Michal Krzyzanowski is a Professor of Media and Communication Sciences at Uppsala University, Sweden, where he serves as Deputy Head of the School of Informatics & Media and Director of Research at the Center for Multidisciplinary Research on Racism (CFR). With a career spanning institutions like the University of Liverpool, Örebro University, and Stockholm University, his work focuses on critical discourse studies of media, politics, and social change, particularly examining racism normalization , populist rhetoric , and immigration discourses in digital and traditional media. Key research areas: Critical discourse analysis, political communication, migration policy, EU institutional practices Projects: Swedish Research Council-funded studies on racism normalization (2016-20) and immigration discourses (2020-23) Editorial leadership: Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Language and Politics for over a decade Recent publications analyze how crisis narratives in media facilitate the normalization of anti-democratic practices , with a focus on far-right populism , racism in online spaces , and EU policy transformations . His methodological innovations combine critical discourse analysis with ethnography and corpus linguistics. Contact: michal.krzyzanowski@im.uu.se | michal.krzyzanowski@cemfor.uu.se
Tania Lizarazo is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), affiliated with the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication. She contributes to the Global Studies Program, Spanish Area, and MA in Intercultural Communication, with additional roles as Affiliate Faculty in Gender, Women’s + Sexuality Studies and Language, Literacy & Culture. Ph.D. in Latin American Literature and Cultures from UC Davis (2015) Research focuses on Latin American cultural studies, transnational feminisms, digital storytelling, and performance studies Key projects include mujerespacificas.org with Colombian Black peasant organizations and sexualidadescampesinas.ucdavis.edu with California farmworkers Author of Postconflict Utopias: Everyday Survival in Chocó, Colombia (University of Illinois Press, 2024) Her recent publications and collaborations emphasize digital storytelling as a tool for community engagement and critical analysis of race, gender, and violence in Latin America. She co-edited Repensando a Policéfalo (2006) and has published in journals like Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies and Corpografías . Her work bridges academic research with social justice initiatives. Current courses include topics on digital humanities, migration, Afro-Latin America, and performance studies. She collaborates with Dr. Thania Muñoz D. on the teaching project Intercultural Tales: Learning With Baltimore’s Immigrant Communities .
Tuukka Saarimaa is an Associate Professor of Urban Economics at Aalto University and a member of the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (Helsinki GSE). He chairs the Urban Economics research group at Helsinki GSE and serves on the Finnish Economic Policy Council . Research Focus: Housing economics, urban policy, political economy, local public finance Key Projects: Myllypuro urban renewal analysis, one-room apartment boom studies Expertise: Analyzing housing market dynamics, socioeconomic segregation, and municipal finance Recent Publications include urban housing trends in Finland's six largest cities (2025), Myllypuro redevelopment impact assessments (2024), and analyses of one-room apartment market segmentation. His work combines spatial econometrics with policy evaluation frameworks. Collaborations extend to AlueAvain.fi research platform and Nordic urban economics networks. He actively engages in public discourse through social media and media contributions to HS and ETLA publications.
Shirley Samuels is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies and Picket Family Chair of Literatures in English at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. A distinguished scholar of 19th-century American literature and culture, she has shaped feminist criticism, Civil War studies, and transatlantic discourse. Her academic journey began at UC Berkeley with a PhD in English (1986). Key research areas include: American literature and culture 18th- and 19th-century fiction Gender, race, and sentimentality Civil War iconography Visual culture and mobility narratives Notable trends across her publications reveal sustained engagement with racial trauma , gendered political discourse , visual representation , and transatlantic cultural exchange . Her work bridges literary analysis with historical memory. Scientific honors include: Mellon Humanities Grant American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship Phi Beta Kappa Multiple research grants from Society for the Humanities Public Voices Project Fellow
Teresa Ann Barnes is a Professor with joint appointments in the Department of History and the Department of Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since August 2017, she has served as the Director of the Center for African Studies at UIUC. Her academic career spans over two decades, with significant experience living and working in southern Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Professor Barnes' research focuses on the intersection of political, gender, and institutional histories in southern Africa. Her work explores: Political and institutional histories of South African universities Political history of Zimbabwe Gender studies, memoir, and autobiography African-American family history The experiences of the "insane" in historical contexts Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a continued focus on African history and decolonization, with particular attention to educational institutions and gender dynamics. Professor Barnes has authored several influential books including "Uprooting University Apartheid in South Africa: From Liberalism to Decolonization" (2019) and "We Women Worked So Hard": Gender, Urbanization and Social Reproduction in Colonial Harare, Zimbabwe, 1930-1956 (1999). Her work often blends personal narrative with historical analysis, reflecting her interest in alternative ways of writing history. Professor Barnes teaches courses including: 20th Century African Intellectual History History of Southern Africa Truth Commissions in Comparative Perspective Memoir and Autobiography Introduction to Gender & Women's Studies She earned her PhD in African Economic History from the University of Zimbabwe in 1994, following an MA with distinction in the same field in 1987. She completed her undergraduate studies with a BA in International Relations from Brown University in 1979.
