Gabriel N. Rosenberg is Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies and History at Duke University, specializing in the intersections of agriculture, sexuality, and industrial capitalism. His research examines how economic systems shape biological and social reproduction. Education: Ph.D. in History from Brown University Research Focus: Rosenberg investigates the historical relationships between industrial food systems, gender/sexual norms, and state power. Key themes include livestock breeding's ties to eugenics, the politics of meat production, and how agricultural institutions enforce heteronormativity. His work spans U.S. rural history, Soviet and Turkish modernization, and global food regimes. Publications: His scholarship includes award-winning books like The 4-H Harvest and articles analyzing the biopolitics of agriculture. Recent projects critique regenerative ranching narratives and explore lab-grown meat's societal implications. Publications demonstrate how industrial food systems reconfigure intimacy, embodiment, and ecological relations. Awards: Wayne D. Rasmussen Award (2021) Robert B. Cox Teaching Award (2020) Gilbert C. Fite Best Dissertation Prize (2012) K. Austin Kerr Prize (2012) Engagement: He directs student research on food systems and contributes to public debates through media outlets like The New Republic and The Guardian, analyzing the cultural politics of agriculture.
Kelsey Rainwater is a Lecturer and faculty member at Yale University, holding roles in both the David Geffen School of Drama and Yale College. She serves as a Fight and Intimacy Director for DGSD productions and an advisor for undergraduate theater productions. Her expertise spans acting, fight choreography, and intimacy direction in theater. She has taught at institutions including Mason Gross School of the Arts, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and conducted workshops at Smith College. Her professional work includes notable productions such as The Tempest at The Public Theater, alongside collaborations with YaleREP, The Guthrie, Rattlestick, and others. As a Resident Fight and Intimacy Director at YaleREP, she contributes to both academic and professional theater initiatives. Her research interests focus on safe and ethical practices in theatrical combat and intimacy coordination within performance studies.
Eva Lefkowitz is a Professor and Department Head of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut (UConn), leading the department since 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UCLA and previously served as a professor and program leader at Penn State University for 18 years. Her research focuses on sexual health across the lifespan, examining how individual, relational, and institutional factors (e.g., religion) influence sexual behavior and well-being. Notable projects include studying LGBTQ+ college students' experiences during the pandemic and the role of family relationships in identity expression. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Eva’s leadership extends to national roles in organizations like the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA) and editorial boards for journals such as Developmental Psychology . She received the 2008 Evelyn R. Saubel Faculty Award for her contributions. At UConn, she teaches large undergraduate courses on life-span development and graduate seminars on professional development. Her work emphasizes mentoring, with students actively shaping research directions. Beyond academia, she enjoys cooking, barre class, and family life with her husband (also a UConn professor) and teenage twins. Eva’s funding includes grants from NIH institutes (NICHD, NIAAA) and the WT Grant Foundation. Her research bridges developmental psychology and family science, addressing contemporary issues like pandemic impacts on marginalized groups and the interplay between religiosity and sexual health.
Siobhan Richardson is a drama professor and intimacy director at the University of Windsor. She is affiliated with the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, contributing to theatre and performance arts. Richardson collaborates with the University Players, a student-run theatre company, and directed the multimedia production If We Were Birds in 2021 as part of the company’s 63rd season. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to theatre, blending traditional performance with multimedia elements. Research interests include contemporary theatre practices, intimacy direction in performance, and the integration of technology into dramatic arts. Though specific academic publications are not detailed in the provided text, her practical contributions to student productions highlight her focus on innovative storytelling and collaborative performance methodologies. No scientific awards, grants, or advising records are mentioned in the available information. She is fully employed as a faculty member, with no indication of part-time status.
