Dr Danny Cookney serves as Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Digital User Experience and Creative Digital Design Degree Apprenticeships at Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Digital Arts (SODA), where he also contributes to the Research Leadership Group. Recognized as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, his career includes international teaching experience in Malaysia and China, alongside external examination roles in Singapore and Egypt. Cookney's transdisciplinary research critically examines intersections of sound and image within music contexts, specializing in record cover design, music videos, and musician portraiture for electronic/dance genres. His parallel exploration of visual communication in politics spans right-wing propaganda analysis and protest aesthetics, culminating in a People's History Museum exhibition commemorating the Peterloo Massacre's bicentennial. This dual focus manifests in publications addressing digital archives, political visual culture, and music geography. Publication trends reveal evolving scholarly engagement: recent works (2024-2025) analyze YouTube's rave archives and San Francisco's contested musical identity, while 2017-2019 outputs investigate music video persistence across media platforms, underground dance architecture, and far-right design strategies. Collectively, his output demonstrates consistent methodological innovation in bridging musicology, visual studies, and political discourse. Professional recognition includes: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy As Degree Apprenticeship Programme Leader, Cookney oversees student cohort development in digital design fields; specific advisees and grant projects remain undocumented in available materials. His Research Leadership Group membership reflects active institutional contribution to SODA's academic strategy and research culture.
Dr. John Cowley is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, part of the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, where he has held his fellowship since September 2014. His work focuses on Caribbean musical traditions and their global diaspora connections, particularly examining the relationship between indigenous Caribbean musical practices and broader cultural movements. Dr. Cowley's research interests encompass indigenous Caribbean musical traditions, Carnivals (and carnivalesque) in the West Indies and their associations with Africa, Europe and the Americas, and vernacular black music in the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. His scholarly work bridges historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and cultural studies, with particular attention to the transnational flows of Caribbean musical forms. His publications reveal a consistent focus on documenting and analyzing Caribbean musical heritage, with particular emphasis on calypso, biguine, and other vernacular forms. His most significant works include the comprehensive discography of French West Indian music from 1900-1959, studies of calypso in Britain, and analyses of Caribbean musical traditions in Paris between the World Wars. His research demonstrates how Caribbean music has served as a vehicle for cultural expression, resistance, and identity formation across multiple diasporic contexts. Dr. Cowley has presented his research at numerous academic venues including the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, University of Liverpool, King's College London, and the University of the West Indies. His work engages with themes of globalization, cultural transmission, and the political dimensions of musical expression within Caribbean communities and their diasporas.
Liana Lomiento is Full Professor of Greek Language and Literature at University of Urbino Carlo Bo . She coordinates the PhD program in Humanistic Studies and directs the Summer School in Greek Metrics and Rhythmics since 2011. Teaching courses on Greek Literature, History of Greek Theatre, and Greek Metrics, she bridges classical philology with performance studies through 12+ credit hours annually. Greek Literature (12 CFU) History of Greek Theatre (6 CFU) Greek Metrics and Rhythmics (6 CFU) Research Focus : Specializing in rhythmic-metric theory , poetic form history , and textual criticism , her work investigates the interface between metric structures and semantic meaning in choral lyric and drama. She explores music-dramaturgy relationships in Aristophanic comedy and Aeschylean tragedy, with significant contributions to understanding dochmiac metrics in Pindaric and tragic contexts. Recent Publications demonstrate her expertise across choral lyric analysis, tragic metrics, and manuscript studies. She serves as Scientific Director of the Rivista di Cultura Classica e Medievale and editor for its Quaderni series. Her 2024 International Conference on Bruno Gentili leadership highlights her role in classical scholarship stewardship.
