Laura Hengehold is a Professor of Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University, holding the endowed Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics. Her research focuses on intersections of language, embodiment, and political conflict, drawing on 20th-century French philosophy (Foucault, Deleuze), feminist theory, and African-European political dialogue. She explores how knowledge systems shape women’s bodily experiences, emphasizing ethical and political implications. Key works include Simone de Beauvoir’s Philosophy of Individuation and The Body Problematic . She co-edited African Philosophy for the 21st Century and translated works by Seloua Luste Boulbina. Her scholarship bridges existentialism, post-structuralism, and transnational feminism. Research Interests: Feminist philosophy, continental philosophy, political theory, embodiment studies, decolonial thought. Awards: Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics (2017–present). Teaching: Courses on social/political philosophy, feminist theory, African political thought, and Deleuze. Recent talks include engagements on Simone de Beauvoir’s ethics, African political thought, and Foucault’s influence. She collaborates with the Women and Gender Studies and World Literature Programs at CWRU.
Agnes Lugo-Ortiz serves as Associate Professor of Latin American Literature in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago's Division of the Humanities. Her scholarly profile centers on nineteenth-century Latin American literatures and Caribbean cultural histories within transatlantic frameworks of modernity, with particular emphasis on slavery, visual culture, and archival epistemology. Her educational foundation includes a PhD from Princeton University (1990), followed by teaching appointments at Northwestern University and Dartmouth College before her tenure at Chicago. Her research trajectory examines cultural politics through lenses of national identity formation, anti-colonial projects, and diasporic community reconfigurations, notably through decades of affiliation with the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project. Lugo-Ortiz's current book project "The Plantation Gaze: Slavery and Visual Culture in Colonial Cuba (1727–1886)" interrogates the imbrication of visual culture with plantation slavery, analyzing diverse artifacts from religious performances to medical treatises. Her co-edited volume "Slave Portraiture in the Atlantic World" and co-founding of the Working Group on Slavery and Visual Culture (2016) demonstrate her leadership in visual studies of enslavement, recently expanded through the digital exhibit "Palimpsests: Visual Idioms of Enslavement in the Nineteenth-Century and Their Afterlives". Her scholarly impact is recognized through awards including the Latin American Studies Association Prize for Best Essay in Nineteenth-century Studies and the Premio Alejandro Tapia y Rivera. Prestigious fellowships from Ford Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Franke Institute, and Clark Art Institute have supported her research. As co-founder and co-editor of the anti-colonial digital journal "Categoría Cinco. Revista de Política y Cultura", she actively engages Puerto Rican decolonial politics. Her editorial service spans PMLA and University of New England Press publications, while advisory roles include the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project and Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics. She maintains robust institutional engagement through affiliations with Chicago's Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Center for Race, Politics, and Culture.
Laura Smith is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She focuses on critical psychology, social inclusion, and emotional wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on poverty, classism, and racism. Her email is ls2396@tc.columbia.edu. Educational Background: Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University B.A. in English and Psychology with High Distinction, University of Virginia Smith’s research examines how psychological practice and theory marginalize low-income and racially minoritized populations. She advocates for participatory action research (PAR) to democratize knowledge production and address systemic inequities. Her work spans topics like epistemic injustice, Arab American women’s identity, and therapeutic practice in poverty contexts. The 15 most recent articles reflect her expertise in race, class, and qualitative methodologies. Key trends include anti-racism in counseling, intersectional discrimination, and PAR as a tool for social change. She collaborates closely with graduate students and community partners through the Inclusive Inquiry Research Lab (IncLab). Key Contributions: Editorship of books on diversity and poverty Leadership in PAR projects with schools and marginalized communities Advocacy for psychology’s role in structural change
Xuan Thuy Nguyen is an Associate Professor in the Childhood and Youth Studies Program at Carleton University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Her research focuses on decolonial disability studies, gender, and social justice in the Global South. Currently on sabbatical leave (2023), she leads three major research projects funded by SSHRC: ENGAGE (2021-2024): Examines leadership potential of girls with disabilities through decolonial knowledge systems TDKRA (2016-2023): Challenges knowledge gaps in Vietnam through research-activism connections EDID (2020-2027): Co-investigator role in fostering inclusion across Canada, Haiti, South Africa, and Vietnam Her research portfolio demonstrates strong interdisciplinary focus across disability studies, global development, and feminist theory. Key publications address participatory visual methods, intersectionality, and decolonial approaches to disability inclusion. Scientific recognition includes 2022-2023 FASS Research Excellence Award. She mentors students in transnational social justice research and has supervised multiple MA/PhD candidates in Canada and Vietnam.
