Svetlana Yarosh is a Professor at the University of Minnesota , focusing on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) , Virtual Reality (VR) , and Social Support Systems . Her research explores technology's role in Online Health Communities , Intergenerational Communication , and Substance Use Recovery , emphasizing ethical design and participatory methods. Affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Research Interests: Yarosh investigates Mediated Social Touch , XR for Children , and Collaborative Technologies in health and family contexts. Her work addresses Privacy in Online Communities , Dynamic of Recovery Support , and Ethical Frameworks for emerging technologies, particularly focusing on Stigmatized Populations and Peer Support Systems . Article Trends: Recent publications highlight VR Video applications in education, AR for Remote Reading , and Ethical Considerations in children's technology use. Themes include Community-Engaged Research , Interactive Volumetric Video , and Conflict Resolution through VR perspective-taking.
Tim Kuball is a Researcher in the Applied Geropsychology and Cognition Professorship at Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz), affiliated with the Department of Psychology within the School of Behavioural and Social Sciences. His research focuses on age stereotypes, intergenerational relations, technology usability, and the role of music as a psychosocial resource. Kuball holds an M.Sc. in Psychology from TU Chemnitz (2018) and a B.Sc. in Psychology from TU Dresden (2015). He has conducted internships in forensic psychiatry, cognitive neurology, and pain management, demonstrating clinical and applied research expertise. Teaching activities include seminars on ageism, social relations of older adults, gerontological psychology theories, and ambulatory assessment methods. His professional career began in 2019 as a Research Associate at TU Chemnitz, with prior involvement in the 'SoKonBe' project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. His work bridges theoretical geropsychology with practical applications in technology and music interventions. Key research trends in his publications address intergenerational dynamics, aging anxiety, and the psychological impacts of music. He actively contributes to the academic community through peer-reviewed journals and interdisciplinary collaborations. While no specific awards are listed, his involvement in funded projects underscores his scholarly impact. Kuball’s advising and grants are tied to his role in the professorship, though specific grants are not detailed. His work is embedded within the university’s broader initiatives in behavioral and social sciences, contributing to innovative research in aging populations and societal challenges.
Brent Berry is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto (St. George Campus), specializing in urban sociology, racial residential segregation, and computational methods. His work examines intersections of race, health, and urban dynamics, with a focus on social demography and inequality. He is actively involved in supervising graduate students and contributes to interdisciplinary research on housing discrimination, family financial transfers, and health disparities. Research Interests His research explores: Racial segregation patterns and policy implications Socioeconomic determinants of health and healthcare access Quantitative methodologies in urban studies Immigration's impact on urban development Family dynamics and intergenerational support systems Recent work has analyzed housing biases in digital platforms, racial disparities in health outcomes, and methodological innovations in measuring urban segregation. Grants & Advising Dr. Berry advises graduate students in sociological research and has been involved in projects related to urban policy and health equity. His research has been supported through institutional grants and collaborations within the Faculty of Arts & Science. Labs/Teams Affiliated with urban studies initiatives at the University of Toronto, contributing to cross-disciplinary projects on cities and social inequality.
Vanessa Delgado is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Washington State University (WSU). She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine (2022). Her research focuses on Latino/a families’ experiences with immigration policies, educational trajectories, and family dynamics in socio-politically restrictive environments. Key areas include immigrant integration, children’s roles in families, and the impact of legal status on socio-economic outcomes. Dr. Delgado employs qualitative methods to explore how immigrant families navigate punitive policies. Her work has been published in journals like Law & Policy , Journal of Latinos and Education , and Sociological Forum . She is currently completing a book manuscript examining how Latino/a children of immigrants influence family integration processes. Her research trends emphasize the intersection of legal status, family obligations, and educational systems. Articles often highlight marginalized groups’ resilience strategies, such as undocumented youth acting as legal brokers or younger siblings shaping siblings’ academic paths. These studies underscore structural barriers faced by Latino/a communities and advocate for policy reforms in education and immigration. Dr. Delgado has no listed awards but actively engages in policy-oriented research. Her advising and grants focus on campus support systems for immigrant students. She is affiliated with WSU’s sociology department and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on immigration and education equity.