Armenuhi Martuni Arzumanyan is Associate Professor in the Department of History and Criticism of Modern Armenian Literature, Faculty of Armenian Philology, Yerevan State University (YSU). Since 1988 she has held uninterrupted appointments at YSU, progressing from laboratory assistant to lecturer and ultimately to associate professor, while also lecturing at Yerevan “Gladzor” University from 2000 to 2011. Education: 1983–1988 – Yerevan State University, Faculty of Armenian Philology 1997 – Candidate of Sciences (PhD equivalent), Yerevan State University, dissertation “Reflection of the fate of Western Armenians in Soviet Armenian prose of the 1960s-1980s” under scientific advisor Prof. Vazgen Gabrielyan Research Interests span the history of modern Armenian literature, narrative structures, literary imagery (especially horse and tree symbolism), interdisciplinary links between literature and music/psychology, and the methodology of teaching Armenian literature. Her work combines rigorous textual analysis of canonical authors—Paruyr Sevak, Hrant Matevosyan, Aksel Bakunts, et al.—with the development of innovative pedagogical techniques tailored to higher-education literature courses. Recent Publication Trends (2020-2025) reveal two dominant strands: (1) deep hermeneutic studies on Armenian prose, focusing on symbolism, color imagery, and cross-cultural literary dialogue, and (2) empirically grounded explorations of contemporary teaching methods—flipped classroom, prism method, mind-mapping, jigsaw, T-chart, and integrated lessons—specifically designed for Armenian literature classrooms. Teaching & Academic Service Lecturer, Yerevan “Gladzor” University (2000–2011) Associate Professor, Yerevan State University (since 2000) Author of the 2020 teaching manual Հայ գրականության դասավանդման մեթոդներ, ձևեր (Methods and Forms of Teaching Armenian Literature) Languages : Armenian (native), Russian, English.
Li Wei is a Professor and Director of the Department of Music and Performance at Tongji University's School of Art and Media. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Inner Mongolia Normal University (1987) and advanced training from Shanghai Conservatory of Music (1991). His professional experience includes roles as soloist at Jilin Provincial Song and Dance Theater (1988-1998) and Shanghai Opera House (1998-2005), followed by academic positions at East China Normal University (2005-2014) and Tongji University (2014-present). His research specializes in vocal music performance (particularly bel canto technique), opera production, and interdisciplinary arts education. He integrates traditional Chinese elements with Western vocal pedagogy, focusing on cultural transmission through performance. His creative works include the award-winning operas Jiangjie (18 national performances) and the original production Zhidan Zhidan , recognized for innovative cultural education. Student's Favorite Teacher Award (Tongji, 2015) Excellence in Teacher Ethics (Tongji, 2017) Famous Course Excellent Teacher (Tongji, 2021) Teaching Achievement Special Prize (Tongji, 2021) Shanghai Teaching Achievement Second Prize (2022) National Vocal Competition Awards (1993-2014) He directs the award-winning 1907 Chamber Choir and mentors competition-winning students including Liu Zelu. His pedagogical innovations include Shanghai's curriculum reform projects for vocal performance and interdisciplinary arts integration.
Virgilijus Visockis serves as Associate Professor in the Singing Department at Vytautas Magnus University's Music Academy in Kaunas, Lithuania, with continuous employment since September 2018. His academic work integrates performance practice with the university's 'Dimension of Music Education' research cluster, focusing on vocal pedagogy and stage production within Lithuanian musical contexts. His research spans Opera, Operetta, Musical Performance, Singing, and Music Education, with particular emphasis on creating original Lithuanian productions while adapting international repertoire. Visockis actively bridges academic scholarship and professional practice through compositional work and stage direction, maintaining strong ties with the Lithuanian Union of Musicians. Analysis of his 30+ publications (2012-2024) reveals dominant trends in operatic production, including premieres of original works like 'Grafas Liuksemburgas' (2024) and adaptations of classics such as Imre Kalman's 'Sylva' (2023). His output demonstrates consistent engagement with social themes, notably the 2022 Ukraine benefit concert 'Together for Freedom', while maintaining technical focus on vocal performance, orchestration, and libretto development across Lithuanian cultural institutions. No scientific awards were documented in the source materials. Professional collaborations form a significant aspect of Visockis' work, with frequent partnerships including Gabrielė Bukinė, Gediminas Maciulevičius, and Jonas Janulevičius across concert productions and operatic works. While specific grant funding isn't detailed, his sustained output through university-affiliated cultural centers indicates institutional support for his artistic research. His activities center on the Singing Department's performance infrastructure, with productions staged at venues like Marijampolė Culture Center, reflecting integration with regional cultural networks rather than dedicated laboratory facilities.
