Michael Lucey is the Sidney and Margaret Ancker Chair and Distinguished Professor of French and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His work bridges French literature from the 19th to 21st centuries with social theory, sexuality studies, and linguistic anthropology. He has authored the critically acclaimed What Proust Heard: Novels and the Ethnography of Talk (2022) and Thinking about Sexuality with Novels (forthcoming). As founding director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Culture , he has shaped interdisciplinary research in queer theory and gender studies. Current research focuses on novels as ethnographic tools Specializes in Proust, Balzac, Woolf, and contemporary French fiction Translation work includes Didier Eribon and Édouard Louis His recent articles explore phonetics in narrative, readability frameworks, and sociological implications of literary form. He actively engages with comparative methodologies and critical theory, while his teaching spans British and American literature’s intersections with French modernism. Lucey’s academic leadership includes directing Berkeley’s Center for the Study of Sexual Culture, which supports global discourse through fellowships and conferences. His office hours are held in Dwinelle Hall and via Zoom. Contact: mlucey@berkeley.edu
Haijun Xia is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he directs the Foundation Interface Lab and contributes to the Cognitive Science and Design Lab. His work focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Human-AI Collaboration , emphasizing the development of dynamic, malleable interfaces that integrate human cognition with intelligent systems to enhance thinking and working paradigms. Education: Bachelor's, Tsinghua University Master's and PhD, University of Toronto His research spans generative AI , interface design , and creative collaboration , with applications in data visualization, programming, and scholarly work. He advocates for treating information as a malleable material that can be flexibly manipulated by users and AI agents. Recent publications highlight advancements in: 2025 CHI Conference - Generative user interfaces, malleable overview-detail designs, and compositional structures for human-AI co-creation 2024 CHI Conference - Structured design space exploration with LLMs, ASCII diagram analysis, and adaptive presentation systems 2023 CHI/UIST Conferences - Data particle visualization, contextual logging tools, and metaphor generation for science communication Scientific recognitions include: Multiple Best Paper Awards and Honorable Mentions at CHI and UIST Hellman Fellowship and grants from NSF , Microsoft , Google , Meta , Apple , and Adobe He actively recruits undergraduate and graduate interns and has an upcoming postdoc position in early 2025 for researchers interested in foundational interface development.
Eytan Adar is a Professor of Information and Computer Science at the University of Michigan, holding dual appointments in the School of Information and the College of Engineering's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department. His work sits at the intersection of human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence, focusing on large-scale systems analysis and novel interface design. Adar's research spans multiple domains including social media analysis (Twitter, Reddit), academic citation networks, meme propagation, information extraction, and political networks. His methodological expertise includes data mining, data visualization, and graph-based network analysis. His work often operates at internet scale, examining language, creativity, social network dynamics, and text production. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on AI-human collaboration, with particular attention to generative AI interfaces, visualization techniques for complex data, and ethical considerations in AI systems. His work shows a consistent pattern of bridging theoretical insights with practical system implementations. Best Paper Award at ProtoAI: Model-Informed Prototyping for AI-Powered Interfaces, IUI'21 Honorable Mention Award at CHI'24 for feminist interaction techniques research Best Paper Award at ICWSM'18 for Wikipedia language edition analysis Best Paper Award at ICML 2016 Workshop for neural language model visualization Best Student Paper at WSDM'09 for web dynamics research Best of CHI at CHI 2008 for web revisitation patterns analysis Adar has advised numerous PhD students who have gone on to prominent positions at organizations including Google, Apple, RAND, Northwestern University, and Stanford. His research is generously supported by the NSF, IARPA, NIH, the Education Department, and major technology companies including Adobe, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and Yahoo. He is also a founder of the International Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM) and has served as Co-General Chair for WSDM and Co-Program Chair for UIST.