Colleen Murray is a Professor of Sociology and interdisciplinary social psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She also holds an adjunct professorship in Human Development and Family Studies. Her affiliations include the Public Health, Justice Management, Gerontology Academic Program, and Gender, Race, and Identity programs. Previously, she served as director of the interdisciplinary social psychology Ph.D. program (2003-2015) and interim director of the School of Social Research and Justice Studies (2011-2012). Education: Ph.D. in Family Relations and Human Development, Ohio State University (with minors in Family Sociology and Research Methods/Statistics) M.A., University of Akron B.S., University of Akron Murray’s research focuses on grief, family dynamics, and interdisciplinary social psychology. Key interests include: Cultural and media influences on grief and loss Intersection of health and justice in technology adoption Advancing research methods and family theories Social construction of relationships and self in diverse contexts Her current projects involve drone usage by first responders, mixed-status immigrant families, and historical media analysis of mass tragedies. She collaborates across disciplines like engineering and computer science in the social behavioral drone lab. Publications: Murray has authored works in journals such as Family Relations , Behavioral Sciences and the Law , and Journal of Applied Social Psychology , with a focus on qualitative and quantitative explorations of bereavement, family systems, and cultural comparisons. Awards: Fellow in Thanatology (Association for Death Education and Counseling) Advising & Grants: With $2+ million in grants, Murray advises doctoral students on topics like terror management theory and transnational family stress. Current advisees include Jordan Reuter and Ashley Thompson. She emphasizes culturally-responsive theoretical models and integrates feminist principles into research. Labs/Teams: Her social behavioral drone lab group meets weekly to study human-drone interaction risks/benefits in rescue scenarios. Collaborators include mechanical engineers, computer scientists, and students from diverse backgrounds.
Prof. Wendy Harcourt is a Full Professor of Gender, Diversity, and Sustainable Development at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. She specializes in feminist political ecology, gender and development studies, and post-development critiques. Her work bridges academic research with activism, particularly through initiatives like the EU-funded WEGO-ITN network. She has authored/edited over 200 publications, including seminal works like Body Politics in Development (2009), which won the 2010 Feminist Women’s Studies Association Book Prize. Her research focuses on decolonial approaches to sustainability, feminist methodologies, and the intersections of gender, environment, and community wellbeing. Notable recent projects include open-access books on Feminist Political Ecologies (2023) and Feminist Methodologies (2022). Prof. Harcourt actively engages with civil society networks, journal editorial boards, and global policy dialogues, advocating for transformative social and ecological justice. Affiliations: ISS-Routledge Series on Gender, Development and Sexuality (Series Editor) Leadership: Coordinator of WEGO-ITN Innovative Training Network Networks: Member of Society for International Development’s Governing Council Her recent publications emphasize radical rethinking of knowledge systems, particularly through feminist lenses, addressing crises such as climate change and economic instability. She co-organized events like the Prince Claus Chair Postdoctoral Seminar Series (2022) to foster critical dialogue on Latin American thought.
Dr. Meng Huo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on how older adults' helping behaviors contribute to resilience and successful aging, with a particular emphasis on empathy in late life. She employs diverse methodologies including self-report data, biomarkers, geocoded data, and observational assessments. Education: Ph.D., Human Development and Family Sciences (Aging and Health focus), University of Texas at Austin (2019) B.S., Psychology, Beijing Normal University (2014) Research Focus: Dr. Huo examines empathy's role in social interactions and mental health among older adults, exploring how volunteering and social relationships buffer against age-related declines. Her work highlights the interplay between caregiving, stress, and physiological markers like cortisol patterns. Key themes include intergenerational support dynamics, dyadic relationships in dementia care, and the psychological consequences of bereavement. Grants & Advising: She actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students interested in aging research and runs the SHARE Lab. While specific grant details are not provided, her publications suggest sustained funding for large-scale longitudinal studies. Labs/Teams: Dr. Huo directs the SHARE Lab , which investigates social relationships across the lifespan using daily diary methods and ecological momentary assessments.
Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black is Professor in the Department of History and Director of the Dietrich College Humanities Center at Carnegie Mellon University. She has been a faculty member since 2001 and serves as Faculty Advisor for Carnegie Mellon's African and African American Studies Minor. Her work bridges academic research with public engagement, bringing untold stories of enslaved Africans and their descendants to broader audiences through innovative interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Fields-Black earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001. Her academic journey has focused on connecting historical research with contemporary social issues, particularly through the lens of African diasporic experiences and the legacy of slavery in the United States. Dr. Fields-Black specializes in the trans-national history of West African rice farmers, peasant farmers in pre-colonial Upper Guinea Coast, and enslaved laborers on rice plantations in the antebellum South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry. Her research employs interdisciplinary methods to recover the voices of historical actors who left few written records. She examines how enslaved Africans' technological expertise in rice cultivation shaped both the economies of the American South and cultural practices that persist in the Gullah Geechee communities. Her work challenges conventional narratives about pre-colonial Africa and the African Diaspora, revealing dynamic, diverse societies with specialized agricultural knowledge. Dr. Fields-Black's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on uncovering previously marginalized perspectives in American history, particularly regarding slavery and the Civil War era. Her work increasingly integrates environmental history with social history, examining how enslaved people interacted with and transformed coastal landscapes. The 2024 publication 'COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War' represents the culmination of this trajectory, using Civil War pension files to reconstruct the experiences of freedom-seekers in their own words. Dr. Fields-Black has received numerous prestigious awards for her scholarship, including: 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History 2025 Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize 2025 Tom Watson Brown Book Award 2024 George C. Rogers Jr. Award 2024 Marsha M. Greenlee History Award Honorable Mention - 2025 James A. Rawley Prize Finalist - 2025 Mark Lynton History Prize Finalist - 2025 ASALH Book Prize Dr. Fields-Black has secured significant research funding from major foundations including Ford, Mellon, Woodrow Wilson, and Annenberg Foundations, as well as the Smithsonian Museum and Fulbright-Hays. She currently leads an interdisciplinary team of scientists studying 'Queen Rice': How Enslaved Labor Transformed Wetland Landscapes and America,' examining the 300-year impact of enslaved labor on coastal wetlands. Her work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through collaborations with artists, filmmakers, and museum curators to bring historical narratives to wider audiences. Dr. Fields-Black leads the 'Requiem for Rice' project, an innovative collaboration with composer John Wineglass and filmmaker Julie Dash that transforms historical research into a symphonic work memorializing enslaved Africans on rice plantations. She also serves as principal investigator for a team of scientists studying the environmental impact of enslaved labor on coastal wetlands, integrating archaeology, conservation, digital humanities, and ecological studies. Her work with museums includes advising for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Senator John Heinz History Center, and the International African American Museum.
Sylvia D. Hamilton is the Inglis Professor and holds The Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She is a renowned Nova Scotian filmmaker, writer, and advocate for African Canadian cultural heritage. Her work bridges documentary film, academic writing, and community activism, focusing on underrepresented histories. Educations: BA (Acadia University) MA (university unspecified) LL.D. (Dalhousie University) D.Litt. (Saint Mary’s University) D.Litt. (Acadia University) Her research interests center on documentary film’s societal role, African Canadian diaspora narratives, and women’s historical contributions. She co-created New Initiatives in Film at the National Film Board’s Studio D, supporting women of colour and Indigenous filmmakers. Awards & Recognition: Gemini Award Portia White Prize CBC Television Pioneer Award Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal Her mentorship includes the Trudeau Foundation and leadership roles in Women in Media Foundation. She has lectured globally, screening films in Canada, Norway, Jamaica, and beyond. Her work is widely used in educational contexts.
