Jason Cortés is an Associate Professor and Program Director in American Studies at Rutgers University-Newark, with affiliations in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, Africana Studies, Spanish and Portuguese Studies, and the Program in Women's and Gender Studies. His research focuses on Caribbean, US Latina/o, and Spanish American literatures through the lenses of cultural studies and critical theory. Education: Ph.D., Spanish American Literature, Pennsylvania State University M.A., Comparative Literature, PSU B.A., Comparative Literature, University of Puerto Rico (Mayaguez, PR) His scholarship explores intersections of masculinity, authorship, and cultural identity in Latino-Caribbean narrative. Current projects include Loving Death: The Necrophilic Imagination in Latin/o America and Tales of Disposability: Puerto Rico in the Post-911 Era .
Salikoko S. Mufwene is the Edward Carson Waller Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. He holds additional appointments on the Committees on Evolutionary Biology, Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science, and African Studies. His research integrates ecological perspectives into evolutionary linguistics, focusing on language contact, creole genesis, language endangerment, and the impact of colonization and globalization on linguistic diversity. Education: PhD in Linguistics, University of Chicago (1979) Key Themes: Language evolution, creole languages, population structure, decolonial linguistics, language policy Mufwene’s work emphasizes the role of population dynamics in language change, drawing parallels with biological evolution. His recent articles examine topics such as the cultural-artifact nature of language, the ecological drivers of creole hybridization, and the decolonization of linguistic paradigms. He has also contributed extensively to debates on language endangerment and multilingualism in super-diverse societies. Scientific Awards: Fellow, Linguistic Society of America (2018) Fellow, American Philosophical Society (2022) Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023) Collège de France lectures (2003, 2023-24) Summer Institute of the Linguistic Society of America (1999, 2005, 2015, 2017)
Max Cavitch is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences, specializing in American literature, psychoanalytic studies, and cinema. He joined Penn in 1999 after earning his B.A. from Yale and Ph.D. from Rutgers. His research spans 19th- and 20th-century literature, African American studies, and interdisciplinary fields like animal studies and gender theory. Cavitch has authored influential works such as *American Elegy* (2007) and co-edited volumes on Whitman and early American studies. He directs Penn's Psychoanalytic Studies program and edits the blog *Psyche on Campus*, honored with the 2022 American Psychoanalytic Association's Excellence in Journalism Award. His teaching includes courses on psychoanalysis, autobiography, and American poetry. Cavitch has held fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, Newcombe Foundation, and others. His recent projects explore world autobiography, psychoanalysis in academia, and the history of 'ashes' as a conceptual and material symbol. Award-winning scholar and educator, Cavitch's work bridges literary criticism with clinical theory, media studies, and transnational frameworks. He advises doctoral students in American literature and affiliated programs, maintaining active collaborations with institutions like the McNeil Center for Early American Studies and the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia.
Dr. Michael R. Griffiths is a Senior Lecturer in English Literatures at the University of Wollongong, where he has been teaching since 2014. He serves as the Internationalisation Director in the School of the Arts, English and Media, managing global collaborations including UOW's campuses in Hong Kong and Dubai. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University's Institute for Comparative Literature and Society from 2012-2014. His educational background includes: PhD in English from Rice University (2012) Griffiths's research focuses on postcolonial literary theory, settler colonial studies, and Indigenous literatures, with a growing emphasis on decolonial thought. His work critically examines representations of Aboriginal people and culture in Australian literature, the politics of authorship in anticolonial thought, and intersections between critical animal studies and ecocriticism. In his scholarship, Griffiths explores how literature engages with questions of identity, difference, and belonging in settler colonial contexts, often challenging conventional approaches to cultural appropriation and representation. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward examining the intersections between poststructuralist literary theory and anticolonial thought. The publication of his 2025 book The Death of the Author and Anticolonial Thought represents a significant contribution to understanding how thinkers like Edward Said and Édouard Glissant responded to Roland Barthes's "death of the author" thesis. His earlier work, particularly his 2018 monograph The Distribution of Settlement: Appropriation and Refusal in Australian Literature and Culture , established him as a scholar examining representations of Aboriginal people by non-Indigenous writers in Australian literature. Griffiths serves as Chair of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (SPACLALS) and is on the editorial advisory board of Australian Literary Studies . He has also co-edited special issues of Continuum on freedom of speech debates, which received notable attention and was reprinted as a book titled Unsettled Voices . As a supervisor, Griffiths has mentored numerous PhD and Master's students through projects examining diverse topics including Indigenous Trinidadian theatre, hauntings in Chinese-Australian literature, and cosmopolitanism in Indian English fiction. His grant history shows consistent funding support for research on Australian literature, settler colonial studies, and international academic collaborations, particularly with Wuhan University in China. Griffiths contributes to several research networks focused on postcolonial studies and settler colonialism, including the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies, which he chairs, and maintains active engagement with global scholarly conversations through his academic profiles and social media presence.
