Beth Piatote is an Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. She holds a PhD in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Nez Perce). Her work bridges scholarly and creative realms, focusing on Indigenous literature, law, language revitalization, and cultural studies. Education: PhD in Modern Thought and Literature (Stanford University). Research interests include Native American legal systems, Nez Perce language preservation, global Indigenous literatures, and creative writing. She co-founded and chairs Berkeley’s Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization and directs the Arts Research Center, where she leads the Indigenous Poetics Lab. Her publications include Domestic Subjects: Gender, Citizenship, and Law in Native American Literature (2013) and the short story collection The Beadworkers (2019), which received multiple literary recognitions. Her plays Antíkoni and Tricksters, Unite! explore Indigenous narratives through performance. Awards include MLA honorable mentions, PEN/Bingham Prize longlistings, and a 2020 Playwrights Retreat win. Current projects involve a scholarly monograph on sensory representations of Indigenous law and creative works in poetry and essays.
Wendy Gay Pearson serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Western University. Her academic work spans multiple interdisciplinary fields with a particular focus on identity, citizenship, and belonging through the lenses of gender and sexuality. Professor Pearson's research interests encompass gender and sexuality studies, queer theory, feminist theory, critical race theory, and cultural studies. She approaches these topics through postmodernist and postcolonial theoretical frameworks, with emerging intersectional approaches to race, ethnicity, and diaspora. Her work specifically investigates these issues within science fiction, Canadian literature and film, and Indigenous film, examining connections between seemingly disparate areas such as analyzing Eden Robinson's Monkey Beach through both science fiction and Indigenous studies perspectives. Professor Pearson's scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory toward increasingly intersectional analyses, particularly in the most recent publications that bridge Indigenous studies with gender and sexuality frameworks. Her work consistently explores how science fiction functions as a space for imagining alternative gender and sexual possibilities, while simultaneously examining how Canadian cultural production engages with queer identities. The publications reveal a growing emphasis on Indigenous perspectives in film and literature, with multiple forthcoming 2024 contributions to the Routledge Handbook of Indigenous Film . As evidenced by her extensive editorial work including The Routledge Companion to Gender and Science Fiction (2023) and Reverse Shots: Indigenous Film and Media in an International Context (2014), Professor Pearson has established herself as a significant contributor to scholarly conversations at the intersection of gender studies and speculative fiction. Her book Zero Patience (2011) with Susan Knabe demonstrates long-standing engagement with queer cinema. Professor Pearson's academic supervision extends across multiple disciplines, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Her work has been supported through various academic channels that enable her to explore connections between Indigenous film, queer Canadian culture, and science fiction, though specific grant details are not provided in the available information. Her research methodology combines close textual analysis with theoretical frameworks from queer studies, feminist theory, and critical race theory, creating innovative approaches to understanding how cultural texts negotiate complex identity formations. This integrative approach is particularly evident in her examination of works by authors like Hiromi Goto, Nalo Hopkinson, and Larissa Lai, where she simultaneously considers sexuality, gender, race, and science fiction elements.