Dr. Darshan Vigneswaran is a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences , University of Amsterdam, affiliated with the Transnational Configurations, Conflict and Governance programme group. His research focuses on migration studies, international relations, and urban governance in Africa and beyond. Institution: University of Amsterdam Programme: Transnational Configurations, Conflict and Governance Contact: D.V.Vigneswaran@uva.nl Research Interests: Vigneswaran examines migration control, biopolitics, and territoriality through critical lenses, often challenging conventional frameworks in international relations and urban governance. His work spans empirical studies on deportation systems, mobility regimes, and the intersection of technology with migration enforcement. Scientific Trends: His recent publications analyze European migration policies, the terrestrial bias in international relations, and the socio-political dimensions of gentrification and mobilities. Notable subfields include refugee governance, urban violence prevention, and historical migration narratives.
Dr. Michael Flavin is a Professor at King’s College London, holding the position of Reader in Global Education at the African Leadership Centre within the School of Global Affairs. He earned a degree, three master’s degrees, and two doctorates: one in 19th-century literature (University of Kent, 1999) and another in Education with a focus on technology-enhanced learning (Open University, 2014). His work bridges education technology, disruptive innovation, global leadership, and 19th-century literature. Flavin’s research spans technology-enhanced learning strategies, leadership in conflict contexts (e.g., Northern Ireland’s Troubles), and the sociopolitical dimensions of higher education. His 2018 work on technology-enhanced learning was a runner-up in the ALT Research Project of the Year award. He has authored numerous books, including novels like The Voice Hearer (2024) and One Small Step (2022), and edited Research in Learning Technology . He reviews for major publishers like Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge. His recent publications analyze leadership failures in Irish paramilitary groups, neoliberal values in university prospectuses, and the evolution of learning technology research. Flavin’s interdisciplinary approach integrates literary analysis, policy critique, and educational innovation.
Dr. Steffen Wittig is a research assistant in General Educational Science at the University of Kassel since 2017, affiliated with the College of Humanities (Fachbereich 01 Humanwissenschaften). He also serves as a lecturer at the University of Freiburg (Switzerland), Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, and FernUni Hagen. PhD in Educational Science (summa cum laude, 2016) Diploma in Educational Science (2011) with minors in sociology and psychology His research focuses on: Critique of educational theories and concepts Philosophy of education and democracy Game theory applications in pedagogy Discourse analysis of inclusion/exclusion dynamics Bildungsregime transformations (SARS-CoV-2 pandemic impact) Subjectivation processes in educational spaces Key publication themes from 2014-2023 include: Intersections between play theory and educational systems Democratic principles in pedagogical frameworks Deconstructive approaches to inclusion Psychoanalytic perspectives on learning spaces Hegemony and power structures in education Paradoxes of performance culture Professional engagements: Organized international conferences on educational theory Co-editor at Erziehungswissenschaftliche Revue Active member of DGfE (German Educational Research Association) Participant in global research networks (ITRA, GLOCER)
Professor Donna Marie Ladkin is a leading scholar in leadership and ethics at the Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. She holds the title of Professor of Inclusive Leadership and is internationally recognized for her critical, philosophically grounded contributions to leadership theory. Her academic journey includes prior roles at Cranfield University, Plymouth University, and Antioch University in the USA, where she contributed to doctoral programs in leadership and change. PhD in Organizational Psychology, Cranfield University (1992) MBA, Cranfield University (1988) MA in Environmental Ethics, Lancaster University (2004) BA in Music and Philosophy, Yale University (1981) Donna Ladkin’s research critically examines leadership through the lenses of continental philosophy, embodiment, aesthetics, and ethics. Her work challenges dominant paradigms such as authentic and transformational leadership by highlighting their cultural, racial, and epistemological biases. She is a pioneer in exploring how embodied practices, aesthetic sensibility, and critical race theory can enrich leadership understanding. Her current interests include decolonizing management research, fostering ecologically sustainable organizations, and developing culturally responsive leadership in education. Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward critical, inclusive, and philosophically rigorous leadership scholarship. The 15 most recent works span topics such as whiteness in leadership theorizing, embodied sustainability practices, and the ethical implications of aesthetic leadership. These articles are published in premier journals like Leadership Quarterly , Business Ethics Quarterly , and Journal of Business Ethics , demonstrating consistent high-impact contributions. Among her scientific honors are being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and co-authoring one of the most influential articles of the 2010–2020 decade in The Leadership Quarterly . Her book Rethinking Leadership (2020) has received widespread acclaim for reimagining foundational leadership concepts. She actively supervises doctoral candidates and has designed leadership development programs for both academic and public sector clients. Her consulting work includes engagements with BT, the UK National Audit Office, Sony, and housing associations. As a sought-after keynote speaker, she has presented at major international conferences, including those of the International Leadership Association and the International Studying Leadership Conference. She also contributes to public discourse through podcasts, such as her appearance on the ILA’s Phronesis series discussing race in leadership. Donna Ladkin’s research is deeply collaborative and interdisciplinary, often involving scholars from philosophy, organizational behavior, and ethics. She has maintained long-standing affiliations with institutions like the University of Bath’s Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice, reflecting her commitment to applied, transformative scholarship.
