Jenny Jarlsdotter Wikström is an Associate Professor at the Department of Culture and Media Studies, Umeå University. She holds roles in comparative literature and creative writing, focusing on ecocritical, ecofeminist, and environmental perspectives. Her research explores materiality, corporeality, and environmentalism in literary texts, particularly through a 'material turns' framework applied to 20th-century writers like Henry Parland and Clarice Lispector. Her teaching includes literary history, advanced literary criticism, and poetics. She supervises undergraduate students and leads courses emphasizing theoretical frameworks in literature. Research projects include Danger in the Classroom? (2022–2024). Her work bridges humanities with interdisciplinary themes such as gender, ecology, and material culture.
Aaron McIntosh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fibres & Material Practices at Concordia University. His work bridges material culture, family tradition, sexual desire, and identity politics through mediums like quilts, sculpture, collage, and writing. He is a fourth-generation quilt maker, leveraging this heritage to explore fragmented identities. Since 2015, he has directed the Invasive Queer Kudzu Project , a storytelling archive for LGBTQ+ communities in the Southern U.S. McIntosh’s research includes the Hot House/Maison Chaude project, supported by a 2020–2023 SSHRC Insight Development Grant. His exhibitions span prestigious venues such as the Hangaram Art Museum (Seoul), Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay & Lesbian Art (New York City). Awards & Grants: 2020 United States Artist Fellowship in Craft 2018 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship 2017 Virginia Culture Works Grant SSHRC Insight Development Grant (2020–2023) His academic and creative work emphasizes community engagement, particularly in preserving LGBTQ+ narratives through collaborative storytelling. He maintains active research-creation initiatives and has no listed advisees.
Dr. Enda Donlon is an Associate Professor at Dublin City University's School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies, part of the DCU Institute of Education. He specializes in ICT integration in education, digital technologies for teacher training, and AI in education. As APF leader for the AI and Emerging Technologies strand of DCU's Doctor of Education Programme, he drives innovation in educational technology. His professional roles include former presidency of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) and governance roles in European educational research bodies like EERA. Research interests focus on digital pedagogy, teacher professional development, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies in education. He has received prestigious awards including the DCU President’s Award for Innovation (2014) and Excellence in Teaching (2021 team award). Enda contributes to academic governance through editorial roles in journals like International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education and Irish Educational Studies . His work bridges theory and practice, exploring topics such as cybersecurity professionals’ learning needs, pandemic-era academic collaboration, and AI’s role in reshaping educational landscapes. Ongoing projects include frameworks for computational thinking education and virtual/augmented reality applications in teacher training.
Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia is a Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), specializing in literacy education. She previously served as a Visiting Professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (2009-2010) and held roles as an Elementary Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Coordinator in Texas public schools. Her leadership includes co-founding the Texas Literacy Collaborative for Educator Preparation (TXLCEP) and serving as past-president of the Specialized Literacy Professionals. Education: Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Reading specialization) from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, alongside M.S. and B.S. degrees in related fields. Research Interests: Dr. Grote-Garcia focuses on evidence-based literacy practices, teacher preparation in reading instruction, and addressing educational equity through inclusive curricula. Her work emphasizes the Science of Reading, diversity in literacy education, and policy implications affecting educators. Recent Scholarly Contributions: Her publications explore trends in literacy education, including book bans, diversity measures, and the intersection of explicit instruction with cultural responsiveness. She has contributed to journals like Literacy Research and Instruction and Reading Psychology . Awards and Recognition: Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis Award (2023) Exemplary Faculty Practices Recognition (2013) Mission Continues Award (2016) Sister Theophane Endowed Chair (2014–2017) Service and Leadership: Chair of UIW’s Quality Enhancement Plan Implementation Committee, Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) co-founder, and active member of organizations like the International Literacy Association (ILA). She also leads initiatives like the Charles Butt Scholar Program and Teacher Education Recruitment Task Force.
Susan McHugh is Professor of English at the University of New England, where she teaches literary theory, animal studies, and writing. She coordinates the Writing Fellows program, advises the Creative Writing Club, and leads the Writing Minor. Her research examines intersections of biological and cultural extinction through transdisciplinary frameworks including posthumanism, ecocriticism, and narrative theory. Publications consistently engage with multispecies relationships, exploring themes like animal agency in literature, taxidermy as cultural artifact, indigenous ecological knowledge, and posthumanist ethics across global contexts. No awards or student mentorship details are documented in available sources.