Dr. Jennifer Cearns is an Associate Professor in AI at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Professor at KU Leuven . Previously, she held roles as an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer in Digital Anthropology at University College London , an Associate Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute , and a Leach Fellow in Public Anthropology at the Royal Anthropological Institute . Her work bridges digital anthropology and AI , focusing on culturally-constructed empathy and the reproduction of norms in algorithmic systems. PhD in Anthropology (University College London, 2016-2020) Languages : English, Portuguese, Spanish (Latin American) Her research spans Artificial Intelligence , Algorithms , and Data Practices , with ethnographic fieldwork in Brazil, Cuba, the US, Guyana, Panama, Mexico, Spain, and the UK. Current projects explore the ethics of AI in mental healthcare, transnational digital networks , and contraband economies in Latin America. Recent publications analyze cultural norms in AI , transnational exchange , and digital piracy , with a focus on Latin America. Her 2023 monograph Circulating Culture (University Press of Florida) examines postsocialist networks and contraband economies. Nominated for Association of Latina and Latino Anthropologists First Book Prize Nominated for Society for Latin American & Caribbean Anthropology Book Prize Finalist, BBC New Generation Thinker Award She collaborates with institutions like UCL's Centre for Digital Anthropology and KU Leuven, and has advised the technology industry for over a decade. Her ORCID identifier is 0000-0001-6498-1766.
Eric J Klaus is Professor of German Area Studies and Chair of the German Area Studies program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where he has been a faculty member since 2001. He holds a Ph.D. in German Studies from Brown University, an M.A. in Germanic Studies from the University of Maryland College Park, and a B.A. in German with a minor in History from Dickinson College. His academic home is within the Faculty of Humanities, focusing on German literature and intellectual history. Ph.D., German Studies, Brown University M.A., Germanic Studies, University of Maryland College Park B.A., German (minor in History), Dickinson College His research and teaching focus on modern German literature and intellectual history, with particular emphasis on modernism , the Bildungsroman , the uncanny , esotericism , and vanitas and dance of death motifs . He explores the evolution of selfhood, allegory, and humanism in literary texts, especially in Goethe and Gorky. His dissertation, Engineering Souls: Humanism, Allegory, and Specularity in Goethe's Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre and Gorky's Mother , reflects this deep engagement with identity and narrative form. The available publication information indicates ongoing scholarly work on Gustav Meyrink and forthcoming articles on the uncanny and the Bildungsroman, suggesting a continued contribution to the understanding of psychological and metaphysical dimensions in modern German literature. These works fall within broader disciplines of literature, philosophy, and cultural studies, with subfields including symbolic interpretation, narrative theory, and intellectual history. Professional Affiliations: Modern Language Association (MLA) American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) ACTFL MACLA Europäischer Totentanz-Vereinigung Klaus integrates his research into the classroom, teaching courses such as Beginning through Intermediate German , Madness and Mayhem in Modernity , and Haunting Memories – revealing the uncanny . He values the teacher-scholar model, emphasizing student engagement in exploring complex literary and philosophical themes. There is no indication of grant funding in the provided text, but his pedagogical philosophy highlights mentorship and collaborative inquiry. He has taught previously at Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of Maryland College Park. Klaus leads the German Area Studies program as its Chair, shaping curriculum and academic direction. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, his leadership role and active scholarship suggest a guiding presence in the department’s intellectual life.
Don Kulick is a Professor and Research Director at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University, Sweden. His academic career spans decades of anthropological fieldwork in Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Scandinavia, with a focus on linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, and disability studies. Dr. Kulick's research interests encompass linguistic anthropology, sexuality studies, disability studies, language death, vulnerability studies, and human-animal communication. His work challenges conventional views on vulnerability, arguing that it can be a resource rather than a lack. His fieldwork with adults with significant disabilities in Denmark and Sweden informed his influential book "Loneliness and its Opposite: sex, disability, and the ethics of engagement". Kulick has also made significant contributions to the understanding of transgender communities, particularly through his early ethnographic work with Brazilian travesti prostitutes documented in "Travesti: Sex, Gender and Culture among Brazilian Transgendered Prostitutes". His recent scholarly output demonstrates a trajectory from linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies toward broader questions of vulnerability, ethics, and human-animal relations. Kulick's work consistently engages with marginalized communities and challenges disciplinary boundaries, connecting linguistic anthropology with disability studies, queer theory, and ethical frameworks for engagement with vulnerable others. ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year research project on people who are treated as though they aren't really there Dr. Kulick has received significant research funding, most notably an ERC Advanced Grant for a 5-year project examining people who are treated as though they aren't really there, including courtroom interpreters and peer reviewers. His mentorship extends through his extensive publications and edited volumes that have shaped multiple generations of anthropological scholarship, particularly in the areas of linguistic anthropology and sexuality studies. While specific lab structures aren't mentioned in the provided text, Kulick's research program on vulnerability appears to be an organized research initiative (referred to as the "EV program" in the text), suggesting a research team or collaborative network focused on vulnerability as a productive resource.
