Dr. Jason C. Garvey is the Executive Director for the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment and the Friedman-Hipps Green and Gold Associate Professor of Education at the University of Vermont. He merges data-informed decision making with social change in higher education. Education: Ph.D., College Student Personnel Administration, University of Maryland M.A., School Psychology, Ohio State University B.A., Educational Studies, University of Delaware Dr. Garvey’s research focuses on queer and trans inclusion in education, survey design, and quantitative methods. His work examines campus climate, financial barriers for LGBTQ+ students, identity development, and structural equity in higher education and STEM fields. Recent publications highlight trends in quantitative criticalism, STEM equity for marginalized identities, and institutional data practices. His research often intersects race, gender, and sexual orientation through queer and trans of color critiques. Scientific Awards and Achievements: Body of Work Award, AERA Queer Studies Special Interest Group (2025) ACPA Senior Scholar Award (2024) Fulbright-British Library Eccles Centre Scholar (2023) Joseph A. Abruscato Award for Excellence in Research (2020) Dr. Garvey leads QTPiE, a multi-institutional team addressing LGBTQ+ equity in education. He has secured grants from AAAS, AERA, and NSF to support data infrastructure and structural inclusion initiatives.
Dr. Leila Essa is an Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at Utrecht University, affiliated with the Department of Languages, Literature and Communication within the Humanities faculty. She co-leads the Modern and Contemporary Literature research group at Utrecht University alongside Ewout van der Knaap. Her academic work bridges German, English, and Indian literary traditions with a focus on postcolonial perspectives and contemporary cultural production. Her educational background includes a BA in Comparative Literature from King's College London (2014), an MPhil in European Literature and Culture from the University of Cambridge (2015), and a PhD in German, English and Comparative Literature from King's College London (2020). Her doctoral research involved extensive study visits to Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi and was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. Essa's research centers on comparative literature, postcolonial studies, and the intersection of literature with social justice issues. Her current Veni-funded project 'Intention & Intervention' examines authorial strategies against exclusionary discourses in Germany and Britain, with a particular focus on migration narratives and postmigrant authorship. She explores how contemporary literature navigates questions of national identity, memory, and spatial politics, particularly in the context of partitioned histories between India and Germany. Her scholarly output reveals a consistent engagement with political dimensions of literature, examining how authors intervene in exclusionary discourses through narrative strategies. Her recent work shows increasing focus on collaborative authorship, anthologies as resistance forms, and the role of translation in disrupting power dynamics. She has produced significant scholarship on postcolonial literature, particularly examining Indian and German literary responses to historical trauma. Women in German Studies Book Prize for first monographs in preparation (for 'Partitioned Nations, Shared Narratives') Veni grant by the Dutch Research Council (2022-2026) for 'Intention & Intervention' project Judge for the Kurt-Tucholsky-Preis for politically engaged writing Essa actively mentors prospective PhD students and has developed teaching focused on literatures of migration and diaspora in the BA Literary Studies program and contemporary publishing in the MA Literature Today program. Her public engagement includes regular contributions to platforms like Die Zeit, Berlin Review, and the Goethe Institute, where she discusses the political dimensions of literature. She has curated numerous public events through the Goethe Institute on topics ranging from anti-racist publishing strategies to migrant narratives in contemporary literature. Essa is deeply embedded in collaborative academic networks, serving on the Editorial Board for Forum for Modern Language Studies and the Advisory Board for FRAME Journal of Literary Studies. Her work with the #Vorzeichen project demonstrates her commitment to creating spaces for critical dialogue about literature's role in societal transformation.
