David Treece is a Professor of Brazilian Studies at King’s College London. He specializes in Brazilian culture, literature, popular music, and Afro-Brazilian politics, with a focus on anti-racism and translation from Portuguese. His career at King’s spans decades, including leadership roles like Head of Department (2002–2005), and contributions to the establishment of the King’s Brazil Institute. BA in Hispanic Studies, University of Liverpool (1982) PhD in Brazilian Literature, University of Liverpool (1987) His research explores intersections of music, race, and resistance in Brazil. He has led AHRC-funded projects on Lusophone Black Atlantic cultures and currently works on anti-racism in contemporary Brazilian music via a Leverhulme Fellowship. His work aligns with UN SDGs for racial justice and cultural preservation. Highlighted in his publications are analyses of bossa nova, samba, and rap as tools for social critique. Notable works include Brazilian Jive: From Samba to Bossa and Rap (2013) and co-edited volumes like Cultures of the Lusophone Black Atlantic (2007). Scientific Awards: Order of Rio Branco (2000), Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2018) Treece’s practice-based research includes translating Brazilian poetry and music. He has presented globally on topics like song translation, Brazilian resistance music, and cultural studies, contributing to academic journals and collaborative projects.
Carlos Rodriguez is a Full-Time Assistant Professor of English in the English and Creative Writing department at Dominican University of California's School of Liberal Arts and Education. He specializes in literature, creative writing, and intersectional ethnic studies, with a focus on underrepresented ALANA (African, Latino, Asian, Native American) artists and narratives. Education includes a Master of Arts (MA) from UC Davis, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Arizona, and Doctoral work (ABD) at Stanford University. His academic mentors include renowned figures like Leslie Marmon Silko, Sandra Gilbert, and Octavio Solis. Research interests span social anatomy (socio-cultural body studies), trans studies, psychoanalytic theory, and ethnic genre writing (detective fiction, fantasy, futurism). His creative writing transitioned from poetry/prose to playwriting and screenwriting, emphasizing marginalized voices in Asian American, Pacific Islander American, and Latino communities. Notable scientific awards include Teacher of the Year (1999) NEH Summer Institute participation (2011) Multiple staged readings of original plays (2003-2006) Contact: carlos.rodriguez@dominican.edu
Amy Lyford serves as the Arthur G. Coons Professor in the History of Ideas at Occidental College, where she has been a core faculty member in the Department of Art and Art History since 1999. Her scholarship critically examines twentieth-century American and European art through the intersecting lenses of photography, sculpture, and modernist identity politics. Lyford earned her academic foundation through a B.A. from Pomona College, M.A. from Boston University, and Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley. This educational trajectory established her interdisciplinary approach to art historical analysis, bridging formal aesthetics with socio-political contexts. Her research foregrounds how artistic practices negotiate gender, sexuality, and race within modernism. Key investigations include surrealist constructions of masculinity, racial identity in Japanese American art, and the political dimensions of photographic representation. Lyford consistently challenges essentialist narratives, emphasizing identity as fluid and culturally mediated through visual production. Analysis of her publication record reveals a sustained scholarly trajectory examining marginalized narratives in modern art. She explores biographical subjects like Dorothea Tanning and Isamu Noguchi to unpack intersections of race, gender, and labor, while her photojournalism studies investigate memory politics and spectacle. This body of work demonstrates rigorous engagement with how visual culture both reflects and shapes socio-historical realities from the early 20th century to contemporary practice. Lyford received the prestigious Charles C. Eldredge Prize in 2015 for her book Isamu Noguchi’s Modernism , alongside significant research fellowships from: Fulbright Foundation Kress Foundation Mellon Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities Terra Foundation for American Art In pedagogy, Lyford mentors students through Occidental's summer Undergraduate Research Program and integrates archival/digital methodologies into courses like History of Photography and her Faculty-Led Study Abroad program on Paris-Berlin. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes critical analysis of visual rhetoric and student development of independent scholarly perspectives on art's societal role. Though not directing a formal laboratory, Lyford cultivates collaborative research environments through her transnational study programs and undergraduate mentorship initiatives, fostering critical engagement with art historical materials across temporal and geographic boundaries.
