Dr. Kyla Walters is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Sonoma State University. Her research focuses on gender, labor, and education policy, particularly exploring issues of inequality in retail work, sexual harassment in industries, and resistance to charter school expansion. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Current research includes an interview-based study on beauty appraisals during pregnancy and childbirth, conducted with Sonoma State sociology students. Her work has been published in journals like Sociology of Race and Ethnicity and Hospitality & Society , as well as in the book Walking Mannequins (University of California Press, 2022). She has also contributed to policy analyses on teacher union resistance to educational reforms.
Jieyu Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California (USC), part of the Viterbi School of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and was a NSF Computing Innovation Fellow at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on fairness in machine learning and NLP, particularly addressing biases in AI systems and promoting ethical AI practices. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science (UCLA, 2021), Postdoc at University of Maryland (2022-2023), and multiple research internships at Microsoft Research, Google Research, and AI2. She also completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia. Research interests include bias detection and mitigation in NLP models, trustworthy AI, and social responsibility in technology. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the EMNLP Best Long Paper Award (2017), Microsoft PhD Fellowship (2020), and EECS Rising Star (2021). She has delivered talks at conferences like NeurIPS, EMNLP, and USC Law School, and serves on committees including AAAI workflow chair. Her lab explores topics like alignment of LLMs, fairness in sequential decision-making, and ethical model interventions. She actively participates in initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in AI, such as the UN-WOMEN Beijing panel on gender equality. Awards: 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics (2025), Capital One Research Award (2024), Microsoft PhD Fellowship (2020) Grants: NSF Computing Innovation Fellowship, USC Viterbi funding Labs/Teams: Leads the USC Lab focused on trustworthy AI and ethical NLP
Martin T. Wells is the Charles A. Alexander Professor of Statistical Sciences at Cornell University, with joint appointments in the Department of Statistical Science, Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Department of Social Statistics, and as Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Services Research at Weill Medical School. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ASA-SIAM Book Series and Co-Editor of the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Weill Cornell Medical College Research Interests span applied and theoretical statistics, Bayesian methods, biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, and computational biology. His work bridges disciplines like finance, legal studies, and health services research. Article Trends highlight advancements in Bayesian modeling, quantum cognition machine learning, tensor analysis, and misclassification correction, with applications in genomics, finance, and public health. Fellow of the American Statistical Association Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society Contributions include developing statistical software (e.g., rTensor), methodological innovations in clinical trials, and empirical legal studies on civil rights and the death penalty.
Linda Morrice is a Professor of Education and Migration at the School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex. She specializes in the intersection of refugee/migration studies with education, focusing on informal learning, social integration, and exclusion. Her research spans both the Global North and South, emphasizing refugee access to higher education and policy implications. Current role: Co-Director, Centre for International Education (2021-2024) Education: BA(Hons) in Social Anthropology (University of Sussex), PgDip (Birkbeck, 2004), MA (University of Sussex, 2005), Doctorate in Education (University of Sussex, 2010) Her scientific work explores refugee education through participatory methodologies, creative/narrative methods, and life history approaches. Recent publications analyze racialized borders, digital technology’s role in refugee well-being, and sanctuary city frameworks. Supervision interests include refugee family dynamics, informal pedagogies, and gendered policy impacts. Key grants include UKRI funding for digital well-being of unaccompanied refugee children (2024-2027), ESRC projects on longitudinal qualitative studies (2023-2024), and AHRC research on refugee cultural values (2013-2014). She has led evaluations for the Home Office and Queen Rania Foundation. Professional roles: Co-Chair, Sussex University of Sanctuary group (2019-2024) Advisory member for Home Office integration frameworks and vulnerable persons resettlement schemes Labs/teams: Founding member of University of Sussex Sanctuary Group and Brighton & Hove Sanctuary on Sea. Her research emphasizes participatory practices with refugee communities and longitudinal tracking of social networks.