Justin Deystone is a Professor of Law at the University of Colorado Law School, where he serves as Director of the Center for Critical Thought. He maintains an additional affiliation with the Department of History. His scholarly work bridges legal theory, international law, and critical race studies through structuralist and pragmatic methodologies that reveal how legal concepts embed ideological assumptions perpetuating social hierarchies. Deystone's research centers on legal theory, international law, critical race theory, legal history, pragmatism, and structuralism. He critically examines how legal thought evolves through historical contexts and power structures, with particular focus on race, sovereignty, and international human rights. His scholarship challenges conventional understandings of legal concepts like markets, borders, and exclusion, demonstrating how seemingly neutral doctrines carry embedded ideological frameworks that maintain social hierarchies through discourse and institutional practices. His publication record shows a clear scholarly evolution from examining American legal pragmatism toward addressing global legal structures and racial ideology in international human rights law. Recent works demonstrate sophisticated engagement with critical legal studies while developing innovative theoretical frameworks for contemporary challenges. His structuralist approach reveals law as a system of signs and relations that both reflects and shapes social power structures across domestic and international contexts. As Director of the Center for Critical Thought, Deystone fosters interdisciplinary dialogue about law's societal role while teaching foundational courses including Foundations of International Legal Thought, International Law, Conflict of Laws, and Property through Fall 2025. His pedagogy reflects his scholarly commitment to examining how legal thought responds to and shapes social, political, and economic contexts, particularly regarding race, sovereignty, and international governance.
Johanna Oksala is the Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches in the Department of Philosophy within the College of Arts and Sciences. She maintains an additional affiliation as Docent in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, in the Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art Studies. Previously, she has taught at Pratt Institute, New School for Social Research, University of Helsinki, and University of Dundee. Oksala's research spans political philosophy, feminist philosophy, environmental philosophy, and phenomenology, with particular expertise in Foucault studies. Her work critically examines neoliberal governmentality, feminist politics, and the intersections of capitalism with ecological crisis. She approaches these topics through both Foucauldian and phenomenological frameworks, developing what she terms 'critical phenomenology' as a method for social critique. Her recent publications reveal a clear trajectory toward integrating feminist theory with ecological concerns in the context of capitalist critique. The 2023 book Feminism, Capitalism, and Ecology represents a major contribution to ecofeminist thought, arguing that neither feminists nor environmentalists can merely preserve an imagined 'nature' outside capitalism—they must challenge the capitalist system itself. Her conference presentations and articles increasingly focus on climate change as an existential threat, the subject of capitalism, and the possibilities for feminist politics in the Anthropocene. Oksala has been honored with the Arthur J. Schmitt Professorship at Loyola University Chicago and previously held a Research Fellowship from the Academy of Finland (2005-2007). She has participated in numerous prestigious research projects including 'Rethinking Feminist Politics: Gender, Globalization and Neoliberal Governmentality' (2012-2017) and the Centre of Excellence PolCon / Politics of Philosophy and Gender. With over 100 conference papers and invited talks internationally, Oksala is an active contributor to philosophical discourse. Her editorial work includes serving on the boards of several academic journals. Her research projects have received significant funding, particularly through the Academy of Finland, reflecting the importance of her interdisciplinary work bridging philosophy, gender studies, and environmental thought. Oksala's academic leadership extends to directing and participating in major research initiatives that bring together scholars across disciplines to examine the intersections of philosophy, politics, and gender. Her work with the Centre of Excellence PolCon demonstrates her commitment to collaborative, interdisciplinary research that addresses pressing contemporary issues through philosophical inquiry.
Dr Karel Musilek is a Lecturer in the Sociology of Work and Economic Life at Cardiff Business School. He holds a PhD in Sociology from Durham University, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and has academic qualifications including an MSc in Political Sociology (LSE) and BA in Political Science (Masaryk University). His work bridges Sociology, Social Theory, and Organisation Studies. Research focuses on capitalist societies’ shaping of human life, work-life relationships, social reproduction politics, power dynamics, and ethics. Theoretical inspirations include Foucault, Marxism, and Nancy Fraser’s Feminism, with methodologies spanning ethnography, interviews, and discourse analysis. Google Scholar articles show a focus on gig economy, entrepreneurial discourse, and neoliberal subjectivity. Annual PhD Thesis Prize (Durham University Business School) Best Critical Dissertation Award (Academy of Management) ESRC/NineDTP Scholarship (2015-2019) He supervises PhD research on work-life practices, contemporary work ethics, and non-traditional workspaces like coliving. Professional memberships include the British Sociological Association, with teaching experience in critical perspectives for managers and qualitative methods.
