Sylvia Chong is an Associate Professor of English and American Studies at the University of Virginia, where she also serves as Director of the Minor in Asian Pacific American Studies. Her research focuses on intersections of race, gender, and violence in film and literature, particularly in Vietnam War contexts. She holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (2004), an A.M. from Stanford (1995), and a B.A. from Swarthmore College (1994). Her major works include The Oriental Obscene: Violence and Racial Fantasies in the Vietnam Era (2012) and edited volumes such as (Re)Collecting the Vietnam War (2015). Her scholarship critically examines Hollywood's portrayal of race, trauma, and cultural identity across film and literature. She has published extensively on topics like racial representation in cinema, queer theory, and postcolonial studies. Dr. Chong's teaching and research bridge American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Film Studies. She has held regular office hours in Bryan Hall and taught courses on film analysis and Asian American cultural studies. Her work often addresses contemporary issues like hopelessness in modern cinema and the legacy of historical violence in visual media.
Travis Sharp is a Lecturer in the Department of English at Howard University's College of Arts & Sciences, with an additional role as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences. His work bridges creative practice, literary scholarship, and alternative publishing. Education: PhD in Creative Writing and Poetics, University at Buffalo, SUNY (2021) MFA in English, University of Washington, Bothell (2015) BA, Athens State University (2013) Sharp's research and creative interests center on poetry, textual materiality, queer identity, political economy of language, and hybrid literary forms . His work critically engages the intersections of form, medium, and ideology, particularly in non-traditional textual practices such as artist's books and critical bibliography. He explores how language functions materially and politically, especially under capitalist and heteronormative structures. His recent publications include the poetry collections Monoculture (2024) and Yes, I am a corpse flower (2021), alongside critical work in Criticism and Discourse and Writing . The publications reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary inquiry, blending poetic abstraction with socio-political critique, material experimentation, and decolonial aesthetics—particularly evident in his analysis of Cecilia Vicuña’s khipu art and his own handmade books. Travis Sharp is also deeply involved in scholarly publishing as the executive editor and publisher at Essay Press, a non-profit small press, underscoring his commitment to alternative academic and literary ecosystems. He teaches courses such as Expository Writing and Literacy Studies (ENGW 102), Writing, Literacy, and Discourse (ENGW 104), and Scholarly Writing (NURD 704), reflecting a pedagogical focus on critical literacy, reflective writing, and interdisciplinary communication.
Inna Arzumanova is an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the University of San Francisco. She is a full-time faculty member affiliated with Kalmanovitz Hall. Her research focuses on racial and gender performances in media, cultural aesthetics, and global arts industries. Education: PhD in Communication (University of Southern California), BA (University of California, San Diego) Dr. Arzumanova's work examines intersections of race, gender, and digital culture through analyses of dance films, television fashion, and visual art aesthetics. Her investigations bridge academic theory with contemporary media practices, emphasizing critical perspectives on representation and cultural production.
Paulo Pereira is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Institute of Management and Health Organizations at the Catholic University of Portugal. He coordinates undergraduate and master's programs in Management and has published extensively in Social Sciences, Economics, Education, and Quantitative Methods. His work includes over 70 articles, four book chapters, and two books. He has received a national award for academic contributions and actively participates in research centers like CAPP (University of Lisbon) and CEDH (UCP). His research focuses on organizational behavior, political institutions, and quantitative methodologies, with a special emphasis on health management and educational innovation. He has supervised a doctoral thesis and over 30 master’s dissertations, contributing to academic and policy discussions on democracy, healthcare, and educational reform. Education and Research Interests: Dr. Pereira’s research spans Social Sciences (Economics, Management, Education), with a specialization in quantitative methods. He has collaborated with over 50 researchers on studies addressing public policy, health systems, and educational strategies. His recent work explores pandemic impacts on mental health, racial discrimination in academia, and ISO standard adoption in cross-sectoral organizations. Awards and Activities: Recipient of a national academic award, he has organized dozens of academic events and delivered over 20 conference presentations. His interdisciplinary approach bridges engineering (past work in chemical processes) with contemporary social sciences, emphasizing data-driven solutions for organizational and societal challenges. Professional Contributions: As a researcher and educator, he has participated in nearly 300 master’s thesis juries, reflecting his commitment to academic rigor. His leadership roles include directing innovative programs in service management, sustainable entrepreneurship, and quality assurance in the third sector. Key Themes in Articles: Recent publications analyze racial discrimination in higher education, mental health during the pandemic, and ISO 9001 implementation. They highlight methodological rigor in data analysis (SPSS, multivariate techniques) and practical applications in healthcare systems and organizational change. Labs/Teams: His affiliations include the Center for Administrative and Public Policy (CAPP) and the Center for Human Development Studies (CEDH), where he collaborates on projects addressing public health, democracy quality, and educational equity.
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.
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
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.
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.
James Ahn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine-Emergency Medicine at the University of Chicago. His work focuses on innovations in graduate medical education, particularly within emergency medicine training programs. Dr. Ahn maintains an active research program centered on improving educational methodologies and assessment systems for medical trainees. Research Focus Dr. Ahn's scholarship examines critical aspects of medical education including: curriculum development for specialized training programs; validation of assessment tools used in residency selection; equity issues in graduate medical education; and innovative approaches to competency-based training. His work frequently addresses systemic challenges in emergency medicine education through both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Recent publication trends demonstrate Dr. Ahn's focus on improving fairness in residency selection processes, developing specialized curricula for emergency medicine fellowships, and evaluating the impact of for-profit institutions on graduate medical education outcomes. His collaborative research frequently addresses contemporary challenges including virtual learning environments and financial education for residents. Educational Leadership Dr. Ahn contributes to medical education through curriculum development initiatives and program evaluation studies. His work includes developing standardized assessment tools, creating specialized training tracks for emergency medicine educators, and evaluating novel approaches to resident education during public health emergencies.
Allan Downey is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at McMaster University, specializing in Indigenous history with a focus on lacrosse as a site of nationhood assertion and cultural resurgence. His interdisciplinary work bridges historical scholarship, Indigenous studies, and sport sociology, examining how Indigenous communities navigate colonial structures through cultural practices. Downey's research centers on Indigenous nationhood as expressed through sport, particularly lacrosse ( The Creator's Game ), revealing how Haudenosaunee, Kanien'kehá:ka, and Coast Salish communities have sustained identity against colonial erasure. Key themes include Urban Indigenous experiences (e.g., 'Little Caughnawaga' ironworker communities in Brooklyn) Gender dynamics in traditional sport practices Colonial regulation of Indigenous games (e.g., Sunday lacrosse controversies) Sport-for-development critiques exposing assimilationist frameworks His methodology prioritizes community-engaged research and oral histories. His 2023-2015 publications demonstrate evolving focus from specific community studies (Kahnawake lacrosse rivalries, coastal BC sports days) toward broader decolonial frameworks. Notable trends include increasing emphasis on urban Indigenous nationhood and the intersection of sport with truth and reconciliation processes. Awards include recognition as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada for transformative contributions to Indigenous scholarship. Downey actively mentors through courses like Honours Thesis (INDIGST 4T06A) and supervises graduate research in decolonial methodologies. He directs the Indigenous History Lab, which produces innovative knowledge mobilization projects such as the animated film Deskaheh and Rotinonshón:ni Ironworkers . His current work includes a book on Indigenous history in decolonizing contexts and community-based film projects examining intergenerational knowledge transmission.
