Britt Mize is a Professor at Texas A&M University’s College of Liberal Arts, specializing in Old and Middle English literature, medievalism, and book history. He serves as editor-in-chief of the journal Medieval Perspectives . His research explores mental representation in Old English poetry, medieval drama, and the modern reinterpretation of Beowulf in children’s literature. Mize holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2003), alongside awards such as the 2020-23 Arts and Humanities Fellowship and multiple teaching excellence recognitions. Research focuses include the Vercelli Book (collaborating with Dr. Johanna Kramer), the N-Town Plays, and the Beowulf’s Afterlives Bibliographic Database . He edited Beowulf as Children’s Literature (2021) and co-authored Traditional Subjectivities: The Old English Poetics of Mentality (2013). His work bridges medieval texts and modern adaptations, examining themes like legal symbolism in medieval plays and lexical blending in Old English. Awards highlight both scholarly and pedagogical excellence, including the Ray A. Rothrock Fellowship (2012-15) and teaching awards from students and institutions. Mize’s publications span refereed journals and edited volumes, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to medieval studies.
Anna Beer is the Royal Literary Fund Writer in Residence for Kellogg College at the University of Oxford. She is a cross-disciplinary author and researcher with a distinguished career spanning literature, cultural history, and gender studies. Formerly a University Lecturer in Literature at the Department for Continuing Education (2003-2010), she has held various teaching roles including Director and Senior Course Tutor for the MSt in Creative Writing (2013-2020), and graduate supervisor for the MSt in Women's Studies. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at Kellogg College, where she serves as Chamberlain and Dean of Degrees, and is on the Advisory Board of the Kellogg College Centre for Creative Writing. Her educational background includes a PhD from Reading University and an MA from Oxford University. Her academic journey has been marked by significant appointments including her Fulbright Distinguished Scholar fellowship at the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (2009-2010). Anna Beer's research interests focus on recovering forgotten narratives, particularly those of women in history and literature. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public engagement, with a special emphasis on gender studies, literary biography, cultural history, and the recovery of women's contributions to fields like classical music and English literature. She approaches traditional historical narratives with a feminist lens, challenging established canons and bringing marginalized voices to the forefront. Her cross-disciplinary methodology combines literary analysis, historical research, and cultural studies to create accessible yet rigorous scholarship that resonates with both academic and general audiences. Her publications reveal consistent themes of historical recovery and gender analysis across diverse subjects. Rather than focusing on narrow specialties, her work demonstrates remarkable range while maintaining a coherent intellectual project of uncovering overlooked narratives. From early modern literature to classical music history, she applies similar investigative approaches to illuminate connections between cultural production and social context. Royal Philharmonic Society Creative Communications award runner-up (2017) for "Sounds and Sweet Airs: the Forgotten Women of Classical Music" Fulbright Distinguished Scholar (2009-2010) Throughout her career, Beer has been deeply committed to mentoring and teaching. She directed the Foundation Certificate in English Language and Literature, a part-time course equivalent to the first year of Oxford's undergraduate English degree. Her involvement with the MSt in Creative Writing and MSt in Women's Studies demonstrates her dedication to nurturing emerging scholars and writers. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the text, her Fulbright award and ongoing institutional support for her Writer in Residence position indicate successful funding acquisition throughout her career. Beer actively collaborates with creative communities, working with musicians and other creatives to promote neglected musical traditions. She is closely involved with the Oxford Centre for Life-Writing at Wolfson College and participates in various literary festivals and cultural institutions. Her current projects include media adaptations of her work, such as the feature film "Fanny: the Other Mendelssohn" and potential dramatizations of her biographies of Sir Walter Ralegh and his wife Bess.
Stephanie Nelson is a Professor of Classical Studies at Boston University, where she has held academic positions since 1995, including Assistant Dean and Director of the Core Curriculum (2012–2019). She earned a BA from St. John’s College, followed by MA and PhD in Social Thought from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on classical reception, intertextuality, and narrative time across ancient and modern literature, particularly exploring how authors transform earlier works while acknowledging their influences. Key areas include Greek and Roman epic (Hesiod, Virgil), Aristophanic comedy, and the relationship between James Joyce’s Ulysses and Homer’s Odyssey . Her educational background uniquely positions her to bridge ‘Great Books’ traditions with modern critical analysis. Current research investigates the interplay between sight/sound, media evolution, and temporality in oral and written literature. She has held affiliated roles in the MFA in Literary Translation program since 2019, emphasizing translation’s role in cultural transmission. Notable publications include Aristophanes’ Tragic Muse (2016), God and the Land (1998), and translations of Hesiod. Her work often addresses how authors reinterpret classical texts through their own cultural lenses, such as analyzing Shelley’s engagement with Plato or T.E. Lawrence’s Odyssey translation. Nelson’s scholarly contributions span academic leadership and creative translation, with a focus on time’s philosophical dimensions in narrative structures. Her recent projects explore modernist temporal experimentation and the evolving role of classical traditions in contemporary media contexts.
