Benjamin Mangrum is Associate Professor of Literature at MIT's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, specializing in 20th/21st-century literature, digital humanities, and environmental humanities. His scholarship examines literature's engagement with technology, environmental crisis, and political liberalism. Dr. Mangrum's research analyzes computational obsolescence, environmental rights discourse, and the intersections of literary form with political thought. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining literary criticism with philosophy, digital studies, and environmental theory. Recent publications show growing engagement with energy humanities, data visualization ecologies, and artificial intelligence's cultural implications. His work consistently examines how literary forms mediate technological change and environmental consciousness. Awards: Levitan Prize (2023) Fellowships: Michigan Society of Fellows Professor Mangrum teaches courses on comedy, science fiction, environmental literature, and AI at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Prof. Dr. Julia Bernstein is a Professor of Discrimination and Inclusion in Immigration Society at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (since 2015), affiliated with the Department of Social Work and Health. Her academic background includes a B.A. in Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, and Art History (1992–1995), an M.A. in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology (1996–2000) from the University of Haifa, Israel, and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from Goethe University Frankfurt (2009). She leads the research area Social Legacy of National Socialism and coordinates international projects on antisemitism prevention. Bernstein's research examines discrimination through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on: Antisemitism in institutional and everyday contexts Migration, identity, and transnationalism among Russian-speaking Jews Stereotyping mechanisms and racialization processes Holocaust memory and its societal repercussions Food sociology as a marker of cultural identity Her recent publications (2020–2022) demonstrate a strong focus on antisemitism in educational settings, analyzing victim perspectives, teacher training gaps, and pedagogical counter-strategies. She frequently addresses media representations of Jewish communities and the normalization of Israel-related antisemitism. Honors include the Barbara-und-Piergiuseppe-Scardigli-Preis for her dissertation (2011) and nomination for the WISAG-Preis (2010). Bernstein directs federally funded projects like Mach mal keine Judenaktion! (2017–2019) and collaborates with institutions including the German Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, Anne Frank Educational Center, and Tel Aviv University's Kantor Center. At Frankfurt UAS, she teaches courses on antisemitism, social inequality, and Holocaust legacy in Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Diversity and Inclusion programs. She mentors emerging scholars through the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk and co-leads the Frankfurt meets Haifa academic exchange initiative.
Dr. Travis Dorsch serves as Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, where he founded and directs the Families in Sport Lab. His academic career bridges human development theory with practical applications in youth sport contexts, examining how family systems and social environments shape athletic experiences. His educational foundation includes a PhD in Kinesiology (Psychology of Sport and Exercise) from Purdue University (2013), preceded by an MS (2007) and BA in Psychology (2003). This interdisciplinary training informs his unique perspective on sport socialization processes. Dr. Dorsch's research program centers on the interplay between family dynamics and youth sport participation , employing mixed-methods approaches to investigate: Parental socialization mechanisms in athletic contexts Sibling influences on sport engagement Socioeconomic barriers to sport access Emotional abuse dynamics in competitive environments Systemic optimization of youth sport structures His work demonstrates how contextual factors from household to national policy levels affect athlete development. Analysis of his 50+ publications reveals three dominant research trajectories : pandemic-era sport disruptions (2020-2023), emotional abuse frameworks in collegiate athletics (2021-2024), and family systems theory applications in youth sport (2013-present). These intersect at the critical nexus of developmental appropriateness in sport programming. His distinguished recognition includes: Multiple Graduate Mentor of the Year awards (2021, 2022) Early Career Distinguished Scholar honor (2020) Research Fellow designation (2021) Consistent departmental and college teaching awards Dr. Dorsch has secured funding from major organizations including the NCAA, Aspen Institute, and TeamSnap to support his Families in Sport Lab. His mentorship extends to 11 graduate students, with research translating into practical tools for coaches, parents, and sport administrators featured in major media outlets like The New York Times and TIME Magazine .
Christopher Waldo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Washington's College of Arts and Sciences. A Korean American adoptee specializing in classical reception studies, his research examines intersections between Greek literature and contemporary Asian American writing. His book manuscript 'Classical Reception in Asian American Literature' is under contract with University of Michigan Press. Research interests include archaic Greek poetry, tragedy, reception theory, and racial/ethnic studies in antiquity. He co-chairs the Asian and Asian American Classical Caucus, advocating for underrepresented voices in classical studies. His publications explore poetic innovation in Pindar and Bacchylides, Euripidean reception, and Sapphic fragmentation in diasporic literature. Recent articles analyze mythological contradictions in victory odes and identity in Asian American fiction. Awards include the Women's Classical Caucus Professional Equity Award (2021) and multiple fellowships from UC Berkeley. He mentors graduate students in Greek literature and reception studies, serving on dissertation committees examining Hesiod, Plato, and Hellenistic poetry.