Dr. Margot Backus is a Professor of English at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences . Her academic work spans British and Irish modernisms, queer theory, and postcolonial studies, with a focus on intersections between sexuality, trauma, and Irish cultural identity. Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in English Literature from the University of Texas at Austin, B.A. from University of Massachusetts/Boston Her research explores: Literary representations of child sacrifice in Anglo-Irish gothic Sex scandal discourse in modernist Irish literature Queer theory applications to James Joyce's works Colonial and postcolonial identity formation Recent publications analyze James Joyce’s engagement with New Journalism scandals, queer trauma in Irish modernism, and collaborative edited volumes on transnational art. Her awards include a 2020-25 Moores Professorship and multiple NEH and Fulbright fellowships. Teaching areas include: Queer Theory Modern Irish Literature British Empire Studies Introduction to Ulysses She co-edits the Queering Ireland project and contributes to the Texas Irish Working Group .
Douglas C. Orzolek is Professor and Department Chair at the University of St. Thomas, where he directs the Graduate Programs in Music Education and serves as Symphonic Band Director. His academic affiliations include the College of Liberal Arts and the Music Department. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Mansfield University, Master of Education from Penn State University, and PhD from the University of Minnesota. His research explores music education methodologies, conducting pedagogy, assessment frameworks, and musical acoustics. Current investigations focus on innovative teaching strategies, ensemble pedagogy, and curriculum development in music education. Recent publications demonstrate strong trends in pedagogical innovation, educational equity, collaborative learning models, and the integration of technology in music education. His scholarly work frequently addresses teacher development, curriculum reform, and inclusive practices. Minnesota Music Educators Association Hall of Fame (2014) Thomas Jefferson High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame (2016) Mansfield University Distinguished Young Alumni Award (2001) Distinguished Educator of the Year (2003) Dr. Orzolek advises graduate students at both master's and doctoral levels, supervising research papers and theses. He maintains active involvement with the Playful Learning Lab and OKGO Sandbox as music education advisor.
J. Mark Smith serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of English at MacEwan University, holding a continuing position since 2006 after prior teaching at York University (2000-2004). His academic foundation includes a PhD from the University of California, Irvine (1999) supervised by J. Hillis Miller, with MA and BA degrees from McGill University. His educational background comprises: PhD in Literature, University of California, Irvine (1999) MA in Literature, McGill University BA in Literature, McGill University Smith's research expertise spans Romantic, modernist, and contemporary poetry and poetics, with specialized focus on literary translation, creative writing (poetry and narrative non-fiction), and the historical evolution of linguistic usage. His current book project The Only Rule of Language investigates how poets, philologists, and lexicographers document language change through literary translation archives and historical dictionaries like the OED, addressing Shelleyan questions about poetry's transformative power on everyday language. His scholarly publications from 2007-2025 reveal consistent engagement with Romantic and modernist figures (Wordsworth, De Quincey, Pound) while evolving toward broader linguistic philosophy. Key thematic threads include the relationship between poetic innovation and language change, elegiac structures, and rhetorical devices like apostrophe, demonstrating interdisciplinary connections between literary theory, philology, and cognitive linguistics. His creative achievements include: Malahat Review's 2012 Open Season Award in poetry Publication of Notes for a Rescue Narrative (Oolichan, 2007) Inclusion in Best Canadian Poetry in English 2008 Smith actively mentors senior students through independent study projects and has significantly contributed to academic discourse through editorial work, notably co-editing Time in Time: Short Poems, Long Poems, and the Rhetoric of North American Avant-Gardism, 1963-2008 (McGill-Queen's University Press). His narrative non-fiction appears in Queen's Quarterly and Santa Monica Review , reflecting his integrated approach to scholarly and creative practice.
