Professor Sue Niebrzydowski holds a professorship in Medieval Literature at Bangor University's School of Arts, Culture and Language. She serves as Dean of Postgraduate Research and previously directed the Graduate School for the College of Arts and Humanities. Her scholarly work focuses on medieval women's writing, devotional practices, and the intersections of gender, material culture, and life course studies. PhD supervision in medieval women's literature Director of Stephen Colclough Centre for History and Culture of the Book Editorial leadership in Yearbook of English Studies Research themes include: Medieval women's engagement with literature Materiality of devotional texts Ageing and female representation Marian devotion in lay contexts Recent publications examine: Chaucerian manuscript traditions Medieval book of hours practices Global medieval women's writing Scientific Awards: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales Fellow of the English Association Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Nicholas Sammond is a Professor at Innis College, University of Toronto, with a cross-appointment at the Centre for the Study of the United States. He is a leading scholar in media and cultural studies, focusing on animation, race, childhood, and the political economy of popular media. His research integrates historical analysis with critical theory, and he is actively involved in digital humanities initiatives. Education: PhD, University of California, San Diego MPhil, University of California, San Diego BA, Wesleyan University Professor Sammond's research centers on the cultural history of American animation, particularly its entanglement with racial formations such as blackface minstrelsy, as explored in his acclaimed book Birth of an Industry . He also investigates media constructions of childhood, humor, and Cold War-era abjection in comics and animation. His work bridges film studies, cultural theory, and public engagement through digital archives. His publications reveal a consistent focus on how media shapes identity, ideology, and cultural memory. Themes across his articles include racial representation in cartoons, the politics of collecting comix, media pedagogy, and the spatial rhetoric of animation. His research often intersects with feminist media history, disability studies, and neoliberal critique. Scientific Awards: 2017 Katherine Singer Kovács Book Award of Distinction, Society for Cinema and Media Studies 2015 Richard Wall Memorial Award Finalist, Theatre Library Association 2006 Katherine Singer Kovács Book Award, Society for Cinema and Media Studies Professor Sammond has supervised graduate students and taught courses in film and media history, animation, media theory, and cultural studies at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He has received research support through academic appointments and institutional affiliations. He created the Early Animation Wiki in collaboration with ASIFA Hollywood and established an animation research station at Innis College Library, enhancing access to rare animation materials. He is currently on leave from July 2024 to September 2025. His upcoming research explores fluid abjection in Cold War comic books and animation, continuing his interdisciplinary approach to media history.
Patricia Akhimie is an Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University-Newark, Director of the Folger Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and Director of the RaceB4Race Mentoring Network. She specializes in Shakespeare, Renaissance drama, and early modern women’s travel writing, with a focus on race, gender, and colonialism. Her research explores how literary works contributed to the formation of racial and social hierarchies in the early modern world. Education : Ph.D. in English from Columbia University (2011), M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan (2002), B.A. in English from Princeton University (2000). Additional certifications include Online Teaching (Rutgers, 2019), Effective College Instruction (ACE, 2017), and Feminist Scholarship (Columbia, 2006). Research Interests : Early Modern Critical Race Studies, Shakespearean drama, conduct literature, early modern travel narratives, gender studies, and colonialism. Her work bridges literary analysis with pedagogy and digital humanities, emphasizing the intersection of race, gender, and editing practices. Awards : Recipient of the Warren I. Susman Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021), Mellon-Funded Grant for RaceB4Race (2021–2024), and numerous fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Folger Shakespeare Library, and Ford Foundation. Teaching & Mentorship : Teaches courses like 'Shakespeare and Race' and 'Race in the Renaissance,' focusing on racial literacy in literature. She actively mentors early-career scholars through the RaceB4Race network and has developed innovative online curricula, earning awards for online teaching excellence. Publications : Author of Shakespeare and the Cultivation of Race (2018) and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Race (2024). Currently editing Othello for the Arden Shakespeare series and working on Leaving Home: Early Modern Women’s Travel . Affiliations : Affiliated Faculty in Women's & Gender Studies and African American & African Studies at Rutgers Newark. Collaborates with institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Dr. Seth Graham is an Associate Professor at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES), University College London. His academic journey includes a PhD in Russian literature from the University of Pittsburgh (2003), preceded by MA (1994) and BA (1990) degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. He has held teaching roles at the University of Washington and a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University before joining SSEES in 2006. Research interests span cultural studies, literary studies, language studies, and cinema studies, with a focus on Russian/Soviet cultural history, humor, satire, and cinematic representation. His work examines Soviet-era cultural policies, post-Soviet identity formation, and the role of laughter in political resistance. He also organizes student cultural activities involving Russian popular music. His recent publications explore topics like Stalinist cultural control, post-Soviet cinematic narratives, and the role of humor in authoritarian regimes. Notable works include analyses of Soviet film comedy and studies on satire in Putin’s Russia. Despite no listed scientific awards, his contributions to Slavic studies are recognized through his extensive publication record and academic appointments. Advising and grant activities remain unspecified in the provided texts. Labs/teams: None explicitly mentioned. His work primarily involves individual and collaborative academic writing within SSEES frameworks.
