Wayne Modest is a Professor of Material Culture and Critical Heritage Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam's Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. His work focuses on material and visual culture, ethnographic museums, heritage, and postcolonial histories. He leads projects like 'Taking Care' and collaborates with institutions across Europe and the Caribbean. PhD from University of the West Indies (Cultural Studies) Research interests include colonialism, migration, race, and care in cultural institutions Recent projects address Dutch colonial heritage, decolonizing museum practices, and transnational memory. He contributes to journals like Small Axe and co-edits volumes on colonial pasts. Advises PhD candidates in heritage studies and colonial entanglements. Teaches courses on public history, decolonization, and curating. Serves on editorial boards and museum ethics committees, advocating for inclusive cultural narratives.
Leslie A. Tilley serves as Associate Professor of Music at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she bridges analytical and ethnographic approaches to non-canonical musical traditions globally. Her work centers on developing cross-cultural frameworks for understanding musical creation and transformation. Education: Bachelor of Music (2000), Acadia University Master of Arts (2003), University of British Columbia Doctor of Philosophy (2013), University of British Columbia Tilley's research pioneers methodologies for analyzing collective improvisation, particularly in Balinese contexts like reyong norot and kendang arja drumming. Her acclaimed monograph Making It Up Together (University of Chicago Press, 2019) established new models for studying improvised processes across cultures. Current projects investigate popular music cover songs and decolonizing strategies in music theory pedagogy, reflecting her commitment to inclusive analytical frameworks. Awards: Emerging Scholar Award, Society for Music Theory (2022) At MIT, Tilley teaches foundational courses including Rhythms of the World (21M.053) and Introduction to World Music (21M.030), while directing the MIT Balinese gamelan ensemble (21M.450). Her pedagogical innovations focus on cross-cultural music literacy and dismantling Eurocentric biases in music education, evidenced by collaborative work on diversifying theory curricula.
Rachel Gillett is an Assistant Professor in Cultural History at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History. Her work bridges European colonial history, Black Atlantic studies, and contemporary identity politics through lenses like Hip Hop and media representation. She co-founded the Decolonization Group @Utrecht University and leads the NWO-funded Re/Presenting Europe consortium. Education : PhD in World History (Northeastern University, 2010), BA in English and History (University of Otago, 1998) Her research explores racialization in Europe, anti-colonial solidarity , and popular culture as political tools. Recent projects analyze Hip Hop's role in European belonging and global perceptions of France as a land of liberty. The 15 most recent publications span from 2012 to 2024, focusing on topics like colonial soundscapes, transnational Black intellectual history, and postcolonial film analysis. Keywords include World War I , Black Panther , Settler Colonialism , and Neoliberalism . Scientific Awards include Aspasia Grants (2017, 2020) for career development and a Chateaubriand Fellowship (2006). She received a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching (2016) and secured a Decolonization Research Group Continuance Grant (2019). Gillett engages in public outreach through workshops like Teaching Beyond the Canon and events such as Rise Up, Take a Knee (2019), connecting historical scholarship to contemporary social justice movements.
Sara Haefeli serves as Associate Professor in Composition and Music Studies at Ithaca College's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, teaching music history, American avant-garde music, and philosophy of creativity courses since joining the faculty in 2011. Her scholarly work bridges historical musicology with innovative pedagogical approaches. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana where she was recognized as an Outstanding Educator, cello performance studies at the University of Northern Colorado, and a Fulbright Scholarship for research on Hans Rott and Gustav Mahler in fin-de-siècle Vienna. Haefeli's research centers on transforming music history pedagogy through critical examination of canonical assumptions and development of case-based learning methodologies. She actively challenges traditional narratives in Western art music while promoting student engagement with experimental traditions. Her scholarship emphasizes the intersection of creativity, writing instruction, and digital tools in music education. Her publication portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on pedagogical innovation and American experimentalism, with recent works addressing case-based teaching frameworks and canonical critique. Current projects include revising the seminal textbook A History of Western Music . Scientific recognition includes: Fulbright Scholarship for Vienna research Outstanding Educator award from University of Illinois Haefeli contributes significantly to academic service as faculty representative to Ithaca College's Board of Trustees and co-editor for the Journal of Music History Pedagogy. Previously at the University of Northern Colorado, she co-directed the Open Space Festival for New Music (2009-2011), programming diverse avant-garde and folk music events featuring artists like Christian Wolff and Jean-Claude Risset. As an active performer, she maintains dual careers in contemporary and historical performance practice, having played with The Grand Canonical Ensemble (baroque trio) and The Prairie Pranksters (psychedelic bluegrass), with recordings on Telarc and Westdeutscher Rundfunk labels.
