Sarah Annunziato is an Associate Professor of Italian and Director of both the Undergraduate Program in Italian and the Italian Language Program (1000-2000 level courses) at the University of Virginia. She holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. from Smith College. Her research focuses on children’s literature, media, and trauma representation, with a particular emphasis on Italian and U.S. texts. She also investigates language pedagogy, including game-based learning and the role of streaming media in language acquisition. Her teaching spans graduate courses like Dante’s Inferno on Film and undergraduate courses such as Elementary Italian and Small Screen Italy . She has advised MA theses on topics ranging from Italian literature to comparative cinema. Annunziato has received multiple grants, including funding for a tutoring clinic and curriculum development for healthcare-focused Italian courses. Her publications include Clic! L’italiano col telecomando (2024) and articles on topics like colonialism in Emilio Salgari’s works and Dante’s influence on American TV. She actively serves as an editor for La Vendemmia and contributes to initiatives like the Moons and Bonfires archive of Italian-American history.
Jørgen Bakke is an Associate Professor in History of Art at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies, University of Bergen. His academic work spans classical archaeology, Byzantine studies, and visual culture with a particular focus on ancient Greek art, landscape archaeology, and the cultural history of the Mediterranean region. Bakke has been actively involved in archaeological research in Greece, particularly in the Tegea region of Arcadia. His research interests encompass a broad range of topics in art history and classical studies. Bakke specializes in visual culture of ancient Greece, Byzantine garden traditions, landscape archaeology, and the intersection of art with memory and knowledge representation. His work often bridges disciplines, connecting classical literature with visual analysis and exploring how ancient visual culture functioned within historical and religious contexts. Bakke's research demonstrates particular expertise in the interpretation of ancient texts related to art (ekphrasis), the visual poetics of ancient Greek culture, and the reception of classical themes in later periods. Bakke's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on Mediterranean cultural landscapes, particularly examining the Tegea region through multiple historical periods from classical antiquity through the Byzantine era and into the Ottoman period. His work shows a progression from early studies on ancient Greek visual culture toward more specialized research on Byzantine visual traditions and garden culture. A notable thread throughout his publications is the examination of how visual culture functions within religious and devotional contexts across different historical periods. His recent work increasingly engages with digital humanities approaches to art historical analysis. Bakke is actively involved in multiple research groups at the University of Bergen, including the Images of Knowledge Research Group, the Antiquity and the Classical Tradition Research Group, and the Literature & Religion Research Group. These affiliations reflect the interdisciplinary nature of his work, which bridges art history, classical studies, religious studies, and literary analysis. His research demonstrates how visual culture serves as a critical lens for understanding historical, religious, and philosophical developments across different eras.
Amy G. Remensnyder is Professor of History and Giancarlo Family Provost's Professor of History at Brown University, where she has taught since 1993. She also holds the Royce Family Professor of Teaching Excellence title, reflecting her commitment to pedagogy. Her research focuses on medieval Europe, particularly the cultural and religious history of the Mediterranean, with emphasis on Muslim-Christian relations, monastic memory, and the global history of captivity. PhD, University of California, Berkeley (1992) A.B. summa cum laude, Harvard University (1983) Additional studies at Cambridge University and École des Hautes Études, Paris Her research interests include medieval Iberia, colonial Mexico, religious symbolism, transcultural history, and the role of memory in identity formation. She explores how religious figures like the Virgin Mary functioned as symbols of conquest, conversion, and interfaith entanglement. Her work bridges medieval and early modern periods, challenging disciplinary boundaries and incorporating insights from art history, anthropology, and literary studies. Her recent articles reveal a sustained engagement with themes of religious coexistence, sacred space, and cross-cultural devotion in the Mediterranean world. She examines how Muslim and Christian sailors shared shrines, how Moriscos developed their own Marian scriptures, and how Mary symbolized both war and diplomacy. Her scholarship combines deep archival research with theoretical sophistication, contributing to fields such as oceanic history, borderland studies, and the history of emotion. Van Courtland Elliott Prize (Medieval Academy of America) Fellow, Medieval Academy of America Berlin Prize, American Academy in Berlin Guggenheim Fellowship ACLS/SSRC/NEH Fellowship William G. McLoughlin Award for Teaching Excellence Remensnyder has directed major research initiatives and served on editorial boards, including Al-Masāq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean . She founded and directs the Brown History Education Prison Project, reflecting her commitment to engaged scholarship. She has received funding from the Swearer Center and has developed innovative courses on captivity and medieval lyric. Her leadership includes directing Brown’s Program in Medieval Studies (2010–2012) and serving on the Medieval Academy of America’s council. She is currently working on three book projects: Island of Trust in a Sea of Danger: Lampedusa , a maritime microhistory; Neighbors: Life in a Medieval Borderland , an archival study of Muslim-Christian relations in Iberia; and A Global History of Captivity , a synthetic overview of captivity across time and space.
