Dr. Rachel Colls is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Durham University and a Fellow of the Institute for Medical Humanities. Her research focuses on geographies of the body, feminist theories of embodiment, obesity critiques, consumption practices, and clothing. She has published extensively on bodily politics, fat activism, and public health discourses. PhD & MA in Geography (University of Sheffield) Her work interrogates the sociomaterialities of fat bodies, bodily governance through BMI metrics, and affective experiences in retail and educational spaces. Recent publications address air travel accessibility and feminist pedagogies. She supervises postgraduate students and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects concerning bodily rights and health policies. Key article trends include critical obesity studies, feminist interventions in human geography, and the politics of bodily representation across spatial contexts. She employs qualitative methodologies informed by Judith Butler, Elisabeth Grosz, and non-representational theory. Supervised: Rosie Haffenden (MRes)
Ellen T. Armour is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Feminist Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Graduate Department of Religion, where she directs the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality. She holds affiliated appointments in the Department of Philosophy and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Vanderbilt and served as a Faculty Fellow at the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities (2017–2018). B.A., Stetson University (1980) M.A., Ph.D., Vanderbilt University (1989, 1993) Her research focuses on feminist theology, contemporary continental philosophy, and theories of sexuality, race, gender, disability, and embodiment. Her work engages interdisciplinary approaches to religion, particularly through poststructuralist and queer theoretical frameworks. Key themes in her publications include the intersection of religion and digital visual culture, decolonial ethics in theology, and the application of Judith Butler’s performativity theory to religious discourse. Her notable books include Seeing and Believing (2023), Signs and Wonders (2016), and Bodily Citations (co-editor, 2006). Scientific Awards: Clarence Day Dean’s Award for Outstanding Teaching (1999) Jameson Jones Award for Faculty Service (2005) Armour has held leadership roles such as Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Rhodes College (1991–2006) and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt (2019–present). Her affiliations include St. Augustine’s Chapel (formerly Baptist) and the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities.
Dr. Esme Cleall is a Senior Lecturer in the History of the British Empire at the University of Sheffield's School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Sheffield and a Ph.D. from University College London (UCL). Her research focuses on the politics of colonial difference, particularly intersections of race, gender, disability, and religion in the British Empire. She has held an AHRC Leadership Fellowship and a British Academy Small Grant. Her major works include Colonising Disability (2022) and Missionary Discourses of Difference (2012), analyzing disability in colonial contexts and missionary writings. Current projects explore mental distress in colonial archives and the history of deafness across the British World. She teaches courses on cultural imperialism and empire, and actively engages in decolonizing curricula. Publications span journals like Historical Journal and History Workshop Journal , with key themes including: missionary justice in India, deaf communities in colonial contexts, and disability as a tool of imperial control. She supervises PhD students researching topics from missionary writing to disability and technology. Cleall collaborates with community groups such as Sheffield Voices to produce accessible historical narratives, including films about learning disability history. She also contributed to the 'Indian Heritage in the Peak District' project, highlighting South Asian connections to the region.
Dr. Gauri Laud serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Marketing at the UWA Business School, The University of Western Australia, where she leads research in services marketing with expertise spanning systems thinking, service system design, frontline workforce well-being, and AI integration for sustainable service ecosystems. Her industry-engaged work addresses critical challenges in care economies and social services through strategic partnerships with major organizations including TasCOSS and Skills Tasmania. Education: PhD in Marketing, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, specializing in resource integration and value co-creation in service systems Her research program focuses on transformative service systems, with particular emphasis on value co-creation/destruction dynamics, customer vulnerability alleviation, and well-being in resource-constrained environments. She pioneers applications of systems thinking to develop practical tools like the Service System Well-being Scale and care worker archetype frameworks that bridge academic theory with real-world service challenges in aging, disability, and social welfare sectors. Recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward workforce sustainability in care economies, exemplified by her 2025 Care Workforce Archetype Report which analyzes recruitment/retention strategies across aged care, disability services, and social sectors using mixed-methods systems approaches. This work reflects her consistent focus on translating service marketing theory into actionable frameworks for complex social challenges. Scientific Awards: 2025 Best Academic Paper at International Social Marketing Conference 2019 Highly Commended Paper from Emerald Publishing Finalist for Best Paper at 2018 SERVSIG Conference Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2020) Teaching Merit Certificate Student Appreciation for Teaching Certificate Best Conference Paper Award (2025) Dr. Laud actively supervises PhD candidates and leads major funded research initiatives, most notably as Chief Investigator for the Skills Tasmania-funded Service Care Workforce Archetype Project (2022-2024), which generated evidence-based solutions for Australia's care economy workforce shortages. Her grant portfolio includes collaborations with Ernst & Young Australia, ARC Research Hub, and multiple community organizations focused on developing scalable service system interventions. As Associate Editor for the Journal of Service Theory and Practice and Vice President of the Australian Social Marketing Association, she shapes scholarly discourse while maintaining strong industry connections through the Workforce Coordination Project and transformative service research networks. Her work directly advances UN Sustainable Development Goals through practical applications in well-being, social inclusion, and sustainable economic development.