Brian Klopotek serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies within the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences, where he maintains active teaching duties and research programs focused on critical race-ethnic studies. His institutional affiliation demonstrates deep integration with interdisciplinary frameworks across humanities and social sciences. His academic foundation includes: BA in Anthropology from Yale University (1994) PhD in American Studies from University of Minnesota (2004) Klopotek's research centers on Native American and Indigenous Studies through intersecting lenses of racial justice , historical trauma , and cultural sovereignty . His work critically examines federal recognition politics, Jim Crow-era educational systems, and environmental justice through comparative ethnic frameworks. Key methodologies include decolonial historiography and critical media analysis, with regional emphasis on Gulf Coast Indigenous communities. Publication trends reveal sustained engagement with Louisiana tribal communities (particularly Tunica-Biloxi), evolving from early cinematic representation studies toward contemporary analyses of disaster resilience and federal policy. His scholarship consistently bridges historical analysis with present-day justice movements, emphasizing Black-Indigenous solidarity and challenging monolithic narratives of indigeneity. Teaching responsibilities span foundational and specialized courses including: ES 102: Introduction to Ethnic Studies ES 256: Introduction to Native American Studies ES 350: Native Americans and the Environment ES 399: Native American/African American Relations ES 456/556: History of Native American Education
Helen Keenan is a Researcher affiliated with the School of Education . Her work spans critical areas in contemporary educational scholarship, including policy analysis, curriculum design, and equity initiatives. Research Interests: Education Policy Curriculum Development Pedagogical Theory Higher Education Administration Teacher Training Student Assessment Notable Contributions: Helen's research on technology integration , decolonizing pedagogy , and teacher mentorship reflects a commitment to addressing systemic challenges in education systems globally. Her publications emphasize practical frameworks for equitable learning environments.
Dr. Cassie Sade Turnipseed is an Assistant Professor of History in the Department of Social Sciences at Mississippi Valley State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Public History and specializes in African American studies, cultural heritage preservation, and Mississippi Delta history. Her work bridges academia and community activism, notably as the founder of Khafre, Inc.—a nonprofit promoting cultural arts and historical preservation. Education: Ph.D. in Public History, Middle Tennessee State University (2016) M.B.A. in Marketing and International Management, Golden Gate University (1997) M.S. in Telecommunications Management, Golden Gate University (1997) B.S. in Media Communications, San Francisco State University (1991) Research Interests: Dr. Turnipseed’s scholarship centers on public history, African American labor legacy (especially cotton pickers), Gullah Geechee cultural preservation, and community-driven historical monuments. She integrates oral history, film, and education to reclaim marginalized narratives, with projects like the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and the Gullah Geechee documentary. Publications: Her recent works explore themes of cultural memory, social justice, and community empowerment. Dominant trends include Mississippi Delta history, public commemoration, and African diaspora studies, reflecting her commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices through interdisciplinary research. Awards: IHL Mississippi Diversity Educator of the Year (2017) US Congressional Honor (2012) Delta Leadership Institute Fellow (2008) NAACP Youth Outreach Award (2012) Leadership & Outreach: She leads Khafre, Inc., managing youth programs (Healthy U Gourmet Academy, Young Publishers' Network) and the Cotton Kingdom Historical Trail. She secured a 2018 MVSU grant for Gullah Geechee research and hosts “Delta Renaissance,” a regional TV show. Internationally, she represents diaspora interests at events like the World Summit of Mayors (Ghana) and FESPACO film festivals.