Jason Ray Carney is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Christopher Newport University and serves as Director of the Alice F. Randall Writing Center. An internationally recognized expert in pulp fiction and popular literature, he specializes in interwar genre studies with emphasis on Weird Tales magazine and authors like Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in English, Case Western Reserve University M.A. in English, Ohio University B.A. in English, Otterbein University Dr. Carney's research pioneers Pulp Studies as an academic discipline, examining horror, science fiction, and fantasy through lenses of literary theory, print culture, and modernism. His acclaimed monograph Weird Tales of Modernity (2019) established foundational frameworks for analyzing pulp ephemera, with The Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts praising its "valuable addition to scholarship." His publication trajectory reveals deepening engagement with pulp modernism, evolving from analyses of individual authors (2014) to systemic studies of print culture (2021). This work bridges academic literary criticism and fan communities, evidenced by his dual presence at conferences like the Modernist Studies Association and San Diego Comic Con. While no formal scientific awards are documented, his scholarly influence manifests through leadership roles: Area Chair of the Pulp Studies section at the Popular Culture Association, co-editorship of The Dark Man: Journal of Robert E. Howard and Pulp Studies , and guest editing The Journal of American Culture 's 2021 special issue on pulp studies. As Writing Center Director, he shapes pedagogical approaches to composition while maintaining active research. His service on academic review boards and membership in the Robert E. Howard Foundation underscores his standing in both scholarly and enthusiast communities, though student advising details remain unpublicized.
Andrew McInnes is a Reader in English Literature at Edge Hill University's English & Creative Arts department. His academic work focuses on Romantic period women's writing, the Gothic, children's literature, and theories of wit and humor. He co-directs the EHU Nineteen research group, organizing seminars and conferences like the 2022 'New Romanticisms' BARS/NASSR event. PhD in English Literature (University of Exeter) MA in English Studies (University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus) His research explores the 'Romantic Ridiculous' as an alternative to the sublime, drawing on German Romantic writer Jean Paul Richter to examine laughter as a unifying force in Romanticism and modern higher education. Recent projects include analyzing P.J. Harvey's reinterpretation of Romantic childhood and Austen's cinematic adaptations. Key collaborations span institutions in the UK and beyond, with recurring engagement at international Romanticism conferences. His publications and talks address themes like Supernaturalism , Sublime , and New Romanticism . AHRC ECR Leadership Fellowship McInnes actively supervises PhD students and integrates his research into modules on Jane Austen and Young Adult Fiction, emphasizing Romanticism's ideological constructs.
Peter Cramer is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Simon Fraser University . His academic work focuses on discourse analysis , writing studies , rhetoric , and argumentation , examining how public and professional communication shapes perceptions of controversy and consensus. Education : MA and PhD in Rhetoric from Carnegie Mellon University Current Roles : Associate Professor (2012–present) Prior Roles : Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University (2006–2012) Cramer's research explores the intersection of public discourse , scientific communication , and professional writing . His publications in journals like Discourse Studies , Language in Society , and Argumentation analyze topics ranging from the rhetoric of science to the dynamics of art controversies. Recent work includes studies on constructed voices in argumentation and the sociolinguistic dimensions of public debate . His publications span topics in controversy analysis , medical communication , and media discourse , reflecting a consistent focus on how language structures professional and societal conflicts. Theoretical frameworks include dialogue models , stasis theory , and constitutive rhetoric .