Dr. Suzanne Manizza-Roszak is a researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Arts , contributing to the Research Centre for the Study of Democratic Cultures and Politics (DemCP) and Research Centre Arts in Society (AiS) . Her ORCID 0000-0002-4491-9591 highlights her extensive work across 46 research outputs and 22 activities. Research Interests : American Gothic with a focus on childhood, gender, and transnational influences Transnational Feminism exploring diaspora, multilingualism, and postcolonial narratives Ecocriticism analyzing environmental violence and speculative futures Diaspora Studies examining Italian-American and Latinx intersections Publication Trends reveal a blend of peer-reviewed articles (e.g., on Erdrich, Cisneros, and Baldwin) and creative works like the novel The Poison Girl and poetry collection Sicilianas . Her 2025 work on First Ladies and colonial history adaptation underscores her commitment to historical revisionism and political fiction . Scientific Awards include 12 recognized honors, though specific titles are not detailed here.
Floor Middel serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen. Her academic work bridges research, teaching, and practical application in child protection systems with a focus on decision-making processes and addressing systemic biases. Dr. Middel's research interests center on understanding and improving decision-making in child protection systems through rigorous examination of how ethnicity, migration background, and gender influence child welfare investigations and outcomes. Her work employs intersectional analysis to uncover disparities in decision-making processes and examines how stereotypes might mediate these disparities. She also explores the role of digital technologies in modern social work practice and develops assessment tools to measure meaningful participation of children in protection systems. Analysis of Dr. Middel's scholarly output reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on equity and evidence-based practice in child protection. Her publications demonstrate growing international recognition, with work spanning comparative analyses of child protection systems across Europe, investigations into decision-making ecology, and development of practical assessment tools. The research consistently addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to reducing inequalities and promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. Fulbright scholarship (2019) Jo Kolk travel grant (2019) NWO idea generator (2019) Travel grant for U4 Summer school 'Methods and Methodologies: Complexities and Responsibilities in Gender Research' (2018) Travel grant Swiss National Science Foundation (2018) As an educator, Dr. Middel mentors undergraduate students and teaches across multiple courses including Interview Practical, Report Practical, Statistical Models 2, and Qualitative Research Methods. She delivers guest lectures on Decision-making in Child Protection for master's students, supervises traineeships and theses in Orthopedagogy, and coordinates the international summer school 'The Future of Child and Family Welfare Policy: Looking Through Different Lenses.' Her teaching directly connects with her research expertise, providing students with evidence-based perspectives on contemporary child protection challenges.
Dick Zijp is an Assistant Professor in Heritage of the Dutch Performing Arts at Utrecht University's Department of Media and Culture Studies. He teaches in the Bachelor Media and Culture program, Master Contemporary Theatre, Dance and Dramaturgy, and Master Arts & Society. Specializes in politics and aesthetics of humor (1966–present) PhD thesis (2023) awarded Christie Davies Award Postdoctoral work at KU Leuven on European humor controversies Research Focus : Explores humor's role in public sphere politics, ideological framing in cabaret, and socio-cultural implications of stand-up comedy. Key themes: transgressive humor, cultural memory, and neoliberal critiques in academic contexts. Academic Trends : Recent work examines comic personas (Burnham, Gadsby), heritage documentation (Lurelei cabaret, Showponies 2), and political polarization in comedy. Publications span journals like European Journal of Humor Research and edited volumes on cultural preservation. Honors : Christie Davies Award (2023) Nominated for Boekman Dissertatieprijs (2024) Public Engagement : Regular contributor to De Groene Amsterdammer , NRC , and Theaterkrant.nl . Serves on Nederlands Theater Festival's Cabaret Collectie selection committee since 2023.
