Sharese King is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago, where she has taught since 2018. She earned her Ph.D. and Master's in Linguistics from Stanford University, focusing on language variation across African American communities. Her research bridges sociolinguistics, critical race theory, and phonetics to examine how African American speech is constructed, racialized, and socially evaluated. Education: Ph.D., Linguistics, Stanford University (2018) M.A., Linguistics, Stanford University Research Interests: Sociolinguistics Language Variation & Change African American Language Critical Race Theory Phonetic and experimental analysis Dialect and judicial systems Notable Contributions: Interdisciplinary studies on raciolinguistics and courtroom bias Analysis of /s/ articulation in intersectional contexts Reconceptualization of AAVE as AAL to emphasize linguistic diversity Fieldwork in Bakersfield, Rochester, and Chicago Publications in American Speech , Journal of Sociolinguistics , Language , and Nature Scientific Awards: Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship Neubauer Family Assistant Professorship Labs & Projects: Co-founder of the Chicagoland Language Project
Emily Hannum is a Professor of Sociology and Education at the University of Pennsylvania's College of Arts & Sciences, where she also serves as Associate Dean for Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Population Studies Center, Center for the Study of Contemporary China, Graduate School of Education, and Penn Development Research Initiative. Education: PhD in Sociology from University of Michigan (1998) Research Focus: Poverty and child welfare, gender and ethnic stratification, sociology of education Projects: Gansu Survey of Children and Families, climate-environment-childhood inequalities in LMICs Workshops: Co-organizer of Penn Education and Inequality Workshop Her research explores childhood poverty in China, demographic impacts on education systems, and climate risks affecting children's welfare. She investigates environmental hazards, educational disparities, and family separation effects across China, India, and low/middle-income countries. Recent publications analyze educational expansion in East Asia, climate crisis impacts on child health, and gender disparities in Latin America. She directs longitudinal studies on rural poverty and collaborates on cross-national projects related to environmental and educational equity. Scientific awards include the Stanley I. Sheerr Term Professorship in Social Sciences.
Prof. Dr. Olena Palko is a historian specializing in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. She holds the SNSF Professorship at the University of Basel's Department of History, focusing on East European History. Her research emphasizes Soviet minority policies, cultural politics, and national identity formation in interwar Ukraine. She is a leading scholar with notable works including Making Ukraine Soviet (2021), awarded the 2023 Alexander Nove Prize. Her current SNF-funded project, Red Tower of Babel , examines Soviet minority experiments in Ukraine. Education: PhD from University of East Anglia (2017); Kandydat nauk from National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2013). Research Interests: Soviet nationality policy, minority history, Ukrainian twentieth-century history, transnational border dynamics. Her work bridges archival analysis with transnational perspectives, addressing contested borderlands between Poland and the USSR. Key publications include co-edited volumes like Making Ukraine (2022) and Ukraine's Many Faces (2023). She actively contributes to academic governance roles, including co-convening the BASEES Study Group for Minority History and serving on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Council of Europe's history observatory.
Sarah Billington is the UPS Foundation Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Her research program focuses on sustainable building design, human wellbeing, and ethical supply chain practices. Education: PhD, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1997) MSE, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1994) BSE, Princeton University, Civil Engineering & Operations Research (1990) Her lab employs interdisciplinary methods to study how built environments impact human physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Current projects include developing tools to quantify nature exposure in buildings, exploring affordable housing's role in wellbeing, and using AI to assess forced labor risks in material supply chains. While no longer active in this area, her group previously pioneered research on sustainable construction materials like bio-based composites and ductile cement-based composites. Her recent publications address topics such as nature integration in architecture, workplace design optimization, and health impacts of building materials. The Billington Lab at Stanford fosters collaborative team science, welcoming partnerships to advance occupant-centric engineering solutions.
Monika Gabryś-Sławińska is a Professor at the Department of Polish Literary History , part of the Faculty of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska (UMCS). Her research spans 19th- and 20th-century Polish literature , focusing on Stefan Żeromski , historical journalism , text editing , voice emission , and museology . MA in Polish Philology (1998, UMCS) PhD in Literary Studies (2007, UMCS) Habilitation in Literary Studies (2016, UMCS) Her research interests include political commentary in historical press , media's role in cultural identity , and sociolinguistic trends . She has edited over 29 academic volumes and authored 5 monographs. Scientific awards: Bronze Cross of Merit KEN Medals (Bronze, Silver) 8 Rector's Awards (UMCS) Lublin Mayor's Medal (2019) She has participated in 5 research grants , organized 35 academic conferences , and contributed extensively to Annales UMCS as a scientific editor.