Rebecca Blatt is the Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Practice at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University (ASU). She oversees master's program recruitment, curriculum, retention, and signature programs like Cronkite News and Carnegie-Knight News21. Previously, she led the Cronkite News Digital Production Bureau and directed the Cronkite Public Insight Network Bureau, which earned the ASU President’s Award for Innovation. Her expertise spans multimedia storytelling, data visualization, and audience engagement, with a focus on preparing students for evolving journalism landscapes. Education: M.B.A., American University’s Kogod School of Business M.A. in Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Bachelor’s degree, University of Pennsylvania (Phi Beta Kappa) Research & Leadership: Blatt’s work emphasizes innovation in journalism education and community engagement. She has held roles at NPR and WAMU 88.5 FM, producing award-winning documentaries and event coverage. Her curriculum development integrates reporting, entrepreneurship, and cross-platform collaboration. Awards: ASU President’s Award for Innovation (2016) Honors from Radio Television Digital News Association, Education Writers Association, and New York Festivals Radio Awards Teaching: Courses include principles of journalism, practicum, and applied projects, reflecting her commitment to practical skills and industry relevance.
Miryam Sas is a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. Her work bridges Japanese literature, film, theater, and avant-garde arts with critical theory. She specializes in 20th-century cultural movements, postwar Japanese experimental arts, and media theory. Her research includes studies on surrealism, intermedia, and post-Holocaust representation, with notable works like Feeling Media: Potentiality and the Afterlife of Art (2022) and Experimental Arts in Postwar Japan (2010). Her research interests span Japanese modernism, intermedia art, feminist film analysis, and photographic theory. She has curated exhibitions for institutions such as MoMA, the Getty Museum, and the Mori Art Museum, contributing essays on postwar avant-gardes and Japanese photography. Recent projects include translations of modernist poets Sagawa Chika and Ema Shōko, and collaborative archival work on Finding Zbaraż . Prof. Sas has been awarded the UC President’s Research Fellowship for her media theory work. Her teaching focuses on critical theory, Japanese cinema, and media studies, offering courses on infrastructural aesthetics and transnational Asian media. She actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogues through lectures and radio programs like France Culture’s La Fabrique de l’Histoire .
Dr. Reba Wissner is an Associate Professor of Musicology at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, where she also serves as Interim Associate Dean in the Honors College. She specializes in film, television, and video game music, with a strong commitment to pedagogy and accessibility in higher education. Education: PhD, Musicology, Brandeis University, 2012 MFA, Musicology, Brandeis University, 2008 BA, Music and Italian, Hunter College, CUNY, 2005 Graduate Certificate, Higher Education Administration, Northeastern University, 2019 Graduate Certificate, Instructional Design, University of Wisconsin - Stout, 2020 Levels 1, 2, and 3 UDL Credentials, UDL-IRN Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer and Master Reviewer Dr. Wissner’s research centers on music in screen media, particularly Cold War-era television, and the intersection of music with cultural narratives. She is a leading voice in public musicology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), advocating for inclusive and accessible music education. Her work spans historical analysis, pedagogical innovation, and interdisciplinary media studies. Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on sonic storytelling, with books on The Twilight Zone , The Outer Limits , David Lynch, and Twin Peaks . She explores themes of nuclear anxiety, identity, and adaptation across media. Her editorial projects include the Oxford Handbook of Public Musicology and a guide on UDL in music history classrooms. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, Columbus State University, 2022 Governor’s Teaching Fellow, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education, 2022 Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer and Master Reviewer UDL Levels 1–3 Credentials Dr. Wissner has secured editorial contracts with Routledge and Oxford University Press, reflecting her leadership in the field. She mentors emerging scholars through collaborative editing and public scholarship initiatives. Her work in online learning and accessibility has shaped curriculum development and peer review standards. She leads the Public Musicology Certificate program and contributes to interdisciplinary studies and honors education. She is actively involved in research teams focused on media music and pedagogical innovation, integrating digital tools and inclusive design into music history education.