Haruka Nagao is an Assistant Professor at the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages within the University of Oregon . Their research focuses on health governance , Africa-China relations , gender dynamics , public opinion , soft power diplomacy , and East Asia . Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends: (1) Public Health and Health Governance (e.g., mental health in rural China, prenatal care, vaccine distribution), (2) Political Science and Policy Analysis (e.g., grassroots elections, women's leadership, immigration policy), and (3) International Relations and Diplomacy (e.g., China's global soft power, Africa-China collaborations). Their work integrates China studies with comparative analysis , addressing intersections between social networks , democratic understanding , and global health politics .
Ian Greer is a Research Fellow at Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labour Relations , with a career focused on marketisation , industrial relations , and transnational solidarity . He holds a PhD from Cornell University and has previously studied at Bard College. His work examines labor dynamics in globalised industries , welfare states , and multinational corporations , often through qualitative comparative methods . Education : BSc (Bard College), MSc/PhD (Cornell University) Greer's research spans marketisation of employment services , social movement unionism , and labour policy in crisis situations . His publications include studies on European welfare-to-work schemes , healthcare privatisation , and labour migration . He is associated with the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change (CERIC) at the University of Leeds. Greer's recent work analyses precarious labor and project-based employment in social services across Slovenia and France. He also contributes to debates on social dumping , work-first welfare states , and activist labor strategies in sectors like healthcare and automotive manufacturing. He has no listed scientific awards. His work often involves collaboration with scholars like Marco Hauptmeier , Charles Umney , and Nathan Lillie , though no formal advisees are named in the provided text. His email is icg2@cornell.edu .
Janna Parker is a professor in the Department of Marketing at James Madison University, specializing in digital marketing, retailing, and nonprofit marketing. With a career transition from political campaigns, she focuses on social media's role in personal and professional branding. Her research examines work-personal social media boundaries, employer governance policies, and volunteerism in nonprofit contexts. Education: Bachelor's in History (California State University Sacramento), Master's (Cameron University), Doctorate (Louisiana Tech) Teaching Interests: Digital marketing education, social media strategy, nonprofit marketing Her scholarly work spans social media governance, volunteer engagement, and retail dynamics, with recent emphasis on digital marketing pedagogy and cancel culture implications. Parker has contributed to academic journals through empirical studies and conceptual commentaries. Key article trends include: Digital marketing education evolution (2024) Social media governance in corporate and nonprofit contexts (2024) Online teaching satisfaction in higher education (2022) Volunteer brand community dynamics (2020) Consumer behavior frameworks (2019) Her media appearances include expert commentary on holiday retail strategies and social media research, reflecting practical applications of her academic work.
Emilio A. Parrado is the Dorothy Swaine Thomas Professor of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences and Director of the Population Studies Center. His research focuses on migration dynamics, particularly Hispanic populations in the U.S., international migration patterns, and social/demographic changes in Latin America. He combines quantitative and qualitative methods, including original survey and ethnographic data. Education: Ph.D. (Sociology, University of Chicago, 1997), M.A. (Sociology, University of Chicago, 1994), B.A. (Sociology, University of Buenos Aires, 1988). Key research areas include: Migrant health risks and transnational mobility (e.g., HIV/STI patterns at the U.S.-Mexico border) Gendered impacts of migration on labor markets and family structures Demographic transitions and social inequality in Latin America, including post-pandemic labor market shifts in Argentina Recent work emphasizes deportation effects on mental health, regional migration trends to Buenos Aires, and the intersection of immigration policy with fertility and urban development. His Migrante Project focuses on Mexico-U.S. border health observatories. Awards: None explicitly listed. Active in grants related to migrant health and labor studies. Labs/Teams: Leads the Population Studies Center and collaborates with the Latin American and Latino Studies Program at UPenn.
