Professor Tony McEnery is a Distinguished Professor of English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University, where he has held various senior roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (2008–2014) and Head of the Department of Linguistics and English Language (2000–2005). His research focuses on corpus linguistics, applied linguistics, and sociolinguistics, with notable contributions to corpus-based analyses of historical medical discourse, media representation of Islam, and swearing in English. He has led major research projects, including the ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science (CASS) and the Trinity Lancaster Corpus. McEnery has secured over £10 million in research funding and holds visiting professorships at institutions worldwide, including Zhejiang University of Media and Communications and Shanghai International Studies University. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Trinity College London, and the Royal Society for the Arts. Education: No explicit details provided, but his career trajectory implies advanced degrees in linguistics. Research Interests: Corpus linguistics applications in theoretical and applied linguistics, historical language analysis, and language as a socially situated phenomenon. McEnery’s work extends to interdisciplinary collaborations, including projects with the Environment Agency and the Home Office. His teaching includes summer schools in corpus linguistics and a Futurelearn MOOC, reaching tens of thousands globally. He advises on research funding for international bodies like the Irish Research Council and the Qatar National Research Foundation. Grants and Awards: Queen’s Anniversary Prize (2015), Changjiang Chair (2021), and multiple fellowships. Current grants include the Lancaster-Northern Arizona corpus and the Trinity Lancaster Corpus projects. Advising and Labs: Supervises postgraduate students in linguistics and collaborates with teams like the ESRC CASS Centre and UCREL (University Centre for Computer Corpus Research on Language).
Professor Pamela Davidson is a distinguished scholar of Russian Literature at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). With over four decades of academic experience, she has held various leadership positions including Head of the Russian Department (2003-2006), Head of Teaching and Graduate Tutor (2012-2014), and currently serves as Admissions Tutor for Languages & Cultures programmes. Her scholarly work has significantly shaped the field of Russian literary studies, particularly in areas of Russian Symbolism, literary prophecy, and the interaction between religion and culture. Doctor of Philosophy, University of Oxford, 1984 Undergraduate studies in Russian, French and Italian, Newnham College, Cambridge Professor Davidson's research spans several interconnected areas within Russian and comparative literature. Her work on the "construction and dynamics of literary tradition" examines how Russian writers positioned themselves within broader cultural and historical contexts. She has made significant contributions to understanding "the interaction of religion and culture," particularly through her edited volume "Russian Literature and Its Demons," which opened up new interdisciplinary research avenues. Her long-standing interest in "Silver Age poetry" has focused extensively on Viacheslav Ivanov, whose work she has studied through multiple lenses including his engagement with Dante and classical antiquity. Most notably, she has developed an extensive body of work on "the representation of the writer as prophet in Russia," tracing this tradition from its biblical and classical roots through to the Soviet period. Professor Davidson's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on the prophetic dimension of Russian literature, with particular attention to Viacheslav Ivanov and Fedor Glinka. Her scholarship demonstrates a sophisticated interweaving of literary analysis, religious studies, and cultural history. Over the past decade, her work has increasingly examined how Russian writers engaged with biblical and classical traditions, often reinterpreting them within specifically Russian contexts. The recurring themes across her publications include the tension between Athens and Jerusalem in Russian thought, the role of the writer as moral authority, and the complex relationship between religious tradition and literary innovation. Her comparative approach frequently bridges Russian literature with Western European intellectual traditions, revealing unexpected connections and influences. Travelling Junior Research Fellowship at Queen's College Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2019-2021) Director of the CEELBAS Centre for Doctoral Training (2020-2021) Member of the AHRC Peer Review College of Assessors (2003-2007) As an academic mentor, Professor Davidson has supervised numerous doctoral students in Russian literature and thought, with particular expertise in 19th and early 20th century literature, Silver Age poetry, and comparative literature. Her leadership roles have included serving as Graduate Tutor and Chair of BA and MA Examination Boards at SSEES. In terms of research funding, she has successfully secured competitive grants including the Leverhulme Research Fellowship that supported her recent work on literary prophecy. Her collaborative projects have often involved international partnerships, particularly with Russian academic institutions including the Institute of Russian Literature (IRLI) in St Petersburg. Professor Davidson has also contributed to major scholarly initiatives such as the 12-volume academic edition of Ivanov's collected works. While Professor Davidson's work is primarily in humanities rather than laboratory-based research, she has been instrumental in building academic networks and collaborative projects. She served as Director of the CEELBAS Centre for Doctoral Training, liaising with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and consortium members at Cambridge, Manchester and Oxford. Her long-standing collaboration with the St Petersburg Institute of Russian Literature has been particularly significant, resulting in the completion of the first comprehensive bibliography of Viacheslav Ivanov's works. Professor Davidson has also been active in the international scholarly community through her membership on the Board of Directors of the Foundation "Centro Studi e Ricerche Vjacheslav Ivanov" in Rome.
