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.
Elizabeth McCracken is a Professor in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches creative writing courses including Advanced Fiction Workshop (CRW 355F), Literature for Writers (E 380F), and Fiction Writing (CRW 325F). She also teaches in the low residency MFA program at Bennington College. McCracken received her M.F.A. from the University of Iowa in 1990. Her academic career has been distinguished by numerous grants and fellowships from prestigious organizations including the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Her creative interests focus on Creative Writing , particularly Fiction , Short Stories , and Autobiographical Writing . McCracken's work explores complex human relationships, grief, memory, and the transformative power of storytelling. Her writing is characterized by its emotional depth, wit, keen observation of human nature, and ability to blend the comic with the heartbreaking. McCracken's publications have established her as a significant voice in contemporary American literature. Her work has been widely recognized for its originality and emotional resonance, appearing in prestigious collections such as The Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, and The O. Henry Prize Stories. Winner of The Story Prize for Thunderstruck & Other Stories (2015) Finalist for the National Book Award for The Giant's House (1996) Named one of the 20 Best Young American Novelists by Granta Recipient of grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEA, American Academy in Berlin, and other prestigious organizations As an educator, McCracken has mentored numerous writing students through her positions at the University of Texas and Bennington College. Her teaching emphasizes both technical craft and emotional authenticity, encouraging students to find their unique voices while developing strong writing techniques. Her 2023 novel The Hero of This Book has been named a Top Ten Best Book of the Year by Time and People magazines, further cementing her reputation as one of America's finest contemporary writers.
Monica Berlin was the Richard & Sophie D. Henke Distinguished Professor of English at Knox College, serving from 1998 until her passing in 2022. She held leadership roles as Chair of the Department of English and Associate Director of the Program in Creative Writing. Her academic background includes a B.A. in English Writing (1995, Knox College), M.A. in Literature and Composition (1998, Western Illinois University), and M.F.A. in Poetry (2002, Vermont College). Her research focuses on creative writing (poetry, nonfiction, fiction) and modern/contemporary American literature. She has published extensively in literary journals and anthologies, earning major awards like the Crab Orchard Poetry Series Open (2018) and New Measure Poetry Prize (2013). Her collaborative work with Beth Marzoni has been widely recognized in literary circles. Beyond academia, Berlin directed The Space (a literary center) and spearheaded digital archives like A Map of Voices: The Knox Writers' House . She contributed to campus governance as a member of the Faculty Personnel Committee and engaged with the community through roles at the Galesburg Public Library and literary festivals. Students praise her ability to guide them in refining their craft, emphasizing the 'elusive mechanics of writing.' Her legacy includes fostering literary innovation and accessibility in education and public spaces.
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
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.
Anna Morcom is Professor and Mohindar Brar Sambhi Chair of Indian Music in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music. She previously held a professorship at Royal Holloway, University of London, and earned her Ph.D. from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) in 2002, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in Ethnomusicology and Hindi (1993-1996). Her research spans music and dance in India and Tibet, employing ethnographic and oral historical methods to examine the intersections of musical culture with politics, nationalism, identity, gender, inequality, economic development, and media. Morcom's scholarship is notable for its interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional and popular musics with contemporary theoretical frameworks. Her work demonstrates significant trends toward examining music within economic frameworks, particularly through her founding of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology. Recent publications increasingly focus on cultural economies, performance labor, and the relationship between artistic practice and economic systems in South Asia. Society of Ethnomusicology's Allan Merriam prize (2014) Marcia Herndon prize of SEM's Gender and Sexualities section (2014) Morcom's research has been supported by multiple grants from the Leverhulme Trust and the British Academy. She has been interviewed by prominent media outlets including BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed, The Hindu, Tehelka, and Scroll regarding her influential work on Indian dance cultures. As founder of SEM's Special Interest Group on Economic Ethnomusicology, she has shaped scholarly discourse on the economic dimensions of musical practice. Her current projects include the monograph on Hindustani music and co-editing two significant volumes: Creative Economies of Culture in South Asia: Craftspeople Performers (Routledge) and the Oxford Handbook of Economic Ethnomusicology (OUP).
William Kennedy is a Professor in the English Department at the University at Albany, State University of New York. For over 40 years, he has crafted a body of literature centered on Albany, New York, creating what is known as the "Albany Cycle" of novels. His work has established Albany as a significant place in American literature, comparable to Joyce's Dublin and Bellow's Chicago. His educational background includes a BA from Siena College, following attendance at Public School 20 and Christian Brother's Academy. Professor Kennedy's creative work focuses on American fiction, particularly historical and urban narratives rooted in Albany's cultural and political landscape. His writing explores machine politics, family sagas, and the interplay between individual lives and historical events, rendering Albany's "outcasts and machine politicians, lowlifes and swells" with profound humanity. His narratives transform the city into a mythic capital of national memory. His publications consistently draw from Albany's history, with recurring themes of political corruption, redemption, and the resilience of marginalized communities. The "Albany Cycle" demonstrates his mastery in blending local history with universal human struggles across multiple literary forms. William Kennedy's distinguished honors include: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship Regents Medal of Excellence from SUNY Governor's Arts Award Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences As an educator, Kennedy taught creative writing and journalism at the University at Albany from 1974-1982 and Cornell University in 1982-83. His MacArthur Fellowship directly funded the creation of the New York State Writers Institute at Albany, with matching funds from the university and legislative support from Governor Cuomo. He has served on the New York State Council for the Humanities board and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. William Kennedy co-founded the New York State Writers Institute in 1984, which has grown into a major literary hub conducting statewide cultural and educational activities. The Institute remains central to his legacy, fostering literary arts through readings, workshops, and educational programs across New York.
