Dr. Mark B. Smith is an Associate Professor in Modern European History at the University of Cambridge’s Department of History. His research focuses on Soviet and European history, particularly the Soviet Union’s social structures, welfare policies, urban development, and cultural dynamics from Stalinism through late socialism. He teaches courses on welfare states, Soviet life, and 20th-century European violence. Key research areas include Soviet urban housing programs, welfare state evolution, and Cold War-era cultural exchanges. His publications analyze topics like Khrushchev’s housing reforms, post-Stalin urban welfare systems, and Soviet pension policies. Smith has co-edited special issues on European urban societies and authored books such as *The Russia Anxiety* (2019) and the forthcoming *Exit Stalin* (2026). He advises doctoral students on Soviet history, welfare states, and Cold War topics. His work bridges legal history, social policy analysis, and cultural studies, emphasizing how everyday life reflected broader ideological and structural changes in Soviet society.
Nadia E. Brown is a Professor of Government and Director of the Women's and Gender Studies Program at Georgetown University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University and specializes in intersectional analyses of Black women’s politics, legislative studies, and identity politics. Her work emphasizes holistic approaches to understanding race, gender, and their intersections in political systems. Dr. Brown leads the #MeTooPoliSci Collective, focusing on eradicating sexual harassment in political science, and co-PIs a million-dollar NSF grant addressing systemic issues in the discipline. She is editor of Politics, Groups and Identities and contributes to The Monkey Cage blog. Her research spans Black women’s legislative representation, digital activism, and feminist methodologies, with award-winning books including Sisters in the Statehouse and Sister Style . Education: Ph.D. in Political Science, Rutgers University Key Affiliations: African American Studies Program, #MeTooPoliSci Collective Research Methods: Case studies, ethnography, interviews Her advocacy extends beyond academia, influencing public discourse on racial justice and gender equity through media engagement and policy-focused scholarship.
Patricia M. Thornton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) at the University of Oxford and a Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Merton College. She specializes in Chinese politics, focusing on state-society interactions, authoritarian governance, and the legacies of the Cultural Revolution. Her research explores institutions, practices, and networks shaping governance in China, including works like *Disciplining the State* (2007) and *Red Shadows* (2017). She has held leadership roles at Oxford, including Chair of the Sub-Faculty of Politics and International Relations, and served on editorial boards such as *The China Quarterly*. Her work addresses contemporary challenges like authoritarian resilience, social control mechanisms, and political dissent. Research Interests: - State formation and governance in China - Authoritarian political systems - Memory and legacies of the Cultural Revolution - Party-state dynamics and social movements - Comparative political institutions Publications highlight themes like economic governance, social movements, and policy implementation. She has supervised numerous PhD students, many now leading academics in Asia-Pacific studies. Her contributions to understanding China’s political evolution are complemented by media commentary on current events, including analysis of Xi Jinping’s governance strategies and societal trends. Awards: Merton College Fellowship Key Projects: Edited *To Govern China* (2017) and *Red Shadows* (2017)
Professor Nguyen Van Chinh is a distinguished scholar in anthropology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University (VNU-USSH), specializing in the Department of Anthropology and Religious Studies. With a PhD from the University of Amsterdam and extensive international research experience including a postdoctoral fellowship at the National University of Singapore, he has established himself as a leading expert in Southeast Asian anthropology, migration studies, and ethnic relations. His academic career spanning over four decades includes numerous visiting professorships at prestigious institutions worldwide. Professor Chinh's research interests encompass Anthropology Research Methods , History of Anthropology , Migration and Poverty Studies , Ethnic Identity , and Cross-border Ethnic Groups in Southeast Asia. His scholarly work demonstrates a particular focus on the intersection of economic development, cultural preservation, and social transformation in Vietnamese and Southeast Asian contexts. Through extensive fieldwork and theoretical contributions, he has shaped contemporary understanding of ethnic minorities, migration patterns, and socio-economic changes in the region. His extensive publication record shows a clear evolution toward contemporary issues including China's growing influence in the Mekong region, ethnic Chinese migration, and the challenges of poverty reduction in Vietnam. The research demonstrates increasing engagement with transnational phenomena, border studies, and the impact of China's economic expansion on Southeast Asian societies. His most recent work addresses pressing contemporary issues such as disability rights, academic publishing challenges, and urban migration dynamics. Distinguished PhD dissertation awarded by NVMC (Netherlands Association of Social Sciences and Cultural Sciences), 2000 Certificate of Merit from the President of National University for outstanding achievements, 2007 Asian Leadership Fellow (ALFP) awarded by the Japan Foundation, 2004 Asian Public Intellectual Fellow (API) awarded by the Nippon Foundation, 2010 Multiple research grants from prestigious foundations including Toyota, Rockefeller, and Japan Foundation Professor Chinh has served as an independent consultant for numerous national and international development projects implemented in Vietnam. His advisory work spans multiple sectors including labor, health, agriculture, and ethnic minority affairs, working with organizations such as WHO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, DFID, IUCN, UNICEF, and UNESCO. His expertise in ethnographic research methods and understanding of Vietnamese society has made him a valuable resource for policy development and implementation across multiple domains.