Lady Rojas Benavente is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics at Concordia University, where she has been teaching since her appointment as Assistant Professor in 1996, with promotion to Associate Professor in May 2003. Prior to joining Concordia, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at The University of Western Ontario, where she taught second language methodology, French and Spanish. Dr. Rojas Benavente received her PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University Laval in 1991, following an MA in Spanish Literatures (Cum Laude, 1985) and BA in History and Spanish (1983), both from the University of Ottawa. She also holds a Diploma qualifying as a Secondary School teacher specializing in Spanish Language and Literature, Psychology and Philosophy from the National Pedagogic University of Women in Lima, Peru (Cum Laude, 1968). Her research focuses on Critical Feminism in Peruvian & Latin-American Women Writers, with special emphasis on contemporary Peruvian and Mexican narrative, drama, poetry and essay. Her work encompasses Cultural Studies and Literary and Critical Theories, Latin American History, Post-colonialism, Human Rights, Women Studies, Feminist Theories, Gender Issues, Latin America Black History, Indigenous and Minorities Studies, and Comparative Studies in Education. She has published nine books (two poetry collections and seven critical interpretations) and over 50 refereed papers in Latin American Women's literary work, particularly focusing on Peruvian and Mexican authors. Dr. Rojas Benavente's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of gender, ethnicity, and power structures in Latin American literature. Her recent publications explore the works of contemporary Peruvian women writers, examining how they address issues of violence, racism, and gender in post-independence national contexts. Her research trajectory reveals a deepening focus on decolonial perspectives, indigenous resistance, and the intersection of gender with other social categories. Hispanic Literary and Cultural Institute's Honor Diploma (2010) Publication Award from the University of New Brunswick for the Anthology, Constructing Memory: Latino-Canadian Women Writers in the New Millennium Recognition by Mouvement Desjardins in celebration of International Women's Day (2008) As president of the Society for Literary Criticism of Spanish American Women Writers' work (CCLEH), Dr. Rojas Benavente has facilitated connections between Concordia colleagues, local artists, international writers, and the Latino-Montreal community. She serves on the editorial boards of Alba de America, a literary magazine from the United States, and Voces, a Peruvian cultural magazine. Her leadership extends to organizing numerous conferences on Latin American women writers across Canada, Latin America, and Montreal, including multiple meetings of Hispano-Canadian Women Writers and events commemorating significant figures in Latin American literature.
Marilyn J. Ward Ford is a Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University, holding the Neil H. Cogan Public Service Chair. She teaches courses such as Business Organizations and Securities Regulation while representing individuals and groups in impactful legal cases. Education: BA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, JD from Rutgers University. Her research focuses on Securities Regulation , Business Organizations , Civil Rights , and Native American Law , with particular emphasis on sovereignty, land rights, and environmental litigation. Her work often intersects with Indigenous governance and legal frameworks. Recent publications highlight her expertise in corporate law and ANCSA-related legal analysis, with a career spanning Wall Street firms, human rights organizations, and Fortune Global 500 corporations. Scientific Awards: NEBLSA’s 57 Most Influential Black Attorneys Class of 2025. She mentors students through hands-on casework, including high-profile cases involving a rap artist, professional athlete, and tribal land claims. She has also contributed to symposiums on insider trading and voting rights.
Michelle Grunsted is an Associate Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Oklahoma's Price College of Business, where she teaches courses such as Legal Environment of Business, Real Property, Employment Law, and International Business Law at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She has also held leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Center for Student Success and Director of the First Fidelity Integrated Business Core (IBC) program, and currently serves as Director of the Pre-Law Scholars Program at OU’s Honors College and Pre-Law faculty advisor for Pre-Law@Price. Education: JD from University of Oklahoma, LL.M from University of Tulsa Her research centers on generational differences in the workplace , deepfakes and their impact on court evidence , and federal/state/tribal jurisdictional issues , particularly regarding full faith and credit. She extends her expertise through consulting for Native American tribes, focusing on land development, grant implementation, and tribal court regulatory frameworks. Professor Grunsted’s scholarly work has appeared in the Michigan Law Review Journal of Gender and Law, Oklahoma Law Review, Tulsa Law Review, and the National Sovereignty Symposium. She has delivered presentations at NASA’s Diversity Council, the National Sovereignty Symposium, and Oklahoma’s Scholars Day.