Dr Syamala Roberts serves as an Affiliated Lecturer in the German Section of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge and holds a Fellowship with Director of Studies responsibilities at Emmanuel College. Her academic profile spans teaching German and Comparative Literatures from the 18th century to contemporary periods, alongside specialized supervision in undergraduate papers Ge1, Ge5, Ge6, and Ge12. Her educational foundation encompasses German, French, and Comparative Literatures studied across the University of Cambridge, University of Paris, and Humboldt University of Berlin. This multilingual background informs her interdisciplinary scholarship. Roberts' research investigates Modernism through intersecting lenses of Sound Studies, Media Theory, and Art History, with particular emphasis on auditory representation in early 20th-century German texts. Her doctoral work identified emerging 'aural imaginaries' in Rilke, Kafka, and Thomas Mann, while current postdoctoral research examines Indo-German cultural cross-fertilization during the interwar period. This includes analyzing reciprocal intellectual exchanges between German-speaking intellectuals and pre-independence Indian thinkers through literary and artistic production. Recent publications demonstrate consistent thematic focus across German literary studies and cross-cultural analysis, particularly in journals like the Publications of the English Goethe Society and Austrian Studies. Key contributions address Kafka's auditory poetics, comparative studies of Mann's Death in Venice with Rilke's elegies, and critical assessments of German-Indian cultural intersections. No major scientific awards are documented in available sources. As Director of Studies, Roberts provides undergraduate supervision and encourages Year Abroad Project proposals aligned with her research interests. Her postdoctoral work receives institutional support through an Emmanuel College research fellowship.
Panpan Yang is a Lecturer in Arts and Visual Cultures of Modern China at the School of Arts, SOAS University of London. She joined SOAS in 2021 after completing her joint PhD at the University of Chicago under the direction of Wu Hung, Tom Gunning, W. J. T. Mitchell, Judith Zeitlin, and Dana Polan. Her interdisciplinary work bridges art history, screen studies, East Asian studies, and digital humanities, with a focus on innovative methodologies in art historical writing. Dr. Yang earned a dual BA from Peking University, double majoring in art and philosophy, followed by an MA from Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, and a PhD from the University of Chicago. During her undergraduate studies, she served as president of the Society of Dream of the Red Chamber Studies, which informed her secondary academic interest in Redology and the visual material world of the novel Hong lou meng. Panpan Yang's research explores how minor discourses can deterritorialize the terrains of both art history and screen studies. Her work demonstrates a multimethodological approach attentive to archival research, material practices, close visual analysis, computer-aided vision, and cross-cultural theorization. She is particularly interested in Chinese animation history, calligraphic imagination in contemporary art, and the intersections between traditional Chinese art forms and new media. Her publications reveal a consistent focus on Chinese visual culture across multiple media forms, with particular attention to animation, film, and calligraphy. Yang's work demonstrates how traditional Chinese art forms engage with contemporary digital media, creating new hybrid forms that challenge disciplinary boundaries. Her research shows a trajectory from historical analysis of Chinese animation to contemporary explorations of calligraphy in digital contexts, revealing the ongoing relevance of traditional Chinese aesthetics in modern media. Dr. Yang has received several prestigious awards for her scholarly and creative work: China's National Young Screenwriter Award Domitor Essay Award Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award Nomination Honourable Mention from the Association for Chinese Animation Studies As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Yang leads the AHRC-funded research project "Stroke by Stroke: Calligraphic imagination in contemporary Chinese art and emergent media" (2023-25) with Shane McCausland. She was also a collaborating partner on the NEH-funded "Media Ecology Project." Her research has received additional support from the Getty Foundation and the Sino-British Fellowship Trust. At SOAS, she works closely with faculty and graduate students interested in Chinese arts and cultures, art theory, cinematic arts, and digital art history. Dr. Yang is currently developing innovative research at the intersection of traditional Chinese calligraphy and contemporary digital media through her AHRC-funded project. This work explores how calligraphic imagination manifests in contemporary art and emergent media contexts, creating new pathways for understanding Chinese cultural heritage in the digital age.