Matthew Joseph Pettway is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature at the University of South Alabama. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Cultural Studies (2010) and M.A. (2001) from Michigan State University, and a B.A. (1999) from Eastern Michigan University in Business Spanish and Media Production. Education: Ph.D. in Hispanic Cultural Studies, Michigan State University (2010) M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Literatures, Michigan State University (2001) B.A. in Business Spanish and Media Production, Eastern Michigan University (1999) His research focuses on African-Cuban Studies , Afro-Caribbean Spirituality in Literature , and Critical Race Studies . He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals like PALARA , Zora Neale Hurston Forum , and Afro-Hispanic Review , with recent work on Afro-Brazilian kinship and Cuban ethnographic interviews. Key publications include studies on Juan Francisco Manzano's poetry, Afro-Cuban ritual poetics, and comparative analyses of Caribbean literature. His forthcoming work explores Third-Gender Identity in Medieval Portugal and Afro-Cuban spirituality in Latinx literatures. Scientific Awards: Langston Hughes Visiting Professorship Pettway has taught at multiple institutions including College of Charleston and University of Kansas, offering courses on racial politics, African-based spirituality, and advanced Spanish literature. His teaching spans from 2007 to present, including team-taught courses on Cuban culture.
Ashish Naidu is a Professor of Theology at the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He specializes in historical theology and patristics, focusing on the theological contributions of figures like John Chrysostom and Cyril of Alexandria. His research bridges early Christian thought with practical theological application, emphasizing Christology, soteriology, and biblical authority in the early church. Naidu holds a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen and an M.A. from Oral Roberts University. His publications include Transformed in Christ: Christology and the Christian Life in John Chrysostom and multiple articles on patristic exegesis, early church aesthetics, and intercultural theology. He has served in pastoral roles across Asia, North America, and Europe, advocating for cross-cultural theological engagement. His work explores how patristic insights inform contemporary Christian life, particularly through liturgical practices, moral transformation, and intercultural mission. Naidu is an ordained minister and active in evangelism-discipleship ministries, reflecting his commitment to integrating doctrinal depth with practical Christian living.
Dr. Michael Hinds is an Associate Professor in the School of English at Dublin City University (DCU), where he has worked since at least 2000. He previously served as Senior Lecturer and Head of English at the Mater Dei Institute (now part of DCU) and founded both the Irish Centre for Poetry Studies and the journal POST: A Review of Poetry Studies . From 1996–1999, he was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Tokyo, maintaining a lifelong interest in Japanese culture. His research spans American literature, poetry and poetics, ecocriticism, and interdisciplinary studies. Key areas include American poetry (from Bradstreet to the present), modernism/postmodernism, classical influences on contemporary poetry, poetry and ethics/politics/money, sport literature (specifically football and horse racing), cross-cultural representations of Japan/Italy/France, ekphrastic practices, and intersections between rock/pop music and poetic traditions (notably Johnny Cash and The Beach Boys). Theoretical frameworks involve critical theory (Slavoj Žižek, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Deleuze and Guattari) and fandom studies. Recent publications highlight ecological themes in Nordic Noir, interdisciplinary folklore studies, and the politics of sports. His collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Silverman on Johnny Cash (2020) and the 2023 article on Nordic Noir in the Routledge Handbook of Crime Fiction and Ecology exemplify his focus on environmental and cultural intersections. He co-advises PhD projects on topics like Murakami's translation practices, poetics of space, and women's football in fiction/film. Beyond academia, Dr. Hinds contributes to public discourse through the Dublin Review of Books and has held editorial roles. He actively participates in international conferences, including the European Association of American Studies and the Ezra Pound International Conference, often addressing themes like American identity, poetic form, and cross-cultural dialogue. The Irish Centre for Poetry Studies at DCU remains central to his professional engagement, supporting research students and publications like Rebound: The American Poetry Book (2006). His work bridges traditional literary scholarship with contemporary digital/hybrid forms, reflecting a commitment to innovative research methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Abou-Bakar Mamah is an Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Rhodes College's Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. His