Robert Likamwa is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, affiliated with the School of Arts, Media and Engineering and the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering. His research focuses on the intersection of mobile computing, augmented reality, and sensor design through Meteor Studio. Ph.D., Rice University M.S., Rice University B.S., Rice University His work spans three core research arcs: (i) advanced visual capture systems, (ii) hybrid virtual-physical immersion through sensory augmentation, and (iii) data-driven frameworks for AR/VR storytelling. He explores mobile operating systems, low-power architectures, computational imaging, and holographic computing. Recent publications analyze multi-resolution visual sensing, geospatial cross-virtuality collaboration, planetary data visualization, spatial audio optimization, and multi-sensory virtual environments. His 2013 paper on energy-proportional image sensors received the Best Paper Award at ACM MobiSys. Best Paper Award, ACM MobiSys 2013 LiKamWa advises graduate students through research and thesis courses and leads grants related to mobile vision systems, haptic interfaces, and energy-efficient sensor design. He directs Meteor Studio, a research group focused on immersive technology innovation.
Dr. Martha Sidury Christiansen is a Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL at the University of Texas at San Antonio , where she serves in the College of Education and Human Development . She is the Principal Investigator of Project RESPETO , a NSF-funded initiative exploring racial equity in engineering education. Her work spans sociolinguistics, digital literacies, and raciolinguistic analysis, with a focus on transnational multilingual communities. Born in Veracruz, Mexico Ph.D. in Foreign/Second Language Education (Ohio State University, 2013) M.A. in English Composition (Indiana University, 2007) B.A. in English Language Teaching (Universidad Veracruzana, 2002) Her research examines how transnational youth navigate digital spaces through multiliteracies , challenges Western academic writing norms via Mexican decolonial methodologies , and investigates raciolinguistic intersections in identity formation. The 15 most recent publications reveal a strong focus on digital communication , transnationalism , and critical pedagogy across journals like TESOL Quarterly and Language@Internet . 2023-2025: Expanding raciolinguistic frameworks in digital contexts 2021-2022: Analyzing multimodal identity construction 2019-2020: Exploring Mexican bilinguals' online language use She has received multiple honors including ACUE Fellow (2023), Fulbright Scholar (2017), and Faculty Leadership Fellow (2021-2022). Her presentations at conferences like ICOLLITE and DDVM Lab highlight her expertise in critical sociolinguistic awareness and digital discourse analysis . Dr. Christiansen actively consults for nonprofits on linguistic equity and multilingual education .
Ming Lin is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, holding joint appointments in Computer Science (Department of Computer Science), the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), and the Maryland Robotics Center. She holds the Dr. Barry Mersky and Capital One E-Nnovate Endowed Professorships. Her research focuses on physically-based modeling, virtual environments, haptics, robotics, and AI applications in healthcare and urban computing. Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley. She previously spent 20 years at UNC Chapel Hill before joining UMD in 2018. Research interests include collision detection algorithms (e.g., Lin-Canny algorithm), real-time physics simulation, virtual/augmented reality systems, and medical imaging applications. Her work has led to over 2 million downloads of her group's software tools and licenses with 60+ companies. Notable contributions include the Oculus Rift-related VR technologies and Amazon's virtual try-on system. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2012), ACM Fellow (2011), NAI Fellow (2022), and Washington Academy of Sciences Distinguished Career Award (2020). Active in professional service, she serves on the CRA Board and chairs the Committee on Widening Participation in Computing Research. Advising: Supervises 12+ PhD/Master's students. Her lab (GAMMA Group) focuses on AI-driven robotics, autonomous systems, and physically-based simulations. Key projects include traffic simulation frameworks, medical VR applications, and 3D garment modeling.
Andrew Campana is an Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in modern and contemporary Japanese literature and media. His research explores the possibilities and limitations of expression during media transitions, with particular focus on poetry, digital media, and disability studies. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University and an Honors B.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto. Campana's first book, Expanding Verse: Japanese Poetry at the Edge of Media , published by the University of California Press in 2024 as an open access work, examines Japanese poetic practice from the 1920s to the present as poets engaged with evolving media technologies including film, tape recording, television, and the internet. As a researcher, Campana's work bridges literary studies, media studies, game studies, and disability studies, with current projects exploring how poetry became a key site of digital experimentation in Japan. His research methodology combines traditional literary analysis with hands-on creative practice, informed by his experiences at MIT's Trope Tank laboratory. His scholarly interests span Japanese media history, disability representation in literature and gaming, digital poetics, and gender studies. His research has received significant media attention, including features in the Cornell Chronicle ('Poets in Japan Experiment at the Edge of Media' and 'Japanese Poets Open New Ways of Thinking About Media'), The Statesman, and interviews on NPR's Academic Minute and the Curiosity Daily podcast discussing his work on gaming and accessibility. As an educator, Campana teaches courses including 'Introduction to Japan,' 'Japanese Poetry,' and 'The Glitch: Errors, Disability, and the Edges of Digital Media' (ASIAN 4703/6703), guiding students through interdisciplinary explorations of Japanese literature, media, and digital culture. His teaching reflects his commitment to understanding media transitions through both theoretical and practical lenses.