Carla Preciosa Braga Cerqueira is an Associate Professor at Lusófona University of Porto, affiliated with the School of Communication, Architecture, Arts and Technologies. She is an integrated researcher at CICANT (Research Center for Applied Communication, Culture and New Technologies) and a collaborator at CECS (Centre for Communication and Society Studies) from the University of Minho, where she earned her PhD in Communication Sciences (specializing in Communication Psychology). Her research focuses on media , gender studies , digital communication , and social movements , with a particular emphasis on feminist activism and intersectionality. Degree in Social Communication Postgraduate in Communication Sciences - Information and Journalism PhD in Communication Psychology, University of Minho Her recent work explores Portuguese feminist movements through digital platforms, analyzing how campaigns like the International Feminist Strike re-politicize gender discourse. She investigates media representation of motherhood in sports and sexual harassment in academia , linking these to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Cerqueira actively collaborates with NGOs, serves on the RTP Opinion Council, and organizes academic events like the II MeLCi Lab Autumn School on media and gender. Key projects include: FEMglocal : Global-local feminist movements YouNDigital : Youth digital citizenship IM Lab : Intersectional media analysis
Dr Ngai-Ling Sum is a leading Honorary Researcher at Lancaster University 's School of Social Sciences. She co-directs the Cultural Political Economy Research Centre (CPERC) and serves as Programme Director for the MA in Globalization and the Information Age: Post-Disciplinary Perspectives. Her work bridges the regulation approach with post-structuralist insights, pioneering the concept of cultural political economy as both a methodology and field of study. Her research spans global governance , transnational business governance , corporate social responsibility , and the cultural political economy of competitiveness . She focuses on Asia , particularly the Pearl River Delta region, and comparative studies of BRIC countries . Her empirical work examines post-crisis developments in Asia, funded by major grants including the EU Framework Six 'Priority 7' Programme (2004-7), ESRC Seminar Series (2007-9), and British Academy BARDA Award (2008-10). Recent publications analyze the intersection of geopolitics and geoeconomics , notably China's 'One Belt One Road' imaginary and triple economic bubbles. Her 2013 book Towards a Cultural Political Economy (co-authored with Bob Jessop) extends her theoretical framework. She contributes to editorial boards of Pacific Review and Kasarinlan journals. Scientific Awards Gunnar Myrdal Prize (2007) for co-authored book Beyond the Regulation Approach Dr Sum's supervision interests include Cultural Political Economy , International Political Economy , and Globalization and Transnational Politics . Her work has been recognized for integrating critical policy studies with discourses of domination and metagovernance frameworks.
Alex Tipei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History and the International Studies Program at the University of Montreal. Her research focuses on transnational European history, particularly Southeastern Europe and France, interrogating concepts like center/periphery, universal/national, and developed/backward through archival and pedagogical work. She explores how French liberals' soft power projects in post-Napoleonic Greece and Romania reshaped identity politics and modernity. PhD from Indiana University Affiliated with CÉRIUM (Centre d'études et de recherches internationales) and New Europe College Her research spans global history, linking Southeastern Europe to broader European and colonial dynamics. Current projects include analyzing Saint-Simonians' technological diplomacy in Greece and Mexico and collaborative work on corruption narratives in Central-South-East Europe (1750-1850) funded by the European Research Council. Her teaching integrates transnational perspectives, drawing from experiences in prison education programs and international classrooms. Recent publications examine educational discourses, Balkan nationalism, and cultural diplomacy during the Cold War and 19th-century Europeanization. She advocates for community engagement through initiatives like teaching history in prisons, emphasizing the humanities' societal role. Her awards and grants include support from SSHRC, FRQSC, and the European Union's ERC program.
Marie Hållander is an Associate Professor and Lecturer in Pedagogy at Södertörn University, Sweden. She teaches within teacher education and pedagogical frameworks, focusing on transformative educational theories. Current academic rank: Associate Professor Email: marie.hallander@sh.se Her research explores: Witnessing and testimonies in education Emotions, shame, and suffering in pedagogical contexts Biopolitics and profanation in teaching Subjectivity and feminist critiques Aesthetic experiences in sloyd (craft) education Escapism and cinematic representations Recent publications span interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of philosophy, cultural critique, and pedagogy. Highlights include: 2025: Analysis of sloyd education through discourse theory 2024: Philosophical exploration of religious education 2022: Re-evaluation of shame's educational role 2021: Escapism via cinema and its pedagogical applications 2020: Multi-article contributions to Agamben-inspired pedagogy 2018: Feminist and biopolitical educational frameworks