Stephanie Spielmann serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology within Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she directs the Relationships and Individual Differences (RAID) Lab focused on personality dynamics in romantic relationships, breakups, and singlehood. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Toronto in 2013, completing a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Social Psychology at the same institution from 2013-2014. Her research program investigates how insecurity drives maladaptive relationship choices through threat avoidance motivations (e.g., fear of rejection) while examining reward opportunities like intimacy. Grounded in attachment theory, her work demonstrates that insecure individuals exaggerate social threats and undervalue rewards, leading to pursuits of undesirable partners despite available alternatives. This framework reveals how fear of being single motivates risky health decisions, ambiguous rejection responses, and ex-partner re-engagement. Analysis of her publications shows consistent thematic focus since 2013, with recent work (2023-2025) expanding into health contexts and scale validation. Methodologically, her research combines experimental priming, longitudinal surveys, and dyadic couple studies across journals like Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Personal Relationships . No major scientific awards are documented in the provided materials. Dr. Spielmann advises graduate researchers in the RAID Lab and teaches core courses including Statistical Methods in Psychology (PSY2030) and Psychology of Social Behavior (PSY2600), with specialized instruction in Social Psychology of Close Relationships (PSY7645). The RAID Lab conducts empirical studies examining how personality traits and attachment styles shape relationship regulation, utilizing diverse methodologies to investigate singlehood experiences, breakup recovery, and decision-making under insecurity.
Dr. Samantha Joel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Western University. Her research focuses on how individuals make decisions in romantic relationships and how these decisions impact health and well-being. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto (2015) and completed a SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin (2016). Her work emphasizes methodological rigor, including contributions to dyadic modeling and addressing biases in relationship science. Research Interests: Decision-making in romantic relationships Attachment theory and partner perception Psychosocial stressors (e.g., financial worries, pandemic impacts) Cognitive biases and perceptual framing Sexual compatibility and behavioral prediction Publications Trends: Her recent work spans methodological advancements (e.g., dyadic SEM clarifications), explorations of biased perceptions in relationships, and pandemic-era behavioral shifts. She emphasizes open science practices and has contributed to meta-scientific debates about improving relationship science credibility. Awards/Grants: No awards explicitly listed in provided texts. Her research has been supported by SSHRC and institutional grants (not detailed). Labs/Teams: Directs the Relationship Decisions Lab, focusing on computational models of relationship dynamics and intervention strategies.
Pia Karlsson Minganti is an Assistant Professor and researcher of ethnology at Stockholm University's Department of Ethnology, History of Religions and Gender Studies. Her work focuses on transnational migration, religious pluralism, and cultural transformations of identity and gender relations. She directs the Bachelor Program in Diversity Studies and leads research projects like 'Religious divorce in a secular legal context,' funded by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation. She is affiliated with the Critical Heritage Studies Network (CHSN) at Stockholm University. Her research explores Muslim communities in Sweden, with a focus on youth organizations, gender negotiations, and spatial belonging. Notable works include her doctoral dissertation *Muslima* (2007/2014), which examines Islamic identity among young Swedish Muslim women. Additional areas include Muslim women’s leadership in mosques, the role of humor in cultural norms, and the intersection of religion and welfare in Europe. Pia contributes to interdisciplinary platforms such as the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Religion and Society (CRS) at Uppsala University. Her publications span ethnological analyses of marriage practices, religious fashion, and the role of Muslim women in shelters. She has held visiting research positions in Italy and collaborates internationally on projects like the EU’s GeMIC initiative. Her work bridges ethnography with critical theory, addressing themes like secularism, gender equity, and cultural heritage. Key topics in her articles include negotiations of Islamic marriage in Europe, the visibility of Muslim women, and the spatial politics of mosques in Sweden.