Dr. François Soyer is an Associate Professor at the University of New England's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, specializing in Early Modern History. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2007) and has held academic positions at the University of Southampton and the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on anti-Semitism, the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, gender/sexuality history, and colonial empires. He has authored multiple books and articles, including Popularizing anti-Semitism in early modern Spain and its empire (2014) and Antisemitic conspiracy theories in the early modern Iberian world (2019). His work often examines how religious persecution intersected with medical, artistic, and legal practices. Education: PhD in History, University of Cambridge (2007) MPhil in History, University of Cambridge (2003) MA Honours, University of St. Andrews (2002) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Southampton (2011) Research Interests: Anti-Semitic propaganda and conspiracy theories Inquisitorial archives and legal practices Gender transgression and queer histories Censorship of art and religious imagery His recent publications explore the Blood Libel legend, the trial of Catalan cross-dresser Maria Duran, and the emotional dimensions of religious conversion. He has been awarded fellowships from the Royal Historical Society and the Parkes Institute. His current projects include tracing the origins of anti-Jewish iconography in colonial Peru and analyzing the role of emotion in early modern religious trials.
Loreta Vilkienė is a Professor at the Department of Lithuanian Studies, Vilnius University, since October 2020, and served as its Head from 2018–2023. She has been affiliated with Vilnius University since 2007, initially as an Associate Professor, and has lectured since 2001. Her academic background includes a PhD in Humanities (2000) and a qualification as a philologist and teacher of Lithuanian (1986), both from Vilnius University. Education: PhD in Humanities, Vilnius University (2000) Philologist and Teacher of Lithuanian, Vilnius University (1986) Research Interests: Applied linguistics (foreign language teaching/assessment, language attrition, partial acquisition) and sociolinguistics (linguistic attitudes, diaspora language dynamics, language-identity links). Her work focuses on multilingualism, heritage language maintenance, and sociolinguistic transitions in post-Soviet contexts. Article Trends: Recent publications analyze language attitudes in Lithuania, lexical proficiency in native speakers, diaspora language policies in Kazakhstan and Russia, and sociolinguistic impacts on identity. Her studies integrate quantitative methods (e.g., vocabulary size estimation) and qualitative discourse analysis. Scientific Awards: Recipient of the 2006 Lietuvos Science Award (applied sciences) for collaborative work on Lithuanian language pedagogy. Grants & Projects: Managed EU-funded projects like ARQUS (2020) and international diaspora language studies (2020–2022). Active in UNESCO-related language preservation initiatives and digital outreach platforms. Outreach: Delivered public lectures on diaspora identity, contributed to podcasts, and authored 15+ peer-reviewed articles. Co-developed teaching tools like the Po truputį Lithuanian language series.
Jennifer Gómez Menjívar is Professor and Director of the M.A. in Media Industries and Critical Cultural Studies at the University of North Texas. Her research examines historical and ethno-linguistic movements influencing text production, circulation, and reception across print media, screen cultures, and digital communities. With over 18 years of teaching experience, she previously held positions at international organizations including the UNECE and UNDP. Her scholarly interests span media linguistics, film adaptation, digital activism, hemispheric animation histories, Indigenous sovereignty media, and Spanish-language media. Her publications demonstrate interdisciplinary work bridging media studies, cultural history, and postcolonial theory. Her extensive publication record includes books such as Tropical Tongues: Language Ideologies, Endangerment, and Minority Languages in Belize (2018) and Black in Print: Plotting the Coordinates of Blackness in Central America (2023), as well as co-edited volumes on Indigenous technology and hemispheric Blackness. She received a Senior Research Fellowship at Freie University Berlin for her upcoming work on Indigenous sovereignty media. Gómez Menjívar teaches courses including Introduction to Graduate Studies in Media Arts, Women in Film, and Global Media. She also mentors students in critical media analysis and serves as faculty advisor for media research projects.
Dr. Kristen M George serves as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. Her academic journey includes a BA in Political Science with minors in Public Health and Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis, followed by an MPH and PhD in Epidemiology with a minor in Biostatistics from the University of Minnesota (completed in 2015 and 2019 respectively). Dr. George's research program focuses on lifecourse vascular contributions to dementia and cognitive aging, with particular emphasis on race and sex disparities. She investigates how social determinants lead to inequities in cardiovascular risk factors and disease, which subsequently contribute to disparities in cognitive aging and dementia outcomes. Her work bridges epidemiology, neurology, and social determinants of health to address critical gaps in understanding dementia disparities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on African American health, life course epidemiology, and structural determinants of cognitive aging. Her research frequently examines how historical and contemporary social factors impact neurological outcomes in diverse populations, with particular attention to cardiovascular pathways to dementia. Professional recognition includes: Center for the Advancement of Multicultural Perspectives on Science (CAMPOS) Scholar, UC Davis (2021) NIH Travel Award (2020) JB Hawley Student Research Award, University of Minnesota (2016) Dr. George is an active member of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment and the Methods in Longitudinal Dementia Research community, contributing to both national and international efforts to understand and address dementia disparities through rigorous epidemiological approaches.