Kevin Moberly is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Old Dominion University (ODU), affiliated with the College of Arts & Letters. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2005), an M.A. in Creative Writing (2000), and a B.A. in English from Berry College (1995). His research focuses on medievalism, digital humanities, and computer game studies, with notable grants including a 2011 College of Arts & Letters Summer Research Fellowship ($6,000) and a 2015 Center for Learning and Teaching Faculty Innovator Grant ($3,000). Moberly’s work bridges medieval scholarship and modern digital media, addressing themes like fan culture, corporate revisionism, and virtual economies. His publications span journals such as Studies in Medievalism , Computers and Composition , and Eludamos , alongside book chapters on game studies and technical communication. He has received numerous teaching awards, including the 2010 Shining Star Teaching Award and recognition for co-organizing the 2007 Computers and Writing Online Conference. His research interests include the intersection of medieval narratives with contemporary cultural phenomena, digital pedagogies, and the rhetoric of free speech in online spaces. Moberly has contributed to initiatives like the Examining the Evolution of Gaming anthology and co-authored studies on modding in technical classrooms. His work often critiques societal structures through interdisciplinary lenses, blending literary analysis with digital media theory.
Andrea Wollensak is Professor of Art at Connecticut College, where she has taught since 1993. She is an interdisciplinary artist and designer whose work explores the convergence of place, identity, and history through site-based artworks that combine new media technology with traditional design and fabrication. Her educational background includes a B.F.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.F.A. from Yale University. She has held visiting faculty positions at numerous institutions including the University of Gothenburg, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Concordia University, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Estonian Academy of Arts. Wollensak's research focuses on social design and place-based storytelling, employing collaboration with community partners, computer scientists, musicians, poets, and scientists. Her work addresses themes of place-based narratives, environment, and memory through forms including audio/video, interactive installations, data visualization, artist books, and digitally fabricated works. She examines how design can be used as a tool for social impact and civic participation. Her most recent projects include Mapping Your Journey to School (2023), which engages Estonian and Ukrainian refugee students in creative writing workshops; Water Stories: Visual Poetics and Collective Voices (2022), a year-long artist residency at the Anchorage Museum; and Open Waters (2019-2020), an interactive installation examining Arctic environmental change. U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Estonia (2023) Artistic Excellence Award in Digital Art from Connecticut Office of the Arts Artist residency at Hafnarborg Contemporary Art Museum in Iceland (2011) Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism Grants in New Media (2010, 2006) IASPIS International Artist Studio Program in Sweden (2007) Rockefeller Study and Conference Center residency (2000) Wollensak has advised numerous students in design and new media projects, often collaborating with community partners. She served as Director of the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology at Connecticut College from 2014-2020 and currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Winterhouse Institute and the Advisory Board for Digital Media Connecticut. Her teaching emphasizes design as an interdisciplinary practice that prepares students to be creative problem solvers who can use design to create positive social impact. Her work has been exhibited internationally at venues including the Göteborg International Contemporary Art Biennial, Nova Scotia Art Gallery, Brno Design Biennial Moravian Gallery, Center for Visual Art in Denver, Brown University's Granoff Center Gallery, and the Burchfield Penney Arts Center in Buffalo.