Sarah Hinzman is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Acting and Directing in the Department of Theatre at Nebraska Wesleyan University, located within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds an M.F.A. in Theatre (Directing) from Florida State University and brings extensive experience as an actor, director, educator, and producer across regional, university, and community theatres nationwide. Education: M.F.A. Theatre, Directing – Florida State University M.S. Adult Learning and Organizational Performance, Leadership and Training & Development – Drake University B.F.A. Music Theatre, Minor in Dance – Viterbo University Sarah's research and artistic interests center on innovative and physical forms of theatre, including Puppetry, Devised Theatre, Physical Theatre, Avant-Garde Theatre, and New Works , complemented by scholarly engagement in Dramaturgy and organizational development. Her teaching philosophy integrates artistic exploration with leadership and community service, evident in her courses such as Script Analysis, Voice for the Stage, and Directing I. While no peer-reviewed articles are listed, her creative output is practice-based, highlighted by her upcoming direction of the 2024–2025 mainstage production Dial M for Murder , reflecting her expertise in classical and contemporary theatre. Her work trends toward narrative innovation, embodiment, and audience engagement through physical and devised performance. Professional Recognition: Consent Forward Artist, Intimacy Directors and Coordinators Shakespeare Short Course Alumni, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) Sarah is deeply committed to mentorship and community service. With over a decade in volunteer and community program management, she has focused on inclusion for people with disabilities, mentoring at-risk youth, and elder advocacy. As a two-year AmeriCorps alumnus and Environmental Educator, she champions the idea that art-making is a vital act of service . Though no formal grants are mentioned, her background in grant writing and program administration suggests active engagement in securing support for artistic and educational initiatives. She is affiliated with professional networks emphasizing ethical performance practices and classical training, and she integrates environmentalism and ecology into her service interests. Her lab or creative team involvement is implied through production work and community collaborations, though not explicitly detailed.
Caroline Law is a Senior Research Fellow at De Montfort University, based in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and affiliated with the School of Applied Social Sciences. She is a core member of the Centre for Reproduction Research (CRR), an interdisciplinary hub focused on the social, cultural, and political dimensions of human reproduction. Caroline contributes to the strategic direction of the CRR, chairs its writing group, and leads impact enhancement initiatives. She teaches and supervises at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is an active contributor to academic discourse through publications and conference presentations. BSc Sociology, University of Bath, 2002 MSc Social Research Methods, Open University, 2011 PhD Sociology, De Montfort University, 2022 Caroline's research centers on the sociology of health, illness, and medicine, with a strong focus on reproduction and infertility. Her work explores men’s reproductive health and masculinity, reproductive timing and aging, and the lived experiences of endometriosis. Using qualitative methods, she investigates how chronic illness affects intimate relationships, fertility desires, and social identities. Her research emphasizes gender, chronic uncertainty, and the social construction of reproductive norms. Her publications span high-impact journals such as Sociology , Human Reproduction , and Sociology of Health & Illness , as well as public engagement platforms like The Conversation . The articles reflect a consistent focus on qualitative, sociological inquiry into reproduction, with evolving themes from male fertility awareness and fatherhood timing to the psychosocial impact of endometriosis on couples and individuals. Her recent work introduces conceptual frameworks like 'misconnect' in personal life sociology. Member, International Journal of Social Research Methodology Reviewer College Caroline has contributed to multiple externally and internally funded research projects, including the ENDOPART study on endometriosis and couple wellbeing, symposia on fertility technologies, and initiatives on equality in higher education. She has collaborated with institutions such as the University of Nottingham, Birmingham City University, and Queen’s University Belfast. While no formal list of students is provided, she supervises postgraduate research. She is also involved in knowledge exchange with Endometriosis UK, developing support resources for affected couples. She leads and participates in research networks such as the European Network for Research on Men, Infertility and Assisted Conception and has organized academic events to foster early career research in technologically mediated reproduction.