Danielle T. Cooper is an Associate Professor at the University of New Haven , affiliated with the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences and the Criminal Justice Department . She also serves as the Director of Research for the Tow Youth Justice Institute and Chair of the Criminal Justice Undergraduate Committee . Education Ph.D. in Criminology, Law, & Society, University of Florida, 2015 M.A. in Criminology, Law, & Society, University of Florida, 2011 B.S. in Justice Systems, Truman State University, 2009 Dr. Cooper’s research focuses on youths and young adults , juvenile justice policy reform , sex offender registration policies , and police-community dynamics . Her work emphasizes restorative justice , systemic equity , and prevention strategies for marginalized communities. Recent publications explore diversion programs , economic impacts of sex offender registries , and media narratives in criminal justice . Her awards highlight contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion , as well as leadership development . Scientific Awards 2019 Faculty of the Year Award 2021 MO-KAN-NE TRIO Achiever Alumni Award 2021 Faculty Excellence in DEI 2022 Martin Luther King, Jr. Vision Faculty Award 2024 RAND Pardee Fellowship She has secured grants for diversionary services and youth-police relations , and her media commentary addresses youth violence , census participation , and social justice .
Professor Marilyn Pittard is a leading academic in the Faculty of Law at Monash University, currently serving as Associate Dean Engagement. She has held numerous leadership roles including Interim Dean, LLM Director, and Associate Dean (Research), with a career spanning over two decades in academic administration and legal scholarship. Her research focuses on Labour Law, Employment Rights, and Human Rights, with significant contributions to understanding workplace relations, vulnerable workers, and the intersection of criminal records with employment access. She has secured grants from the Australian Research Council and other institutions for projects like The Other Side of Security and Living Down the Past . Recent publications highlight trends in employment law, including anti-slavery practices, redundancy frameworks, and digital-era workplace challenges. She chairs the Victorian Legal Admissions Board’s Academic Course Appraisal Committee and contributes to the Australian Labour Law Journal and Employment Law Bulletin .
Adam King is an Assistant Professor in the Labour Studies Program at the Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba. His research focuses on labor regulation, employment standards enforcement, Indigenous labor dynamics, deindustrialization impacts, and labor market policy. He co-investigates a SSHRC Partnership Grant project on migrant labor in settler-colonial contexts. Education: PhD in Sociology (York University, 2019) MA in History (University of Toronto, 2011) BA in Sociology/History (Trent University, 2010) His research examines the political economy of labor regulation, including enforcement mechanisms in federally regulated sectors and contested Indigenous labor relations. He analyzes deindustrialization's social consequences and contributes to debates on job guarantee proposals and right-wing populism's influence on labor movements. Recent publications explore topics like Indigenous labor law frameworks, precarious creative workers' unionization, and gendered identities in deindustrializing communities. He actively engages with media outlets such as CBC, The Globe and Mail, and The Maple's 'Class Struggle' newsletter.
Paschal Anosike is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of the West of England's Faculty of Business and Law. He serves as Director of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET) and Chair in African Research and Partnerships. Previously, he founded and directed the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) at Wolverhampton Business School. Education BA (Hons) MA PGCHE PhD Paschal's research focuses on advancing entrepreneurship ecosystems in Africa, with emphasis on innovation management, education, and sustainable development. His work bridges academic theory with practical solutions for African socioeconomic challenges. His publications highlight trends in entrepreneurial ecosystems, gender equality, religiosity, and institutional impacts on entrepreneurship. He has contributed to global policy discussions via the Africa Prosperity Index and co-created the Micro-Venture Accelerator Programme (m-VAP) for African universities. Scientific Awards Award-winning book: Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Africa Paschal has received advisory and consultancy grants from the African Union Commission, European Commission, UNDP, GIZ, and the Legatum Institute. He founded the Forum for Innovation in African Universities (FIAU), a non-profit promoting university-industry collaboration.