Professor Peter Boxall is a Chair in Human Resource Management at the University of Auckland Business School, Department of Management & International Business. He holds a PhD from Monash University and an MCom from the University of Auckland. His research focuses on strategic human resource management and work-related well-being, with notable contributions to understanding high-involvement work systems and HR analytics. He has held visiting professorships at Leeds, Tilburg, and Toulouse, among others. His roles include Associate Dean (Research and PBRF) and leadership in editorial boards for journals like Human Resource Management Journal . Notable awards include the 2023 Distinguished Fellow of HRNZ and multiple Emerald Awards. He teaches courses such as MGMT 304 HR Policy and Practice and supervises PhD students in HRM. His work emphasizes bridging HR practices with organizational and societal outcomes. Education: PhD (Monash), MCom (Auckland), Distinguished Fellow HRNZ Visiting Roles: Leeds, Tilburg, Toulouse, Bath Editorial Roles: Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Human Resource Management Journal His research addresses strategic HRM’s role in organizational success and its impact on employee well-being. Recent studies explore HR analytics, lean production effects, and Industrie 4.0 implications. Awards highlight his scholarly contributions and industry impact. Administrative leadership includes overseeing research initiatives and PBRF evaluations at the Business School. Awards: 2023 Distinguished Fellow, 2020 Emerald Literati Award Teaching: MGMT 223, MGMT 304, GLMI 705
Sam Yam is a Professor and Head of the Management & Organisation Department at the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Business School. He holds the Jardine Cycle & Carriage Professorship and serves as Associate Dean. His research spans strategy, organisational behaviour, applied psychology, ethics, and human-technology interaction. Yam has contributed to over 125 publications, focusing on AI ethics, workplace dynamics, and cross-cultural management. He explores topics like robot replacement effects, abusive supervision, and financial anxiety's intergenerational impacts. His work bridges psychology, ethics, and organisational theory, addressing contemporary challenges in automation, leadership, and human-AI collaboration. Appointments: Head of Management & Organisation (2022–present), Joint Appointment in Arts & Social Sciences (2023–present). Key Research Themes: Future of work, human-technology interaction, ethical leadership, and Machiavellian dynamics. Notable Contributions: Multimodal ADHD diagnostics, leader biases toward robot-using employees, and cultural impacts on team performance. Yam’s interdisciplinary approach integrates psychology, technology, and management, addressing societal issues like AI ethics and workplace automation. His research frequently appears in top journals like the Journal of Management and Annual Review of Organizational Psychology .
Aya Aboelenien is an Associate Professor in the Department of Marketing at HEC Montréal, a leading business school in Montréal, Canada. Her research focuses on morality and ethics in consumption, consumer culture theory, qualitative methods, aesthetics, and social media. She holds a Ph.D. (Marketing) from Concordia University, an M.B.A. and BBA from the American University in Cairo. Research Interests Aya’s work examines ethical consumption trends, influencer dynamics, and marketplace morality. She explores how brands navigate ethical dilemmas and how social media influencers shape consumer behavior. Her recent studies include analyses of cancel culture’s impact on brands, the ethical dimensions of influencer marketing, and meat consumption’s cultural symbolism. Recent Contributions Her 2024 papers in Journal of Brand Management and Journal of Business Research address brand response strategies to changing market logics and the formation of marketplace moral sentiments. Earlier work in Journal of Marketing Management (2023) and Consumption Markets & Culture (2022) further highlight her focus on ethical influencers and contested consumption practices. Awards & Supervision She received the Best Competitive Paper Award at the 2025 Consumer Culture Theory Conference. Since 2021, she has supervised five MSc projects on topics like green marketing, influencer strategies, and brand repositioning. She teaches courses in consultancy-based marketing research and strategic marketing. Affiliations Aya is affiliated with HEC Montréal’s marketing department and collaborates with global scholars on projects involving consumer ethics and digital marketing innovations.
Dr. Jeni Mitchell is a Lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the School of Security Studies under the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. She specializes in future war studies, space security, and the evolution of rebellion, serving as co-director of the Future Threats Lab within the Centre for Science & Security Studies. Her work emphasizes human-centric approaches to analyzing existential threats and their societal impacts. Her education includes a PhD from King’s College London, where her doctoral research focused on civilian victimization by non-state armed groups. She has held positions at Chatham House, the Brookings Institution, and the Middle East Institute. Teaching responsibilities include MA modules on future warfare, spacepower, and insurgency, while she also directs the MA International Relations and War program. Mitchell’s research explores future threat perceptions (particularly in space), futures research methodologies, and the intersection of war, genocide, and utopian ideologies. Her methodological innovations, termed ‘future-crafting,’ employ creative formats like films and games to model conflict scenarios. Notable collaborations include work with the Freeman Air and Space Institute and King’s Wargaming Network. Recent publications address Ukraine’s apocalyptic imaginary, space-based threat analysis, and refugee-warrior dynamics. Her research group activities include the Environmental Security research group and contributions to widening participation initiatives like the 2024 Summer School in international security.