Dr Evi Stamatiou serves as Senior Lecturer in Acting for Stage and Screen and Course Leader for the MA/MFA program at the University of East London's School of Arts and Creative Industries, leveraging over two decades of international experience as a practitioner-researcher in actor training. Her academic credentials include a PhD in Actor Training and Direction from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (2013-2021), MA in Theatre Directing from UEL, MA in Arts Policy and Management from Birkbeck College, and certificates in Filmmaking and Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy. Her research pioneers critical acting pedagogy through intersectional frameworks, focusing on decolonizing methodologies, anti-racist praxis, inclusive techniques for second-language actors, and social representation analysis in comedy. This work directly challenges traditional canons while developing innovative studio practices. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2024) reveals consistent thematic evolution toward decentering power structures in actor training, with increasing emphasis on intersectionality, pandemic-era adaptation, and screen-specific methodologies – all grounded in materialist and feminist theoretical approaches. Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy International awards for creative work Significant research funding for transnational projects As Chair of the Acting Programme at the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and Convener of TaPRA's Performer Training Focus Group, she leads sector-wide initiatives. Her transatlantic pandemic collaboration developed verbatim theater methodologies while directing the forthcoming Critical Acting Pedagogy: Intersectional Approaches (Routledge, 2024).
John Plotz is the Barbara Mandel Professor of the Humanities and Professor of English at Brandeis University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies and co-founder of the Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has held fellowships at institutions like Princeton University and the Radcliffe Institute. His research focuses on Victorian literature, science fiction, fantasy, and thing theory, with notable works including Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea (2023) and Semi-Detached (2017). Plotz has received prestigious awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Nahum Glatzer Teaching Scholar Award. His teaching spans courses on Victorian literature, fantasy, and science fiction, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches. He co-hosts the Recall This Book podcast, exploring literature and culture. Plotz’s academic leadership includes roles in graduate education and initiatives addressing educational justice in criminal justice systems. Key research interests include the intersection of literature and science, posthumanism, and the legacy of Victorian thought. His work often bridges literary analysis with broader cultural and philosophical inquiries, as seen in projects like Nonhuman Being: Post-Darwinian Naturalism .
Almiro Andrade is a Lecturer in Contemporary Acting at Wimbledon College of Arts, specializing in theatre translation, dramaturgy, and interdisciplinary performance. Their practice emphasizes international collaboration and cultural diversity, with a focus on gender-bending adaptations and participatory theatre forms. Key projects include the English translation of Aldri Anunciação's Namibia, Não! and a participatory adaptation of Jorge Amado's Tieta . Educationist and theatre practitioner since 2000 Artistic Associate with Out of The Wings Collective, StoneCrabs Theatre, and Foreign Affairs Theatre Research interests include: translation as performance, decolonizing theatre canons, and the intersection of music, storytelling, and breaking-form theatre. Their work bridges Brazilian and global theatrical traditions, emphasizing participatory and queer perspectives.
Jason Edward Black is a Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the Department of Communication Studies . His research focuses on Rhetoric , Native American Studies , and Queer Politics , examining intersections of decolonization , social change , and public memory . Research Interests : Decolonial Rhetoric in Indigenous and LGBTQ+ contexts Historical Trauma in Civil Rights and Native American narratives Colonial Discourse in media, sports, and legal systems Queer Theory and its application to political anthologies Rhetorical Circulation in cultural and institutional settings Scientific Awards : No awards explicitly mentioned. Advising & Grants : No details provided. Labs/Teams : No lab or team information provided.