Elizabeth Hamilton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Fort Valley State University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in African American art history, Afrofuturist feminism, and Black feminist visual culture, with a focus on decolonizing art history and exploring the intersection of art, activism, and memory. Education: Ph.D. in Art History, University of Florida (2015) M.A. in Art History, University of Florida (2013) B.F.A. in Art, University of Wyoming (2007) Research Interests: Her research centers on the visual narratives of Black womanhood, Afrofuturist aesthetics, and the decolonization of art historical pedagogy. She explores how African American artists negotiate identity, memory, and futurity through figuration, digital media, and public monuments. Her work also examines the legacy of slavery in American memorial landscapes and the role of HBCUs in preserving and reimagining Black artistic traditions. She is currently preparing two book manuscripts: Figuring It Out: Black Womanhood through the Figurative in the Oeuvre of Alison Saar and Decolonizing Art History: An HBCU Case Study . Awards and Honors: 2024 ACLS HBCU Faculty Grantee 2024 NEH Awards for Faculty at HBCUs 2023 Africana Digital Humanities Scholar 2021 CAA Wyeth Foundation for American Art Publication Grant Advising and Mentorship: She serves as a faculty mentor to Olympia O’Neal-White and has advised undergraduate research projects and honors students. She has also contributed to curriculum development and faculty search committees at FVSU. Service and Affiliations: Active in professional organizations including CAA, SECAC, AHAA, and BWSA, she has served on editorial boards, peer-reviewed journals, and national award committees. She also leads university-wide initiatives on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Dr. Mwenya Kabwe is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies (CTDPS), University of Cape Town, where she coordinates the 4th-year Acting Studio and Professional Practice courses while conducting postgraduate teaching and supervision. A Zambian-born theatre practitioner, her work bridges academia and creative practice through directing, writing, and performing. Education: PhD in Theatre & Performance (University of Cape Town) MA in Theatre & Performance (University of Cape Town) BA in Theatre, with minors in African Studies and Psychology (Northeastern University, Boston) Research Focus: Her practice-led research examines black migrant cultural production, African theatre historiography, site-specific performance, and speculative African futures. Key themes include decolonial aesthetics, collaborative methodologies, and the intersection of migration with performative identity, often explored through interdisciplinary experiments. Publications: Scholarly output consistently engages with African performance epistemologies, migritude narratives, and reimagined histories. Recent works demonstrate heightened focus on Afrofuturist frameworks and transcontinental artistic dialogues, reflecting sustained interrogation of postcolonial cultural landscapes. Creative & Curatorial Practice: Directed/devised plays including No Easter Sunday for Queers (Market Theatre), Babylon Beyond Borders (international live-stream), and A Zambian Space Odyssey Performed in productions like The Mountaintop (Market Theatre) and Yellowman Co-curator of Unrehearsed Futures conversation series and Virtual Blackout: Experiments in Future Form Collaborator with William Kentridge ( The Great Yes The Great No ) and The Centre for the Less Good Idea
Octavio (Tavi) Gonzalez is Assistant Professor of English & Creative Writing at Wellesley College. His work focuses on queer literary studies, transatlantic Modernism, and 20th-century fiction. B.A., Swarthmore College M.A., Pennsylvania State University M.A., Rutgers University Ph.D., Rutgers University Research interests include: Queer representations of HIV/AIDS Transatlantic Modernism and the Harlem Renaissance Queer formalist approaches to narrative Contemporary LGBTQ+ literary criticism His monograph Misfit Modernism (Penn State Press, 2020) examines queer narrative techniques in 20th-century fiction. Current projects include the poetry manuscript Limerence: The Wingless Hour and interdisciplinary collaborations on queer climate fiction.