Jae Eun Chung is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Howard University's School of Communications. Her research focuses on new media technologies, their psychosocial impacts, and health communication, with a particular emphasis on community engagement and digital discourse. Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Southern California M.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University at Bloomington Dr. Chung's work explores the intersection of social media and health, analyzing how digital platforms influence public health perceptions, patient-doctor interactions, and health equity. She has published extensively in journals like Journal of Communication , Computers in Human Behavior , and Health Communication , often employing community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address disparities in asthma care, maternal health, and HPV-associated cancer awareness. Recent publications highlight trends in leveraging social media for health interventions, examining misinformation dynamics during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and analyzing digital ecosystems. Her methodological approaches include network analysis, narrative studies, and assessments of digital engagement metrics. Howard University RCMI Grant: Enhancing recruitment of African-Americans and Hispanics in health research NSF HDR Grant: Collaborative research on data analytics for community enrichment PACRI Grant: Improving health outcomes for asthmatic children in public housing Bezos Earth Fund: Indoor environmental quality disparities in underserved communities Dr. Chung collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including public health experts and data scientists, to advance health communication strategies. She has mentored students and researchers in projects analyzing social media's role in health promotion, digital privacy, and community-academic partnerships.
Monica Trieu is an Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Purdue University, where she focuses on the intersection of race, ethnicity, and immigration with particular emphasis on children of immigrants. Her scholarly work bridges sociology and Asian American studies through critical examination of identity formation and systemic inequalities. Education: Ph.D. in Sociology, University of California, Irvine (Asian American Studies emphasis) Master's in Sociology, University of California, Irvine Research Focus: Professor Trieu's expertise spans International Migration, Post-1960s Immigrants and Refugees, 1.5 and Second-Generation Identity, Transnational Ties, and Historical/Contemporary Asian American Experiences. Her scholarship critically analyzes internalized racism, regional identity formation (particularly in the Midwest), and the psychological impacts of anti-Asian violence during the pandemic. She employs intersectional frameworks to explore how refugee experiences, cultural adaptation, and transnational connections shape ethnic identity among Southeast Asian Americans and other immigrant communities. Publication Trends: Her 2013-2024 publications reveal evolving engagement with contemporary crises—from pandemic-induced mental health challenges and anti-Asian violence to structural invisibility of Midwest Asian American communities. While maintaining core focus on identity negotiation among second-generation immigrants, her recent work expands into comparative analyses of Asian American/Latina/o transnational patterns and refugee resettlement experiences, demonstrating methodological versatility across ethnographic, survey, and media analysis approaches. Professional Impact: As author of Identity Construction among Chinese-Vietnamese Americans: Being, Becoming, and Belonging (2009) and publications in Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies and Journal of Asian American Studies , Trieu has established herself as a key voice in Midwest Asian American scholarship. Her research directly informs institutional responses to rising anti-Asian sentiment and contributes foundational frameworks for understanding regional ethnic identity formation beyond coastal enclaves.
Nadia E. Brown is a Professor of Government and Director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Georgetown University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University and specializes in intersectional analyses of Black women’s politics, legislative studies, and identity politics. Her work emphasizes holistic approaches to understanding race, gender, and their intersections in political systems. Dr. Brown leads the #MeTooPoliSci Collective, focusing on eradicating sexual harassment in political science, and co-PIs a million-dollar NSF grant addressing systemic issues in the discipline. She is editor of Politics, Groups and Identities and contributes to The Monkey Cage blog. Her research spans Black women’s legislative representation, digital activism, and feminist methodologies, with award-winning books including Sisters in the Statehouse and Sister Style . Education: Ph.D. in Political Science, Rutgers University Key Affiliations: African American Studies Program, #MeTooPoliSci Collective Research Methods: Case studies, ethnography, interviews Her advocacy extends beyond academia, influencing public discourse on racial justice and gender equity through media engagement and policy-focused scholarship.