Dr. Fabian Baumann is a historian specializing in Eastern European history, particularly nationalism and empire in Russia, Ukraine, and East Central Europe. He holds a position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Heidelberg University's Karl Jaspers Centre and previously held fellowships at institutions including the University of Chicago and the University of Vienna. His research emphasizes the agency of individuals in shaping national identities, as seen in his award-winning monograph Dynasty Divided , which examines the Shul’gin family’s divergent national allegiances. Education: PhD in East European History (University of Basel, 2020) M.Phil in Slavonic Studies (University of Oxford, 2016) BA in Russian and English Language (University of Geneva, 2012) Research Interests: His work explores the construction of national identities beyond ethnic determinism, focusing on the interplay of state-building, loyalty, and dissent. Current projects include the prosecution of state enemies in interwar Czechoslovakia and co-editing the Handbook of Ukrainian History (Oxford UP, 2028). Awards: 2024 W. Bruce Lincoln Book Prize 2025 Alexander Nove Prize Grants and Fellowships: Recipient of Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) grants, including Postdoc.Mobility fellowships at the University of Chicago and RECET Vienna. Labs/Teams: Active in the Karl Jaspers Centre and collaborative projects with the RECET research group.
Kevin Carrico is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Monash University and Research Director for the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics. He holds a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology from Cornell University (2013), focusing on nationalist identification through China's Han Clothing Movement. His research focuses on nationalism theories, ethnic relations in China, Hong Kong politics, and Tibetan history. Notable works include The Great Han: Race, Nationalism, and Tradition in China Today (2017) and Two Systems, Two Countries (2022), the first English-language study of Hong Kong's independence movement. Current projects include ethnographic research on pro-China activists in Taiwan. His work is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Australian Research Council, and Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation. He translates Tibetan and Chinese works, including Tsering Woeser's Tibet on Fire and Guan Jun's Silencing Chinese Media .曾为香港苹果日报专栏作家，该报于2021年因政治压力关闭。His media contributions appear in Foreign Policy, the Age, and Hong Kong Free Press. He supervises PhD students researching compatible topics in Chinese politics, nationalism, and cultural studies. Grants include two major projects (2018-2024) on Hong Kong nationalism construction.
Dorothy Noyes is Professor of Folklore at The Ohio State University with a joint appointment in the Departments of English and Comparative Studies and courtesy appointments in Anthropology, French and Italian, and Germanic Languages and Literatures. She serves as Director of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and teaches in the Program in International Studies, having previously directed the Center for Folklore Studies from 2005 to 2014. She earned her Ph.D. in Folklore and Folk Life from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research centers on political ritual and the traditional public sphere in Europe, folklore theory, and international policy careers of culture concepts, authoring key works including 'Fire in the Plaça: Catalan Festival Politics After Franco' and 'Humble Theory: Folklore’s Grasp on Social Life', with her current project 'Exemplary Failures: Gesture and Pedagogy in Liberal Politics'. Noyes' scholarship consistently explores intersections of cultural tradition, political expression, and international relations, with recurring themes of civic engagement, national identity formation, and ritual dynamics across European contexts. Her methodological approach bridges ethnographic fieldwork with theoretical innovation in folklore studies. Her recent publications demonstrate sustained focus on political ritual, cultural policy, and tradition's role in contemporary society, with increasing attention to sensory studies and material culture following pandemic-era disruptions to communal practices. Noyes has received significant recognition for her contributions to folklore studies: Elected Fellow of the American Folklore Society (2005) Honorary Doctorate from the University of Tartu, Estonia (2019) As current President of the American Folklore Society and former executive board member of the Société Internationale d'Ethnologie et de Folklore, Noyes has shaped international scholarly discourse through leadership roles and interdisciplinary projects including the Göttingen Working Group on Cultural Property. Her institutional leadership spans the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and the former Center for Folklore Studies, where she fostered collaborations connecting folklore scholarship with international security policy and cultural heritage management.