William A. V. Clark is a Research Professor of Geography at UCLA and an Emeritus faculty member. He holds affiliations with the California Population Center and has been a visiting scholar at institutions including the University of St. Andrews and Bristol University. His research focuses on urban demography, residential segregation, migration patterns, and housing policy, with a particular emphasis on how demographic changes reshape urban landscapes. Clark's educational background includes a PhD from the University of Illinois (1964) and a D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) from the University of Auckland (1994). He has received prestigious awards such as the US National Academy of Sciences membership (2005) and the Decade of Behavior Research Award (2005). His work explores the interplay between residential preferences, economic factors, and public policy in shaping urban segregation. Notable contributions include testing the Schelling segregation model using survey data and analyzing migration impacts on labor markets and family dynamics. Recent studies investigate housing markets in China, including millennials' homeownership challenges and wellbeing disparities. Clark has authored over 20 books and numerous articles, with key publications addressing housing choice, urban inequality, and migration theories. His grants and fellowships include a Guggenheim Fellowship (1994-95) and a UK Economic and Social Research Council Fellowship (2011). His research has informed legal cases on urban desegregation, bridging demographic analysis with legal discourse.
Professor Sharon Bessell is a leading academic and social policy expert at The Australian National University (ANU), where she holds dual roles as Professor and Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy. She directs the Children’s Policy Centre and co-hosts the Policy Forum Pod, a platform for policy analysis. Her work emphasizes rights-based approaches to social policy, particularly for children in poverty, and she has pioneered the Individual Measure of Multidimensional Poverty (IMMP/IDM), a groundbreaking tool assessing poverty’s gendered and individual impacts. Bessell is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has received ANU’s Teaching Excellence Award twice (2016 and 2023). Education: - BA (Hons 1st class, Tasmania) - PhD (Monash University) Research Interests: Sharon’s research focuses on three pillars: Social policy, child rights, and poverty reduction Gendered dimensions of poverty and innovative data collection methods Intergenerational relations and evolving childhoods She has conducted extensive studies in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji, and Southern Africa, collaborating with governments, NGOs, and international agencies to develop child-centered policy frameworks. Her methodologies prioritize ethical engagement with children, ensuring their voices shape policy outcomes. Grants and Projects: - More for Children : Paul Ramsay Foundation-funded research creating a child-centered poverty assessment framework. - IDM Program : Co-led an interdisciplinary team under an Australian Research Council Linkage grant, developing the IMMP/IDM. - Suara Anak (Children’s Voices) : ARC Discovery grant-funded research in Indonesia. Awards and Recognition: - 2019: Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. - 2016/2023: ANU College of Asia and the Pacific Award for Teaching Excellence. Teaching and Advocacy: Bessell teaches Global Social Policy (POGO8044) and Development Theories and Themes (POGO8072) . Her courses address poverty, globalization, children’s rights, and gender analysis. She advocates for systemic policy reforms to end child poverty, emphasizing structural barriers and the role of social justice in economic policies. Her work challenges stigmatizing narratives around poverty and promotes inclusive, rights-based solutions.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Marja Elsinga is a Professor of Housing Institutions & Governance at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment , Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) , with additional teaching roles at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management and East China Normal University (visiting professor). Her research focuses on housing governance arrangements that balance housing as a human right and economic asset , with special attention to cross-country comparative analysis between Global North and South contexts. Research themes include: Comparative housing systems (Netherlands, China, Spain, Ethiopia) Public housing management and institutional arrangements Energy poverty mitigation through retrofitting Informal settlement governance Intergenerational housing equity Recent publications analyze: Energy coaching programs (2025) Private investment in Spanish social housing (2025) Transdisciplinary knowledge construction tools (2024) Incremental housing solutions in South Africa (2024) Scientific recognition includes: 2024 Venice Architecture Film Festival - Best Short Film Award for 'When I Came to Your Door' documenting Addis Ababa evictions Professional engagements: Editorial leadership: Dutch Journal for Housing , Encyclopaedia of Housing and Home Board memberships: BNG Vank (financial institutions), Ymere (real estate) Policy advisory roles: Housing Associations Assessment, Housing Equity Task Force