Marcela Echeverri Muñoz is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at Yale University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Her scholarship bridges history, anthropology, and political theory, with a focus on Latin America, the Atlantic World, and the Spanish Empire. She is recognized for her interdisciplinary approach to understanding political subjectivities, state formation, and social transformation during the Age of Revolutions. PhD in Latin American and Caribbean History, New York University, 2008 MA in History of the Hispanic World, Fundación MAPFRE-Tavera and CSIC, Madrid, 2006 MA in Social and Political Theory, The New School for Social Research, 2001 BA in Anthropology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, 1997 Her research centers on the interplay of race, gender, law, and political theory in colonial and 19th-century Latin America. She investigates how enslaved and Indigenous peoples navigated imperial and republican transitions, particularly through royalist affiliations. Her work challenges peripheral narratives of Spanish America in Atlantic slavery studies, positioning the region as a central site of abolitionist and constitutional experimentation. The trends in her recent publications reveal a sustained focus on slavery, abolition, and political transformation in the Spanish American mainland. She analyzes how anti-slavery movements were intertwined with republicanism, citizenship, and state formation, especially in Gran Colombia. Her scholarship spans legal history, Atlantic processes, and transimperial dynamics, often highlighting marginalized voices in revolutionary contexts. She frequently contributes to major reference works and edited volumes on Atlantic revolutions and Latin American independence. Her scientific awards and fellowships reflect her standing in the field: James Alexander Robertson Prize Michael Jiménez Prize Bolton-Johnson Prize Honorable Mention Yale Heyman Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Publication Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship MacMillan Research Fellow, Yale Mellon Residential Fellow, CUNY NEH Summer Institute Participant, Johns Hopkins Fellowships from John Carter Brown Library, CSIC, Fundación Mapfre, and Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia Echeverri has secured significant research grants from Harvard’s Atlantic History Seminar, CUNY Research Foundation, and Yale. She has co-edited special issues on Gran Colombian history and Spanish American abolition, and led key academic initiatives including the Race and Slavery in the Atlantic World Working Group and the Early Modern Empires Workshop at Yale. Though student advising is not explicitly detailed, her role as a senior scholar implies mentorship of graduate students. She is affiliated with several research networks and has been a visiting scholar at institutions such as Freie Universität Berlin. Her ongoing book project on Gran Colombian slavery underscores her commitment to redefining the hemispheric significance of Latin American abolition. She remains an active contributor to both scholarly and pedagogical conversations in Atlantic and Latin American history.
Gyu Tag Lee is a Professor in the International Studies Department at George Mason University Korea, specializing in Cultural Studies with a focus on K-Pop, media criticism, and the globalization of culture. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from George Mason University (2013), an MA in Communication from Seoul National University, and a BA in English Language and Literature from the same institution. Having completed three years of military service in the Republic of Korea Air Force, he has been teaching at George Mason University Korea since 2014. His research interests span Cultural Studies, Media Criticism, Popular Music, K-Pop and Hallyu, Globalization of Culture, and Music Industry studies. Professor Lee is particularly recognized for his expertise on K-Pop's global expansion, cultural appropriation issues within the industry, and the relationship between Korean cultural identity and global pop music markets. His extensive publications reflect a consistent focus on K-Pop's evolution, from its historical roots to contemporary challenges and future directions. His work examines the tension between local Korean identity and global appeal, the role of digital platforms in fan engagement, and the cultural politics surrounding K-Pop's international success. Professor Lee's research demonstrates how K-Pop functions as both a cultural product and economic phenomenon with significant implications for understanding transnational cultural flows. As a respected commentator in the field, he serves on the selection committee for the Korean Music Awards and has been featured in numerous international media outlets including Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Netflix's documentary Explained, and major Korean broadcasters such as KBS, MBC, and SBS. His insights on cultural appropriation in K-Pop have been particularly influential in shaping discussions about cultural sensitivity and global cultural exchange. Professor Lee teaches courses including Media Criticism, Globalization and Culture, K-Pop, Hallyu, and Korean Society, and Korean Popular Culture in a Global World, bringing his scholarly expertise directly into the classroom to educate the next generation of cultural critics and analysts.