Jon Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he also serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Success within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. His academic career focuses on Chinese politics and public policy, Chinese and U.S. urban politics and urbanization, and comparative public sector ethics. Taylor received his academic training at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science and History (1983) M.A. in Political Science (1987) Ph.D. in Political Science (1993) Dr. Taylor's research spans several interconnected areas with a strong emphasis on comparative politics. His primary research interests include Chinese politics and public policy, with particular focus on urban development in Western China, China's national urbanization plan, the Communist Party's online accountability system, and provincial-level public corruption in China. He has made significant contributions to understanding the role of indigenous Chinese political science within the global discipline. As a native Texan, he also maintains an active research agenda on Texas and San Antonio politics and government, frequently contributing opinion and analysis pieces to both Chinese and U.S. media. His scholarly work demonstrates a consistent engagement with questions of governance, political development, and the interplay between global academic trends and local political contexts. Taylor's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of scholarly engagement with Chinese political development, particularly focusing on urbanization, governance, and the evolution of political science as a discipline within China. His work often bridges theoretical frameworks with practical policy analysis, demonstrating expertise in both Chinese political systems and American politics, particularly at the state and local levels. A notable pattern in his scholarship is the examination of how Chinese political institutions adapt and evolve while maintaining distinctive characteristics. While specific major awards are not listed in the available information, Dr. Taylor has been an active participant in academic discourse through numerous presentations at prestigious venues including the Asia Society Texas, the Naoko Shirane Foundation Leadership Lecture Series, and the UTSA Model UN. His presentations often address timely topics in U.S.-China relations and contemporary political developments. As Department Chair and Associate Dean for Faculty Success, Dr. Taylor plays a significant leadership role in mentoring junior faculty and shaping the academic direction of his department. His teaching portfolio includes courses on Texas Politics and Society, Foreign Policy Analysis, Democracy and World Politics, Current Issues in World Politics, Seminar in Chinese Foreign Policy, and Urban Planning and Development, reflecting the breadth of his expertise across American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.
Nitasha Tamar Sharma is Professor of Black Studies and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, holding the Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence title. She directs the Asian American Studies Program and co-directs the Council for Race and Ethnic Studies (2017-2025), with courtesy appointments in Performance Studies and affiliations at the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, American Studies, and former fellowships at the Kaplan Institute, Buffett Institute, and CRES. Sharma's research pioneers comparative race studies through interdisciplinary ethnography, contesting inter-minority racisms while documenting cross-racial solidarities among non-White groups. Her work centers Black Pacific studies, Afro-Asian relations, Black-Native studies intersections, and critical mixed race theory, examining how Black communities navigate race/indigeneity in Hawai'i and South Asian Americans engage Blackness through hip hop. She develops relational frameworks emphasizing historical crossovers and liberated futures through expansive political orientations. Her publications reveal consistent engagement with Pacific Islands studies, trans-Pacific relations, post-9/11 racial formations, and hip hop's role in shaping global race consciousness. Recent work emphasizes center-to-center relationalities that challenge conventional spatial hierarchies, while earlier scholarship established foundational connections between South Asian American hip hop participation and Black liberation movements. Across two decades, her research bridges Black Studies, Asian American Studies, and Native Studies through ethnographic rigor. Dr. Sharma's scientific recognition includes: National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend Woodrow Wilson Career Enhancement Grant Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence Award Weinberg College Distinguished Teaching Award Faculty Fellowships at CRES, Buffett Institute, CNAIR, and Kaplan Institute National Emerging Scholar designation by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Her grant funding supports ethnographic research on Black Pacific communities and interminority relations, while teaching excellence awards reflect transformative pedagogy in courses like "Black Studies, Native Studies, Asian Settler Colonialism" and "Introduction to Critical Mixed Race Studies." Sharma co-edits major academic volumes and serves on editorial boards including American Quarterly. As Director of Asian American Studies and Co-Director of CRES, Sharma leads interdisciplinary initiatives fostering race/ethnicity scholarship. Her leadership extends to the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research and American Studies program, building collaborative networks focused on Pacific Islands studies, Black-Asian relations, and decolonial approaches to race scholarship.
Donald A. Dripps serves as the Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he has been a faculty member since 2004. His academic career includes previous appointments as assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, visiting professor at Duke University School of Law, visiting professor at Cornell University Law School, and James Annenberg Levee Professor of Criminal Procedure at the University of Minnesota Law School. He clerked for the Honorable Amalya Kearse of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City. Dripps earned his JD from the University of Michigan in 1983, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Michigan Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He received his BA from Northwestern University in 1980. His research focuses on the theoretical foundations of constitutional criminal procedure, with particular emphasis on plea bargaining, the void for vagueness doctrine, and the historical evolution of privacy rights. Dripps frequently examines how historical legal contexts inform contemporary constitutional interpretation, especially regarding the Fourth Amendment in the digital age. His work bridges doctrinal analysis with practical criminal justice concerns, exploring systemic feedback loops in criminal justice reform and the philosophical basis of constitutional rights. Dripps's scholarship reveals consistent engagement with emerging challenges in constitutional interpretation, including undefined consent in sexual assault statutes, federalism issues in criminal jurisdiction, and the constitutional dimensions of police surveillance. His publications demonstrate a methodological approach that combines historical analysis with contemporary doctrinal challenges to develop more coherent frameworks for constitutional criminal procedure. Editor-in-chief of the Michigan Law Review Member of the Order of the Coif As a leading scholar in criminal procedure, Dripps has shaped academic and practical understanding through his influential casebooks and law review articles. His work on institutional reform injunctions represents a significant contribution to one of the most dramatic developments in the field in recent decades. His scholarship consistently addresses the relationship between procedural rules and substantive justice outcomes in the criminal justice system.