academic work bridges Francophone literature, film analysis, and African diaspora studies. Ph.D., French and Francophone Studies, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Ph.D. Minor, Africa and the African Diaspora, University of Minnesota Twin Cities M.A., French Critical Theory and New African Literary Writings, Université de Lomé, Togo B.A., French Critical Theory and Structuralism, Université de Lomé, Togo Mamah's research focuses on socio-political transformations in Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa. He explores Afropolitanism as a cosmopolitan African identity, Afrofuturism envisioning idealized African futures, and migration dynamics within African literary and cinematic frameworks. His work engages with postdemocracy theory, institutional violence, and allegorical storytelling. His publications analyze themes like transnational sex trade in Chika Unigwe's work, diaspora identity in Alain Mabanckou's narratives, and humanist allegory in Patrice Nganang's novels. The articles span journals such as Research in African Literatures and French Review , with a 2020 book chapter examining gender and migration in artistic creations. Mamah actively contributes to academic discourse through invited lectures, including analyses of postdemocracy in Francophone Africa and healthcare challenges in migrant communities. He co-organized the 2021 International Conference on Literature and Peace at Université de Lomé.
Dr. Erin L. Kelley is a Lecturer I at The University of Texas at Dallas in the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology, and a Professor of Composition and Literature at Dallas College. She teaches courses including "Legal Research and Writing," "Gender & Justice in American Literature," and "Race and Identity in World Literature." With terminal degrees in both literature (PhD) and law (JD), Dr. Kelley bridges the humanities and legal studies in her academic and public work. Education: Ph.D. in Humanities–Literature, The University of Texas at Dallas M.A. in Humanities–Literature, The University of Texas at Dallas J.D. in Law, Texas Tech University School of Law B.A. in English, Texas Tech University Her research explores the intersections of law, literature, and gender, focusing on how narratives perpetuate victim-blaming in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. She analyzes legal and literary texts to reveal systemic biases against women and marginalized groups. Her 2024 book, Law, Literature, and Violence Against Women: Ending the Victim Blame Game (Routledge), is a central contribution to this field. Dr. Kelley's recent publications and presentations examine themes such as DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender), the 'freeze response' in acquaintance rape cases, and slut-shaming in literature and law. Her work draws from interdisciplinary perspectives in criminology, psychology, rhetoric, and feminist theory. Scientific and Teaching Awards: Outstanding Woman of Today, Builder of Tomorrow Award – Altrusa International (2024) Inspirational Leader Award – LinkedIn (2022) Faculty Fellow Award – Dallas College. Global Citizenship Alliance Seminar, Salzburg, Austria (2022) Developing Learning Power Teaching Award – Dallas College (2017) She is an active public speaker, having delivered a TEDx Talk titled "How Law Stigmatizes Rape Victims" and numerous presentations at academic conferences and community events. She has also published poetry and creative works, and is involved in interdisciplinary teaching and advocacy for victims of gender-based violence. Dr. Kelley advises on professional development for therapists and participates in campus and community initiatives on sexual assault awareness. Research and Advocacy Teams: CAASA (Campus Alliance Against Sexual Assault) – Presenter and collaborator Global Citizenship Alliance – Faculty Fellow Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities – Regular presenter
Dr. Oliver Double is a Senior Lecturer in Comic and Popular Performance at the University of Kent, where he has taught since 1999. He specializes in stand-up comedy, alternative comedy, and variety theatre, with a focus on first-person audience engagement and historical analysis. As Deputy Head of School, he contributes to academic leadership while maintaining an active research profile. Established the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive (BSUCA) at Templeman Library, Canterbury Interviews Editor of Comedy Studies journal His research explores direct performer-audience dynamics, including works on Karl Valentin, Brechtian cabaret, and punk rock's theatrical dimensions. Key themes include comedy's sociocultural impact, performance authenticity, and the transformation of personal experiences into material. Recent publications analyze Laura Lexx's mental health narratives, tracing terminology origins of stand-up, and examining rehearsal processes. His teaching integrates archival resources and performance theory, preparing students for careers in comedy and related fields. Active in public scholarship, he contributes to documentaries and maintains an ongoing creative practice through the Funny Rabbit comedy club and solo performances like Break a Leg (2015) and Saint Pancreas (2006).