Samantha Katz Seal is an Associate Professor of English and the Pamela Shulman Professor of European and Holocaust Studies at the University of New Hampshire, specializing in gender, race, and embodiment in medieval English literature with particular expertise in Chaucer and premodern medical discourses. Her educational foundation includes a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and advanced degrees from Yale University: B.A., Washington University - St Louis M.A., Yale University M.Phil., Yale University Ph.D., Yale University Dr. Seal's research interrogates how medieval texts construct identity through intersections of gender, race, disability, and religion, with groundbreaking work on Jewish studies in medieval contexts and the history of reproduction. Her interdisciplinary methodology bridges literary analysis with feminist theory, disability studies, and critical race theory to expose the complexities of medieval subjectivity and its modern implications. Recent publications demonstrate an intensified focus on race-making processes in late medieval England, particularly the racialization of Christianity and Jewish identity, while maintaining her signature exploration of gender and reproduction as seen in her digital project cataloging premodern maternal mortality. Her scholarly recognition includes: ACLS Fellowship (2019-2020) Pamela Shulman Professor of European and Holocaust Studies Dr. Seal has secured significant research funding including the ACLS Fellowship supporting her book on medieval race ideologies. She actively shapes her field through editorial leadership on Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies and the MLA Chaucer Forum Executive Committee, while co-editing special journal issues that advance feminist medieval scholarship. Her service extends to mentoring emerging scholars through intersectional frameworks. She directs the digital humanities initiative Death in Childbirth: Memory, Maternity, and Premodern Europe, 1000-1700 and collaborates on feminist theory projects, demonstrating sustained commitment to innovative scholarly communication and community building.
Dr. Wenyu Guo serves as Assistant Professor of Literacy Studies in the College of Education at the University of South Florida, specializing in transnational literacy practices of immigrant youth of Color and their families. Her community-engaged research promotes anti-oppressive multiliteracies education across schools, homes, and digital spaces using critical theories of literacy and decolonization frameworks. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning, University of South Carolina Certificate of Graduate Study in Qualitative Research, University of South Carolina Dr. Guo's research centers on two primary goals: (1) examining how transnational youth of Color engage in sociopolitical learning through literacies, and (2) investigating immigrant parents' family literacy practices and ethnic-racial socialization. She employs participatory action research and multi-sited ethnography to develop justice-oriented literacy interventions that challenge systemic oppression in educational contexts. Her recent publications reveal consistent thematic focus on anti-Asian racism through children's literature, transnational family literacy, and multiracial solidarity development. Methodologically, her work combines critical discourse analysis with community-based participatory design, often centering Chinese American communities in the Southern U.S. and leveraging digital platforms for transnational knowledge exchange. Professional recognition includes: Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Fellow, NCTE (2024-2025) Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, USF (2025) Outstanding International Graduate Student Award, USC (2023) Research funding comprises: ACTFL Research Grant (2023) : Co-PI for $5,000 project on antiracist translanguaging pedagogy using Asian American children's literature SPARC Graduate Research Grant (2020) : PI for $2,900 study on Asian American children's bicultural identity negotiation She co-founded Tampa Bay's Community Literacies Lab, providing biweekly workshops for immigrant families that integrate cultural storytelling, digital literacy, and critical race discussions to foster equitable language practices and unpack transnational experiences.
Aaron Schat serves as Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business within the Department of Human Resources and Management. His academic career centers on promoting workplace dignity through rigorous research and education in organizational behavior. Schat's research program investigates workplace aggression, work-related stress, and employee well-being with particular focus on customer service contexts. He examines how incivility affects workers' psychological health, explores covert revenge behaviors against abusive customers, and analyzes blameworthiness attribution in service interactions. His work bridges industrial-organizational psychology with practical business applications, emphasizing that "employees deserve to be treated with civility and dignity" regardless of customer demands. Analysis of his publication trends reveals consistent focus on aggression typology and its organizational consequences. Recent work employs person-oriented approaches to understand individual differences in aggression exposure, while earlier research established foundational knowledge about workplace aggression prevalence and intervention strategies. His scholarship consistently connects micro-level interactions to macro-level organizational health outcomes. As an educator, Schat trains future business leaders in human resources management, with students frequently reporting years later how his teachings helped navigate workplace conflicts. He currently collaborates with PhD candidates on peer support mechanisms for service workers handling difficult customer interactions, demonstrating his commitment to translating research into practical organizational solutions.