Karina Murray is an Associate Professor in the Law School at the University of Sydney and a designated University of Sydney Horizon Educator. She previously held positions at the University of Wollongong where she completed her academic qualifications and served as faculty. Her current role centers on legal ethics education and scholarship, with significant contributions to understanding professional identity formation in legal practitioners. Bachelor of Arts (UOW) LLB (Hons) (UOW) PhD (UOW) Murray's research focuses primarily on legal ethics, legal education, and the legal profession, with particular emphasis on ethical professional identity formation. Her scholarship explores how law students develop their professional identities and ethical frameworks through education. She has pioneered work on law student pledges and belonging in legal education, examining how these elements shape future lawyers' ethical development and professional values. Her research bridges theoretical ethics with practical applications in legal training environments. Murray's publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward understanding identity formation in legal professionals. Her recent work increasingly focuses on student belonging, emotional intelligence in legal education, and innovative teaching methods. The articles reveal a shift from traditional legal ethics frameworks toward more holistic approaches that consider student well-being, identity development, and community building within law schools. Her scholarship often examines the intersection of legal professionalism with psychological and educational frameworks. 2015 Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT citation) 2023 Runner up Academic of the Year, Women Lawyers Association NSW Murray has significant expertise in early years tertiary education and has developed and taught across multiple subjects including Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Foundations of Law, Contract Law, and Statutory Interpretation. She has received recognition for her teaching excellence, including an Australian Award for University Teaching in 2015. Her professional background includes executive director roles within the Department of Human Services and management of a regional law firm across six locations. She serves as a founding member of the NSW Women Lawyers' Association Wollongong chapter and maintains active membership in professional legal associations. Murray collaborates extensively with colleagues across institutions, particularly with researchers like Littrich, Mundy, and Tubridy on projects related to legal education and professional identity. Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between legal scholarship, educational theory, and psychological frameworks for professional development.
Dr Shiva Chandra is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies at the University of Sydney. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney, focusing on the relationships and identities of gay men of South Asian descent. His research spans sexuality, gender, race, digital media, youth, and wellbeing, with a focus on queer attachment, belonging, and the social responsibility of research at the intersection of academia and community development. Key research areas: Queer studies, antimicrobial-resistant STIs, digital media, personal communities, postcolonial identity, youth wellbeing Recent projects: Examined GBTQ+ safe sex practices, antimicrobial resistance in STIs, and digital family dynamics Collaborations: Partnered with Facebook, UNICEF, LEGO, Australian eSafety Commissioner, and ACON Scientific awards: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Research, Enterprise and International Award (2021) for UN Food Systems Dialogues Team Publications emphasize community-engaged research, antimicrobial resistance, digital media impacts on queer youth, and intersectional approaches to family dynamics. His work includes policy recommendations for organizations like UNICEF and person-centred design frameworks.
Dr. Mark Turner is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Sociology at the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). He joined MMU in 2023 after roles at Southampton Solent University (2011–2023) and Edgehill University (2009–2011). Educated at Lancaster University (undergraduate) and the University of Brighton (postgraduate), he is also a Research Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research focuses on football-based social movements, particularly fan activism, generational sociology, and the political economy of football. Key areas include safe standing movements, generational impacts on activism, and the sociology of fan communities. He has published widely, including monographs like The Safe Standing Movement in English Football (2023) and edited volumes on generational dynamics and fan activism. Turner’s work engages critically with issues like fan rights, sport governance, and the neoliberalization of football. He contributes to policy debates, serving on the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s Academic Advisory Board and advising UK Government reviews on stadia legislation. His media commentary appears in outlets like Al Jazeera , Deutsche Welle , and The Conversation . Research Highlights: Safe Standing Movement, Anti-European Super League activism, Generational Studies in Social Movements Teaching: Qualitative research methodologies, sport media and culture, political economy of the UK Awards: Research Fellow of the Higher Education Academy He collaborates with organizations such as the Football Supporters Association and Football Supporters Europe, emphasizing community-driven activism and sport as a platform for social justice.