Eric Doumerc is a Lecturer at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, affiliated with the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS). He has been a faculty member since 1998, teaching British and Caribbean civilizations, poetry, and translation. His academic work focuses on the cultural and literary intersections of the Anglophone Caribbean, particularly in music and poetry. Education CAPES: 1990 Agrégation: 1993 Doctorate: 1997, University of Toulouse-Le Mirail, on oral tradition in Anglo-Caribbean poetry His research centers on oral traditions in the English-speaking Caribbean, the relationship between music and poetry, and the cultural significance of reggae and dub. He explores how Rastafarian rhetoric, performance, and identity shape literary and musical expression in post-independence Caribbean societies. His work bridges literary analysis, cultural studies, and musicology. Doumerc's recent publications reflect a sustained engagement with Caribbean poets, deejays, and cultural icons such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mutabaruka, Mervyn Morris, Derek Walcott, and reggae figures like I-Roy and Burning Spear. His articles and books analyze the evolution of nature poetry, dub aesthetics, and the political dimensions of oral performance. The recurring themes across his 15 most recent works include postcolonial identity, diasporic expression, religious symbolism, and the sonic dimensions of literature. He has not been awarded any scientific prizes explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Doumerc actively publishes in peer-reviewed journals such as Miranda and Caliban , and contributes to edited volumes and monographs. While no direct PhD or Master’s students are listed, he has collaborated with scholars like Helen Goethals, Jérémie Kroubo Dagnini, and James Danino, indicating mentorship and academic collaboration. He has also contributed to the professionalization of young researchers through his involvement with CAS. He is a core member of the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS), where he participates in seminars, research programs, and editorial activities. The CAS serves as his primary research hub, supporting interdisciplinary work on anglophone cultures, including literature, music, and translation.
Dr. Sayanti Mondal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing at Ithaca College's School of Humanities and Sciences. Specializing in postcolonial literary criticism and social justice pedagogy, her work explores the intersections of power, identity, and cultural production. Postcolonial studies Translingual and Multimodal Composition Global South Studies Literary Theory and Culture Studies South-Asian literature Children’s literature Her publications focus on postcolonial Indian graphic narratives, children's literature critique, and adaptation studies, appearing in journals like International Research of Children's Literature and Modern Language Studies . Current research examines Indigenous identity construction through visual narratives and the pedagogical potential of arts integration. Contact: smondal@ithaca.edu
Professor Steve Rawle is a distinguished academic at York St John University , serving as the Research and Knowledge Transfer Lead in the School of the Arts . With a PhD from the University of Aberdeen (2007) and prior teaching experience there, he bridges theory and practice through his Senior Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy . Education: BA in Drama, Film & TV (York St John, 1997), MLitt (York St John, 2000), PhD on Hal Hartley’s films (Aberdeen, 2007) Research Focus: Intersections of American independent cinema, transnational film flows, and kaiju eiga (Japanese monster movies), examining how globalization reshapes cultural narratives Key Collaborations: Co-investigator on the Cinema and Social Justice Filmmaking project (2023), Executive Producer of award-winning Cost of Living (2022) His pedagogical approach challenges false binaries between film theory/practice, advocating problem-based learning and industry partnerships via the Screen Industries Growth Network . Recent publications like Transnational Monsters (2024) analyze ecohorror tropes in global crises, while Transnational Kaiju (2022) maps exploitation patterns in cult monster movies. Scientific recognition includes: FOCAL International Award for Best Use of Archive in Short Film (2023) BATAF Practice Research Award nominee (2023) Multiple international conference keynotes on horror affect and digital media As an academic leader, he supervises PhD/MRes students across topics from Hitchcock-Herrmann authorship to queer television narratives , while examining research degrees at UK institutions. His industry work includes consultancy for North Yorkshire Screen Industries (2023) and film festival programming at Aesthetica Short Film Festival .
Gabriel Cooper is an Assistant Professor of German in the Department of German Language and Literatures at Oberlin College. His academic work focuses on the intersections of German literature, Jewish studies, and cultural history. His research interests include: German Jewish Studies and cultural history Austrian literature and intellectual traditions New Historicism approaches to literary analysis Cultural studies with emphasis on Jewish diaspora German-Jewish relations in historical context Cooper's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on Jewish representation in German literature, examining how Jewish identity, power, and culture have been portrayed and negotiated in German-language works from the Enlightenment through contemporary times. His publications reveal particular interest in the complex relationship between Jewish communities and German cultural production, often exploring themes of power, representation, and cultural co-constitution. His notable works include analyses of Moses Mendelssohn's Jerusalem, Theodor Herzl's Altneuland, and Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union, examining messianic themes through a science fiction lens. He has also published on Irmtraud Morgner's Beatriz, Feuchtwanger's Jud Süß, and the representation of Jewish power in German literature more broadly.