Elin Sütiste is an Associate Professor of Semiotics at the University of Tartu's Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. She holds a Doctorate in Semiotics from the same institution (2009), specializing in the dynamics of translation concepts and Estonian translation history. Her research focuses on semiotics of translation, cultural semiotics, and intermediality, with a strong emphasis on Estonian cultural history and transmedial translation practices. Education: B.A. (1998), M.A. (2002) in Semiotics from University of Tartu; Ph.D. (2009) Expertise: Semiotics, Translation Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Estonian Translation History Her work bridges semiotic theory with cultural analysis, particularly exploring how translation shapes cultural memory and transmedial narratives. Recent projects include studies on transmedial relations in cultural databases and the ecological dimensions of translation ('Umwelt translation'). Key contributions include co-editing The Routledge Handbook of the History of Translation Studies (2024) and leading international conferences like the 2020 'Transmedial Turn' event. She actively reviews for journals such as Sign Systems Studies and chairs translation-related juries for literary awards. Administrative roles include managing semiotics and culture studies programs at the University of Tartu and serving on academic councils. Awards include the 2023 'Owl of the Year' for teaching excellence and the Juri Lotman Scholarship (2003).
Dr. Andrea Macrae is a Principal Lecturer in Student Experience and Stylistics at the School of Education, Humanities and Languages , Oxford Brookes University. Her work bridges stylistics, narratology, cognitive poetics, and charity communication research, while actively advancing employability and entrepreneurship in HE English. Academic Focus: Stylistics, Narratology, Deixis Research Themes: Charity Fundraising Language, Student Skills Literacy, Literature-Sustainability Links Recent publications include monograph work on charity fundraising ethics and empirical studies on deictic shifts. She co-leads Integrating English and contributes to AQA A Level reforms. Projects and grants span interdisciplinary entrepreneurship modules, student research initiatives, and cognitive studies on literary perspective-taking. Her consultancy extends to charity communications and small business branding. Teaching : Modules on 21st-century literature, performance poetry, and sustainability narratives, alongside pedagogical work on assessment diversification.
Juliane Vogel is a Professor of Literary Studies at the University of Konstanz, Germany, holding a W3-Professorship since 2007. She has established an international reputation through numerous visiting professorships at NYU (2020), Johns Hopkins University (2016), University of Chicago (2014), and Princeton University (2009, 2006). In 2020, she received the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, Germany's highest research honor. Her academic journey began at Vienna University where she completed both her doctorate (1987) and habilitation (2001) before accepting her current position. Her educational background includes: Studies in German and English at Vienna University, Austria (1978) Studies at Albert Ludwig University Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany (1981) Dissertation: "Philologische Idyllen. Antiken-Rezeption im Jungen Wien" at Vienna University (1987) Habilitation: "Die Furie und das Gesetz. Die große Szene in der Tragödie des 19. Jahrhunderts" at Vienna University (2001) Professor Vogel's research focuses on European dramatic traditions with particular expertise in avant-garde theater, European drama, and drama and opera from the 18th to 20th centuries. Her work explores modern aesthetics, especially the role of cutting in texts, and the dramaturgy of the "great scene" in 19th-century tragedy. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between text and performance, with publications examining Racine and Nietzsche, Goethe's Pandora, and the aesthetics of appearance on stage. Her scholarship bridges literary studies and performance studies through historical analysis combined with theoretical approaches. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on textual and performative structures, with recent work expanding to include refugee theater and migration representation in contemporary performance. This evolution demonstrates her ability to connect historical scholarship with pressing contemporary issues while maintaining rigorous theoretical frameworks. Professor Vogel's recognition includes: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Preise (2020) Siemensstiftung, München (2020) Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2018/2019) Max Kade Distinguished Visiting Professorship (2016) Research Grant from Erwin Schroedinger-Stiftung (1995-1996) She has supervised numerous doctoral students including Janine Firges (completed 2016), Sylvia Gschwend, Bernice Kaminskij, Viktor Konitzer, Ursula Rüger, and Julia Timm. As co-editor of Deutsche Vierteljahrsschrift für Literaturwissenschaft und Geistesgeschichte (DVjs) since 2013 and member of the Cluster of Excellence (EXC16), she plays a significant role in shaping literary scholarship. Her research has been supported by German Research Foundation (DFG) grants and other major funding bodies. Professor Vogel actively leads the NOMIS project "Traveling Forms" and the Leibniz project while collaborating on the research project "Cultural Poetology of Appearance" with Prof. Dr. Christopher Wild and Prof. Dr. David Levin. Her research group at Konstanz focuses on cultural foundations of integration within the Cluster of Excellence, maintaining strong connections with international academic networks including the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin where she was a fellow in 2018/2019.