Jordi Galí is a Professor at the Department of Economics and Business at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research in International Economics (CREI), and a Research Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE). He holds a PhD from MIT and has played a central role in shaping modern macroeconomic theory, particularly the New Keynesian framework used by central banks worldwide. Education: PhD in Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1989 Master in International Management, ESADE, 1985 Bachelor in Economics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 1994 His research focuses on macroeconomic theory, monetary economics, and macroeconometrics. He is best known for his work on the New Keynesian Phillips Curve, optimal monetary policy rules, and the role of technology and expectations in business cycles. His influential book, Monetary Policy, Inflation and the Business Cycle , is a standard reference in graduate programs globally. The most recent articles highlight a continued focus on critical issues in modern macroeconomics: the implications of a low natural rate of interest (r*), the effectiveness of monetary policy at the zero lower bound, the role of wage and price flexibility, and the interaction between fiscal and monetary policy. His work increasingly integrates heterogeneity, financial frictions, and experimental methods, reflecting the evolving frontiers of the field. Scientific Awards: BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award (2025) Yrjo Jahnsson Award (2005) Premi Rei Jaume I d'Economia (2004) Premio Nacional de Investigación “Pascual Madoz” (2022) Three ERC Advanced Grants Foreign Honorary Member, American Economic Association (2020) Galí has advised numerous central banks, including the ECB, Federal Reserve, and Banque de France. He has held leadership roles as President of the European Economic Association (2012), co-editor of the Journal of the European Economic Association , and co-director of the CEPR International Macroeconomics Programme. He is a Research Fellow at CEPR, a Research Associate at NBER, and a Fellow of the Econometric Society. He has also been actively involved in public policy debates in Spain and Europe, particularly on issues of productivity, labor market reform, and fiscal policy. His research program continues to explore the design of stabilization policies in open and currency union economies.
Elliott Ash is an Associate Professor of Law, Economics, and Data Science at ETH Zurich's Center for Law & Economics. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and J.D. from Columbia University, a B.A. in Economics, Government, and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, and an LL.M. in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam. His research focuses on empirical legal studies using econometrics, NLP, and ML, examining topics like judicial behavior, legislative impact, and AI-driven governance. He has been funded by the ERC, Swiss NSF, and others. Research Interests: Elliott explores automation of legal decisions, text-as-data analysis in law, and the intersection of AI with legal systems. He develops tools like BallotBot and LePaRD to enhance legal transparency and public understanding. His work bridges law, economics, and computer science, with publications in top journals like the American Economic Journal and Review of Economics and Statistics . Teaching: Courses include Building a Robot Judge , Natural Language Processing for Law , and Big Data for Public Policy . He co-organizes the Zurich Workshop in AI+Economics and Monash-Warwick-Zurich Text-as-Data Workshops. Awards: European Research Council Starting Grant, Swiss National Science Foundation Grant, and multiple grants from U.S. and Swiss institutions. His work has been featured in NPR , VoxEU , and Georgetown Law Journal . Labs/Teams: Leads the Swiss AI Initiative's Human-AI Alignment team, collaborates with the CEPR on Political Economy research, and serves as an Economic Journal Associate Editor.