Dr. Beatriz Carbone is a Research Associate at Saarland University's Department of European Social Sciences, Political Science, specializing in postcolonial, feminist, and critical race theory applications to political discourse. Her career spans multiple German universities, including TU Kaiserslautern, University of Augsburg, and Philipps-Marburg University, where she held roles in research and teaching. Her research interests include Whiteness and gender in Brazilian policy Eurocentrism's global consequences Intersectionality in health/sexual violence Urban resilience and participatory cultures Her selected publications analyze materiality in social programs, authoritarianism in Latin America, and diaspora subjectivities in migrant cinema. She co-edited the 'Political Ethnography' series and earned a 'Magna Cum Laude' PhD in 2021. Scientific awards include Rosa Luxemburg Foundation doctoral scholarship (2012-2015) DAAD STIBET scholarship (2015-2016) She has taught interdisciplinary courses at Saarland University, TU Kaiserslautern, and University of Augsburg, covering topics like right-wing populism, feminist theory, and postcolonial approaches to conflict-related violence.
Jens Lerche is a Professor in Agrarian & Labour Studies at the Department of Development Studies, SOAS University of London. With over 50 publications spanning from the 1990s through 2025, his academic career demonstrates sustained engagement with the political economy of labor, caste, and agrarian change in India. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical research on contemporary Indian society, particularly focusing on marginalized communities including Dalits, Adivasis, and agricultural laborers. Lerche's research interests center on the complex intersections of labor, caste, race, and class within contemporary capitalism, with particular attention to how these systems of oppression operate in the Indian context. His work explores the bypassing of traditional agrarian transitions in neoliberal India, the dynamics of social movements like the farm laws protests, and the structural discrimination faced by migrant workers. Through concepts like 'conjugated oppression,' he develops theoretical frameworks that account for how multiple forms of social hierarchy interact within capitalist development. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining how traditional caste hierarchies intersect with emerging class formations in India's political economy. His work has increasingly focused on contemporary social movements, including the farmers' protests and responses to the migrant labor crisis during the pandemic, while maintaining theoretical connections to broader debates about capitalism, inequality, and social change. The 2025 publication on Uttar Pradesh elections demonstrates his ongoing engagement with current political developments in India. Lerche frequently collaborates with fellow scholars, most notably Alpa Shah, with whom he has co-authored multiple publications examining the intersections of caste, class, and social movements. His work appears across diverse publication formats including academic journals, book chapters, reports, and digital commentaries, demonstrating his commitment to engaging both academic and public audiences on critical issues of social justice and political economy in India.
Janet Mosher is an Associate Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Her work bridges law, social work, and community advocacy, with a focus on gender-based violence and marginalized populations. Education: BMusA from Western Ontario, LLB from Queen's University, LLM from University of Toronto. She is a member of the Bar of Ontario. Research: Gender-based violence, access to justice, poverty law, homelessness, and clinical legal education. Teaching: Feminist Advocacy: Ending Violence Against Women, Legal Process, Law & Poverty, Legal Ethics. Recent research explores intersections of family law, immigration law, and domestic violence, including the criminalization of women survivors. Her publications address systemic challenges in justice systems during pandemics and child welfare reforms. She supervises graduate research in qualitative methodologies, particularly community-based participatory action research, focusing on law and social change.
Dr. Servet Altan serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling at MEF University's Faculty of Education in Istanbul, Turkey. Appointed in July 2022, he concurrently holds administrative roles as IBEC Coordinator and Vice Dean of the Faculty since September 2023. His academic foundation includes Master's and Doctorate degrees from Bilkent University, complemented by 15 years of K-12 international program implementation experience (2007-2022). Dr. Altan's research centers on students' motivation and engagement, Habits of Mind frameworks, diversity and inclusion practices, and international education systems. His scholarship appears in premier journals including the Journal of Teacher Education and Teaching and Teacher Education, reflecting his focus on practical applications in educational settings. As an International Baccalaureate Lead Educator since 2016, he actively trains teachers across national and international schools. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) mindfulness applications for reducing test anxiety and enhancing academic achievement, (2) Habits of Mind integration in teacher development and emergency remote teaching contexts, and (3) equity-focused investigations into IB teacher preparation and student psychological needs. His work spans diverse educational environments from Turkish continuum schools to Latina/o/x community college settings, consistently addressing motivation, inclusivity, and international frameworks. Dr. Altan maintains active scholarly engagement through regular presentations at AERA and EARLI conferences. While specific student advisement details and grant information remain unreported in available sources, his leadership roles and publication record indicate significant contributions to educational psychology and international teaching practices.