Gesine Manuwald is a Professor of Latin at University College London, specializing in Latin literature, its reception, and Neo-Latin studies. She has held significant academic positions, including Senior Lecturer at UCL (2007–2011) and Heisenberg Fellowship at Freiburg (2003–2007). Promotion: 1998 Habilitation: 2000 Her research focuses on Roman drama, Latin literature, and the transformation of classical sources in later periods. Her publications include critical editions, commentaries, and monographs on works such as Valerius Flaccus' Argonautica, Pacuvius' tragedies, and Cicero's Philippics. Her scholarly output spans studies on Roman Republican theatre, fragmentary Roman drama, and the reception of classical texts in operatic contexts, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to classical scholarship. Förderpreis der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität (2000) Heinz-Maier-Leibnitz-Preis der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (2001)
Professor Mücke Panja serves as Vice President for Research and Teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Mannheim, where she has held the full professorship in Historical Musicology since 2015. Previously, she served as Director of the Institute for Music Research (2017–2019) and held adjunct professorships across German universities, including a one-year term at the University of Vienna (2012/13). She earned her PhD in 2000 (awarded the Marburg University Dissertation Prize) and habilitation in 2008 at Philipps University Marburg. Her research focuses on 18th-century opera, 20th-century theatre/film music, and European court music cultures. She is president of the German Musicological Society (GfM) and co-director of the Hof | Music | City Research Center in Schwetzingen. Panja has authored/co-authored six edited volumes, over 50 articles, and serves on editorial boards for major musicological journals. Education: PhD (2000), Habilitation (2008) from Philipps University Marburg Awards: 2002 Marburg University Dissertation Prize Leadership roles: Vice President (2019–present), President of GfM (2021–present) Key research areas: Opera history, performance practice, music-medial intersections Her recent publications explore topics like Händel's operas, Puccini's late works, and the role of programme sheets in Mannheim opera production. Panja actively engages in academic governance, serving on committees for digitalization, cultural heritage, and diversity in music.
Maria-Novella Mercuri is a Lecturer (Teaching) at the School of European Languages, Culture and Society (SELCS), University College London. Her research focuses on Edith Wharton, German cultural studies, and crime fiction, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to literature. She has contributed to conferences and publications analyzing Wharton's works within broader philosophical, historical, and transnational contexts. Her research interests include the intersection of literature and philosophy, comparative studies of American and European authors, and the role of cultural memory in narrative. Recent work explores themes like Nietzschean concepts in Wharton's writing, intertextuality in Italian crime fiction, and the portrayal of historical trauma in detective narratives. Her scholarly output includes chapters in edited volumes and peer-reviewed articles, often addressing ethical dilemmas in literature and the socio-historical contexts of 19th–20th century texts. She has presented at venues such as the American Literary Association and Society for the Study of American Women Writers conferences.
Dr. Sharon Nell is Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at St. Edward's University since 2012. Previously, she held roles as Director of the Comparative Literature Program at Texas Tech, Chair of Modern Languages and Literatures, and Associate Dean at Loyola University Maryland. A specialist in 17th- and 18th-century French literature, she has published extensively on early modern texts and Proust. Her 2021 book Lucrece and Brutus focuses on 17th-century writer Madeleine de Scudéry. She earned a Ph.D. in French from Rice University (1989) with a focus on Rococo poetry, and holds prior degrees from the University of Houston. Her research emphasizes gender dynamics, salon culture, and literary form in early modern France. Recent work explores intersections of colonial narratives, feminist readings of epistolary fiction, and carnivalesque elements in theater. She has received grants for digital humanities projects analyzing metrical conventions in French poetry. Dr. Nell’s academic leadership prioritizes fostering critical thinking and adaptability in arts and humanities education. She has advised numerous faculty development initiatives and contributed to curriculum design emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.
Kenneth Jackson is a Professor of English at Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on early modern drama, Shakespeare, religion, and continental philosophy intertwined with literary theory. He has taught courses such as Shakespeare: Writing about Texts and English Literature to 1700 in recent and upcoming terms. Ph.D., Loyola University, 1997 M.A., Northwestern, 1990 B.A., Psychology and English, Michigan State, 1988 His publications, including Shakespeare and Abraham (2015) and Shakespeare and Religion (2011), reflect a sustained engagement with religious and philosophical dimensions of early modern literature. No scientific awards are listed in the provided text. Advising records and grant details are not explicitly mentioned. No affiliated labs or teams are noted.