Chiara Bottici is a Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, The New School. Her work bridges social/political philosophy, critical theory, and aesthetics, emphasizing interdisciplinary critique inspired by the Frankfurt School. She holds a Laurea in Philosophy from the University of Florence (1999) and a PhD in Social and Political Science from the European University Institute (2004). Research interests focus on political myth, imagination, and feminist theory. She has authored/co-authored influential books like *A Feminist Mythology* (2022), *Imaginal Politics* (2014), and *Imagining Europe* (2013). Her work explores topics such as ethnonationalism, anarchist feminism, and decolonial thought. She has delivered over 130 lectures globally at institutions including Stanford, Harvard, and EHESS Paris. Courses taught span feminist philosophy, critical theory, and political myth. Her recent scholarship includes *Anarchafeminist Manifesto* (2023) and analyses of Trumpism’s political mythology. Bottici’s transnational academic engagement is reflected in translations of her work into 12 languages. She co-edits journals and leads interdisciplinary research on topics like prefigurative politics and global critical theory.
Dr. Clara Cheng serves as the Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Professional Development, Director of the Undergraduate Psychology Program, and Professor of Psychology at Carlow University. Her roles include overseeing faculty development, directing the Psychology program, and teaching statistics and social psychology in flipped and online formats. She advises the Carlow chapter of Psi Chi, which she co-founded in 2013, and is a certified therapy team member with her mini labradoodle, Mochi. Dr. Cheng holds an Hon BSc in Psychology (2000) from the University of Toronto and MA (2002) and PhD (2006) in Social Psychology from The Ohio State University. She also earned certificates in American Sign Language and Online Teaching with a focus on accessibility. Her research focuses on social cognition, stereotyping, implicit bias, and culturally informed teaching methods. She contributed to the APA’s college teaching guide and frequently addresses racism and implicit bias in campus workshops. Her awards include the Sisters of Mercy Award for Advising (2020), Center for Digital Learning Fellowship (2017), and multiple teaching honors from Ohio State. Dr. Cheng’s scholarship spans over two decades, with notable contributions to implicit bias measurement, Buddhist coping mechanisms, and cross-cultural identity formation. She actively serves as Vice President for Resources for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, promoting pedagogical innovation and inclusivity. Her advising and grants include fostering student honor societies and accessibility initiatives. Her 'therapy team' with Mochi underscores her commitment to mental health. Collaborative work with international researchers highlights her global impact in social and cultural psychology.
Fatemeh Keshavarz is a Professor and Department Head at the University of Maryland, serving as Program Chair of the Roshan Institute for Persian Studies and Senior Advisor to PersDig@UMD. She holds dual affiliations with the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Roshan Institute. Her academic journey includes studies at Shiraz University and the University of London, followed by a 20-year tenure at Washington University in St. Louis where she chaired the Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures Department. Her research focuses on Persian literature, Sufi traditions, and cultural education. Notable works include Reading Mystical Lyric (1998), Recite in the Name of the Red Rose (2006), and Jasmine and Stars (2007). Keshavarz’s interdisciplinary approach bridges literature, religion, and social justice, reflected in her Peabody Award-winning NPR series on Rumi and her advocacy at the UN General Assembly. Her awards include the Herschel Walker Peace and Justice Award (2008) and the Peabody Award (2008). Keshavarz is also a poet and activist, emphasizing peacebuilding through cultural dialogue. Her roles as institute director and department head underscore her leadership in advancing Persian studies and fostering academic innovation. Her scholarship spans medieval Sufi poetry, diasporic Iranian literature, and the intersection of spirituality with modern Iranian identity. Ongoing projects include exploring Saʿdi’s ethical cosmopolitanism and the role of Persian poetry in global cultural discourse.