Deniz Göktürk is a Professor in the Department of German at the University of California, Berkeley, with extensive cross-disciplinary affiliations including the Department of Film and Media, Berkeley Center for New Media, Digital Humanities, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Center for Race and Gender, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, and Program in Critical Theory. She previously taught at the University of Southampton (1995-2001) and has served as graduate adviser and department chair at Berkeley since joining in 2001. Her educational background includes a Dr.phil. from Freie Universität Berlin (1995), focusing on literary and cinematic imaginations of America in early twentieth-century German culture. She also worked as a certified Turkish translator for legal and medical institutions prior to her academic career. Göktürk's research centers on cultural and media studies with emphasis on moving images, multilingual literature, and migration theories within global frameworks. Her work critically examines social interaction and aesthetic intervention across transnational contexts, bridging film studies, migration theory, and cultural geography through interdisciplinary methodologies that challenge conventional national narratives. Her publications from 1991-2020 reveal consistent engagement with German-Turkish cultural dynamics, cinematic traditions, and urban identities. Key patterns include transnational perspectives on migration, deconstruction of national cinemas, and analysis of aesthetic forms in social transformation—particularly evident in her edited volumes on German cinema, Istanbul's cultural positioning, and integration narratives. Major recognitions include: DAAD fellowship ESRC grant (UK) Institute for European Studies support Townsend Center for the Humanities funding Center for Cinepoetics fellowship (Berlin) Digital Humanities at Berkeley initiative As graduate adviser and department chair, she has shaped German studies curricula while leading cross-campus collaborations like 'Cultural Forms in Transit' and the 'Circulation' working group. Her grant portfolio reflects sustained institutional support for transnational humanities research spanning migration studies, media theory, and cultural geography. She co-founded TRANSIT (Berkeley German Department's electronic journal, 2005) and coordinates the Multicultural Germany Project, establishing platforms for critical discourse on migration, media, and cultural identity through digital humanities frameworks and international scholarly networks.
Shannon Walters is Associate Professor of English in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts and affiliated faculty in both the First-Year Writing Program and the Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies program. Since arriving at Temple in 2009 she has built an internationally recognized profile at the intersection of rhetoric-composition and disability studies. Education: PhD in English and Women’s Studies, Pennsylvania State University Research & Scholarly Focus: Walters’ scholarship fuses rhetoric and composition with disability, gender, and animal studies. Her 2014 monograph Rhetorical Touch: Disability, Identification, Haptics (University of South Carolina Press) theorizes tactile rhetorics and disabled embodiment. Ongoing projects explore neurodiverse writing pedagogies, multimodal accessibility, critical animal studies, and graphic narratives, producing articles in PMLA , JAC , DSQ , and other flagship journals. Recent Publication Trends: Across 2005-2022 Walters has published seventeen peer-reviewed pieces that collectively advance three intertwined trajectories: (1) crip/queer rhetorical theory and temporalities, (2) neurodiversity-informed composition and technical communication pedagogy, and (3) interspecies rhetorics that link disability and animal studies through comics and multimedia texts. Teaching & Mentoring: She teaches undergraduate writing (Analytical Reading & Writing, Social Issues in Literature, Women in Literature) and graduate seminars in rhetoric-composition, while regularly offering special-topics honors courses on disability and identity. No individual advisees are listed in available sources. Affiliations & Service: Walters serves as core faculty in the Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies program and participates actively in Temple’s interdisciplinary disability-studies community. Office: Mazur Hall 1051.