Catherine Marie Davalos serves as Professor of Dance and Director of the Dance Program at Saint Mary's College of California within the School of Liberal Arts. Since developing the program from inception in 1997, she has established comprehensive offerings including traditional undergraduate dance training, the LEAP professional dancer program, and MFA degrees in Dance: Creative Practice and Design and Production. Her nationally recognized leadership culminated in the Saint Mary's College Dance Company's 2010 Kennedy Center performance at the National College Dance Festival. Her academic credentials feature foundational training at California State University, Long Beach: B.A. in Philosophy and Dance (1985) M.F.A. in Dance (1995), honored as "Most Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts" Davalos's research manifests through choreographic practice interrogating Chicana identity, heteronormativity, and feminist perspectives. Her work explores the tensions of being a "Mexican American Princess"—navigating invisibility and visibility as a brown-skinned Californian—while celebrating nonconforming bodies, races, and sexual identities. This scholarship bridges dance history, criticism, and community activism, centering Latina voices through embodied research that challenges dominant cultural narratives. Analysis of her 2017-2018 scholarly outputs reveals a cohesive trajectory in Chicana feminist dance praxis. These works demonstrate sophisticated integration of site-specific performance, cross-cultural collaboration, and social justice frameworks. Key patterns include transnational partnerships (notably with Italy's City of Panicale), community-engaged curation (Radical Acts of Love festival), and theoretical exploration of dance companies as laboratories for intersectional identity work. Her methodology consistently merges artistic creation with critical analysis of gender, race, and immigration. Her distinguished recognition includes: Artist OF NOTE: The Immigrant Issue international selection (2014) Most Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts (CSU Long Beach, 1995) Davalos mentors dancers across Saint Mary's undergraduate and graduate programs while securing substantial research funding through competitive grants. Her artistic projects have received significant support including: National Endowment for the Arts grant (2011) for full-evening work "Volver" Zellerbach Family Fund Community Arts Grant (2006) Ongoing sponsorship from William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Saint Mary's Faculty Development Office As founder of the Davalos Dance Company (1994), she cultivates an artistic ecosystem spanning the Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers (where she serves as founding member), international collaborations with Italian cultural institutions, and Bay Area performance networks including CounterPulse and ODC. This infrastructure actively produces community-focused work praised by The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times while advancing her vision of dance as radical social practice.
