Eve Kornfeld is a Senate Distinguished Professor and Professor of History at San Diego State University (SDSU), affiliated with the College of Arts and Letters. She holds a B.A. from Princeton University (1977), and M.A. and Ph.D. in History from Harvard University (1979, 1983). Her career includes teaching roles at Harvard, Princeton, and SDSU, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches informed by post-colonial, post-structural, gender, and critical race theories. Her research interests span American cultural history, pedagogical innovation, and the intersections of race, gender, and power. Key works include Creating an American Culture, 1775-1815 and Margaret Fuller , both part of the Bedford Series in History and Culture. She has also contributed to journals like the William and Mary Quarterly and Journal of American Studies . Kornfeld is dedicated to mentoring first-generation students, emphasizing research mentorship, professional development, and creating inclusive academic environments. Her awards include the SDSU Senate Excellence in Teaching Award (2018) and the College of Arts and Letters Exceptional Service Award (2021). Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary educational challenges, addressing topics like metacognition in history education, cultural appropriation in literature, and the role of empathy in pedagogy. Kornfeld’s work consistently emphasizes critical engagement with marginalized narratives and transformative teaching practices.
Dr. David Firang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at Trent University, where he also holds appointments in the M.A. Sustainability Studies (MASS) and PhD IDSR programs. He previously served as Assistant Professor (Ltd) at the University of Windsor’s School of Social Work, focusing on curriculum leadership in advanced social policy and community practice. With over 13 years in child welfare at Toronto’s Children’s Aid Society and experience in community advocacy, Dr. Firang bridges academic and practical social work expertise. His research emphasizes Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), immigrant transnationalism, environmental sustainability, and Afro-Canadian issues. He has led projects funded by SSHRC, Theall Research Grant, and the Symons Foundation, contributing to over a dozen peer-reviewed articles since 2018. Education: PhD and MSW, University of Toronto M.A., University of Saskatchewan Post-Diploma, British Columbia Institute of Technology B.A., University of Ghana Research Focus: Dr. Firang’s work explores transnational immigrant practices, housing inequities, and the intersection of race and environmental justice. Recent studies analyze Ghanaian diasporic housing strategies, pandemic impacts on international students, and anti-Black racism in policing. His advocacy spans Black communities, international students, and African diasporas in Toronto. Grants & Awards: SSHRC Research Grant Theall Research Grant Symons Research Foundation Grant SSHRC Insight Development Grant (IDG) Leadership & Community Engagement: Dr. Firang has led equity initiatives for marginalized communities, including grants management for Toronto’s Access & Equity Division. His roles in the Ghanaian Methodist diaspora and African community advocacy reflect his commitment to social justice.
Associate Professor Sonia Palmieri serves as Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Coral Bell School of Asia and Pacific Affairs, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University (ANU). She holds a BA (Hons) and PhD from the University of Queensland (UQ). Her research focuses on gender equality in political institutions, particularly parliaments, and feminist methodologies in research. Key areas include women’s leadership in the Pacific, gender-sensitive parliamentary reforms, and capacity-building for gender research. Her professional experience spans academic, development, and parliamentary roles with organizations like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (Geneva), UNDP (Hanoi), UN Women (New York), and the Australian Parliament. She has collaborated with stakeholders across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, designing and evaluating DFAT-funded development programs. Research outputs emphasize institutional norms, voter motivations in Vanuatu’s elections, and gender mainstreaming strategies. She leads projects on Pacific democracy, feminism in development, and localized gender equality reforms in Fiji. Awards and grants include ANU-led initiatives and international collaborations. Teaching and supervision focus on inclusive research methodologies and Pacific political dynamics. She advises on parliamentary workplace equity and contributes to global policy frameworks through UN and Commonwealth partnerships.