Meredith Laxton is a Professor of Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) since 2024. She holds an M.F.A. in Sequential Art from SCAD and a B.A. in Art and Design from North Carolina State University. Her career includes roles as a career adviser (2023), teaching assistant (2018), and graduate mentor at SCAD (2017–18). She co-created the SAVAGE FST zine festival in 2023 and has been a freelance comic artist for publishers like PageTurner Graphic Novels and Humanoids LLC. Laxton’s work spans graphic novels, concept art, and multimedia design, with notable contributions to projects like Wait Till Helen Comes and MPLS Sound . Her research interests focus on sequential art pedagogy, visual storytelling, and the intersection of comics with community engagement. She has exhibited in international shows such as Lacoste’s Sketchbook Showcase (2018) and won awards including the Black-Eyed Susan Book Award nomination (2023) and the Gertrude M. Cox Award (2012). Laxton actively participates in comic conventions like San Diego Comic-Con (2020) and Heroes Convention (2018–2022), advocating for diversity in comic art and fostering connections between creators and audiences. Her professional portfolio includes roles as a concept artist at Puny Human Games (2014–2018) and multimedia designer for NCSU-DELTA (2011–2014). She has also served as an Artist in Residence at Neighborhood Comics (2021) and contributed to trade shows like S.P.I.C.E. (2024) and SPX (2022). Laxton’s interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional art, digital media, and educational outreach.
Keith Obadike is a Professor in the Department of Art at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), where he also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies. He is an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist and composer, known for his collaborative work with Mendi Obadike, which spans sound art, digital media, public installations, performance, and internet-based projects. His artistic and academic work critically engages with technology, race, history, and identity. Obadike earned a B.A. in Visual Art from North Carolina Central University and an M.F.A. in Sound Design from Yale University. Prior to joining Cornell, he taught at William Paterson University and held visiting positions at Princeton University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, and the Art Institute of Chicago. His research and creative practice focus on sound art, digital media, public art, performance, and collaborative practice , with strong interdisciplinary connections to Afrofuturism, data sonification, and social justice. He explores how sound and technology mediate racial identity, memory, and liberation, notably through the concept of acousmatic blackness , which he and Mendi developed to describe the racial perception of sound when its source is unseen. Obadike’s selected works include large-scale public sound installations such as Blues Speaker (for James Baldwin) , Free/Phase , Compass Song (Times Square Arts), and GuideStar (Space Needle, Seattle). His projects often use data sonification, archival research, and mythic storytelling, blending historical inquiry with futuristic vision. Notable series include the Opera-Masquerades , Americana Suites , and Numbers Station works, which transform databases of violence into sonic experiences. His honors include: Rockefeller New Media Arts Fellowship (2004) Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award (2015) New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Fiction New Music USA Creator Development Fund (2022) Obadike has received commissions and support from institutions such as the Vera List Center, Harlem Stage, Times Square Arts, the American Composers Orchestra, and the Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities. He has exhibited and performed at The New Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA, and The Studio Museum in Harlem. His writings and publications include contributions to Studies into Darkness (2022), and artist books such as Four Electric Ghosts and Big House / Disclosure (both 2014). He has also released albums like Crosstalk (2008) and created internet artworks such as Blackness for Sale (2001) and The Interaction of Coloreds (2002), which are foundational in new media and critical race art. While specific advisees are not listed, his role as Director of Undergraduate Studies and Professor indicates active mentorship. His work is deeply collaborative, often co-created with Mendi Obadike, and supported by interdisciplinary teams and institutions.
Laura Meyers is a Clinical Professor in the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD) at Georgia State University, serving as Program Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Creative and Innovative Education (MACIE). She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University, an M.A. in Children’s Literature from Hollins University, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Presbyterian College. Her work focuses on arts-infused instruction, social justice education, and cross-cultural learning. Dr. Meyers integrates dramatic and visual arts to address social justice issues like racism, gun violence, and mental health through collaborations with Atlanta-based artists. She created the Tiles for Social Justice curriculum and leads study abroad programs in China and Mexico. Notable accolades include the 2023 GSU Instructional Innovation Award and the 2020 George M. Sparks Award. Her teaching spans introductory courses (e.g., PERS 2001, ECE 3385) and innovative graduate courses like Art as Activism and (Re)centering Well-being. She actively contributes to academic and artistic communities through films, theatre productions, and international recognitions such as her Honorary Teacher title from Sichuan Normal University (2015).