Stefano Redaelli is a Professor at the University of Warsaw in the Artes Liberales faculty. He serves as the Coordinator for First-Degree Studies in Mediterranean Culture. His academic journey spans both humanities and exact sciences. Habilitation (2017): Thematic cycle on intersections between humanistic and scientific culture in 20th-21st century Italian literature PhD in Humanities (2011): Literary representations of madness in Mario Tobino, Alda Merini, and Carmelo Samonà Master in Writing (2006, University of Siena) PhD in Physics (2003, University of Warsaw): Chaos and noise in solar wind flow Master in Physics (1994, University of L’Aquila) Research Interests focus on: Contemporary Italian literature Medical humanities and illness narratives Intersections between science and literature Madness in literary discourse Therapeutic writing and creativity Interdisciplinary translation studies Publications highlight trends in: Mental health narratives (2022-2023) Science-literature interface (2016-2019) Dantean and Holocaust intertextuality (2017) Mathematical poetics (2016) Grants include: NCN Opus 16 (2019-2023): Madness post-Basaglia Law NCN Sonata 4 (2013-2016): Science-humanities dialogue Visiting Fellowships : 2025: University of Pisa 2024: University G. D’Annunzio di Chieti (Psychology faculty) 2021: University G. D’Annunzio di Chieti (Humanities faculty)
Natalia Umansky serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Political Science at the University of Zurich's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, affiliated with the Institute of Political Science and the Digital Democracy Lab within the Digital Society Initiative (DSI). Her institutional profile highlights interdisciplinary engagement across DSI's Cybersecurity, Democracy, and Digital Humanities communities. Academic Background: PhD in Politics and International Relations (defence pending) from University College Dublin Iseult Honohan Scholar at University College Dublin's Connected_Politics Lab Her research pioneers Computational Social Science methodologies to analyze social media ecosystems, specializing in securitization theory applications to digital political communication. Current projects examine agenda-setting constellations in financial policy, hate speech detection frameworks, and TikTok's impact on youth political engagement. Methodologically, she integrates network analysis, natural language processing, and comparative case studies to investigate how security narratives propagate across digital platforms and influence democratic processes. Publication trends reveal a strategic evolution from foundational work on terrorism-migration linkages (2016) toward cutting-edge examinations of AI moderation systems (2024) and generative AI's role in security discourse (2025). Her scholarship consistently bridges political theory, data science, and platform governance with emphasis on empirical validation of computational models. Scientific Recognition: Iseult Honohan Scholar (University College Dublin) As a core member of Zurich's Digital Democracy Lab, Umansky contributes to high-impact collaborative projects analyzing digital threats to electoral integrity and developing transparency standards for algorithmic governance. Her work positions her at the forefront of computational political science, with emerging leadership in establishing methodological best practices for social media analysis in security contexts.
Miguel Vale de Almeida is a Full Professor in the Department of Anthropology at ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon, where he also serves as an Integrated Researcher at CRIA-Iscte - Networked Center for Research in Anthropology. He is affiliated with the Circulation and Place Production Group, focusing on contemporary social transformations. Education: Aggregation in Anthropology, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon (2000) PhD in Social Anthropology, ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon (1990-1994) Master's in Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton (1984-1986) Bachelor's in Social Anthropology, NOVA University of Lisbon (1979-1983) His research explores critical intersections of power, identity, and culture, with emphasis on: Gender/sexuality dynamics and LGBTQI+ rights Postcolonial legacies in Portuguese-speaking contexts Ethnic identity formation and racial discrimination Creolization processes across diasporic spaces Political anthropology of democratic transitions His publications demonstrate consistent engagement with identity politics, social justice, and anthropological theory. Recent works analyze intersectional discrimination mechanisms, decolonial perspectives in literature, and the sociopolitical dimensions of same-sex marriage legislation. Professor Vale de Almeida contributes to CRIA's Circulation and Place Production Group, examining spatial and cultural mobilities in global contexts. His ethnographic work spans Portugal, Brazil, Spain, and Israel/Palestine.