Liv T. Davila is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with appointments across the College of Education, Center for Global Studies, and European Union Center. Her research focuses on language learning, identity formation, and equity for immigrant and refugee students, particularly in K-12 settings. Education: PhD in Education (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), MEd in TESL (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), MA in Comparative Education (University of Minnesota), BA in Anthropology/French (Grinnell College) Her work employs qualitative methods, including ethnography and discourse analysis, to examine multilingual learners’ experiences, teacher education practices, and global migration’s impact on schools. She has received the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (2020) and led research on language access during the pandemic. Recent publications highlight co-teaching dynamics, refugee youth resilience, and translanguaging in preschools. She advocates for pedagogies that affirm students’ identities through home languages and multicultural approaches. Scientific Awards: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, College of Education (2020)
Sara Erlandsson is a Senior Lecturer at Stockholm University's Department of Social Work , focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of disability, aging, and social policy. She leads projects analyzing care systems through a critical lens, examining how organizational structures and marketization affect service quality. Senior Lecturer in Social Work Department of Social Work, Stockholm University Her research explores age-based discrimination in support systems, highlighting contradictions between universalist welfare principles and age-determined access to care. Current projects include User participation and innovation to increase person-centering in social services and Social inequalities in aging (SIA) , while completed work includes studies on occupational threats in social interventions. Recent publications analyze care discourses (2013-2016), revealing lower ambitions in eldercare compared to disability services. She employs governmentality theory to deconstruct how users and providers are constituted in welfare narratives. The Care Research Group, where she contributes, studies how policy frameworks shape long-term care delivery and citizen experiences. Her work critiques neoliberal trends in Nordic welfare systems through empirical analysis of policy documents and service marketization processes.
Griseldis Kirsch is a researcher at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics (LAC) at SOAS University of London. Her work focuses on Japanese media and popular culture, with particular emphasis on gender, transnationalism, and identity politics. She has edited and contributed to key publications such as the Handbook of Japanese Media and Popular Culture in Transition (2022) and Assembling Japan: Modernity, Technology and Global Culture (2015). Her research spans visual culture, historical memory, and media's role in constructing national identities. Recent articles examine topics ranging from imperial nostalgia in Japanese television to the representation of cultural otherness and gender dynamics in propaganda films. She has supervised or collaborated on theses exploring single motherhood, anime music, and Korean-Japanese media remakes. Notable trends in her publications include critiques of Japanese nationalism, analysis of transpacific cultural flows, and investigations into minority representations. Her work bridges film studies, anthropology, and cross-cultural communication, often addressing tensions between local and global influences in media. Current affiliations include contributions to the JAPAN DOCUMENTS publication series and ongoing scholarly engagement with Japanese television dramas, anime, and their socio-political implications.
Pearl Subban is an Associate Professor at the School of Curriculum Teaching & Inclusive Education at Monash University. Her work focuses on Inclusive Education , Racial Equity , and Social Justice , contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals. She has led and collaborated on international projects, including a professional development program for inclusive education in Australia and Malaysia. Key Research Areas: Inclusive pedagogy, differentiated instruction, gifted education, teacher self-efficacy, and systemic equity in education. Recent Projects: Development of inclusive education frameworks, early intervention programs for at-risk students, and collaborative research on dysgraphia and behavior support practices. Her publications analyze inclusive education practices across diverse contexts, with a focus on teacher attitudes, collective efficacy, and culturally responsive frameworks. She actively contributes to media discourse on educational equity and has participated in academic conferences, including the Monash Education Academy Learning and Teaching Conference.