Abdulhamit Arvas is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania, with affiliations in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies; Comparative Literature & Literary Theory; the Middle East Center; and Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is an extraordinary member of Exeter College at the University of Oxford. BA, Hacettepe University, Turkey MA, Eastern Michigan University PhD, Michigan State University His research and teaching focus on early modern literature and culture, comparative histories of sexuality and race, queer studies, trans history, cross-cultural encounters, and Islam in the Renaissance. His work bridges literary analysis with critical race and gender theory, particularly examining the intersections of homoeroticism, empire, and race in transnational Mediterranean contexts. Dr. Arvas’s publications span journals like GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies , English Literary Renaissance , and Shakespeare Survey , alongside edited collections such as The Cambridge History of Gay and Lesbian Literature . He is currently editing a new edition of Shakespeare’s Othello for Oxford University Press, reflecting his engagement with transhistorical and cross-cultural dialogues. 2025 Charles Ludwig Distinguished Teaching Award 2025 and 2022 David Delaura Teaching Awards Fellowships from Fulbright, Folger Shakespeare Library, SSHRC Early Modern Conversions at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and University of California Humanities Research Institute His courses at Penn include topics like “Premodern Trans Studies,” “Queer Islam and the Renaissance,” and “Shakespeare Now,” emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to gender, race, and cultural memory. Dr. Arvas also co-edited the tenth anniversary issue of postmedieval , later published as a book, and his first monograph Boys Abducted: The Homoerotics of Empire and Race in Early Modernity (Duke UP, 2025) redefines early modern transnational sexualities.
Dr Maria Dasli is a Senior Lecturer in Intercultural Education at the University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of Education and Sport, where she founded and led the Institute for Language Education (2020–2023). Her work focuses on intercultural communication pedagogy and contemporary race discourse, emphasizing ethical responsibility and critical analysis of cultural difference. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Exeter and has served leadership roles in academic organizations like IALIC and CERES. Dr Dasli's research explores how discourse shapes cultural identities and perpetuates inequality, with a focus on deconstructing prejudiced narratives. She has published in journals like Language and Intercultural Communication and edited volumes such as The Critical Turn in Language and Intercultural Communication Pedagogy . Her teaching spans courses on intercultural citizenship, TESOL methodology, and critical intercultural communication. Education: BA English Language Teaching (University of Stirling) MSc TESOL (University of Stirling) MA Sociolinguistics (University of Essex) PhD Education (University of Exeter) PgCert Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Edinburgh Napier University) Her awards include a Best Paper Award (2010) and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (since 2011). She has supervised numerous PhD students on topics like race in higher education and neoliberalism in language teaching. Dr Dasli's leadership extends to organizing conferences on racial equality and intercultural education, including events funded by the University of Edinburgh and international partnerships. She advocates for pedagogies that foster cultural openness and combat systemic prejudice through education.
Charles L. Leavitt IV is the William Payden Associate Professor of Italian and Film at the University of Notre Dame, serving as Director of Graduate Studies in Italian. His research focuses on modern and contemporary Italian literature and film, with specialties in post-war cultural history, Fascism/Resistance studies, and minoritized cultures. He co-directs the Primo Levi Digital Commentary project and holds affiliations with the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Leavitt’s work has been honored with major awards, including the 2020 AAIS Visual Studies Book Prize for Italian Neorealism: A Cultural History and the 2022 Society for Italian Studies Essay Prize. Education: Ph.D. (Literature), M.A. (Italian Studies), and B.A. (Comparative Literature) from the University of Notre Dame and University of Oregon. His teaching spans Italian literature, cinema, and comparative studies, with a focus on post-war and contemporary contexts. He organizes the Italian Research Seminar and Modern Roads to Rome lecture series, and serves on editorial boards for Italian Studies , Italianist , and Annali d'italianistica . Key research areas include Italian Jewish culture, African American-Italian cultural intersections, and the legacy of Fascism. His current book project examines African American soldiers’ roles in Allied-Occupied Italy. Leavitt’s scholarship bridges film, literature, and history, emphasizing transnational cultural flows and Italian contributions to global culture. Award-winning educator, Leavitt has received teaching excellence awards from the University of Reading and University of Notre Dame. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining close textual analysis with broader historical and cultural frameworks to explore identity, memory, and resistance in 20th-century Italy.