Helena Hyesoo Kim is a Korean-Canadian pianist and PartTime Lecturer at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she teaches Aural Skills, Career Development, Principles of Arts Entrepreneurship, and Applied Piano. She concurrently serves as Vice President of the Board at Odyssey Chamber Music Series and Coordinator of International Engagement of Korea at the Frances Clark Center, highlighting her multifaceted contributions to music education and cultural advocacy. Her research focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices in classical music, with specialized expertise in works by female composers such as Caroline KyungA Ahn, Alexina Louie, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Galina Ustvolskaya. Her doctoral work analyzed unifying elements in Ustvolskaya's piano sonatas—a repertoire historically suppressed by Soviet authorities. This intersects with broader interests in: Decolonizing musical canons through performance and pedagogy Arts entrepreneurship as a framework for artist sustainability Cross-cultural musical exchange, particularly between Korean and Western traditions Performance accolades include: First Prize at the Han Kuk Ilbo national competition First Prize at the Russian Music Festival She has performed at Carnegie Hall and with the Chopin Poland Orchestra, alongside collaborations leading to commercial recordings like the CD Locally Sourced .
Linda Leskau is an Assistant Professor (Akademische Rätin auf Zeit) at the Institute for Diversity Studies , Faculty of Cultural Studies, Technical University of Dortmund . Her work spans German-language literature , Literary Disability Studies , Gender and Queer Studies , and history of sexuality . She serves as Study Coordinator, Examination Coordinator, and WebAdmin at her institute. 2010: Magistra Artium in German Studies, Philosophy, Communication Sciences (University of Duisburg-Essen) 2018: Dr. Phil. in German Studies (Ruhr University of Bochum) 2018/19: Gateway-Fellowship (University of Cincinnati, USA) 2022: Max Kade Visiting Professor (University of Illinois at Chicago) Her research examines intersections between literary representation and cultural discourses around disability, gender, and sexuality. She investigates topics like the subversion of sexual science in Döblin's work, disability in Thomas Bernhard's texts , and intersectional approaches in Heidi adaptations. Her recent projects analyze posthumanist cyborg disability and supercrip narratives in contemporary literature. She has presented at international venues including the German Studies Association's annual conferences in San Diego (2016), Kansas City (2014), and Portland (2019), plus keynotes at University of Illinois at Chicago (2022) and TU Dortmund's ring lectures (2024). Her upcoming edited volume Wiedersehen mit Heidi (2024) explores interweaving gender and disability perspectives. Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR) fellowship (2012-2018) Max Kade Visiting Professorship (2022) Gateway-Fellowship (2018/19) Leskau actively contributes to academic discourse through peer-reviewed publications in journals like GENDER and German Studies Review , plus co-edited volumes with Tanja Nusser and Katherine Sorrels. Her 2020 monograph on Döblin's early work examines sadomasochism's subversive role in sexual science critique.
Egemen Kesikli is an Instructor of Music Theory & Musicology at Colorado State University (CSU) and Director of SoundWorks at the University of Colorado Boulder. His work focuses on promoting diversity and decolonizing musical canons in composition, theory, and performance. He holds a D.M.A. in Music Composition from the University of Colorado Boulder and an M.M. from the University of Texas at Austin. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), Music Composition, University of Colorado Boulder Master of Music (M.M.), Music Composition, University of Texas at Austin Research interests include redefining traditional music education through decolonial frameworks and exploring post-tonal and Romantic-era musical techniques. His creative work spans composition, performance, and interdisciplinary collaborations with family arts projects. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the text. Advising and grants details are not provided, but he teaches courses such as Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques and Music of the Romantic Era . He directs SoundWorks at CU Boulder, a platform for experimental music projects.
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