Jo Hsu (they/them) is an associate professor of Rhetoric and Writing and Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where they also serve as Associate Chair of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. They are core faculty for the Center for Asian American Studies and have made significant contributions to trans and queer studies, disability studies, and Asian American rhetoric. Education and Background Ph.D., M.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University Research Interests Jo Hsu's research examines how stories shape policy and culture, with a focus on trans and queer narratives, disability justice, and Asian American rhetoric. Their work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, exploring how storytelling functions as political strategy and community-building practice. They investigate how narratives of health, identity, and belonging circulate across medical, legal, and cultural contexts, particularly focusing on marginalized communities. Their current projects include examining far-right rhetorical strategies for disguising seemingly neutral beliefs and policies, and taking a narrative approach to health injustice, considering how stories infiltrate settings of health care practice and research. Awards and Recognition 2024 Book Award from the Rhetoric Society of America for "Constellating Home: Trans and Queer Asian American Rhetorics" 2023 Diamond Anniversary Book Award from the National Communication Association 2023 Innovations in Community Writing Book Award from the Conference on Community Writing Winifred Bryan Horner Outstanding Book Award from the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric & Composition 2023 Rhetoric Society of America Fellows Early Career Award 2023 Leadership Award for People with Disabilities from the National Council of Teachers of English Public Engagement Jo Hsu is an active public intellectual whose work appears in major news outlets including the Huffington Post, the Hill, and the Boston Globe. They are committed to making academic knowledge accessible and relevant to broader publics, particularly in discussions about trans rights, disability justice, and racial equity. Their creative writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, reflecting their commitment to both scholarly and artistic forms of expression. Laboratory and Community Work While not leading a traditional laboratory, Hsu's scholarly work functions as a form of community-based research that centers QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) experiences and knowledge production. They are actively involved with organizations supporting trans folks in Texas, including Black Trans Leadership of Austin, Transgender Education Network of Texas, and Equality Texas. Their work emphasizes relationality and community accountability as central to knowledge creation.
Scott Barnes is Head of the Department of Linguistics and Course Director of the Master of Speech and Language Pathology at Macquarie University. He leads the Macquarie Linguistics Conversation Analysis Lab with Joe Blythe, supervising research on communication disabilities, speech pathology assessment, and cross-linguistic interaction analysis. His teaching focuses on acquired communication disorders, language analysis, and speech pathology foundations. Barnes researches acquired communication disabilities (aphasia, TBI) using conversation analysis and interactional linguistics. Key interests include: Everyday communication practices in clinical populations Turn-taking and repair organization across languages Multimodal interaction analysis Speech pathology assessment frameworks Cross-cultural communication disorders His publications demonstrate consistent focus on clinical conversation analysis, with recent work examining: Therapeutic interactions in mental health settings Multimodal communication in Mandarin and Indonesian contexts Auditory processing in post-stroke communication Repair strategies in dysarthria and aphasia As external accreditor for Speech Pathology Australia (2021-2026), he shapes professional education standards. He directs multiple active grants including projects on bilingual education, communication breakdowns in noise, and voice visualization technology.
Dr. Rachel Liebert is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of East London. Her work centers on critical examinations of psychology through decolonial, feminist, and social justice frameworks. She collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary scholars on topics ranging from indigenous epistemologies to institutional critiques of mental health systems. Research Focus Her scholarship interrogates: Decolonization of psychological praxis and epistemology Intersections of power, security, and mental health systems Creative methodologies including experimental writing and arts-based research Critical analyses of subjectivity, affect, and embodiment Psychedelic therapy's social and collective dimensions Publication Trends Recent works (2021-2025) demonstrate: Sustained focus on decolonial psychology and epistemic justice Increasing engagement with indigenous knowledge systems and creative methodologies Interdisciplinary bridges between critical psychology, sociology, and security studies Exploration of liminal spaces in institutional and therapeutic contexts
Seo-Young Chu is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Queens College, CUNY. Her work intersects Asian American studies, science fiction, trauma theory, and experimental writing, with a focus on the Korean DMZ and gendered violence. A Harvard PhD and Yale graduate, she teaches courses on global literatures, literary theory, and Asian American literature. Education: B.A. (Yale, 1999), M.A. (Stanford, 2001), Ph.D. (Harvard, 2007) Her research explores the DMZ as a geopolitical and aesthetic metaphor, linking it to diaspora, postmemory, and techno-orientalism. She has published extensively on trauma, disability, and social justice in venues like The Los Angeles Review of Books and ASAP/Journal . Her upcoming book A Refuge for Jae-in Doe and Other Fugues (Punctum Books, 2025/2026) expands these themes. Notable awards include the 2025 Innovator in Inclusive Practices Award and multiple PSC-CUNY grants. She is a vocal advocate in #MeToo academia, co-organizing events and influencing policy changes at institutions like Stanford and Harvard. Her teaching spans courses on science fiction, theory, and the Korean DMZ, emphasizing interdisciplinary and creative approaches.