Wolfram Drews is a Professor of Medieval History at the University of Münster (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität), Germany, since 2011. He holds a Dr. phil. (summa cum laude) from Freie Universität Berlin and completed his Habilitation in Medieval History at the University of Cologne. His research focuses on comparative and transcultural approaches to medieval history, examining themes like monarchical strategies, religious violence, and cultural entanglements between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Education: 1986–1991: Humboldt-Universität, Berlin (Languages: English, Spanish, French) 1992–1998: Freie Universität Berlin (History, Jewish Studies, Theology) 2001: Ph.D., Freie Universität Berlin (supervisor: Kaspar Elm) 2008: Habilitation, University of Cologne (supervisor: Georg Jenal) His research interests include medieval kingship, transcultural history, and the interplay between religion and power. He has led major projects like the Special Research Field 'Cultures of Decision Making' and the Cluster of Excellence 'Religion and Politics' in Münster. His work often bridges European and Islamicate contexts, as seen in studies comparing Carolingian and Abbasid dynasties. Dr. Drews has held visiting professorships at Cologne University, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, and Humboldt-Universität Berlin. He is a Fellow of Dumbarton Oaks (Harvard) and has served as President of the Mediävistenverband (Interdisciplinary Association of Medievalists). His honors include the Friedrich-Meinecke-Preis (2001) and leadership roles in global historical networks. He has organized conferences across Europe and North America and contributed to interdisciplinary research on premodern decision-making cultures and religious-political dynamics. His edited volumes and articles address topics ranging from medieval Spanish imperialism to the cultural emergence of Abbasid Iraq.
Dr. Rebecca M. Rosen is an Assistant Professor of English at Murray State University, serving as Coordinator for the Medical and Health Humanities Minor and Certificate programs. She holds a PhD and MA from Princeton University, an MSt from the University of Oxford, and a BA from Barnard College, Columbia University. Her research focuses on multiethnic early American literature, Native American literature, African American literature, and intersections between literature and medicine. Dr. Rosen teaches courses including ENG 105 (BIPOC Contemporary American Women Writers), ENG 311 (American Literature to 1865), and ENG 320 (Survey of African American Literature). Her work bridges historical literary analysis with contemporary medical humanities, examining themes like reproductive rights, colonial legal practices, and bioethical dilemmas in science fiction. Education: PhD, Princeton University MA, Princeton University MSt, University of Oxford BA, Barnard College, Columbia University Her awards include the Richard Beale Davis Prize (2022), AAS-NEH Fellowship (2023), and recognition as Junior Scholar of the Month by the Society of Early Americanists (2018). She co-coordinates the American Studies Minor and actively participates in professional organizations like the Modern Language Association and the American Studies Association.
Veronica Alfano is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Literature at Macquarie University's School of Humanities. Her research focuses on Victorian poetry, lyric theory, gender/sexuality studies, memory, and media studies. She holds a Ph.D. in English from Princeton University (2011) and a B.A. in English and American Literature from Harvard University. Her work explores how Victorian poetry navigates memory, nostalgia, and cultural transformation, with a monograph The Lyric in Victorian Memory (2017) and co-edited volumes like Virtual Victorians (2015). She has led initiatives such as the NAVSA Poetry Caucus (2020–2023) and co-edits projects on lyric theory and Victorian verse. Notable awards include the Donald Gray Essay Prize (2018), a Mellon Fellowship (2005), and the McCosh Teaching Award (2011). Her current projects include a monograph on Victorian neologisms and co-edited volumes on lyric compendia and Broadview Press's Victorian poetry anthology. She actively contributes to digital humanities, editorial work, and academic events like the Faculty Research Fair (2022).
Frances Ferguson is the Mabel Greene Myers Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of English at the University of Chicago. She has taught there since 2012 and holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1973). Her research focuses on 18th-century British literature, Romanticism, law and literature, and the novel, with additional interests in critical theory and the history of education. She explores how literature intersects with legal frameworks, educational systems, and evolving social values. Education: Ph.D., Yale University, 1973 Her research investigates the transformation of literary forms and critical practices across centuries, including the role of dissent in educational thought, the relationship between poetry and the novel, and the historical context of reading practices. She has advised students on topics ranging from Wordsworth’s philosophical influences to the critique of marriage in Victorian novels. Her publications include Pornography, The Theory (2005), Solitude and the Sublime (1992), and Wordsworth: Language as Counter-Spirit (1977), alongside numerous articles on Romanticism, legal narratives, and literary form. Her work bridges literary analysis with interdisciplinary inquiries into law, education, and cultural history, offering critical perspectives on how literature shapes and reflects societal structures.