Jonathan Y. Tan is The Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan Professor in Catholic Studies at Case Western Reserve University and an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. He is also affiliated with the Ethnic Studies program, specializing in Asian/Asian American and Chinese/Chinese American studies. Education: LL.B. Honours from the National University of Singapore Law School M.A. from the Graduate Theological Union Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America Dr. Tan’s research focuses on the intersection of theology, culture, and global Christianity, particularly in Asian and Asian American contexts. His work bridges mission studies, postcolonial theology, and interreligious engagement, with a strong emphasis on contextual and diasporic religious identities. His publications include foundational works such as Introducing Asian American Theologies (2008) and Christian Mission among the Peoples of Asia (2014), while his 2021 book on the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences redefines Asian Catholic ecclesiology. His editorial contributions, including World Christianity: Perspectives and Insights (2016) and Theological Reflections on the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement (2016), highlight his interdisciplinary approach. Scientific Awards: First Book Grant for Scholars of Color by the Louisville Institute (2005) Outstanding Book (2014) by the International Bulletin of Missionary Research Outstanding Book (2016) by the International Bulletin of Mission Research Dr. Tan’s grants and publications reflect his expertise in mission studies, liturgical theology, and global religious dynamics. He actively contributes to Southeast Asian and diasporic theological discourse through co-edited volumes like From Malaysia to the Ends of the Earth (2021).
Mara Ferreri is a Fixed-term Assistant Professor at the Interuniversity Department of Territorial Sciences, Planning and Policies (DIST) at Politecnico di Torino, where she teaches Global Urban Geographies. She is also affiliated with multiple prestigious institutions including the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (2022-present) and the London School of Economics, Department of Geography and the Environment (2022-present). Her academic career spans multiple European institutions, with previous appointments at Northumbria University (2019-2022), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2016-2019), Durham University, and the London School of Economics. Ferreri's research focuses on housing precarity, temporary and platform urbanism, and struggles for housing alternatives. She employs qualitative methods to investigate the precarization of urban space and living, collective resistance, and self-organization. Her interdisciplinary work bridges urban and cultural geography, spatial planning, visual culture, and housing studies. She is particularly known for her monograph The Permanence of Temporary Urbanism: Normalising Precarity in Austerity London (Amsterdam University Press, 2021), which examines the normalization of precarious living conditions in London. Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on urban commons, housing movements, platform economies, and the politics of care in urban contexts. Ferreri's work increasingly examines the intersections between digital platforms and housing precarity, feminist approaches to housing commons, and transnational solidarity in housing struggles. Her research demonstrates a methodological commitment to collaborative and militant research approaches that prioritize community knowledge and activism. Queen Mary PhD Studentship (2009) Urban Geography Research Group Event Fund (2012) Antipode Foundation Scholar-Activist Project Award (2012) Arts and Humanities Research Council - Creativeworks London (2014) Marie Curie Fellowship (2016) Antipode International Workshop Award (2019) British Academy Virtual Sandpit Follow-on Funding (2021) Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Symposium (2022) Ferreri supervises PhD students Matteo Beltramo and Tommaso Cosentino in the Urban and Regional Development program. She leads the ERC-funded EnactDECOM project (2025-2030) on decommodified housing in Southern Europe. As an active member of the European Network for Housing Research (2020-present), she serves on editorial boards for PLATFORMS & SOCIETY (2024-present), HOUSING AND SOCIETY SERIES (2023-present), and RADICAL HOUSING JOURNAL (2019-present), demonstrating her significant contribution to shaping housing research discourse.
Dr. Stefano Tijerina serves as a Senior Lecturer in Management at the Maine Business School, University of Maine. His academic career follows a background in international banking and non-profit management. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Maine, along with an M.P.A. from the same institution, a B.A. in Comparative Politics from Clark University, and a Graduate Certificate in International Relations from Universidad de los Andes. His research focuses on the historical business dynamics of the Western Hemisphere, particularly Colombian-Canadian relations. He has explored topics such as transnational corporate strategies, labor relations in the oil industry, and the impact of military regimes on business expansion. His work includes analyses of trade policies, development assistance, and the role of transnational entities in shaping economic landscapes. Dr. Tijerina’s publications span peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, policy papers, and book reviews. His articles often examine the interplay between economic history and political contexts, reflecting his expertise in comparative business and Latin American studies. He has contributed to platforms like the NEP-HIS Blog and ActiveHistory.ca, further highlighting his engagement with historical discourse. Scientific Award: 2017 Christopher Kobrak Research Fellowship from the Canadian Business History Association In advising and grants, while no formal student advisees are listed, his policy-oriented work demonstrates active contributions to regional economic analysis and cross-border studies. His involvement in the Border Policy Research Institute underscores his commitment to practical academic applications. Dr. Tijerina’s bio is housed at the DP Corbett Business Building in Orono, ME.