Pedro García-Caro is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages at the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, University of Oregon. His academic profile demonstrates deep engagement with transnational literary studies, particularly focusing on the intersections of Hispanic, Latin American, and U.S. cultural production across historical periods. With formal education spanning institutions in Spain, the UK, and the United States, García-Caro brings a uniquely comparative perspective to his research and teaching. His research interests encompass Nationalism, Postmodernity, Postcolonial Studies, Environmental Studies, US Hispanic Literatures, Mexican Literature, Border Literature, Comparative American Studies, Transatlantic Studies, Satire, Drama, and Translation. These interconnected fields reflect his commitment to examining cultural production through the lens of transnational encounters, power dynamics, and historical contingencies. García-Caro's work consistently challenges national frameworks in literary studies, advocating instead for hemispheric and transatlantic approaches that reveal the complex interweavings of cultural production across political boundaries. His recent scholarly output demonstrates remarkable breadth and timeliness, with publications addressing contemporary academic freedom concerns, early ecofeminist literature, transatlantic intellectual history, and border studies. García-Caro has edited significant volumes including Transatlantic Studies: Iberia, Latin America, Africa (2019) and produced critical editions of important literary works like Astucias por heredar un sobrino a un tío (2018). His influential book After the Nation: Postnational Satire in the Works of Carlos Fuentes and Thomas Pynchon (2014) established him as a leading scholar in comparative hemispheric American literary studies. García-Caro serves as Managing Editor for Periphērica: Journal of Social, Cultural, and Literary History and co-edited the Journal of Academic Freedom (2021-23). His editorial work reflects his commitment to fostering critical discourse in the humanities, particularly regarding academic freedom and the ongoing challenges to critical race theory and inclusive pedagogy in higher education. His recent publications have increasingly addressed the political threats to academic freedom across the United States. As a scholar trained across multiple national contexts (Spain, UK, and US), García-Caro embodies the transnational intellectual perspective he advocates in his work. His research consistently demonstrates how literary and cultural production transcends national boundaries while simultaneously engaging with the political and historical specificities that shape cultural expression in particular contexts.
Erica Tibbetts serves as Lecturer in Exercise & Sport Studies and Director of the Exercise & Sport Studies Graduate Program at Smith College, where she advances equitable access to sport and physical activity while leveraging athletics for social transformation. Education: Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Psychology, Temple University (2015) M.S. in Sport Psychology, Ithaca College (2011) Research Focus: Dr. Tibbetts' scholarship critically examines mental health disparities among collegiate athletes (particularly at women's colleges), trauma-informed coaching frameworks in NCAA settings, and structural barriers faced by marginalized groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and incarcerated women. Her mixed-methods approach integrates feminist and intersectional theories to develop inclusive sport practices that address systemic inequities through community-based interventions. Publication Trends: Her research trajectory (2015-2025) evolved from correctional health interventions to contemporary analyses of athlete activism and social change, with increasing emphasis on intersectionality and mental health. Recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates methodological sophistication through mixed-methods designs examining trauma prevalence and mentorship efficacy, while consistently centering underserved populations in sport contexts. Professional Background: Prior to academia, Tibbetts gained five years of practical experience with a Philadelphia bicycle advocacy nonprofit and as a mental skills consultant for elite/amateur athletes across competitive levels.
Joe Scanlan is a Professor of Visual Arts at Princeton University's Lewis Center for the Arts, where he has maintained an active teaching position with upcoming courses scheduled through Fall 2025 including Sculpture: Craft, Words as Objects, and Sculpture I. He previously served as Director of the Visual Arts Program from 2009-2017, during which he completely overhauled the program's curriculum, expanded the faculty significantly, and elevated Princeton's visual arts program to become one of the best undergraduate art programs in the country. Scanlan received his BFA in Sculpture from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio, which forms the foundation for his diverse artistic practice. His educational background in traditional sculpture has evolved into a multifaceted approach that challenges conventional artistic boundaries. Scanlan's artistic practice is defined by what he terms a "willful subterfuge" - deliberately using deception, fictional personae, and institutional critique to explore complex themes in contemporary art. His work spans sculpture, design, publications, and conceptual projects that address the political economy of site-specific labor, as seen in works like Massachusetts Wedding Bed. Perhaps most notably, he has developed the fictional artist Donelle Woolford, collaborating with professional actors to script this persona's life and work, thereby interrogating issues of racial identity in the art world. His recent projects demonstrate continued innovation and international reach, including the exhibitions Décor and Avant-poste at FRAC Pays de la Loire in Nantes, and New Tricks, New Schemes, his fifth solo exhibition at Galerie Martin Janda in Vienna. Scanlan also created a large-scale installation for Klassenverhältnisse (Class Relations), a group show exploring class and art at the Kunstverein Hamburg. Scanlan's publications form a significant part of his practice, with five major books including Object Lessons (2013), Passing Through (2007), DIY (2003), Pay Dirt (2002), and his self-titled monograph (1996). His writing appears in prestigious venues such as Artforum, frieze, and Parkett, and he maintains the former website thingsthatfall.com. Beyond his artistic and academic work, Scanlan holds U.S. patent no. 6,488,732 for converting postconsumer waste into viable potting soil, demonstrating his interest in practical applications of artistic thinking. This project bridges conceptual art with environmental concerns and functional utility. As an educator, Scanlan transformed Princeton's visual arts program by expanding the faculty to include distinguished artists such as Fia Backstrom, Martha Friedman, Deana Lawson, Pam Lins, Moon Molson, David Reinfurt, James Welling, and Jeff Whetstone. His leadership created a more ambitious, socially engaged environment for visual arts students, significantly increasing the visibility of visual arts on campus. Scanlan maintains active professional relationships with galleries internationally, including Galerie Jan Mot in Brussels and Galerie Martin Janda in Vienna, while continuing his foundational work with The Broodthaers Society of America, which he founded, built an archive for, and continues to operate.