Veronica Graham is a new media artist and printmaker serving as Lecturer in Stanford University's Department of Art & Art History. Based in Oakland and Portland, she founded the design studio Most Ancient in 2010, specializing in experimental comics and exploration games. Her interdisciplinary practice bridges digital media and analog print publishing through poetic world-building that confronts contemporary environmental and social challenges. Her research centers on virtual reality narratives, climate-focused printmaking, and surrealist comics that explore internalized fictions. Key projects include the VR experience Diatribes (2024), examining fears about global warming through a haunted house framework, and the Global Warming Agitprop Posters series (2020-present) using phosphorescent materials to visualize ecological instability. She employs techniques like Wang tile systems for pattern generation and split fountain printing to stretch technical boundaries. 2025 Writer-in-Residence, Writing Space, Chicago 2024 IndieCade Impact Award Nominee for Diatribes 2022 Oculus Launch Pad Grant Recipient 2019 Best American Comics Notable Comics selection 2017 Artist’s Book Residency Grant, Women’s Studio Workshop Graham’s work appears in MoMA, NYPL, and SFMOMA collections. Her VR projects have been presented at Kala Art Institute, Printed Matter (NYC), and Sónar+D. As an educator, she lectures on virtual reality at Stanford and has conducted workshops at institutions including Tufts University and UC Berkeley. Her studio Most Ancient functions as both creative laboratory and publishing platform, supporting collaborative projects like Real Milk (2023) which examines agricultural automation through translucent book design.
Hariharan Subramonyam is an Assistant Professor (Research) at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and Computer Science (by courtesy) . He is also a Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) and a core member of the Stanford HCI Group . His research focuses on augmenting human learning, creativity, and sensemaking with AI, informed by cognitive psychology and collaborative design practices. Research Interests: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Learning Sciences Generative AI Educational Technology Assistive Technology Cognitive Psychology Recent Trends: Designing AI tools for education and creative coding Co-developing AI experiences with multidisciplinary teams Ethical and responsible AI frameworks Accessible interfaces for visually impaired users Scientific Awards: Best Paper Award, CHI 2025 Best Paper Honorable Mention, CHI 2025 Best Paper Award, ASSETS 2024 Best Paper Award, UIST 2023 Best Paper Award, IUI 2021 Best Paper Award, CHI 2020 Advising & Grants: Co-advising PhD student Neha Rajagopalan Mentoring 23+ student researchers Principal Investigator on HAI Hoffman Yee Grant (2024) Labs & Teams: Stanford Human-Computer Interaction Group Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI Collaborative projects with University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, and National University of Singapore
Professor Stefan Hanß is a leading scholar in Early Modern History at the University of Manchester, specializing in material culture, global history, and cultural encounters. He serves as Deputy Director and Scientific Lead of the John Rylands Research Institute (2023–2025). His work bridges humanities and sciences, employing advanced imaging and scientific analysis to study historical artifacts. Notable contributions include research on early modern featherwork, hair cultures, and the material Renaissance. Education: PhD from Freie Universität Berlin, with studies at the Warburg Institute (London) and Venice. Postdoctoral roles included positions at the University of Cambridge and Research Centre Gotha. Research focuses on material creativity, colonial encounters, and interdisciplinary methodologies. Key projects include analyzing alchemical artifacts with SEM microscopy and studying hair’s role in Reformation Germany. Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize and British Academy Engagement Award. Teaching spans early modern European history, material culture, and palaeography. Current courses include ‘Material Encounters in the Early Modern World’ and ‘The Stuff of History: Objects Across Borders’. Supervised numerous PhD students, many funded by AHRC and ESRC. Leadership roles include Treasurer of the German History Society and editorial positions at Cambridge Elements ‘Material Culture History’ and Huntington Library Quarterly .
Christopher B. Patterson is an Associate Professor and Graduate Chair in the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia (UBC), within the Faculty of Arts. His research bridges transpacific discourses, queer theory, and creative writing, focusing on literature, video games, and film through empire studies. He is the author of seminal works such as Transitive Cultures: Anglophone Literature of the Transpacific (2018) and Open World Empire: Race and the Erotics of Video Games (2020), both award-winning. His creative works under the name Kawika Guillermo include novels like Stamped: an anti-travel novel and All Flowers Bloom , which have garnered major literary awards. Patterson holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington (2013). Prior to UBC, he held roles as Assistant Professor at New York Institute of Technology in Nanjing, postdoctoral scholar at Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. He has been recognized for his teaching, including the Hong Kong Baptist University’s Arts Faculty Early Career Teaching Award (2018). His current projects include editing Transpacific, Undisciplined (2024) and Made in Asia/America: Why Video Games Were Never (Really) About Us (2024). He co-founded the New Books in Asian American Studies podcast and serves as Managing Editor for decomp journal . His research on Southeast Asian domestic workers and migrant narratives continues under the project Domesticating Brown . Patterson’s accolades include the AAAS Book Award, John Hope Franklin Prize finalist status, and multiple creative writing honors. His interdisciplinary work spans literature, gaming, and social justice, with a focus on queer, brown, and transnational themes.