Patrick C. Shih is an Associate Professor of Informatics at Indiana University Bloomington's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, where he directs the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab). He holds leadership roles as Director of Graduate Studies for Data Science and Co-Director of the Animal Informatics MS/PhD track. His affiliations include core faculty positions in Health Informatics and Animal-Computer Interaction programs. Education: Ph.D. in Information and Computer Science (UC Irvine), M.S. in Information Networking (Carnegie Mellon University), B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering (UCLA). Previously held research positions at Microsoft Research and IBM Research. Research Focus: Develops sociotechnical systems to support health/wellbeing in underserved populations, including older adults, autistic individuals, and communities affected by health disparities. Designs technologies for animal-assisted interventions, animal welfare enhancement, and empathy cultivation. Major projects include mobile health interventions for stress management, Alzheimer's disease tools for African American communities, and physical activity promotion for autistic adults. Publication Trends: Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes AI-driven health tools for vulnerable groups, including generative AI for Alzheimer's education, mobile apps for chronic disease management, and culturally tailored interventions. Research spans HCI, health informatics, and community-based participatory design, with strong focus on real-world applicability and health equity. Awards & Honors: ACM Senior Member (2020) NSF CAREER Award (2022) Multiple Indiana University teaching/mentoring awards (2016-2019) Euroinvent Silver Medal Award Best Paper Awards at ACM CSCW, ISCRAM Grants & Projects: $3.7M NIH grant for studying environmental stressors and cognitive decline in older adults (2024) NSF-funded mobile stress measurement app for midlife adults (2023) Mobile 'just-in-time' stress intervention for breast cancer survivors (2022) Labs & Teams: Leads the Societal Computing Lab (SoCo Lab) focusing on community-centered technology design. Collaborates with healthcare institutions, zoos, and community organizations. Develops interdisciplinary research teams for projects in health informatics, animal-computer interaction, and crisis response technologies.
Walter Jetz is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the School of the Environment at Yale University, where he directs the Center for Biodiversity and Global Change. He chairs the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation and co-chairs the GEO BON Species Population Working Group. His work focuses on biodiversity science, conservation, and global change ecology. Education: D.Phil. in Zoology (University of Oxford, 2002), M.Sc. in Integrative Bioscience (Oxford, 1997) Research interests include macroecology, species distribution modeling, and conservation science across spatial scales. His group develops tools like Map of Life , Wildlife Insights , and Half-Earth Project to address biodiversity monitoring and area-based conservation. Current projects explore climate change impacts on tropical ecosystems, movement ecology, and machine learning applications in biodiversity science. Recent publications focus on niche scaling, climate change vulnerability, deep learning for species distribution, and mountain biodiversity monitoring. Awards include being an ISI Highly Cited Researcher since 2014. Over 30 former students hold faculty positions globally. The lab promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and collaborates with NASA, Microsoft, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Markus Christen is a researcher and Managing Director of the Digital Society Initiative at the University of Zurich, where he leads the Digital Ethics Lab within the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine. His work bridges empirical ethics, neuroethics, and ICT ethics with a focus on data analysis methodologies. Affiliation: University of Zurich (Faculty of Medicine) Role: Managing Director of the Digital Society Initiative Lab: Digital Ethics Lab Christen’s research explores ethical challenges in AI, cybersecurity, and digital health. He investigates value conflicts in technology design, moral sensitivity training through serious games, and human-AI accountability frameworks . His recent publications address digital twins in medicine , AI accessibility for disabled students , and cross-cultural responsibility gaps in AI systems. Key trends in his work include: Empirical ethics applied to AI and cybersecurity Neuroethical dimensions of technology Responsible AI integration in education and healthcare Data privacy and fairness in insurance Cross-cultural ethical assessments Christen’s lab develops frameworks for value-sensitive design and human-AI collaboration , with projects like "Responsible AI in practice" and "DSI AI-WEEK."
Dr. Frank Thomas Grub is Professor of German and Head of the Department of Modern Languages at Uppsala University. Educated at Universität des Saarlandes (Dr. phil. 2003) and promoted to Associate Professor at Gothenburg University (2012) before joining Uppsala as Professor (2018), he has been recognized as Excellent Teacher (2021). As founder of the Landeskunde Nord network since 2012 and editor of the Peter Lang book series since 2013, his career bridges academic research, educational innovation, and international collaboration. His research focuses on contemporary German-language literature , GDR cultural studies , and transcultural didactics . Key projects explore autobiographical writing, post-Wall literary representations, and the intersection of travel literature with cultural memory. Recent publications (2024-2025) examine media narratives of reunification and cultural stereotypes in language pedagogy. Prof. Grub contributes to German as a foreign language curriculum development Intercultural competence frameworks Editorial leadership in Northern European Germanistics His 2023-2025 works analyze graphic novels in education, migration discourse in literature, and media transitions during the Cold War.