Sunny Xiang is an Associate Professor of English at Yale University, where she teaches and conducts research at the intersection of literature, race, war, and empire. Her work critically examines U.S. military empire in Asia and the Pacific, particularly through aesthetic, cultural, and documentary forms from the mid-twentieth century. She is affiliated with the Department of English in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yale. Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley B.A., Northwestern University Her research focuses on the cultural genealogies of American empire, with an emphasis on how war and militarism shape perception, knowledge, and everyday life. Key areas include Cold War aesthetics, Asian American studies, Pacific studies, critical militarization studies, and feminist science studies. She is particularly interested in how literary and cultural forms reveal the intimate, quotidian, and often invisible operations of empire. Her publications span journals such as ASAP/Journal , Radical History Review , PMLA , and Public Books . Her first book, Tonal Intelligence: The Aesthetics of Asian Inscrutability During the Long Cold War (Columbia University Press, 2020), explores the visual and narrative trope of Oriental inscrutability in relation to U.S. intelligence operations. Her current project, Chemical Apophenia: Air Conspiracies and Skin Connections in the Toxic Tropics , investigates how WWII military science in the Pacific generated new paradigms for detecting toxicity. The articles reflect a consistent engagement with themes of militarized domesticity, aesthetic excess, diasporic memory, and the entanglement of fashion, food, and war in imperial contexts. Mundane Militarisms: War, Archives, and Everyday Life (2024) Militarized Comfort: How to Feel Naked While Wearing Clothes (2023) Bikinis and Other Atomic Incidents: The Synthetic Life of the Nuclear Pacific (2022) Wars of Contemporary Life (2020) Global China as Genre (2019) Sunny Xiang has not been mentioned in relation to any scientific awards or fellowships in the provided text. She teaches courses such as War and Everyday Life, Readings in Comparative World English Literatures, and The Teaching of English. While her advisees or research teams are not listed, her scholarship demonstrates deep engagement with interdisciplinary methodologies and collaborative work, such as with the Mundane Militarisms Collective. She has not indicated any lab affiliations, but her research involves critical archival work and analysis of visual, literary, and cultural materials.
Jeremy K Fox is Associate Professor of Psychology at Montclair State University's College of Humanities and Social Sciences, where he directs the RECAP (Research on Emotion, Coping and Anxiety in Pediatrics) laboratory. His research examines developmental pathways to childhood anxiety and depression. Education includes: PhD in Clinical Psychology, State University of New York at Albany MA in Psychology, State University of New York at Albany BA in Psychology, Johns Hopkins University Research focuses on temperament-environment interactions, emotion regulation deficits, and school-based interventions. Current work investigates parental influences on anxiety development and peer-supported treatment models for minority youth. Articles demonstrate consistent focus on improving mental health service accessibility. Leads graduate training in clinical psychology and mentors doctoral students in anxiety research. RECAP lab investigates affective mechanisms underlying adolescent distress and develops digital interventions for school settings.
Professor Nguyen Van Chinh is a distinguished scholar in anthropology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU-USSH), specializing in the Department of Anthropology and Religious Studies. With a PhD from the University of Amsterdam and extensive international research experience including a postdoctoral fellowship at the National University of Singapore, he has established himself as a leading expert in Southeast Asian anthropology, migration studies, and ethnic relations. His academic career spanning over four decades includes numerous visiting professorships at prestigious institutions worldwide. Professor Chinh's research interests encompass Anthropology Research Methods , History of Anthropology , Migration and Poverty Studies , Ethnic Identity , and Cross-border Ethnic Groups in Southeast Asia. His scholarly work demonstrates a particular focus on the intersection of economic development, cultural preservation, and social transformation in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian contexts. Through extensive fieldwork and theoretical contributions, he has shaped contemporary understanding of ethnic minorities, migration patterns, and socio-economic changes in the region. His extensive publication record shows a clear evolution toward contemporary issues including China's growing influence in the Mekong region, ethnic Chinese migration, and the challenges of poverty reduction in Vietnam. The research demonstrates increasing engagement with transnational phenomena, border studies, and the impact of China's economic expansion on Southeast Asian societies. His most recent work addresses pressing contemporary issues such as disability rights, academic publishing challenges, and urban migration dynamics. Distinguished PhD dissertation awarded by NVMC (Netherlands Association of Social Sciences and Cultural Sciences), 2000 Certificate of Merit from the President of National University for outstanding achievements, 2007 Asian Leadership Fellow (ALFP) awarded by the Japan Foundation, 2004 Asian Public Intellectual Fellow (API) awarded by the Nippon Foundation, 2010 Multiple research grants from prestigious foundations including Toyota, Rockefeller, and Japan Foundation Professor Chinh has served as an independent consultant for numerous national and international development projects implemented in Vietnam. His advisory work spans multiple sectors including labor, health, agriculture, and ethnic minority affairs, working with organizations such as WHO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, DFID, IUCN, UNICEF, and UNESCO. His expertise in ethnographic research methods and understanding of Vietnamese society has made him a valuable resource for policy development and implementation across multiple domains.