Mark Angus is a Visiting Lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Faculty of Design, and has been a pivotal figure in stained glass art since the 1970s. His work spans architectural commissions for churches and public spaces in the UK, Germany, and Ireland, alongside autonomous art in painting, printmaking, and artist’s books. He operates studios in Frauenau (Germany) and Graz (Austria). Education : Bristol Polytechnic (Chartered Surveyor, 1970), Swansea School of Art (Architectural Stained Glass, 1978). Research Interests focus on: Stained Glass as a medium for spiritual and secular narratives. Vitreography (glass-based printmaking) and its interplay with light and subtlety. Artist’s Books integrating letterpress and visual storytelling. Human Figure Representation in glass and paper, emphasizing dialogue and existential themes. Recent Publications include his 2018 artist’s book 80 Capriccios and the Turbulences of the Self , drawing on Goya’s Los Caprichos to critique modernity, and 2025’s KUNST. Kunst im Landkreis Passau, Bd. 70 , documenting regional art practices. His RED (2014) and Juvenescence (2014) explore color symbolism and eternal youth through acrylics and illustrated novels. Scientific & Artistic Awards : 1990: South West Arts & Crafts Fellowship 1984: South West Arts Major Craft Award 1979: Crafts Council Setting-up Grant 1978: Worshipful Company of Glaziers Travelling Scholarship Teaching & Collaborations : He has taught at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Penland School of Crafts (USA), and Bild-Werk Frauenau (Germany), including 2025’s masterclass Risk & Resonance – The Stained Glass Experience . His exhibitions, such as 80 Capriccios (2024, Neuburg am Inn), reflect interdisciplinary dialogues between glass, poetry, and theological themes.
Andrea Korda, PhD (University of California, Santa Barbara), is an Associate Professor of Fine Arts & Humanities and Associate Dean (Research) at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta. Her academic career bridges art history, material culture studies, and pedagogical innovation. Educations: BA in Fine Arts, Queen's University MA in Art History, Concordia University PhD in Art History, University of California, Santa Barbara Research Focus: Dr. Korda specializes in 19th-century visual and material culture, with a focus on education's visual dimensions, children's literature, and community-engaged projects like the award-winning Crafting Communities initiative. She co-curated the virtual exhibition Photographies (Bruce Peel Special Collections) and explores hands-on learning through historical crafts. Teaching: Courses include modern art history (AUART 220), photography theory (AUART 225), and special topics in visual culture (AUART 382). She emphasizes experiential learning and digital humanities integration, as seen in her work with the Getty Museum Challenge and OER projects. Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary teams on projects like Crafting Communities , blending scholarship with public engagement. Her research bridges historical methodologies with contemporary pedagogical practices, fostering connections between academia and communities.
Inés Valdez is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University's Krieger School of Arts & Sciences. Her research bridges critical race and feminist theory with analyses of migration, transnationalism, empire, and racial capitalism. She has held fellowships from the Humboldt Stiftung, Global Arts & Humanities Society of Fellows, and the Princeton University Center for Human Values. Her 2023 book Democracy and Empire rethinks popular sovereignty through the Black radical tradition, winning the T.V. Paul Best Book Award. Earlier work includes Transnational Cosmopolitanism (2019), which redefines cosmopolitanism through global structures of domination. Her scholarship critiques empire's entanglement with democratic systems, emphasizing ecological responsibility and transnational solidarity. Recent publications explore anti-imperial sovereignty, Du Bois's ecological critiques, and Latinx political thought. She has contributed to journals like Contemporary Political Theory and Review of Politics , and her blog post Undoing Empire's Hold on Democracy (2024) addresses contemporary political crises. Valdez co-authored influential articles on migration politics and Kantian philosophy's racial dimensions. Her work integrates political theory with anticolonial praxis, advocating for transformative frameworks that challenge global hierarchies. She advises on transnational solidarity strategies and serves as a leading voice in decolonial and critical race studies.
Akemi Martin is an Adjunct Professor at The Cooper Union's School of Art, specializing in papermaking and collaborative art projects. She serves as director and master papermaker at Pace Paper in Brooklyn, collaborating with artists on handmade paper and print editions. Her teaching experience includes SUNY Purchase, Dieu Donné (NYC), and the Penland School of Craft (NC). Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research interests focus on innovative papermaking techniques and interdisciplinary art collaborations. Notable collaborations include the 2015 work '37P' with Leonardo Drew. She emphasizes hands-on craftsmanship and its integration with contemporary art practices. Labs/Teams: Active at Pace Paper, a renowned studio for artist collaborations in handmade paper.