Daniel Hack is a Professor of English at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the Department of English Language and Literature within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). His research focuses on Victorian literature, African American literature, and transatlantic cultural exchanges. He holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Hack’s work explores how literary texts engage with material culture, transatlantic print networks, and racial identity. His books include The Material Interests of the Victorian Novel (2005) and Reaping Something New: African American Transformations of Victorian Literature (2017), which examines how African American writers reinterpreted Victorian texts. His current project investigates the relationship between fiction and real-life meaning-making in modern culture. He has received prestigious awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship (2022), the Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (2021), and the Donald Gray Prize (2012). His editorial work includes co-editing Victorian Literature and Culture and contributing to volumes like Jonathan Freedman: The Jewish Decadence (2021). His teaching spans courses on fiction, narrative theory, race, and Victorian literature. He has delivered invited lectures at Harvard, Yale, and numerous conferences, exploring themes like transatlantic influence, literary canon formation, and modernist narrative techniques. His professional service includes roles as Associate Chair of the English Department and leadership in academic organizations like the MLA.
Cedric Burrows is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University (ASU), specializing in cultural rhetorics, Black rhetoric, and their interpretations in mainstream culture. Previously, he held the same rank at Marquette University. His research explores the intersection of race, rhetoric, and cultural representation, culminating in his award-winning book Rhetorical Crossover: The Black Presence in White Culture (2020), which examines how Black cultural expressions are received and misinterpreted in white-dominated spaces. He has also received the 2020 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Award from Marquette. Education: Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas, M.A. in English from Miami University (Ohio), and B.A. in English from Alcorn State University. Research interests include African American Studies, Civil Rights history, and decolonial pedagogical practices. His work challenges systemic inequities in education and media representation, emphasizing the 'Black tax' faced by marginalized communicators in white spaces. His scholarship bridges historical analysis (e.g., Malcolm X and MLK narratives) with contemporary issues like textbook bias and microaggressions in academia. Key contributions include critiques of composition textbooks’ handling of non-white voices and advocacy for inclusive curricula. His teaching focuses on the African American Rhetorical Tradition and Black Freedom Movement studies, described as transformative by colleagues.
Baki Tezcan is Professor of History at the University of California, Davis, with a joint affiliation in Religious Studies until 2015. He is also affiliated with the Middle East/South Asia Studies Program (ME/SA), Medieval and Early Modern Studies, and has directed the ME/SA program from 2012 to 2015. He led the 'Last Empire of Islam' Summer Abroad Program in Istanbul in 2007, 2009, and 2011. Ph.D., Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (2001) M.A., Near Eastern Studies, Princeton University (1996) B.S., International Relations, Bilkent University, Turkey (1994) Graduate, Istanbul Lisesi Tezcan's research centers on the intellectual and socio-political transformation of the Ottoman Empire, particularly the evolution of Islam in the public sphere from the late thirteenth to the early twentieth century. His work explores Islamic law, pre-modern racial and ethnic identities, Ottoman perceptions of others, and the interplay between politics, philosophy, and science in the Islamic tradition. He investigates early modernity through the lens of legal rationalization, secularism, and the disenchantment of Sufism. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on Ottoman intellectual history, legal transformation, and identity formation. Themes include the rationalization of Sunni Islam, the role of the ulema, judicial administration in former Mamluk territories, and autobiographical writings of early modern preachers. His scholarship bridges Turkish and Anglophone academic traditions, with several of his works translated into Turkish and published in bilingual journals. Tezcan has received multiple prestigious awards and fellowships: UC Davis Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2005) National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship (2018–19) TÜBİTAK Fellowship (2011–12) Society for the Humanities Fellowship, Cornell University (2005–06) ARIT Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by NEH (2001–02) He has advised students across multiple departments and has been recognized for his mentorship. His current projects include finishing several articles and writing a book on the transformation of Islam in the Ottoman Empire from the late medieval to the modern period. He is actively engaged in editorial work, serving as President of the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association (OTSA), and on the editorial boards of the Journal of Ottoman Studies and the Journal of the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association . He co-founded the Western Ottomanists' Workshop (WOW) and GIT-North America, fostering scholarly dialogue in the field.
Professor Vetri Nathan is an Associate Professor in the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) . He founded and directs the Multispecies Futures Lab , previously known as the Cybercene Lab , which explores the intersections of environmental and digital humanities through multispecies kinship and ecocultural sustainability. His scholarly work spans Italy, the Mediterranean, and global contexts, focusing on migration, cinema, and food studies. Education: Ph.D., Italian Studies, Stanford University (2009) M.A., Italian Studies, Stanford University B.A., Connecticut College Professor Nathan’s research investigates cultural foundations of environmental wellbeing , multispecies solidarity , and hybrid cultural identities , particularly in Italy and the Mediterranean. His lab projects analyze the digital revolution’s impact on ecological systems, Indigenous knowledge, and biopolitical conflicts. His publications include Marvelous Bodies: Italy’s New Migrant Cinema (2017) and recent articles on topics like Somali culinary identity (2023), Mediterranean ecocultural hybridity (2011), and affect theory in Italian cinema (2010). Future work includes the monograph The Cybercene: Multispecies Healing and Habitability in a Transformed World , which defines a new ecocultural sub-era of the Anthropocene. Scientific awards: Outstanding Faculty Annual Award, UPCEA (2013) He collaborates with institutions like Montclair State University and advisory scholars from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Rutgers University . The lab trains graduate and undergraduate research assistants in multispecies thick mapping and interdisciplinary methodologies.