Kalpana Vijayavarathan is an Associate Professor in TEFL and Educational Sciences and serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of the Faroe Islands. With a PhD in Teacher Cognition and TEFL, she has established herself as a leading figure in language education and inclusive pedagogy within the Faroese educational context, holding leadership positions while maintaining an active research profile. Dr. Vijayavarathan earned her PhD with research focused on teacher cognition in English language teaching in the Faroe Islands. Her academic journey began at Women's Christian College, University of Madras, India (1986-1989), where she taught English language and literature courses before transitioning to her current role in the Faroe Islands. Her research explores critical areas in contemporary education with particular emphasis on Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teacher Cognition, and Inclusive Education for immigrant students. She investigates how rural educational contexts shape teaching practices and how culturally responsive pedagogy can promote equity in classrooms, with specific attention to first- and second-generation immigrant children in the Faroese compulsory school system. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical implementation challenges in small island communities. Dr. Vijayavarathan's publication portfolio reveals a clear trajectory from foundational work on teacher cognition to current research on language policy implementation and inclusive education frameworks. Her recent scholarship increasingly connects local Faroese educational contexts with broader Nordic and Arctic educational networks, demonstrating growing regional influence while maintaining focus on the unique characteristics of Faroese education. Her significant contributions include: Active leadership in the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education Membership in the Nordic Migrant Expert Forum under the Nordic Council of Ministers Key advisory roles in Faroese government education strategy and policy development Editorial contributions to the Fróðskaparrit - Faroese Scientific Journal As an academic leader, Dr. Vijayavarathan has supervised numerous bachelor's theses and currently co-supervises two PhD projects. She has designed and led multiple teacher development initiatives across all educational levels, focusing on TEFL, Assessment & Feedback, and Teacher Cognition. Her substantial grant portfolio includes major projects such as (ACCESS): Arctic Conference on Educational Sciences, ConnectED: Creating Connections in the Arctic Educational Science Community, and research on the impact of COVID-19 school closures on student wellbeing, securing funding from both national and international sources. She collaborates extensively with researchers across the Nordic region and participates in projects examining cultural dimensions of education, including the 'Tradition and Music Education' project exploring Faroese identity in music education. Her leadership extends to chairing committees that shape national language policy and curriculum development for English Language Teaching in the Faroe Islands.
Keith Bartholomew is a Professor in the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah's College of Architecture + Planning. He previously served as Associate Dean of the College of Architecture + Planning from 2011 to 2022. His academic journey at the University of Utah began in 1999 with adjunct appointments in Geography and Family & Consumer Studies, progressing through various academic ranks before becoming a full Professor in 2020. Professor Bartholomew's educational background includes: Juris Doctor and Graduate Certificate in Environmental Law from the University of Oregon (1987) Certificate in Ocean & Coastal Law from the University of Oregon (1987) Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University (1983) Professor Bartholomew's research centers on community-based decision making processes, with a primary focus on the development and application of integrated land use-transportation scenario analysis. His work serves as the foundation for community visioning, long-range transportation planning, and transportation project analysis. He has conducted nationally recognized research on the interactive effects of land use development and travel patterns, initially through the "Making the Land Use, Transportation, Air Quality Connection" (LUTRAQ) program. His recent research has expanded to examine scenario planning projects across more than 100 U.S. metropolitan areas, with a particular emphasis on using scenario analysis for climate action plans in states like California and Oregon. His most current work investigates the ridership and equity impacts of small-scale design decisions at bus stops. An analysis of Professor Bartholomew's scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on the intersection of urban form, transportation systems, and environmental sustainability. His publications demonstrate expertise in scenario planning methodologies, accessibility metrics, and the relationship between land use patterns and transportation outcomes. A significant thread throughout his work examines how compact development can reduce vehicle miles traveled and associated carbon emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. His research also consistently addresses issues of social equity in transportation planning, particularly regarding the impacts of fare structures and accessibility on different demographic groups. Professor Bartholomew's contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards: Transportation Research Board, Charley V. Wootan Award for the best paper in transportation policy and organization (2024) University of Utah Distinguished Teaching Award (2021) College of Architecture + Planning Professor of the Year (2015 and 2010) Northern Illinois University Honors Program Alumnus of the Year (2015) University of Utah Service-Learning Class of the Year (2008) University of Utah University Professorship (2006) As an educator, Professor Bartholomew has advised numerous students through honors theses, undergraduate research projects, and dissertations. His teaching portfolio includes courses on Land Use Law, Land, Law & Culture, and Ecological Planning Workshop. He has secured significant research funding from federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration, National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation through the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC). His grant portfolio demonstrates a sustained focus on transportation planning, scenario analysis, and the relationship between land use and transportation outcomes. Professor Bartholomew has been actively engaged with community organizations and professional boards, including serving on the Envision Utah Policy Board and the Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2017. His work bridges academic research with practical application in metropolitan planning organizations across the United States, helping to translate theoretical concepts into actionable planning practices.