Sophie Bergeron is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal, affiliated with the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Intimate Relationships and Sexual Wellbeing and is Director of the Laboratory of Study on Sexual Health (Laboratoire d'étude de la santé sexuelle) and the CRIPCAS (Interdisciplinary Research Center on Couple Problems and Sexual Aggression). Her research focuses on sexual health, couples' relationships, and the psychosocial determinants of gynecological pain, including dyspareunia and vaginismus. She has developed a cognitive-behavioral program integrating pain management and sexual therapy for women with dyspareunia. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from Université de Montréal. Research Interests: Sexual health, couple dynamics, pain management, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and the impact of trauma on intimate relationships. Current projects include studies on sexual well-being across life stages, cyber abuse in young adult couples, and interventions for sexual interest/arousal disorder. Grants & Projects: Leads major grants such as the Helping with Outcome for Low Desire (HOLD) clinical trial and the Couples and Sexuality: Promoting Well-being in Vulnerable Populations initiative. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on topics like adolescent sexual health and LGBTQ+ family experiences in medically assisted reproduction. Awards: Holder of the Canada Research Chair, reflecting her leadership in sexual and relationship well-being research. Labs/Teams: Directs CRIPCAS, a leading research group addressing couple problems and sexual aggression, and co-leads the SCOUP team (Sexual and Couple Health).
Jennifer F. Chmielewski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University. She earned her PhD in Critical Social/Personality Psychology from the CUNY Graduate Center in 2023 and holds an M.A. and Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She previously served as a Teaching Fellow at The City College of New York from 2017 to 2023, where she taught courses in social psychology, qualitative methods, and research. Her research is grounded in feminist, intersectional, and critical psychological frameworks, focusing on young people’s embodiment, identity, desire, and sexuality. She employs diverse methodologies—including narrative analysis, interviews, focus groups, and participatory action research—to examine how structural inequalities shape intimate experiences and how desire can serve as a site of resistance. Her current lab projects include the Dimensions of Desire Study, the Sexual Imaginations Study, and a new multi-site initiative on Sexual Subjectivities Post-Roe, all of which center marginalized youth, particularly those at the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality. Her recent publications and presentations reflect a strong trend in qualitative, feminist scholarship on female desire, sexual agency, embodiment, and media representations of adolescent sexuality. She has published in top journals such as Qualitative Psychology , Psychology of Women Quarterly , and Feminist Media Studies , and frequently presents at major conferences including the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the Association for Women in Psychology. Scientific Awards and Honors: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Award, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (2022) Janet Hyde Graduate Student Research Award Honorable Mention, APA Division 35 (2022) Annual Student Prize for Psychological Research on Women and Gender, Association for Women in Psychology (2021) Lesbian Psychologies Unpublished Manuscript Award (2018) Featured Feminist Science Symposia Series Award (2018) Graduate Teaching Fellowship, The City College of New York (2017–2023) Dr. Chmielewski has secured competitive research grants as Principal or Co-Investigator from organizations such as the Society for Qualitative Inquiry, PSC-CUNY, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Her work emphasizes community engagement, social justice, and translational research, often collaborating with advocacy groups and policymakers. She mentors students in qualitative research and advises on projects related to sexual subjectivity and resistance. She leads an active research lab focused on critical inquiries into youth sexuality and is developing a national survey to assess the impact of abortion policy on young people’s sexual lives. Her teaching includes courses such as Social Bases of Behavior, Qualitative Methods in Clinical Psychology, and Directed Individual Research, reflecting her commitment to training the next generation of socially conscious psychologists.
Jess Tucker Boyd is a Lecturer in Movement Intimacy and Coordinator of Movement Direction at the London College of Music, University of West London. With expertise spanning theatre, drama, and performance studies, Jess teaches across various programs including BA (Hons) Musical Theatre, MA Acting and Theatre Making, and BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen. Movement Direction Credits: Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, The Finborough Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Trafalgar Studios, Arcola Theatre, Theatre Marlowe Intimacy Coordination Credits: Bad Wolf (The Winter King), Drama Republic (One Day), Playground Productions (Dangerous Liaisons), Theatre Clwyd (Missing Julie), Lyric Hammersmith (Faustus: That Damned Woman)
Niall Bolger is a Professor of Psychology at Columbia University, maintaining offices in Uris Hall and laboratory facilities in Schermerhorn Hall. He teaches core courses including Experimental Psychology: Social and Personality and advanced graduate seminars on Analysis of Change, while supervising individual research projects at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His research program centers on the intersection of close relationships and stress adaptation, employing intensive longitudinal methodologies that capture daily experiences through diary reports and physiological measurements. Bolger investigates personality processes as they manifest in naturalistic settings and develops innovative statistical techniques for analyzing complex multilevel data structures. His work reveals how interpersonal dynamics operate in real-world contexts, particularly during acute stressors like professional examinations. Bolger directs The Couples Lab, which pioneers research on relationship dynamics through daily diary methodologies and physiological assessments. His publications demonstrate consistent focus on methodological rigor in relationship science, with recurring themes of oxytocin's context-dependent effects, empathic accuracy mechanisms, and the biopsychosocial pathways linking social interactions to health outcomes. This body of work establishes him as a leading methodologist in social psychology's micro-longitudinal revolution.