Selim Nadi is a researcher and educator specializing in European radical left intellectual history, anti-colonialism, and critical theories. He holds qualifications for the Maître de Conférences position (sections 12 and 22) in French academia. His current roles include teaching German in secondary education and serving as a visiting academic. Formerly, he held ATER (teaching/research) positions at Université d’Avignon and Université Lumière Lyon 2, focusing on political science. His research explores intersections between Marxism, race, and decolonial thought, emphasizing figures like Rosa Luxemburg and C.L.R. James. Nadi is affiliated with the Triangle laboratory (UMR 5206) in Lyon, contributing to interdisciplinary studies on political economy and historical materialism. Education includes a PhD from Sciences Po Paris (2019) on European radical movements, with research stays at Oxford University and Freie Universität Berlin. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals like Lectures and International Journal of Francophone Studies , focusing on colonial counter-revolution strategies, French Communist Party history, and postcolonial theory. Nadi also translates key works in critical theory and participates in international conferences on topics ranging from Algerian revolutionary networks to Adorno’s philosophy. His teaching spans political science, history, and German language education across various institutions. Nadi’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary political debates, emphasizing the global dimensions of anti-colonial struggles and Marxist thought.
Prof. Dr. Sylvia Kesper-Biermann is a Professor of Historical Educational Research at the University of Hamburg's Faculty of Education, specifically within the department of General, Intercultural and International Comparative Education and Educational Psychology (EW 1). She has held this position since 2017 and previously served in various academic roles at institutions such as Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and the University of Cologne. Her research focuses on historical education, transnational educational spaces, comics as educational media, post-colonial education, and the history of human rights and emotions. Educationally, she studied Middle and Modern History, History Didactics, and Specialist Journalism at Universities of Siegen, Gießen, and Bristol. Her career includes roles as a research coordinator for the DFG Graduate School on Automatism, a research fellow at the University of Paderborn, and participation in multiple DFG-funded projects. Her research interests are interdisciplinary, emphasizing the intersection of education, history, and media. Recent work explores comics' role in language education for guest workers in West Germany, transnational colonial schools, and emotional dimensions of legal cultures. She has published extensively, including monographs like Einheit und Recht and edited volumes on Turkish-German educational discourse. Prof. Kesper-Biermann has received notable awards such as the Hamburger Lehrpreis 2023 and the Karl-Ferdinand-Werner Fellowship. She leads projects like PostKol (on post-colonial education) and ComBiMe (comics as educational media in West Germany). Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary educational challenges, emphasizing visual literacy, migration studies, and transnational collaboration. Her academic contributions include organizing lecture series on pedagogy, sexuality, and body politics, as well as international conferences on education history and comics studies. She collaborates with institutions like the Comic Kolloquium Nord and the German Society for Comics Studies, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue in visual and educational historiography.
Yuri Cowan is a Professor at the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He holds a doctorate from the University of Toronto (2008) and joined NTNU in 2012 after a post-doctoral fellowship at Ghent University's Research Project on Authorship as Performance. His research focuses on book history, medieval material culture, and speculative fiction, with a particular emphasis on William Morris's works, Victorian print culture, and textual histories. He is currently completing a book manuscript on William Morris and Medieval Material Culture and exploring speculative fiction's portrayal of book technologies. Dr. Cowan serves as co-editor of Book History (since 2019) and founding editor of Authorship . He also contributes to Mémoires du livre and maintains the online catalog of William Morris's library. His editorial roles include managing editorships and advisory board memberships for several journals, reflecting his commitment to open-access scholarship and digital preservation. Research highlights include studies on Norwegian broadside ballads, Victorian periodicals, and the Aesthetic Movement. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary speculative fiction, addressing themes like authorship, materiality, and textual recovery. Recent outreach activities include lectures on book history and science fiction’s regional variations in Cascadia and California.