Mark McInroy is a Professor and Associate Department Chair of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). His research focuses on modern Christian theology, particularly the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, theological aesthetics, and deification in Christian traditions. He teaches courses such as Theological Anthropology, emphasizing Catholic perspectives on human nature and ministry. Education: ThD and M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, BA from Southwestern University His research integrates patristic, medieval, and Reformation theologies, exploring themes like mystical theology, perception, and East-West Christian relations. Notable publications include Balthasar on the Spiritual Senses (2014) and contributions to Oxford Handbooks on Balthasar and deification. He has received prestigious awards like the Manfred Lautenschläger Award for Theological Promise (2015) and a Distinguished Early Career Grant (2018-2020). McInroy’s work bridges historical and constructive theology, addressing contemporary theological challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. He has co-edited volumes on theological aesthetics and Balthasar’s influence, reflecting his commitment to advancing theological discourse globally.
Robert Sharf is the D.H. Chen Distinguished Professor of Buddhist Studies in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley . He also serves as Chair of the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies and Head Graduate Advisor for the Group in Buddhist Studies . With a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Michigan (1995), he previously taught at McMaster University (1989-1995) and the University of Michigan (1995-2003). Research Interests: Medieval Chinese Buddhism (especially Chan) Japanese Buddhism Buddhist Art and Archaeology Ritual Studies Buddhist Modernism Philosophical Paradoxes Methodology in Religious Studies Critical Buddhist Discourse Publications & Collaborations: Author of Coming to Terms with Chinese Buddhism: A Reading of the Treasure Store Treatise (2002) Co-editor of Living Images: Japanese Buddhist Icons in Context (2001) Co-author of What Can’t Be Said: Contradiction and Paradox in East Asian Thought (2021) Co-author of How to Lose Yourself: An Ancient Guide to Letting Go (2025) Editor of Chinese translations of his works: Xiafu Chanxue zixuan ji and Xiafu Mijiao Yanjiu zixuan ji (2022) Academic Leadership: Director of the Group in Buddhist Studies Director of Religious Studies Chair of the Center for Buddhist Studies
Małgorzata K. Citko-DuPlantis is an Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture at the University of Tennessee’s Department of World Languages and Cultures, within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, alongside M.A. and B.A. degrees from Polish institutions (Collegium Civitas and University of Warsaw). Her research interrogates the instability of premodern knowledge systems, focusing on the Man’yōshū’s evolving cultural significance across medieval and modern eras. She challenges the canonical fixation on a single manuscript of this foundational poetry collection, arguing its role as a malleable cultural construct. Her work spans interdisciplinary areas including digital humanities, medieval Japanese poetry reception, and contemporary pop-media depictions of premodern Japan. Citko-DuPlantis has authored/co-authored monographs and peer-reviewed articles in English, Polish, and Japanese, with notable works like Clashes of Dragons and Dragonflies (2012) and her forthcoming monograph Embracing Instability: Imagining “Man’yoshū” in Medieval and Modern Japan . She has been awarded grants from the Japan Foundation, Fulbright, and MEXT, and has presented at major conferences such as the Association for Asian Studies and MLA. Her research awards reflect sustained scholarly impact, complemented by multilingual competence in languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Citko-DuPlantis actively engages with both academic and public spheres, bridging historical textual analysis with modern cultural phenomena.
Juan Francisco Jiménez-Alcázar is a Professor at the Universidad de Murcia, affiliated with the Department of Prehistory, Archaeology, Ancient History, Medieval History and Historiographic Sciences and Techniques within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. His research focuses on Medieval History, Digital Humanities, and the intersection of history with video games and digital media. He holds a Doctorate from the Universidad de Murcia (1993) with a thesis on 'Espacio, poder y sociedad en Lorca (1460-1521)'. His work explores historical representation in modern media, particularly analyzing how video games depict medieval soundscapes, warfare, and cultural frontiers. Key themes include the study of linguistic diversity in medieval Spain, governance structures in frontier regions like Murcia, and the impact of historical epidemics such as the 1507-08 plague in Murcia. Recent publications include books on Digital Humanities and video games (2020), medieval warfare simulations, and interdisciplinary studies on migration and historical identity. He collaborates with institutions like CONICET and the CNR in Italy, and his research contributes to both academic and public understanding of medieval history through digital tools and cultural analysis.