Carol Carpenter is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Research Scholar at Yale University's School of the Environment. She has held teaching and research positions at Syracuse University, the University of Hawaii, and Hawaii-Pacific University, and a research role at the East-West Center. Her expertise spans environmental anthropology, conservation, sustainable development, and gender in agrarian systems. She earned a B.A. from SUNY Binghamton and M.A./Ph.D. from Cornell University. Her research focuses on the social science of conservation, economic anthropology in agriculture, and gender dynamics in ecological systems. Notable fieldwork includes four years in Indonesia studying rituals and social networks, followed by four years in Pakistan as a development consultant on social forestry and women's issues for USAID, the World Bank, and the Asia Foundation. She joined Yale in 1998 and published Power in Conservation: Environmental Anthropology Beyond Political Ecology (2020) and co-edited Environmental Anthropology: An Historical Reader (2007). Her recent work critiques conservation practices through an anthropological lens, emphasizing cultural contexts and gender roles. Earlier studies explored resource management in Pakistan, including women’s labor in agriculture and afforestation impacts. Her articles span decades, addressing topics from ritual ethnobotany to development surveillance in Bolivia. While no specific grants or lab affiliations are detailed, her consultancy roles highlight applied research in development sectors. No awards are explicitly mentioned, though her academic contributions are substantial.
Kevin Pisciotta is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Kansas School of Business, specializing in empirical corporate finance, initial public offerings (IPOs), and information intermediaries. His work bridges corporate finance theory with real-world market dynamics, focusing on IPO processes, analyst behavior, and economic impacts of social issues like opioid abuse and sports betting. Education: Ph.D. in Business Administration, Pennsylvania State University M.S. in Finance, University of Delaware B.S. in Finance, University of Delaware Research Interests: His research explores how IPO bookbuilding mechanisms influence market outcomes, the role of sell-side analysts in information dissemination, and the macroeconomic consequences of phenomena like opioid abuse and sports gambling. He also investigates labor economics through the lens of corporate innovation and workforce productivity. Publications Trends: Recent work examines the interplay between sports betting and household financial stability (2024), IPO marketing strategies post-JOBS Act reforms (2018), and the spillover effects of opioid abuse on regional innovation ecosystems (2023). His studies frequently employ large-scale datasets to analyze market microstructure and policy impacts. Grants/Advising: No specific grants or advisee names are listed in available materials. Teaching experience includes undergraduate courses in investments, international finance, and corporate financial management. Labs/Teams: No dedicated lab affiliation is mentioned, though collaborations with institutions like Pennsylvania State University and the University of Delaware are implied through his educational background and co-authorships.
Alan Patten is the Howard Harrison and Gabrielle Snyder Beck Professor of Politics and Chair of Princeton University's Department of Politics. He holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University, with prior academic roles at McGill University and the University of Exeter. His research bridges historical political thought and contemporary political philosophy, focusing on minority rights, language politics, nationalism, and religious freedom. He is the author of Hegel's Idea of Freedom (1999), Equal Recognition: The Moral Foundations of Minority Rights (2014), and co-editor of Language Rights and Political Theory (2003). Patten has served as editor of Philosophy & Public Affairs (2010–2017) and currently directs Princeton's University Center for Human Values. His recent work explores a liberal theory of religious freedom and critiques neocolonial dynamics in cultural trade. Awards include the APSA First Book Prize and the C.B. Macpherson Prize. Education: B.A. (McGill), M.A. (Toronto), M.Phil. & D.Phil. (Oxford, 1996). Teaching includes courses on political theory, democracy, and self-determination. Patten has advised numerous Ph.D. students on topics in political philosophy and intellectual history. Research interests span the moral foundations of minority rights, language policy in multicultural contexts, and the historical development of nationalist thought. His work often combines normative argumentation with historical analysis, addressing contemporary issues like religious exemptions, cultural preservation, and global justice. Awards: APSA First Book Prize in Political Theory (1999) C.B. Macpherson Prize (Canadian Political Science Association, 1999) Service: Chair of the Department of Politics (2018–2024), editorial roles, and academic leadership in interdisciplinary initiatives at Princeton.
Neil Selwyn is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University with over 30 years of research experience focusing on the integration of digital technology into educational settings. His work centers on the 'real-life' constraints and problems faced when implementing technology-based education, with expertise in AI, automation, data-driven education, and digital degrowth. His primary research interests span digital technology and society, the use of digital technologies in educational settings, digital sociology of education, and environmental sustainability issues associated with digital technology use. Professor Selwyn is recognized internationally for his critical approach to educational technology and has led numerous nationally-funded projects examining educational data, learning analytics, and AI technologies. His recent publications reflect a growing focus on the environmental implications of AI in education, digital degrowth, and the practical challenges teachers face when implementing AI tools in classrooms. This work demonstrates a shift toward examining the sustainability and ethical dimensions of educational technology. Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (2024) Professor Selwyn serves as a media commentator for major outlets including the NYT, WSJ, CNN, Guardian, BBC, and ABC, and hosts the 'Education Technology Society' podcast. He maintains significant international collaborations, currently holding visiting positions at Lund University (2025), University of Oxford (2023-2027), and previously at the University of Gothenburg (2016-2017).