Almut Gatz, born in Heidelberg in 1981, serves as Professor of Music Theory at the University of Music Würzburg since the winter semester 2017/2018. She previously held teaching positions at music academies in Freiburg, Karlsruhe (PreCollege), Nuremberg, Dresden, and the Berlin University of the Arts. From 2014 to 2017, she taught music theory and aural training at the Robert Schumann University of Music in Düsseldorf, and during the winter semester 2016/2017, she held a part-time professorship for methodology of music theory in Freiburg. Gatz studied school music (violin), mathematics, and music theory with Eckehard Kiem in Freiburg. Her academic background combines mathematical precision with musical artistry, creating a distinctive approach to music theory. This interdisciplinary foundation informs her research methodology and teaching philosophy, bridging analytical rigor with creative musical expression. Her primary research focuses on the changing concept of expression in Anton Webern's middle vocal works, with additional expertise in historical vocal improvisation and the didactics of music theory. Gatz examines how theoretical concepts translate into practical musical understanding, particularly in educational contexts. Her scholarship reveals deep engagement with both historical performance practices and contemporary analytical frameworks. Analysis of her publication record from 2013-2023 shows consistent scholarly output centered on music theory and analysis, with particular emphasis on 20th-century composers, especially Webern. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between historical musicology, theoretical analysis, and pedagogical application. Recent publications increasingly address the integration of theoretical concepts into music education practices. As an active musician, Gatz directs several choirs and performs as a violinist in numerous ensembles specializing in chamber music and early music. This dual expertise in scholarly research and practical musicianship creates a valuable synergy in her academic work, allowing her to approach theoretical questions with performance-based insights.
Dennis Büscher-Ulbrich serves as Assistant Professor of American Studies and Cultural and Media Studies at the English Department of Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, where he has held research and teaching positions since 2011. His academic career spans multiple German institutions including the University of Hamburg and HafenCity University Hamburg, with recent research appointments extending to Fordham University in New York City. Education: Dr. phil. in American Studies, University of Hamburg (2012, summa cum laude) Magister Artium in American Studies and Musicology, University of Hamburg (2007, magna cum laude) Preliminary diploma in Informatics, Bielefeld University (2003) Büscher-Ulbrich's research explores the intersections of Marxist theory, cultural production, and social resistance. His work critically examines how crises manifest in urban spaces through riots and rebellions, analyzing the connections between racial capitalism, climate justice, and cultural forms like trap music and radical poetry. He investigates how social media platforms mediate contemporary political struggles while challenging right-wing ideologies through historical materialist frameworks. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical rigor with urgent political questions about abolition, emancipation, and the production of alternative futures. His publications reveal a sustained engagement with Marxist crisis theory applied to contemporary cultural phenomena, particularly examining how racialized superfluity manifests in urban uprisings and music culture. The recurring focus on 'dissensus' as a political and aesthetic strategy connects his analyses of poetry, film, and social movements, while his recent work increasingly addresses climate justice within frameworks of fossil capitalism and ecological crisis. Teaching and Academic Leadership: Regularly teaches courses on academic writing, representation theory, and specialized topics including trap music, climate justice, and riot studies Has supervised numerous MA and BA theses on topics related to his research interests Organized international conferences including the DFG International Conference 'Im/Possibility' at University of Kiel (2016) Büscher-Ulbrich maintains active participation in critical theory networks through conference presentations and collaborations with scholars like Joshua Clover and Marlon Lieber. His current habilitation project 'Racialized Superfluity and the Culture of Crisis: Riots, Trap, Zombies' represents the culmination of his interdisciplinary approach to understanding contemporary crises through cultural analysis.
Sean O'Toole is a professor of English at Baruch College, CUNY, affiliated with the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. His expertise spans nineteenth-century British and Anglophone literatures, queer theories, and writing studies. A graduate of Georgetown University (B.A.) and CUNY Graduate Center (Ph.D.), he previously lectured in Princeton's Writing Program before joining Baruch in 2008. O'Toole’s research focuses on transnational decadence, queer formalism, and Victorian narrative structures. He is the author of Dorian Unbound: Transnational Decadence and the Wilde Archive (2023), Habit in the English Novel, 1850-1900 (2013), and a Norton edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray (2024). His work connects queer identity with literary form and historical context. Key research areas: Queer theory in Victorian literature Decadence and aestheticism Anglo-Irish cultural intersections Epistolary analysis Material culture in fiction Intertextuality and classical influences Scientific honors: Mid-Career Faculty Fellowship (2019) NEH Summer Seminar participant (2012) Paul Monette Prize for Gay/Lesbian Studies (2006) Phi Beta Kappa (1994) O'Toole teaches courses in British and Irish literature, nineteenth-century novels, world literature, and writing.