Grace H. Chung is a full-time Professor of Child and Family Studies at the College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, where she has been teaching since March 2018. She serves as Director of the Family Environment Research Lab, focusing on multicultural and immigrant families, family counseling, and adolescent development. Her leadership roles include Director of the Seoul National University Human Ecology Research Institute (March 2023-July 2023), Vice Dean of Student Affairs for the College of Human Ecology (August 2021-July 2023), and Director of the Seoul National University Multicultural Life Education Center (September 2018-December 2022). Dr. Chung earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign in 2006, following an MA from the same institution in 2003. She completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of California, Irvine in 1999. Her academic journey includes positions as Assistant Professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey (2008-2009) and Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA (2006-2008). Her research focuses on multicultural and immigrant families and adolescents, couples and family counseling, parent-child relationships during adolescence, and family stress and adaptation. Through the Family Environment Research Lab, she investigates the adaptation and development of multicultural families and adolescents, as well as stress and resilience processes within family contexts. Her work examines how sociocultural environments, parenting, and family relationships impact adolescent well-being and overall family functioning, with future research expanding to relationship dynamics of couples and families from immigrant backgrounds. Dr. Chung's publications demonstrate strong focus on bi-ethnic identity, cultural adaptation, and family dynamics in multicultural contexts. Her recent work examines daily dynamics in family relationships, the impact of cultural adaptation stress on youth, and the effects of bilingual mentorship in early childhood settings. Her research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications for family counseling and multicultural education. Korean Home Economics Association Outstanding Dissertation Award (2023) Korean Family Relations Association Outstanding Dissertation Award (2023) Family and Quality of Life Society Outstanding Dissertation Award Dr. Chung has advised numerous graduate students, including PhD candidates Jang Yu-min, Hong Seong-hee, and Kim Hye-seong, as well as Master's students like Bae Han-jin and Park Jeong-min. Her students' research spans topics from multicultural family dynamics to adolescent development and family policy. She has secured multiple research grants, including projects funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, Seoul National University Research Center, and Korea Youth Policy Institute, focusing on family adaptation, cultural integration, and adolescent development in multicultural contexts. As Director of the Family Environment Research Lab, Dr. Chung leads a team investigating family dynamics in multicultural contexts. She collaborates with various institutions including the Gwanak-gu Family Center, where she serves as a commissioned counselor and expert committee member. Her lab works closely with international organizations and participates in cross-cultural research projects examining family adaptation across different cultural contexts.
Gabriel Antonio Abarca Brown is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Medical Humanities at the Center for Culture and the Mind (CULTMIND) at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Humanities, where he works within the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies. As a medical anthropologist, clinical psychologist, and psychoanalyst, his research spans multiple disciplinary boundaries while maintaining a focus on Latin American contexts, particularly Chile. His educational background includes a PhD in Anthropology from King's College London's Department of Global Health and Social Medicine (awarded February 1, 2021) and an MA in Adult Clinical Psychology with specialization in Psychoanalysis from the University of Chile. His academic journey reflects his interdisciplinary approach to understanding mental health through both clinical and anthropological lenses. Abarca Brown's research interests focus on the history, politics, and practices of psychiatry and global mental health, particularly examining their impacts on subjectivity and everyday life in Latin America. His work critically engages with decolonial perspectives, intersectionality, and the relationship between neuroscience and society. He investigates how mental health systems interact with migration, race, gender, and cultural contexts, with a special emphasis on Haitian migration to Chile. His scholarship challenges neurocentric approaches while exploring how global mental health initiatives are implemented and transformed in local settings. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward examining the intersection of neuroscience, migration, and mental health in Latin American contexts, particularly Chile. His work often employs ethnographic methods to explore how global mental health paradigms are translated and transformed in local settings. A significant portion of his research focuses on Haitian migration to Chile, examining how mental health services engage with migrant populations and how migrants navigate mental healthcare systems. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent commitment to decolonizing mental health approaches and amplifying Latin American perspectives within global mental health discourse. Honorable Mention - Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais Prize from the Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra (2022) ANID BecasChile PhD scholarship (2015) Scholarship for Research Visit at the Social Medicine Institute UERJ-Brazil (August 2017) Beyond his academic appointments, Abarca Brown has served as an Advisor to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and is a co-founder of the Platform for Social Research in Mental Health in Latin America (PLASMA). His external academic positions include Adjunct Researcher at Universidad Diego Portales and Visiting Professor at Universidad San Sebastián. He has lectured and conducted research at multiple institutions including the University of Santiago, University of Chile, King's College London, and the University of Copenhagen, demonstrating his strong regional and international academic networks. Abarca Brown is actively engaged with the Center for Culture and the Mind (CULTMIND) at the University of Copenhagen, where his postdoctoral fellowship is based. His work intersects with broader initiatives examining the relationship between culture, mind, and mental health. Through PLASMA, he contributes to building networks for mental health research across Latin America, fostering collaborative approaches that center regional perspectives and needs.
