teaching portfolio includes courses on the history of American and African American political thought, race and American political development, political culture, and a recurring seminar on resistance.
Loren Kruger is a Professor at the University of Chicago, specializing in interdisciplinary research that bridges Critical Theory, Postcolonial Studies , and Urban Performance . Her work spans African literature, modern drama, and transnational urban studies, with a focus on Johannesburg and Chicago as 'South Sides' of global significance. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University (1986) and has taught at UChicago since 1986. Key Research Areas: Critical Theory, Postcolonial Decolonization, African-American Theatre, Urban Studies Notable Contributions: Pioneering studies on comparative urban performance, translating revolutionary texts, and analyzing diasporic cultural legacies Her publications include Imagining the Edgy City (Oxford, 2013) and the recent Beyond the Internationale (2024), which explores Brechtian influences and urban resistance. Awards include the MLA Scaglione Prize (2005) and the Constantinidis Prize (2012). Current projects examine the Internationale in red world literature, theatre-politics intersections, and transcontinental family histories. Scientific Awards: MLA Scaglione Prize for Comparative Literary Study (2005) Philadelphia Constantinidis Prize (2012)
Philip J. Ethington is Professor of History, Political Science, and Spatial Sciences at the University of Southern California's Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. As Co-Director of the USC Center for Transformative Scholarship and Fellow of the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities, he bridges historical scholarship with digital innovation through projects like HyperCities. Ethington's educational background includes: Ph.D. in History from Stanford University (1989) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University's Charles Warren Center (2007-2008) Getty Scholar at the Getty Research Institute (1996-1997) His research pioneers spatial theory of history through chronographs and digital cartography, examining urban evolution from Pleistocene times to present. Key interests include global metropolis studies , visual culture , and digital humanities , with focus on Los Angeles as a case study for transnational urban dynamics. Recent publications reveal consistent exploration of spatial dimensions in historical analysis, particularly through geographic institutionalism and deep historical regionalism. His work integrates cartographic innovation with theoretical frameworks to map urban change across millennia, emphasizing institutional ecology and transnational connections. Scientific recognition includes: Nomination for USC's Steven B. Sample Teaching Award (2010-2011) USC Interdisciplinary Faculty Fellowship (2004-2005) Award-winning documentary film Visual Acoustics (2009) Ethington mentors undergraduate researchers in urban history while leading major grants including MacArthur Foundation's HyperCities project ($238,000) and NEH's Digital Humanities initiative ($248,492). His funded work develops collaborative platforms for geohistorical research and digital publishing. He co-directs the USC History Lab and Center for Transformative Scholarship, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through the Population Dynamics Lab and HyperCities consortium for participatory urban mapping.
Kelly Askew is a Professor of Anthropology and Afroamerican & African Studies at the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. She holds a PhD in Anthropology (Harvard, 1997) and a BA in Music and Anthropology (Yale, 1997), with over three decades of fieldwork in Tanzania and Kenya. Education PhD in Anthropology, Harvard University (1997) BA in Music and Anthropology, Yale University Key Roles Chair of the Department of Anthropology Niara Sudarkasa Collegiate Professor Her research bridges three primary domains: Postsocialist transitions (e.g., property rights formalization and land conflicts), art and political aesthetics (e.g., Swahili music, African visual arts, ethnographic filmmaking), and indigenous political movements (e.g., Maasai and Parakuyo pastoralists). She has produced award-winning documentaries like The Chairman and the Lions (2013) and Maasai Remix (2019), which examine cultural resilience and land rights. Scientific awards include being a finalist for the African Studies Association Herskovits Award (2002). Recent publications analyze land dispossession mechanisms, postsocialist cultural production, and media’s role in political identity. She has secured grants from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Ford Foundation.