Dr. Rebecca Umland is a Professor at the Department of English, University of Nebraska at Kearney. Her research focuses on Arthurian Studies, World & 19th Century British Literature, and Film Studies. She has received multiple awards, including the Martin Distinguished Professor of English and the Pratt-Heins Distinguished Research Award. Education: Ph.D. in English, University of Iowa Her research explores the intersections of medieval narratives with modern media, particularly through cinematic adaptations of Arthurian legends and Victorian literature. She has published extensively on topics connecting literary traditions to contemporary cultural forms. Recent publications analyze Tennyson’s works in film, Dante’s influence in popular culture, and anti-hero tropes in television. Her scholarship spans interdisciplinary methodologies, blending literary analysis with film and cultural studies. Scientific Awards: Martin Distinguished Professor of English Faculty Research Mentor Award Outstanding Teaching Award (Mortar Board Society) Pratt-Heins Distinguished Research Award Honorary Member for Teaching Excellence (Phi Eta Sigma) She teaches courses in Romantic Literature, Victorian Literature, European Literature in Translation, and Arthurian Legends. Dr. Umland is affiliated with professional organizations such as the Mythopoeic Society and the International Arthurian Society.
Dr Elizabeth Edwards BA, MA, PhD is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS), University of Wales. Her work focuses on eighteenth-century and Romantic-period literature, with expertise in literary recoveries, textual editing, archipelagic critical approaches, and the history of women’s writing in Wales. Education: English, Trinity College, Oxford; Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies, University of York Edwards has authored a critical anthology of Anglophone Welsh verse (1789–1806) and edited Richard Llwyd’s poetry (2016) for Trent Editions’ ‘Poetry Recoveries’ series. She co-edits the AHRC-funded ‘Curious Travellers’ project (2017) and co-supervises a PhD thesis on Northern English travelers to Wales and Scotland (1760–1820). Her editorial work includes a 2017 special issue of Romantic Textualities on ‘Four Nations Fiction by Women, 1789–1830,’ and collaborations with Mary-Ann Constantine on travel writing and Enlightenment identities.
Jeremy W. Johnston is a part-time Adjunct Lecturer in History at Redeemer University, specializing in American History, Western Civilization, and Classical Studies. He holds an M.Ed. (2017), B.Ed. (2002), and BA (2001) from the University of Western Ontario. His teaching includes courses like A World at War: The Turbulent 20th Century and History of the US: From Colony to Superpower . Education: M.Ed. (2017), Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Western Ontario B.Ed. (2002), English and History, University of Western Ontario BA (Honours) (2001), English and History, University of Western Ontario Jeremy’s research spans interdisciplinary fields including Christianity and the arts, Anglo-Saxon/Medieval literature, and 20th-century Christian thinkers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. His recent publications focus on literary analysis, theological aesthetics, and educational philosophy, with a particular emphasis on Christian cultural engagement. His scientific awards include the Teaching Excellence Award (2002) and multiple academic honors from the University of Western Ontario (1998-1999). He has authored three books and served as an arts columnist for Barnabas magazine over a decade.
Matthew Robertson is a Senior Lecturer in Graphics and Mixed Media at the Bath School of Art, Film and Media, Bath Spa University, where he has been employed since 2005. He teaches fundamental principles of graphic art, collage, lettering, publishing, and both analogue/digital production methods, bridging academic instruction with professional design practice. His educational background includes: BA (Hons) Visual Communication, University of Western Sydney Robertson's research centers on experimental visual/sound poetics through artist books, asemic writing, graphic scores, and sequential art. He transforms found urban materials and deconstructs semantic language into abstract visual forms, creating works featured in international venues like Pompeu Fabra University and Goldsmiths, University of London. His practice critically engages with small press publishing and the materiality of text-image relationships. Analysis of his 2017-2019 publications reveals consistent exploration of visual language deconstruction across artist books, academic articles, and music industry design. These works demonstrate interdisciplinary fusion of concrete poetry, experimental typography, and mixed media, frequently appearing in niche publications like Pocket Litter and Journal of Artist Books while pushing boundaries of visual communication. Robertson maintains significant professional collaborations with Peter Saville Studio for clients including Joy Division/New Order, Tate Modern, and Umbro. His design writing has appeared in Eye and Creative Review, while his commercial work spans cultural institutions like the English National Opera and Factory Benelux. He actively participates in international visual poetry events and has served as session chair for conferences celebrating concrete poetry's 50th anniversary, demonstrating ongoing engagement with global experimental art communities.