Lauren M.E. Goodlad is a Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University, serving as Chair of Critical AI @ Rutgers and Editor of the journal Critical AI . She holds affiliations with the Center for Cultural Analysis (CCA), Rutgers British Studies Center, and Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science. Her research bridges 19th-century studies and critical AI, emphasizing 'critical AI literacies' and ethical AI development. Goodlad has held roles like Associate Chair of English and membership in Rutgers' AI Advisory Council and CASS (Cyberinfrastructure for Science, Engineering & Society). Her education includes a BSILR from Cornell University, MA in English from NYU, and PhD in English from Columbia University. Notable grants include NEH funding for global AI workshops ('Unboxing AI'), an NSF planning grant on teaching writing with AI, and an upcoming Global Humanities Institute on Design Justice AI. Research interests span Victorian literature, genre theory, television studies, and AI's sociocultural impacts. Awards include University of Illinois' Kathryn Paul Professorial Scholar and Provost Fellow for Undergraduate Education. Current projects include a book on 19th-century fiction's ontological influence and collaborations on AI ethics frameworks. Publications include The Victorian Geopolitical Aesthetic (Oxford, 2015), co-edited special issues on Mad Men and Victorian Internationalisms , and recent critical AI essays in Critical AI and New Literary History . She advocates for AI development aligned with public interest through pedagogical innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris is a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Interim Dean of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on the intersection of urban design, public spaces, and social equity, emphasizing user-centered perspectives in urban environments. Key research areas include public space utilization by diverse ethnic groups, transit security, gentrification impacts on transit neighborhoods, and urban regeneration strategies. Her work has been funded by entities like the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Mellon Foundation. She has authored/co-authored influential books such as Sidewalks: Conflict and Negotiation over Public Space (2009) and Transit-Oriented Displacement or Community Dividends? (2019). Dr. Loukaitou-Sideris has served as a consultant for organizations including the Transportation Research Board and the Greek Government, advising on urban design, land use, and transportation policy. She co-leads the UCLA Urban Humanities Initiative, blending interdisciplinary approaches to urban challenges. Her professional service includes roles as former Associate Dean at Luskin and leadership in academic programs. She actively engages in policy-relevant research, addressing issues such as parklet development, inner-city commercial corridors, and sexual harassment in transit environments.
María Rivera Maulucci is the Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Education and serves as the Education Program Director/Chair at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is a proud alumna of Barnard (Class of 1988) and has been a faculty member since 2004. Her work centers on urban education, science pedagogy, and teacher development with a strong commitment to equity and social justice. Education: BS, Barnard College, Columbia University MFS, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies M.Phil, Teachers College, Columbia University Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University Her research focuses on how teachers learn to teach for social justice, emphasizing the role of language, identity, and emotions in teacher development. She employs qualitative research and evaluation methods to explore transformative pedagogical practices in urban science education. Her scholarship bridges formal and informal learning contexts and investigates the interplay between teacher agency and structural constraints. Her recent publications and presentations highlight a sustained focus on equity, critical science inquiry, teacher identity, and professional development. She has contributed extensively to journals such as Journal of Research in Science Teaching and Cultural Studies of Science Education , and has authored chapters on social justice, identity, and assessment in science education. Scientific Awards: Barnard College Emily Gregory Teaching Award (2018) National Association for Research in Science Teaching Equity and Ethics Scholar (2007) She is the Principal Investigator of the NSF-funded Barnard College Robert Noyce Teacher Education Scholars Program, which supports future science teachers in urban schools. She advises students and collaborates with national organizations, including the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Association for Science Teacher Education, and American Educational Research Association. Her teaching includes courses such as Science in the City , Urban School Practicum , and Performance Assessment of Teaching . She is actively engaged in professional development initiatives and has led workshops on family engineering nights, multicultural pedagogy, and social justice in science education. Her lab and programmatic work centers on the Noyce Scholars Program, which functions as a living laboratory for preparing socially conscious science educators.