Alison Wright is Professor of Italian Art at University College London's Department of History of Art, specializing in Italian art from c. 1300-1550. She teaches across all undergraduate and postgraduate levels and welcomes doctoral supervision for thematically-conceived projects not restricted to painting. Her academic journey at UCL spans from Lecturer (1993), to Reader (through 2016), and Professor (since 2016), with additional leadership roles including Head of Department (2016-2019) and Chair of the Exams Board. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of London (1992) and a BA (Hons) from the Courtauld Institute of Art (1987). She maintains high proficiency in Italian, French, and German, supporting her comparative cross-European research approach. Wright's research centers on the material effects and interrelation of art, ideology and ritual in European art from the 14th to 16th centuries, with particular focus on Italy. Her work examines artistic practice, materials and materiality, with recent research investigating gold's activation in European port cities across late Medieval England, North Italy and Southern Spain. She explores how art functioned in relation to broader social, political and religious interests, particularly examining commission and reception of artworks. Her publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with Italian Renaissance material culture, spanning topics from frame ornamentation to sculptural practices. Her work shows particular interest in how materials convey meaning, with recurring themes of religious context, workshop practices, and the political dimensions of artistic production. Recent publications continue this trajectory with focus on Fra Angelico's use of light, Donatello's sculptural encounters, and the transformational properties of gold. Wright's teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels with courses covering Italian Renaissance portraiture, private and public sculpture, the history of the category 'Art', and specialized seminars on Place, Space and the Imagination in the Italian City (c. 1300-1520) and Seeing through Materials in the Renaissance. She has held various administrative roles including Impact Lead (2024), Research Fellow with the Leverhulme Trust (2023-2024), and Head of Department (2016-2019).
Peter O'Brien is a Professor of Political Science at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where he teaches courses in political philosophy, European politics, and political thought. His extensive research focuses on European identity, Islam in Europe, immigration studies, and anti-Americanism, with particular attention to historical and contemporary European perceptions of non-European cultures. O'Brien's educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. from Kalamazoo College. His scholarly work demonstrates a deep engagement with questions of European identity formation, particularly through encounters with Muslim communities and American influence. His research spans historical analysis from medieval times to contemporary politics, examining how Europeans construct their identity through interactions with others. O'Brien's publications reveal consistent themes across decades of scholarship, with recent works addressing counter-terrorism policies, migration governance, and Islamophobia in Europe. His research methodology combines historical analysis with contemporary political theory, often challenging conventional wisdom about European identity and its relationship to non-European cultures. He has developed particular expertise in German politics and European integration processes. Social Science Research Council Fellow at the Free University in Berlin Fulbright Professor at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul Fulbright Professor at the Humboldt University in Berlin As an educator, O'Brien has led immersive study abroad experiences in Berlin, teaching his 'Global City Berlin' course on-site. Beyond academia, he actively volunteers at the Center for Refugee Services and the Village at Incarnate Word senior community, demonstrating commitment to community engagement that complements his scholarly focus on migration and integration issues.
Xin Wen is an Associate Professor of Premodern Chinese History and History at Princeton University, holding dual appointments in the Department of East Asian Studies and the Department of History. He serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies and is affiliated with the Humanities Council and Behrman Faculty Fellows. His research focuses on medieval China and Inner Asia, particularly the Silk Road’s diplomatic networks and urban/cultural transformations in Chang’an. He earned a B.A. from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), an M.A. in Pre-modern Chinese History (Tang dynasty) from Peking University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Inner Asian and Altaic Studies from Harvard University. Xin Wen’s work bridges historical analysis with archaeological evidence, using multilingual Dunhuang documents and excavated texts to explore trans-Eurasian connections. His first book, The King’s Road: Diplomacy and the Remaking of the Silk Road , reinterprets the Silk Road as a diplomatic rather than commercial network. His second book project examines Chang’an’s post-Tang urban decline and cultural revival, funded by the American Council of Learned Societies. Collaborations include a study of Zoumalou’s third-century administrative documents with Brian Lander and Ling Wenchao. His research interests emphasize diplomatic history, Silk Road studies, urban transformation, and the interplay between memory and place. He actively publishes in journals like T’oung Pao and Journal of Silk Road Art and Archaeology , and his Chinese articles appear in leading journals such as Lishi yanjiu and Beijing daxue xuebao . Awards include the American Historical Association Prize for his first book. Grants and Funding: ACLS fellowship for his second book project. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with international scholars on Zoumalou documents and contributes to Brill’s publication efforts.
Dr. Andreas Goltz is an Academic Director in the Department of Ancient History at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz since 2021, with a focus on interdisciplinary research bridging Roman history, media studies, and public historiography. He has held various academic roles at institutions including Bamberg, Berlin, and Dresden. Doctorate in Ancient History (summa cum laude, Freie Universität Berlin, 2005) Master of Arts in Ancient History, Art History, and Psychology (Freie Universität Berlin, 1995) His research spans the Roman Republic , Late Antiquity , and historical reception , emphasizing cross-era analysis, Roman-Germanic interactions, and media representations of antiquity. His publications include a monograph on Theodoric the Great and editorial collaborations on Diocletian, Constantine, and Late Antique historiography. Recent articles reflect expertise in Spätantikfilm (late antique cinema), Byzantine sources , and ethnogenesis , with keywords spanning Political History to Visual Culture . Scientific Awards Teaching Award of Rhineland-Palatinate (2022) Lehrpreis der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (2020, 2014) He contributes to the Clio 2punkt0 project on historical communication and advises graduate theses on topics from Julian's Edict to Caesar's Monarchical Ambitions .