Matthew Kohrman is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in Medicine (Stanford Prevention and Research Center) and as a Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. He also holds faculty affiliations at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center and the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. His research and writing bring anthropological methods to bear on the interrelationships between health, culture, and politics, with a primary focus on the People's Republic of China. Kohrman engages multiple intellectual terrains including governmentality, gender theory, political economy, critical science studies, narrativity, and embodiment. His work spans two major research trajectories: disability advocacy in China and the biopolitics of cigarette smoking. Kohrman's scholarly output reveals consistent thematic patterns across his career, moving from disability studies to tobacco research while maintaining focus on how embodied human experiences become foundations for state apparatuses. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches that bridge medical anthropology, political economy, and critical public health studies, with particular attention to China's unique political and social context. Notable Publications: Bodies of Difference: Experiences of Disability and Institutional Advocacy in the Making of Modern China (2005) Poisonous Pandas: Chinese Cigarette Manufacturing in Critical Historical Perspectives (2018) Kohrman joined Stanford's faculty in 1999 and has established himself as a leading scholar in medical anthropology with a China focus. His work combines ethnographic depth with theoretical innovation, particularly in examining how health-related subjects are constituted through state practices and cultural formations.
Rafael Wainer is a Continuing Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. His academic background includes a PhD in Medical Anthropology (UBC, 2017), an M.A. from UBC (2008), and a Licenciado from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (2003). His research focuses on medical anthropology, socio-cultural anthropology, and health-related issues in Latin America, particularly Argentina. Education: Ph.D., Medical Anthropology, University of British Columbia, 2017 M.A., University of British Columbia, 2008 Licenciado, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2003 Research Interests: Children’s cancer experience and biomedicine Palliative care and end-of-life practices Humor in clinical settings Death, dying, and grief in schools Healthcare policy and pandemic responses Ethnographic methods in medical institutions Teaching: Rafael teaches courses on Medical Anthropology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, and Applied Anthropology, emphasizing critical perspectives on health, biomedicine, and cultural practices. Publications: His work explores themes like permeable bodies in pediatric oncology, grief in educational settings, and the role of humor in palliative care. Recent contributions include analyses of Argentina’s Hospice movement and critiques of pandemic-era health technologies. Recognition: He has received awards including the Sessional Lecturer Teaching Award (2022) and multiple research grants supporting fieldwork in Argentina and Canada. Advisory Role: Co-director of Darío-Iván Radosta’s PhD thesis on Argentina’s Hospice movement (2020–present). Outreach: Engages in public projects like “Duelo en Escuelas” , addressing grief in educational contexts, and critiques of health policies (e.g., Canada’s pandemic app).
Saul M. Olyan is the Samuel Ungerleider Jr. Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of Religious Studies at Brown University. His research focuses on the history, literature, and religion of ancient Israel, with particular emphasis on ritual practices, social inequality, and biblical interpretation. He holds editorial roles for multiple academic series including the Brown Judaic Studies monograph series and the Anchor Yale Bible series. Education: Ph.D. (1985), M.A. (1984), and B.A. (1981) from Harvard University. Awards include NEH Fellowships and membership in the American Academy for Jewish Research. Teaching covers biblical studies, ancient Near Eastern religions, and topics like inequality, disability, and warfare in antiquity. Research interests span ritual violence, disability representation, and social hierarchy in biblical texts. Notable works include Animal Rights and the Hebrew Bible (2023) and Violent Rituals of the Hebrew Bible (2019). His articles explore themes like purity ideology, familial rites, and monotheistic developments in Isaiah. Key contributions include editorial work on Dead Sea Scrolls and interdisciplinary projects like Household and Family Religion in Antiquity . His work bridges textual analysis with social theory, offering innovative insights into ancient Israelite and Near Eastern religious practices.