Lindsay Reckson serves as Professor and Chair of the English Department at Haverford College, specializing in post-Reconstruction literature, visual culture, contemporary performance art, and prison abolition. Education Ph.D. in English, Princeton University B.A. in English and Creative Writing, New York University Research Interests Her scholarship interrogates intersections of race, religion, and secularism through American literary realism and visual culture. Key projects include analyzing ecstatic performance in Jim Crow-era literature, contemporary video art, and minimal gestures as ethical sites during political constraint. Her curatorial work extends research into public-facing explorations of racial violence and carceral systems. Scientific Awards ACLS Fellowship (2016-2017) for Realist Ecstasy Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching (2020) Advising and Grants As Faculty and Curricular Innovation Director of The Graterford Archive, she leads prison education initiatives. The ACLS Fellowship supported her monograph research, while curatorial projects received institutional backing from Haverford's Cantor-Fitzgerald Gallery. Labs and Teams She co-curated The Legacy of Lynching (2018) and Currently (2023) at Haverford's Cantor-Fitzgerald Gallery, and directs The Graterford Archive's academic programming focused on carceral studies and prison abolition.
Prof. Dr. Patrizia ZANONI is a Full Professor at Hasselt University, affiliated with the School of Social Sciences and Department of Social Sciences. She is a founding member of the School of Social Sciences and serves as Secretary of the Examination Board for the Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences. Her research focuses on diversity, inclusion, gender studies, and the impact of digitalization on labor markets. Founder of the School of Social Sciences Secretary of the Examination Board Research Group: Digitalization, Diversity, and Democracy Her research spans critical management studies, social reproduction theory, and intersectional equality policies. She supervises numerous doctoral candidates, including Floris de Krijger, Joanna Beeckmans, and Katrien Hermans. Recent articles address topics like algorithmic labor governance, educational equity, and postcapitalist alternatives. Patrizia teaches courses in sociology of contemporary work, ethnographic methods, and diversity policy. She coordinates educational initiatives such as the Bachelor's thesis program and Grand Challenges modules. Her work integrates critical diversity studies with analyses of digital platforms and neoliberal governance.
Tina Post is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago. Her interdisciplinary work bridges Creative Writing, Theater and Performance Studies, and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture. Education: Ph.D. from Yale University (2018), MFA from University of Alaska–Anchorage (2005) Her research focuses on memoir , lyric essays , and racial embodiment , often exploring the intersection of Black aesthetics and performative communication . Recent publications include the book Deadpan: The Aesthetics of Black Inexpression (2023) and essays interrogating Black performance , minimialism , and racialized affect . Scientific Awards: S.I. Newhouse School Prize for Nonfiction She teaches courses in lyric nonfiction and contemporary Black drama , emphasizing experimental writing techniques and interdisciplinary scholarship . Her work often hybridizes poetic form with academic discourse to challenge traditional narrative structures.