Patricia Fernandez-Kelly is a Professor of Sociology at Princeton University and Research Associate at the Office of Population Research. She directs the Center for Migration and Development. Her work focuses on international economic development, gender, class, ethnicity, and urban ethnography. Key contributions include studies on export-processing zones, migration, and the impact of state policies on marginalized communities. Her research highlights the role of government institutions in shaping poverty dynamics, particularly among African American and Hispanic populations. Notable works include The Hero’s Fight (C. Wright Mills finalist) and co-producing the Emmy-winning documentary The Global Assembly Line . She has authored/co-authored influential books on migration, health care access, and immigrant integration. Fernández-Kelly’s awards include the C. Wright Mills Finalist Award and an Emmy. Current research explores Cuban-American working-class experiences in South Florida. She leads initiatives analyzing transnational organizations and the paradoxes of immigrant adaptation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to social justice. Her academic leadership spans roles in Princeton’s sociology department and affiliated research centers, fostering dialogue between academia and policy. Her work bridges ethnographic fieldwork with theoretical frameworks to address global inequalities and institutional challenges faced by marginalized groups.
Alani Hicks-Bartlett is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Comparative Literature, French and Francophone Studies, and Hispanic Studies at Brown University. She holds affiliations with the Department of Italian Studies, the Program in Early Cultures, the Program in Medieval Studies, the Center for the Study of the Early Modern World, and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society. Her research integrates gender, race, disability studies, and critical theory, focusing on Medieval and Early Modern literature across English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish traditions. She explores themes like artistic failure, disability representation, and (proto)feminist writing. Educated at Bryn Mawr College (BA, MA), Middlebury College (MA, DML), and UC Berkeley (PhD), her work has been supported by the Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, and others. Recent publications analyze race in Shakespeare, disability in Arthurian Romance, and exemplarity in Petrarchan intertexts. She teaches courses on Early Modern theater, medieval gender studies, and literary theory. Her current book project examines disability narratives in Petrarch, Montaigne, and Cervantes, linking bodily diversity to selfhood and political health. She has held fellowships at UCL’s Institute of Advanced Studies and the Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine.
Dennis Nickson is Professor in Service Work and Employment at the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, University of Strathclyde, where he has been a faculty member since 1996. He previously served as Head of Department (2008–2014) and co-directed the Scottish Centre for Employment Research (2004–2008). He is Editor-in-Chief of Employee Relations and a leading figure in research on service sector employment. PhD in Internationalization Strategies of Hotel Companies, University of Strathclyde (1999) BA in Humanities, University of Kent (1991) His research centers on aesthetic and emotional labour , skills, employability, and human resource management in interactive service work, particularly in retail and hospitality. He is a co-developer of the influential concept of aesthetic labour with Professors Chris Warhurst and the late Anne Witz. His work explores labour market dynamics, gender inequalities, fair work, and workplace harassment, especially in low-paid service roles. His recent publications focus on fair work frameworks, intersectional inequalities in global education sectors, and the impact of the pandemic on hospitality workers. These works reflect trends in critical HRM, service work ethics, and policy-oriented labour research. Scientific Awards: Academic Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), 2013 He has supervised multiple research students and led externally funded projects on topics including equal pay, recruitment in the voluntary sector, and customer abuse in hospitality. His research has influenced employment relations policy and practice, particularly in Scotland’s public and third sectors. He has also contributed to major journal editorial work and professional conferences. He is actively involved in the Global Hospitality Research Alliance and collaborates internationally on fair work and hospitality employment issues. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to decent work and economic growth.
Kobena Mercer is a Professor in the Departments of the History of Art and African American Studies at Yale University. He specializes in the visual arts of the Black diaspora, examining African American, Caribbean, and Black British artists within transnational contexts. His research intersects race, sexuality, and identity in modern and contemporary art. Affiliations: Yale University (current), New York University and UC Santa Cruz (previous) LGBT Studies Committee member at Yale Research focuses on cross-cultural aesthetics, diasporic art practices, and decolonizing art historiography. Key works include Welcome to the Jungle (1994), Cosmopolitan Modernisms (2005), and edited volumes in the Annotating Art’s Histories series. Recent publications explore contemporary Black diaspora art through essay collections and contributions to The Image of the Black in Western Art . His writing bridges art criticism, cultural theory, and postcolonial studies. Awards: 2006 Clark Prize for Excellence in Arts Writing Current projects include an essay collection on diaspora art and a chapter on 20th-century Black representation in Western art. His work emphasizes global perspectives and intersectional analyses in art history.