Brian A. Hatcher is the Packard Professor of Theology and a Professor in the Department of Religion at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on modern and contemporary Hinduism, particularly in colonial and postcolonial South Asia, with a specialization in Bengal and Sanskrit learning. Education: PhD, Harvard University (1992) MA, Harvard University (1986) MDiv, Yale University (1984) BA, Carleton College (1980) Research Interests: Dr. Hatcher explores Hinduism's transformation during colonial periods, focusing on figures like Ishvarchandra Vidyasagar and movements such as the Swaminarayan Sampraday and Brahmo Samaj. His work challenges traditional reform narratives by analyzing religious polities and vernacular modernity. Recent projects include mapping the Dasnami Sampraday's historical influence in Bengal and completing an annotated translation of Vidyasagar's Bahu-bibaho ("Against High-Caste Polygamy"). Awards & Grants: Packard Professor of Theology American Academy of Religion Individual Research Grant (2020) Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship (2006) American Philosophical Society Fellowship Teaching: Courses include 'Modern Hinduism,' 'Religion and Colonialism in South Asia,' and 'Hindu-Christian Studies.' Key Publications: Hinduism Before Reform (Harvard UP, 2020) Idioms of Improvement (Primus Books, 2020) "Daśanāmī samādhis in West Bengal" (Journal of Hindu Studies, 2021) His work bridges historical analysis, textual criticism, and colonial-era social dynamics.
Przemysław Kordos is a Professor at the University of Warsaw , affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts , where he serves as Coordinator for the Development of the Modern Greek Philology Program . He holds two PhDs in Humanities (2007, 2019) and was awarded the Loukis Papaphilippou Seat of Advancement in Modern Greek scholarship. Education: MA in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology (University of Warsaw, 2001) MS in Sociology (University of Warsaw, 2002) PhD in Humanities (University of Warsaw, 2007) Second PhD in Humanities (University of Warsaw, 2019) His research interests span: Contemporary Modern Greek and Cypriot literature Polish-Greek cultural relations (philhellenism) Social and ethnographic issues in Greece and Cyprus Travel literature analysis Fantasy literature's cultural implications His scientific work reveals a focus on linguistic assimilation in foreign language learning (via fMRI studies), historical parallels between Polish and Greek independence movements, and critical analyses of Cypriot folk culture's politicization. Key scientific awards include: Loukis Papaphilippou Seat (University of Warsaw) Internships at EKPA and IKY (Greece) Scholarships at IMXA (Greece) and MUNI (Czech Republic) His academic contributions include cataloging 60+ Polish travel accounts to Greece, analyzing the shift from travel literature to tourism discourse, and examining the Hellene-Romios dichotomy's role in modern Greek identity construction.
Mario Telò is a Professor of Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Comparative Literature, and Rhetoric at the University of California, Berkeley, with an affiliation in the Program for Critical Theory. He serves as Chief Editor of the journal Classical Antiquity and sits on the editorial board of Representations . His work bridges antiquity and modernity through interdisciplinary lenses, focusing on psychoanalysis, queer theory, and political theory. Telò has authored monographs such as Archive Feelings: A Theory of Greek Tragedy (2020) and Resistant Form: Aristophanes and the Comedy of Crisis (2023), exploring themes like tragic aesthetics, crisis, and canonical reimagining. Recent projects include co-editing Reading Greek Tragedy with Judith Butler (2024) and organizing conferences on Jean-Luc Nancy and Classics. His research emphasizes textual form’s emancipatory potential, engaging with art, film, and architecture to deconstruct normative narratives. Education : His academic background is not detailed here, but his prolific publications reflect advanced expertise in Classics and interdisciplinary humanities. Research Interests : Telò’s work critically examines Greek tragedy and comedy through modern theoretical frameworks. He investigates the interplay between aesthetic form and political/social issues, leveraging psychoanalysis (Freud, Lacan) and queer theory (Judith Butler, Lee Edelman) to analyze ancient texts. His focus on 'resistant form' highlights how classical works challenge equilibrium and normativity, offering tools for contemporary critical discourse. Grants & Collaborations : He co-organizes international conferences (e.g., on Jean-Luc Nancy) and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects like a forthcoming book on artist William Kentridge. His editorial work spans special journal issues on topics like elemental objects and queer philology. Labs/Teams : He leads editorial initiatives and hosts academic events such as the Townsend Center book chats and Syndicate symposia, fostering dialogue between classicists and modern theorists.