Dr. Shannon D. Snapp serves as Associate Professor of Psychology within the Department of Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay, operating under the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Her research centers on asset-based, justice-driven investigations of interpersonal relationships and educational policies that promote health and well-being among underrepresented youth, particularly LGBTQ youth and youth of color through rigorous intersectional analysis. Her academic foundation includes: PhD in Developmental Psychology from Boston College MA in Developmental Psychology from Boston College BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Kansas Dr. Snapp's research program employs mixed methods to examine how supportive school practices and inclusive policies can mitigate mental health disparities and educational inequities for sexual and gender minority youth. She prioritizes critically-conscious methodologies that center youth voices and experiences while developing actionable frameworks for systemic change, consistently emphasizing intersectionality as fundamental to understanding complex identity formations. Analysis of her 2015-2025 publications reveals a strategic evolution from foundational work on LGBTQ-inclusive curricula toward cutting-edge investigations of digital hookup culture and theoretical innovations like the "safety spectrum theory." This trajectory demonstrates deepening engagement with intersectional contexts—particularly for LGBTQ youth of color—and increasingly sophisticated examinations of school discipline disparities, relationship formation, and identity development in digital spaces. Her teaching innovations include developing and instructing "How to Love: The Art and Science of Love and Intimacy" (featured in her TEDx CSUMB talk "To Suffer Less, We Need Perfect Love") and "Social Psychology and Social Justice." She integrates wellness practices including yoga and meditation into her professional approach to foster holistic student development.
Karen Steigman serves as Professor and Department Chair of English at Otterbein University, concurrently directing the Honors program and advising the Film Club. Her academic leadership spans curriculum development and student mentorship within the English department. Her educational credentials include: PhD in English from the University of Minnesota MA in English and Comparative Literature from SUNY-Buffalo BA in English from SUNY-Buffalo Professor Steigman specializes in 20th- and 21st-century American literatures with concentrated expertise in postcolonial theory, literary criticism, and film studies. Her research examines geopolitical narratives through authors like Joan Didion, Jamaica Kincaid, and Elizabeth Hardwick, exploring intersections of journalism, empathy, and Cold War-era cultural production. Current projects analyze disaster narratives, feminist film theory, and the cinematic representation of crime in American cinema. Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with American cultural identity, evolving from early studies of Graham Greene to contemporary analyses of Spike Lee’s 25th Hour . This body of work demonstrates interdisciplinary rigor bridging literary analysis, film criticism, and critical university studies, with recurring themes of political complicity and ethical ambiguity. Her professional recognition includes: New Teacher of the Year Award (Otterbein University, 2010) Myron Allen Fellowship (University of Minnesota, 1998-99) Professor Steigman actively mentors students through the Honors program and Film Club while contributing to national scholarship as MLA Forum Executive Committee member (2018-2023). Her ongoing mentorship in OSU’s Preparing Future Faculty Program since 2014 demonstrates commitment to academic pipeline development. Professional affiliations include Phi Beta Kappa, ACLA, and ASAP. She anchors Otterbein’s academic community through departmental leadership, Honors program direction, and Film Club stewardship, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between literary studies and cinematic arts.