Aleksander Madsen is a Researcher at the University of Oslo (UiO), affiliated with the Department of Sociology and Human Geography under the Faculty of Social Sciences. His primary research interests include social stratification, immigrant assimilation in labor markets, welfare state policies, and statistical methods. He holds a PhD from Oslo Metropolitan University and an MA from UiO. Education: PhD in Sociology, Centre for the Study of Professions, Oslo Metropolitan University (2014–2018) MA in Sociology, University of Oslo (2013) His research explores labor market integration of immigrants, gender disparities in male-dominated workplaces, and the impact of education-occupation mismatch on health outcomes. He has conducted longitudinal studies on long-term sickness absence and labor market trajectories using sequence analysis. Dr. Madsen has held postdoctoral and research positions at UiO and NIFU, and was a visiting scholar at Stanford University's SCANCOR (2024) funded by the Fulbright Foundation. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including projects on workplace diversity, ethnic stratification, and policy evaluations. Awards: U.S. - Norway Fulbright Foundation Grant (2023–2024) His research group affiliations include the Social Inequalities and Population Dynamics team and the ORGMIGRANT project, investigating work organizations and immigrant assimilation. Recent publications address residential networks among immigrants, workplace ethnic diversity, and women’s attrition from male-dominated sectors.
Dr. Sara Caputo is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science and an Affiliated Lecturer at the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge. She serves as Director of Studies in History, History and Politics, and History and Modern Languages at Magdalene College. Her research spans transnational maritime history, the history of medicine, cartography, and imperial history. Education: PhD in History from the University of Cambridge (Robinson College), MSc in History from the University of Edinburgh, BA (Hons) in History from Cardiff University. Career Highlights: Lumley Junior Research Fellow (2019–2022), Senior Research Fellow (2022–present) at Magdalene College, Scouloudi Fellow (2018–2019), Lewis-AHRC Scholarship (2015–2018), Honorary Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar (2015–2018). Research Focus: Dr. Caputo explores maritime mobilities, knowledge exchange, and the instability of national boundaries in the British and European navies. Her work integrates transnational perspectives into the study of a quintessentially national institution, challenging notions of Britishness and foreignness. She combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies to analyze legal, social, and cultural contexts of naval service and cartographic practices. Notable Articles: Recent publications include studies on British naval medicine, the evolution of ship tracks into surveillance tools, and the transnational dimensions of naval exploration. Her articles span journals like Past & Present , English Historical Review , and Social History of Medicine , with chapters in edited volumes on transport history and postwar naval recruitment. Scientific Awards: Royal Historical Society Whitfield Prize (2024) British Commission for Maritime History Boydell & Brewer Prize (2020) Fachverband Medizingeschichte wissenschaftlichen Förderpreis (2022) International Committee for History of Technology Maurice Daumas Prize (2021) Scottish History Society Rosebery Prize (2020) Teaching and Outreach: Dr. Caputo teaches courses on the Global Eighteenth Century, Union and Disunion in Britain, and Mediterranean history. She actively participates in outreach programs with the Cambridge University Admissions Office and The Brilliant Club, focusing on widening participation in history education.
Sjanne Marie van den Groenendaal is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Human Resource Studies, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University. Her research focuses on sustainable employability of self-employed workers and inclusive Human Resource Management (HRM), with a particular interest in freelancers' employment relationships, organizational needs, and psychological contracts. She has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Best Paper Award (2016) and Best Teacher Awards (2014-2016). Her work bridges HRM practices with societal policies, emphasizing inclusive labor markets and strategic HRM approaches. Education: Master of Science (MSc) External Roles: Founder/Consultant at van den Groenendaal Consultancy since 2020. Her research explores topics such as triad employment relationships, technological impacts on HR education, and the interplay between social security policies and strategic HRM. She actively engages in academic activities, including workshops on qualitative data analysis and invited talks on career development in turbulent contexts. Awards: Best Paper Award (second place), 2016 Best Teacher Award (2014-2016) Societal Impact Competition Award, 2019 Professional Contributions: Advises on inclusive HRM strategies, delivers courses on coaching and development in the Bachelor of Personeelwetenschappen program, and collaborates internationally on research projects.