Mark Alan Mattes is an Assistant Professor and Internship Program Director in the Department of English at the University of Louisville. His research focuses on media history, Indigenous studies, and early American literature. He authored Handwriting in Early America: A Media History (2023) and is completing Memories of Soyechtowa , exploring Indigenous caretaking practices in the Ohio Valley. Education: Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa and a Graduate Certificate from the Center for the Book. He has organized major events like the NEH-funded 'Print Culture in the Age of Shakespeare' (2016) and chaired 'The Futures of Handwriting' symposium (2019). Awards include the 2024 Society of Early Americanists Essay Award and BIPOC Scholars Award. He founded Hot Brown Press to support academic initiatives at UofL. Teaching specialties include book history, Native American and African American studies. Current projects emphasize Indigenous archival practices and material culture studies. Grants and fellowships include Mellon Society of Fellows collaborations and Rare Book School partnerships.
Richard O'Brien is an academic and creative writer at Northumbria University, specializing in early modern literature and creative writing. He holds a PhD in verse drama influenced by Shakespeare and teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. His research focuses on formal poetry, literary adaptation, and fan community archives, with notable projects funded by the British Academy. O'Brien has served as Birmingham's Poet Laureate (2018-2020) and contributes to community writing initiatives in the North East. Education: BA in English and French MA in Shakespeare and Creativity (Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham) PhD in Verse Drama and Shakespeare’s Influence Research Interests: O'Brien’s work bridges academic and creative domains, emphasizing: Formal poetry and its evolution Adaptations of early modern texts into modern media Fan communities’ roles in shaping artistic legacies Place-based writing and community engagement His current projects include an experimental novel, a Catholic detective narrative, and a music memoir exploring fan culture around The Mountain Goats. Awards: Society of Authors’ Eric Gregory Awards (2017) for poetry under 30 Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD students researching topics like pilgrimage narratives and frequent healthcare attendance. His recent projects include a British Academy-funded study on John Darnielle’s auto/biography and collaborative pharmacy-based osteoarthritis interventions.
Derval Conroy is an Associate Professor in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at University College Dublin (UCD) . She previously held a lectureship at Trinity College Dublin (1998–2004) and has been at UCD since 2004. She is also an Associate Researcher with the Centre for Gender and Women's Studies at Trinity College Dublin. PhD : Trinity College Dublin (2001) DEA : Université de Paris III - Sorbonne Nouvelle BA : Trinity College Dublin (First-Class Honours) Her research focuses on women as agents and subjects in early modern France , examining their roles as writers, queens, philosophers, and political figures in literature, drama, and pamphlets. She authored the two-volume monograph Ruling Women (Macmillan, 2016), analyzing female political authority in 17th-century France. Her second major research area is the history of the early modern book , particularly text-image relations, paratexts, and frontispieces. As co-director of the 'Thresholds of Knowledge' UCD Research Strand, she is building an international network on early modern dramatic peritexts. She is currently the Principal Investigator (PI) of an Irish Research Council (IRC) Enterprise Partnership Post-doctoral project on Huguenot kinship networks , focusing on the Élie Bouhéreau correspondence (1662–1685). She has edited volumes and special issues on Racine, early modern print culture, women philosophers, and teaching the early modern. Notable administrative roles include Head of French & Francophone Studies (2022–present), Director of the BA in European English and World Literatures (2018–present), and Director of Research, Innovation and Impact in her school (2018–2021). She served as President of ADEFFI (Association des études françaises et francophones d'Irlande) from 2019 to 2022 and was honored as Chevalier de l'ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government in November 2022. She advises on research projects and grants, particularly in early modern French studies and gender. She has led and collaborated on multiple interdisciplinary research initiatives, including symposia and international scholarly networks. Her work bridges literary, historical, and cultural analysis with archival and digital humanities methodologies. She is involved in the 'Thresholds of Knowledge' research strand and the IRC-funded project on Huguenot correspondence, fostering collaboration across institutions in Ireland and abroad.
Deborah Forteza is an Associate Professor of Spanish at Covenant College, where she has been on faculty since 2021. Her research focuses on Anglo-Spanish relations in Early Modern literature, the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, and the intersection of religion and literature. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame. Her academic work explores themes such as Spanish perceptions of the English Reformation, representations of Tudor figures in Spanish drama, and Cervantes' use of historical exemplarity. She has published a monograph and several peer-reviewed articles, including works on Lope de Vega, Calderón, and early modern hagiography. At Covenant College, she emphasizes experiential learning through partnerships with local Hispanic communities, offering students opportunities to apply Spanish in professional contexts like healthcare, education, and legal settings. Her recent conference presentations include discussions on English books in Spanish-Irish Catholic networks and the role of English martyrs in Spanish sainthood processes. She has no listed awards but is actively engaged in scholarship and pedagogy grounded in a Christian worldview. Outside academia, she enjoys water sports, photography, and traveling, reflecting her interest in cultural exploration and human connection.