Minerva Maaria Piha is an Associate Professor at Nord University specializing in Southern Sami language and archaeology. She holds a PhD in Finno-Ugric language studies from the University of Turku (2020), with prior degrees including two Master of Philosophy degrees in Archaeology (2011) and Finno-Ugric Language Studies (2016). Her research focuses on interdisciplinary connections between linguistics, archaeology, and history, particularly in the context of Saami peoples and cultures. Her key areas of expertise include Southern Sami history and archaeology, Finno-Ugric linguistics, and the intersection of archaeological terminology with linguistic policies. Notable projects include The Iron Saami (collaborative study on iron production and Saami language diffusion) and analyses of language policies in Saami archaeological research. She has published extensively on topics like Iron Age material culture, Saami linguistic terminology, and prehistoric cultural interactions. Her work bridges archaeological evidence with linguistic insights, addressing questions of cultural identity, migration, and language evolution in Northern Europe. Collaborations with institutions like the University of Helsinki highlight her commitment to multidisciplinary research. Current research trends emphasize critical analysis of academic discourse and the role of language in preserving indigenous heritage.
Cen April Yue is an Assistant Professor of Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations at the University of Connecticut and a Visiting Lecturer at ISM (Lithuania). She holds an Affiliate Scholar position at the Internal Communication Research Hub, University of Florida. Her research focuses on internal public relations, leadership communication, organizational change, and corporate social responsibility. She serves as Chief Research Editor at the Institute for Public Relations' Organizational Communication Research Center. Her research explores topics such as employee advocacy, CEO social media engagement, artificial intelligence in communication, and the ethical dimensions of organizational behavior. She has published extensively in journals like the Journal of Public Relations Research and Journal of Brand Management , with a focus on leadership communication strategies, internal stakeholder management, and technology-driven communication trends. Education : Not explicitly listed in provided texts. Awards : Over 10 top paper awards and recognitions from communication associations and conferences. Teaching : Courses include Public Relations (MNG229), Communication Research Methods, and Communication Campaigns. Her work bridges theoretical and practical aspects of organizational communication, emphasizing the role of technology and leadership in fostering employee relationships and managing change. Current research trends include AI's impact on internal communication and ethical challenges in corporate social responsibility.
Laurent Matthey is an Associate Professor at the University of Geneva's Department of Geography and Environment since 2014. He directs the Urban Planning orientation of the joint UNIGE-HES-SO Master's in Territorial Development and co-directs the UNIGE-EPFL MAS in Urban Planning. His work bridges ethnography and literary studies, examining political issues in urban narrative production through sensitive registers and attentional regimes. Current affiliations: CRESSON team (UMR AAU) since 2023 Active in EspaceSuisse committee and RAMAU network management Research focuses on epistemology of urban planning knowledge , organized into two streams: Planning discourses and narrative studies Ethnography of urban projects His research-creation explores intersections between: Communication and urban planning Fiction and urban planning Narrative and sensitive methods Urban social quality Current projects include "Participez! Neighborhood makers" (FNS Division 1 funding) and completed works like "The narrative making of the city" (FNS-COST 18126) and "Developing housing cooperatives in Greater Geneva" (Interreg V France-Switzerland). He has supervised doctoral students in Geneva, including Hugo Campi ("Flowers to Convince"), Nicole Peccoud ("Social emergency in Geneva"), and Morgane Rudaz ("Feminist collages"). Key scientific contributions appear in GeoHumanities , Planning Theory , and Social Inclusion , with recent emphasis on: AI's role in urban narrative (2024) Decolonial planning approaches (2023) Affective urbanism (2018) Teaching encompasses: Urban geography and ecology (T206059 BGEO) Research-creation seminar (T416007 MDT) Creative methods in metropolitan foresight Professional engagements include urban quality studies for Geneva's Urban Planning Office and Lausanne's Roads Department. He has co-authored foundational texts on Swiss urbanism with Christophe Mager and David Gaillard, exploring topics like "Urbanism fictionnel" (2011) and "Being an urban planner" (2016).