Dr. Joseph Bosco Bangura is a Senior Researcher in Religious Studies & Missiology at the Evangelical Theological Faculty (ETF Leuven) and Senior Researcher in Intercultural Theology at the Protestant Theological University, Groningen. He serves as a Part-Time Lecturer at Aachen University and has held roles at institutions in Sierra Leone, Germany, South Africa, and Uganda. His work bridges Pentecostalism, missiology, and intercultural theology across Africa and Europe. Education: Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies (ETF Leuven & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 2013) M.Th. (ETF Leuven, 2007) M.Phil. (Fourah Bay College, 2004) Post-Graduate Certificate in Ecumenical Studies (Ecumenical Institute Bossey, 2001) B.Th. (Evangelical College of Theology, 1997) Research Interests focus on African Pentecostalism, contextual theology, secularization in Africa and Europe, interfaith engagement, and the cultural adaptation of migrant churches. His work explores the intersection of religion with environmental disasters, gender dynamics, and digital media in African Christianity. Selected Articles highlight eco-theology in Sierra Leone, gender and leadership in diaspora churches, and the impact of secularization on Pentecostal communities. His publications also address urban missiology, transnational practices, and the historical evolution of African churches. Academic Memberships: European Academy on Religion and Society American Society of Missiology GloPent Research Network Lamin Sanneh Institute (University of Ghana)
Marcel Lubbers is a Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science: Relations between groups and cultures at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. He leads the European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER) and serves as a board member of the Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS). As associate editor of the European Sociological Review (ESR), he significantly influences academic discourse in migration and political sociology. His work represents Utrecht University in the focus area Migration and Societal Change, connecting research with broader societal implications. Professor Lubbers' research program centers on migration's societal impacts, particularly examining how immigration influences nationalism, Euroscepticism, and voting behavior. His work adopts both macro-level perspectives on societal cohesion and micro-level analyses of immigrant integration processes. Recent publications reveal his focus on political extremism, interethnic relations, and the psychological mechanisms behind public attitudes toward migration. His methodology combines large-scale survey analysis, comparative European studies, and longitudinal approaches to track attitude changes over time. Lubbers' scholarly output shows consistent engagement with contemporary political challenges, including analyses of radical right voting patterns, the workplace as a setting for interethnic contact, and the impact of national nostalgia on political attitudes. His research demonstrates methodological sophistication through meta-analyses, mixed-methods approaches, and innovative survey designs like the Dutch Parliamentary Election Study and Dutch Ethnic Minority Election Study. Through web publications on platforms like Stukroodvlees.nl and contributions to the Migration Advisory Council, Lubbers actively bridges academic research and public policy debates. His work provides evidence-based insights on migration policy, electoral behavior, and societal integration that inform both scholarly and policy discussions in the Netherlands and beyond.
Dr. Rahul Rao is a Reader in International Political Thought at the University of St Andrews' School of International Relations. Previously, he held Reader positions at SOAS University of London and was a Term Fellow at the University of Oxford. A Rhodes Scholar, he holds a DPhil from Balliol College, Oxford, and an LLB from National Law School of India University. His work focuses on postcolonial and queer theory, South Asian politics, and identity-based global politics. Key publications include Third World Protest (2010), Out of Time: The Queer Politics of Postcoloniality (2020), and The Psychic Lives of Statues (2025). Rao’s research explores intersections of race, caste, and gender, supported by Leverhulme and Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study fellowships. Education: BA, LLB (Hons.), National Law School of India University DPhil in International Relations, Balliol College, Oxford (as Rhodes Scholar) Research Interests: Queer theory and its postcolonial intersections Racial, caste, and gender dynamics in global politics South Asian political movements and nationalism Decolonial thought and monument studies Awards: Rhodes Scholarship Leverhulme Trust Fellowship Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship Doctoral Supervision: Current advisees include Gray Black, Marta Fernandez Albuerne, and Anezka Ferreira. Rao welcomes PhD proposals exploring Marxist/post-Marxist approaches to the more-than-human turn in humanities. Labs/Teams: Member of Radical Philosophy editorial collective, engaging in critical political discourse and intellectual curation.