James Dodd is a Professor of Philosophy at The New School for Social Research, specializing in phenomenology, existential philosophy, and political thought. He holds a PhD from Boston University (1996). His research focuses on Husserl, Heidegger, and Jan Patočka, exploring themes like violence, sacrifice, and the interplay between history and philosophy. Dodd has authored major works including *The Heresies of Jan Patocka* (2023), *Phenomenological Reflections on Violence* (2017), and co-edited *The New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy* (2015). Education: PhD Philosophy, Boston University (1996) His work bridges philosophical inquiry with interdisciplinary questions, examining how fundamental questions like 'What is truth?' and 'What is the world?' unify diverse academic disciplines. Recent scholarship emphasizes phenomenological approaches to architecture, violence, and political resistance, particularly through Patočka’s lens. He critiques modernity’s ethical and political crises while advocating for philosophy’s role in holistic education. Publications span over 30 years, with notable contributions to Husserl studies, war philosophy, and phenomenological ethics. His 2023 book reinterprets Patočka’s hermeneutics, while 2021 articles analyze war’s philosophical dimensions. Dodd also engages with historical violence, memory, and the lifeworld’s role in scientific understanding. Awards: None explicitly listed Teaching includes courses on phenomenology, early Chinese philosophy, and Nietzsche. He mentors students through independent studies and senior projects, emphasizing critical thinking across disciplines. Dodd’s editorial work amplifies underrepresented voices in phenomenology and political philosophy. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with international scholars on Patočka’s legacy and phenomenological ethics, contributing to Routledge, Springer, and Brill publications. His research group explores interdisciplinary applications of phenomenology in architecture, violence studies, and historical consciousness.
Rakesh Peter-Dass serves as Associate Professor of Religion at Hope College, where he has been teaching since 2016. His academic journey spans multiple prestigious institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Oxford, where he earned advanced degrees in theology, divinity, and business administration. His research focuses on the complex intersections of religion with business, language, law, and politics, particularly in the South Asian context. Dr. Peter-Dass examines how religious identities are shaped through linguistic choices, legal frameworks, and socio-political dynamics, with special attention to Hindu-Christian relations and religious rights. His work bridges theological scholarship with practical applications in interfaith dialogue and religious freedom advocacy. His publications reveal a consistent focus on South Asian religious contexts, particularly examining Hindi Christian literature, Hindu nationalism, and comparative theological approaches between Hindu and Christian traditions. The research demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between religious studies, political science, linguistics, and legal studies, with significant contributions to understanding religious rights in both Indian and American Supreme Court contexts. Among his notable honors are the Saïd Foundation Scholarship from Oxford University, multiple Harvard University fellowships, and the Selva J. Raj Endowed International Dissertation Research Fellowship from the American Academy of Religion. His teaching excellence has been recognized through Harvard University's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching. Dr. Peter-Dass has served in significant professional capacities including as Co-Chair of the Theology and Religious Reflection Unit at the American Academy of Religion (2018-2023) and on the Editorial Board of the Hindi Theological Literature Committee in India (2011-2015). His extensive consulting work with international development agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and religious bodies demonstrates his commitment to applying academic research to real-world religious and social challenges.
Ola Wikander is Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in Old Testament Exegesis at Lund University 's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies, with affiliations to the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology. His work bridges Ancient Near Eastern languages with Indo-European studies through etymological poetics . Pro Futura Scientia Fellow (2017-2023) Visiting Scholar at Wolfson College, Cambridge (2021-2022) Member of Royal Physiographic Society in Lund Wikander's research focuses on: Philological analysis of Hebrew, Ugaritic, Hittite, and Luwian texts Interactions between Indo-European and Semitic linguistic cultures Historical phonology of Northwest Semitic languages Preservation of knowledge for nuclear waste communication Mythological motif transmission across cultures His scholarly output (69 items) covers: Ugaritic epic analysis Hebrew tense system typology Indo-European loanwords in Semitic Theurgical motifs in religious texts Hydro-philology intersections Comparative mythological studies Notable Awards Pro Futura Scientia Fellowship Eva och Lars Gårding Linguistics Prize August Prize Shortlist (2006) Carlo Landberg Foundation Award Academic Contributions include: Editorial board, Coniectanea Biblica Co-editor, Ugarit-Forschungen (2022-2024) Research projects on Semitic-Indo-European interactions Multi-year nuclear waste communication studies