Dr. Marusya Bociurkiw is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's RTA School of Media, specializing in Media Production. She holds a BFA from NSCAD University, MA from York University, and PhD from University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on feminist/queer archives, affect theory, media activism, and migration studies. She directs the Studio for Media Activism & Critical Thought and leads the SSHRC-funded 'Finding Home' project. A filmmaker and author, her works include award-winning documentary 'This Is Gay Propaganda' and memoir 'Food Was Her Country.' Education: BFA (NSCAD), MA (York), PhD (UBC) Research emphasizes intersectional frameworks across media studies, activism, and social justice. Recent projects explore pandemic foodways through a feminist lens and pre-#MeToo feminist media movements. Her work bridges academic theory with community-based research creation. Awards: FCAD SRC Award (2014), Toronto Met Knowledge Mobilization Award (2018), Kobzar Award Advancing community-engaged scholarship through 25+ symposia organized by her lab. Current projects include a documentary on feminist media revolutions and digital archiving initiatives.
Selfa A. Chew-Melendez is a Professor in the Department of History and African American Studies Program at the University of Texas at El Paso , where she also serves as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Director of the Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies . A scholar of Borderlands History and Asian Studies, her work examines transnational racial relations, diaspora experiences, and decolonial methodologies. PhD in Borderlands History (UTEP, 2010) PhD in Teaching, Learning, and Culture (UTEP, 2023) MFA in Creative Writing (UTEP, 2003) BA in Communication Science (UNAM, 1985) Her research bridges World War II studies , Asian diasporas in Latin America , and anti-racist pedagogy . Recent publications focus on visual culture disruptions , feminist resistance aesthetics , and transnational internment programs . She has received accolades including the Southwest Book Award (2017) and International Latino Book Award (2016). Scientific Awards TIEF Study Abroad Grant (2024) African American Studies Program Recognition (2017) Southwest Book Award (2017) International Latino Book Award (2016) UTEP Research and Sponsored Projects Award (2016) As Coordinator of the Asian Studies Program , she teaches courses on African American History , History of Women , and Special Topics in Borderlands Studies . Her editorial work includes Border Senses Literary Review and collaborations with international institutions across Mexico, Argentina, and China.
Dr. Lisa Merten is a Senior Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute (HBI), where she leads computational social science projects like POLTRACK, examining the relationship between information repertoires and political polarization. She also coordinates the DFG-funded 'Public Connection' project, exploring how users engage with diverse publics through media practices. Her research focuses on digital media environments, algorithm-driven personalization, and the impact of social media on news consumption and public opinion. Education : - Studied Communication Science at Universität Leipzig, TU Dresden, Universiteit van Amsterdam, and Boston University - German Academic Scholarship Foundation recipient Research Interests : - Algorithmic publics and personalization - Political information seeking and polarization - Digital methods for media analysis - Journalism and online commentary dynamics Key Projects : - Co-led the POLTRACK project with GESIS and universities of Bremen/Konstanz - Investigated Instagram influencers' reach in 'Media Use and Social Cohesion' with Hannah Immler - Pioneered browser data donation methods in journalism studies Awards : - 2021 Digital Journalism 'Article of the Year' for work on social media news curation Teaching : - Held part-time junior professorship in Computational Social Science at University of Konstanz (2021) - Taught at University of Hamburg, Augsburg, and Kiel University of Applied Sciences Labs/Teams : - Core member of HBI's Computational Social Science team - Collaborates with GESIS, Bremen/Konstanz universities, and international partners
Junko Mori is a Professor of Japanese Linguistics at the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research spans multimodal interaction, diversity in language education, and sociolinguistic practices in multilingual workplaces and healthcare settings. Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison Her work integrates conversation analysis, applied linguistics, and sociolinguistics, focusing on meaning-making in social interactions, inclusion in language classrooms, and historical ethnography of Japanese language initiatives in the 1980s-1990s. Recent publications highlight translingual practices, professional competence in healthcare, and the intersection of language policy and migration. Key awards include the ACTFL/MLJ Paul Pimsleur Award for Research in Foreign Language Education. She has served as past president of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese and currently chairs the Global Network of Japanese Language Education. Her editorial roles include Applied Linguistics and Modern Language Journal .