Dr. Hameed Chughtai is an Associate Professor at Lancaster University Management School, where he conducts critical research on decolonial approaches to information systems and the engagement of marginalized populations with technology. His work spans multiple research centers including the Academy for Gender and Social Justice, the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, and the Centre for Technological Futures. Dr. Chughtai's research focuses on critical and decolonial approaches to technology, with particular interest in how marginalized populations such as Indigenous Peoples interact with information technologies. His methodological approach emphasizes fieldwork and ethnographic methods to examine ethical aspects of technology, body, marginalization, decolonization, and Indigenous scholarship. His work challenges conventional information systems research paradigms by centering local contexts and marginalized perspectives. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward decolonizing information systems research, with increasing focus on ethical considerations in technology, particularly regarding generative AI applications and the experiences of marginalized communities. His work bridges theoretical frameworks from postcolonial studies, critical theory, and information systems to create more inclusive and contextually relevant research approaches. Associate Editor at the Information Systems Journal Senior Editor at The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries Chair of IFIP Working Group 9.5 Guest Senior Editor for special issues on Decoloniality in IS Research (2022-2024) Guest Senior Editor for special issues on Addressing Refugees and Migration Issues (2024-2026) As a dedicated supervisor, Dr. Chughtai mentors postgraduate research students in critical and interpretive research related to digital technologies, focusing on ethical technology, marginalization, and decolonial approaches to information systems.
Prof. Dr. Poldi Kuhl is a Professor of Educational Psychology at Leuphana University , Lüneburg, since 2021. Affiliated with the Institute of Psychology in Education (IPE) and the Center for Empirical Research on Language and Education (ERLE) , Kuhl specializes in educational psychology, developmental psychology, and inclusive education. Their research focuses on data-driven decision-making, digital learning platforms, academic language demands, and teacher professional development. Education: Diploma in Psychology (2003) and PhD in Philosophy (2008) from Freie Universität Berlin. Kuhl’s recent work examines how academic language features affect learning outcomes, digital data utilization in primary education, and mental health literacy among teachers. Their publications span topics from virtual reality training tools to inclusive teaching strategies in mathematics. Kuhl’s career includes leadership roles at the Research Data Center (FDZ) at the Institute for Quality Improvement in Education (IQB) and a Junior Professorship at Leuphana University. They have collaborated with institutions like the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development .
Dr. Christoph Baumgartner is Associate Professor of Ethics in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities, where he also serves as Director of the Research Institute for Philosophy and Religious Studies. He has been with Utrecht University since 2004, previously serving as director of both the Research Institute for Theology and Religious Studies (INTEGON) and the Research Institute for Philosophy and Religious Studies (OFR) from 2009-2016, and resuming the OFR directorship in September 2022. His educational background includes studies in theology and chemistry at the University of Tübingen (Germany), where he earned his PhD in 2004 with a specialization in social and political ethics. Prior to joining Utrecht University, he worked as academic coordinator of the International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW) at the University of Tübingen from 2001-2004. He has held research fellowships at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS) from 2008-2009 and at the Max-Weber-Kolleg for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies in Erfurt from September 2019 to August 2020. Dr. Baumgartner's primary research interests focus on the politics of religion and religious diversity in the public sphere , freedom of religion , tolerance , citizenship , democratic politics and society , environmental ethics and climate change , and philosophy, religion, and social theory in the Anthropocene . His interdisciplinary approach combines philosophical reasoning with historical perspectives and social scientific approaches to examine how normative principles function in pluralistic societies. He has particular interest in how institutions, norms, values and sensibilities enable or hamper people with different religions to fully participate in social and political interactions. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on religious diversity in liberal democracies, with particular attention to freedom of religion, blasphemy, and the relationship between religion and public culture. His work increasingly addresses environmental ethics in the Anthropocene, examining how religious and philosophical perspectives can inform our understanding of human-nature relationships. His scholarship demonstrates a progression from theoretical examinations of religious diversity toward more applied analyses of specific controversies and practices, such as handshaking customs across religious differences and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on religious freedom. Dr. Baumgartner has been actively involved in academic leadership and program development, co-initiating and coordinating the Research Master Programme in Religious Studies together with Christian Lange and Birgit Meyer. He also coordinated Utrecht University's research focus area "Migration and Societal Change" (2019-2022) alongside Ilse van Liempt, Marcel Lubbers, and Dina Siegel. His research has been supported by various institutions including NIAS and the EU-COFUND Fellowship program. He is involved in teaching several courses including "Controversies about Religion in the Public Domain," "Ethics and Religion," "Climate Crisis in the Anthropocene: Philosophical and Religious Dimensions," and tutorials for Religious Studies. His academic work contributes to Utrecht University's research themes including "Institutions for Open Societies," "Futures of Democracy," "Migration and Societal Change," and "Pathways to Sustainability."
Dr. Felix Prehm serves as Professor of Public Administration at the Chair of Political Science/Political Education, Georg August University of Göttingen since June 2024. His research spans historical political education, gender dynamics, and inclusive pedagogical frameworks for vocational schools. Doctoral degree (2023) from TU Dresden Focus areas: subjectivity theory, othering processes, and intersectional perspectives His recent publications analyze: Historical transformations in political education (1955–1980) Gender relations in Cold War-era curricula Social transformation mechanisms Intersectional approaches to discrimination-critical education Scientific recognition includes: Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst doctoral scholarship (2019–2023) Award: Absolventenpreis 2018 (TU Dresden) He actively contributes to professional associations including GPJE (founding member, spokesperson for Historical Educational Research) and DeGeDe.
Nico Leonhardt is a Researcher at the University of Leipzig's Faculty of Educational Science, specifically in the Department of Pedagogy with a Focus on Intellectual Disability. He works at the Institute for Special Education and coordinates key projects focused on inclusive education development. His current office is located in House 5, Marschnerstraße 29d/e, Room 158, Leipzig. His educational background includes: PhD candidate at the Faculty of Educational Science, University of Leipzig (2023-2025) Master of Education - Special Education Teacher Training from University of Leipzig (2012-2015) B.A. in Rehabilitation and Integration Pedagogy from University of Leipzig (2009-2012) Leonhardt's research focuses on inclusive school development and social space orientation, inclusion-sensitive university development, participatory research and teaching, ableism, educational equity, and artificial intelligence. His work critically examines power structures in educational settings and advocates for student-centered, participatory approaches to inclusive education. He explores how educational institutions can better serve students with intellectual disabilities through social space orientation and child rights-based approaches. His research often addresses the intersection of disability studies with critical pedagogy, examining how ableism manifests in educational systems and how to develop more equitable alternatives. His publications show a strong trend toward practical applications of inclusive education theory, with a focus on ableism in school settings, participatory teaching methods, and the intersection of educational equity with emerging technologies like AI. His work spans from theoretical explorations of ableism in educational contexts to practical handbooks for inclusive school development. The research demonstrates a consistent focus on participatory methodologies, social justice, and critical analysis of power structures in education. Leonhardt has coordinated the QuaBIS project (Qualification of Education and Inclusion Officers in Saxony) since 2018 and worked on the InSide project (Inclusion in Social Spaces) from 2020-2023. He has established international collaborations, including a significant partnership with Universidad National de Cordobá in Argentina starting in June 2024. His teaching activities span numerous topics related to inclusive education, disability studies, and participatory approaches, with presentations at international conferences through 2025. His work spans multiple educational contexts: School development in challenging educational environments University-level inclusive education initiatives Teacher training for inclusive practices Critical analysis of ableism in educational settings Participatory research methodologies across educational levels International comparative studies on inclusive education