Marguerite Johnson serves as an Honorary Professor in Classics within the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry at the University of Queensland. Her distinguished career spans cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean, with specialized expertise in gender and sexuality studies within classical literature (particularly Sappho, Catullus, and Ovid), ancient magical traditions across Greece, Rome, and the Near East, and Classical Reception Studies with a pronounced focus on Australian contexts. She maintains active scholarly engagement through extensive publications and public intellectual contributions. Johnson's research program centers on the intersection of gender, sexuality, and power in antiquity, examining how ancient texts construct female identity and magical practices. Her work extends to modern sexual histories and Western witchcraft traditions, notably through studies of Australian artist Rosaleen Norton. She investigates how classical themes are reinterpreted in Antipodean literature, art, and society, revealing enduring cultural dialogues between ancient Mediterranean civilizations and contemporary Australian identity formation. Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2024) reveals consistent thematic threads: critical examinations of gender representation in Latin poetry, interdisciplinary explorations of ancient magic through performance studies, and innovative approaches to classical reception in colonial and postcolonial Australia. Her scholarship frequently employs postcolonial and feminist frameworks, demonstrating how classical antiquity informs modern discussions of race, sexuality, and cultural identity, particularly through collaborations with scholars like Alistair Rolls and James Bennett. Johnson's scholarly recognition includes: Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities Her academic leadership manifests through editorial roles (including Practitioners' Voices in Classical Reception Studies), frequent contributions to The Conversation (over 30 articles), and radio appearances discussing classical themes for public audiences. While specific advising records and grant details aren't publicly documented, her collaborative publications and editorial work indicate active mentorship and research supervision within her fields of expertise. Johnson maintains significant public engagement through media commentary and creative projects, bridging academic research with broader cultural discourse. Her work with the RD Milns Antiquities Museum and contributions to Australian literary criticism demonstrate commitment to making classical studies relevant to contemporary societal conversations, particularly regarding gender, sexuality, and cultural heritage.
Sean Carney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Drama and Theatre Cultural Studies at McGill University's Faculty of Arts. Specializing in British theatre, he focuses on critical theory, modernism, and contemporary tragedy. His research spans Bertolt Brecht, 20th-century drama, and the intersection of comics/graphic novels with performance studies. Education: Ph.D. (York University), M.A. (University of Alberta), B.A. (University of Manitoba). He previously taught at York University. Research interests emphasize the political and aesthetic dimensions of drama, particularly how historical and cultural contexts shape theatrical forms. He examines tragic conventions in contemporary plays like Sarah Kane's Blasted and explores Alan Moore's graphic narratives as historiographic tools. Key awards include a SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2005) for his work on contemporary British tragedy. His writings bridge academic analysis and creative practice, appearing in venues like Modern Drama , Theater Survey , and ImageTexT . Teaching and scholarly contributions reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary approaches, blending performance studies with critical theory. He has reviewed major works on political theatre and tragedy, contributing to scholarly discourse on Brechtian aesthetics and postmodern drama.
Alexander Manshel is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at McGill University. His research focuses on 20th/21st-century American literature, multiethnic fiction, and literary institutions. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and has taught at both McGill and Stanford. His first monograph, Writing Backwards: Historical Fiction and the Reshaping of the American Canon (2023), examines how historical recovery politics reshaped literary canons, particularly for writers of color. Current projects include a history of high school English curricula and studies on literary prizes, audiobooks, and television adaptations. Recent publications analyze National Book Award trends, literary anthologies, and the cultural role of audiobooks. Manshel has received teaching awards from McGill (2023) and holds grants from SSHRC and FRQSC for research on race and literary canons. He supervises graduate students interested in contemporary literature, canon formation, and literary institutions. His work bridges digital humanities and traditional criticism, exploring how technology and cultural institutions shape literary production and reception.