Dina Danish (b. 1981, Paris) is an Egyptian-Danish artist and educator working at the intersection of language, historical reinterpretation, and conceptual practice. She holds a Lecturer position at the Fine Arts department of KABK in The Hague and serves as a teaching mentor at the Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam . Guest teaching roles include the Sandberg Institute and American University in Cairo . Education : BA from American University in Cairo; MFA from California College of the Arts (San Francisco) Residencies : Rijksakademie Amsterdam, Spinola Banna Italy, PiST/// Istanbul, A.i.R. Dubai, Affiliated Fellow at American Academy in Rome Her research explores humor, mistranslation, and overlooked historical moments , often through video art, performance, and text-based installations . Key themes include linguistic structures, cultural memory, and Dadaist methodologies . Recent projects examine ancient motifs in contemporary art (e.g., Jean-Baptiste Maitre) and political commentary through playful abstraction . Notable exhibitions at SFMOMA, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, and Kunsthall Oslo highlight her focus on translation errors, sound poetry, and archival interventions . Volkskrant Award finalist Abraaj Art Prize nominee Illy Present Future Prize recipient Celeste Award nominee Barclay Simpson Award nominee Dina collaborates with institutions like Hotel Maria Kapel and De Nederlandsche Bank , and co-curated a Rijksakademie anniversary exhibition. Her work is represented by galleries in Amsterdam, Milan, and Zurich.
Professor Richard North (University College London, Department of English Language and Literature) is a leading expert in Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse studies. His career spans teaching and research in Old English, Middle English, and Old Icelandic literatures, with particular focus on Beowulf , medieval sensory perception , and pre-Christian Germanic religions . Affiliated with UCL since 1989, he was promoted to Reader in 1999 and Professor in 2007. Research interests include: Anglo-Saxon paganism and Christian syncretism Old Norse mythological analysis (Freyr, Loki, Baldr) Viking Age cultural exchange between England and Scandinavia Historical linguistics across Germanic languages Medieval manuscript studies His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches combining literary analysis with archaeology, agronomy, and sensory studies. Recent works explore Cnut's political ideology , Old English poetic meter , and medieval animal symbolism .
Peter Hartman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. He specializes in Medieval Philosophy, focusing on Philosophy of Mind and Metaphysics, with particular attention to Durand of St.-Pourçain and John Buridan. His research explores cognitive psychology, theories of mental acts, and the historical development of concepts like consciousness and representation in scholastic thought. Education: PhD in Philosophy, University of Toronto (2012) MA in Philosophy, University of Toronto (2005) BA in Philosophy, Goshen College (2003) Research Interests: Hartman investigates medieval theories of mind, metaphysical reductionism, the nature of cognitive habits, and the influence of medieval thinkers on early modern philosophy. His current projects include a collaborative translation of John Buridan’s Questions on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and a book on skills and know-how in medieval and Second Scholastic contexts. Key Contributions: Hartman has published extensively on Durand of St.-Pourçain’s theories, including works on hylomorphic composites, reflex acts, and modal theory. He co-edited John Buridan’s Questions on Aristotle’s De Anima (Springer, 2023), bridging medieval and modern philosophy of mind. Affiliations: Active member of Loyola’s History of Philosophy Roundtable and the St. Louis-Chicago Area Medieval Philosophy Research Group.
Johannes Grave is Professor of Early Modern Art History at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (since 2019), having previously held professorships at Bielefeld University (2012-2019) and deputy directorship at the Centre allemand d'histoire de l'art in Paris (2009-2012). He earned his PhD from the University of Jena with a dissertation on Goethe's print collection. His research explores art theory, European Romanticism, and historical image studies, with emphasis on: Temporality in visual perception Comparative practices in art analysis German/French/Italian painting traditions The intersection of aesthetics and social imagination His publications demonstrate consistent focus on Romantic landscapes (especially Caspar David Friedrich), Renaissance aesthetics, and redefinitions of the sublime. Recent works critically engage with art historiography, copyright debates, and exhibition politics. Notable scientific recognition includes: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2020) Hans Janssen Prize for European Art History (2012) Fellowships at DFG research groups in Berlin, Bielefeld, and Greifswald He leads doctoral projects on Romantic art, image comparison, and museology, supervising 18+ PhD candidates. As speaker for the cluster initiative Imaginamics and CRC 1288 'Practices of Comparing', he coordinates interdisciplinary teams exploring social imagination dynamics.