Carolyn Liebler is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus). Her research focuses on race and ethnicity, mixed-heritage populations, and demographic data analysis, particularly emphasizing racial identity formation, census methodology, and the social implications of data collection practices in the USA. Key projects include Racial Identities and Life Choices among Mixed-Heritage People in the USA (Russell Sage Foundation, 2018-2021) Expanding and Updating Race-bridging Methods Using Alternative Data Sources (NIH National Cancer Institute, 2022-2024) Her recent publications span topics from U.S. census racial categories to mixed-heritage identity assertion. She has received multiple awards including the Arthur "Red" Motley Exemplary Teaching Award (2016) and the Career Readiness Teaching Award (2019). 2025: Data impacts of changes in U.S. Census Bureau procedures for race and ethnicity data 2024: Review of "We Are Meant to Rise" (University of Minnesota Press) 2022: What Motivates Mixed Heritage People to Assert Their Ancestries?
Michael Ziser is an Associate Professor of English at the University of California, Davis, where he has taught since 2003. His interdisciplinary scholarship bridges literary studies and environmental humanities, focusing on pre-Civil War North American writing and visual arts through frameworks of ecocriticism and more-than-human agency. His academic foundation includes: Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 2003 B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1996 Professor Ziser's research explores agrarianism, eco-phenomenology, food studies, and bioregionalist thought, with particular emphasis on nonhuman nature's representation in cultural production. His book manuscript Continent Ajar: Environmental Practice and Early American Writing pioneers methodologies for more-than-human literary histories, intersecting with science studies, religious studies, and media theory. His 2004-2009 publications reveal consistent engagement with environmental themes across historical periods—from early American pomology and ornithology to contemporary climate justice. Key threads include wilderness conceptualization, animal semiotics, and literature's entanglement with scientific practices, demonstrating how ecological concerns permeate cultural production from colonial to modern eras. As inaugural director of UC Davis' Environmental Humanities Research supercluster, he cultivates cross-disciplinary collaboration, notably organizing the 2009 conference California, the University, and the Environment . His Art of Regional Change fellowship develops community partnerships in Calaveras County and West Sacramento, applying university resources to regional environmental challenges. He also serves as Reviews Editor for Eighteenth-Century Studies . Through initiatives like the Environmental Humanities supercluster, Professor Ziser integrates faculty and graduate researchers across disciplines to address ecological issues via collaborative scholarship and community-engaged projects, emphasizing practical applications of environmental humanities.
Dr. Misty Ginicola is a Professor in the Counseling and School Psychology (CSP) department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). She holds a PhD from Yale University and has been with SCSU since 2006. Education : B.S. in Psychology (SUNY Cortland), M.A. in Psychology (SUNY New Paltz), M.S./M.Ph. (Yale University), Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Yale University, 2006) Her research focuses on Multicultural Counseling , LGBTQI+ Counseling , Creative Counseling Techniques (including phototherapy and yoga), and Highly Sensitive People . She integrates Indigenous and Celtic spirituality into her therapeutic practice. Dr. Ginicola's recent publications (2017) in the Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People book cover topics from identity development to religious/spiritual integration. Her earlier work (2004–2013) includes program evaluations for the Mutt-i-grees® initiative and critiques of educational policies like NCLB. She serves as President of the American Counseling Association’s Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC) and contributes to the Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling . Her grants focus on multicultural competence and counseling research. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, she operates Walk in Balance Counseling in West Haven, CT. The practice emphasizes holistic, person-centered care and employs her training in shamanism, Breath Body Mind techniques, and yoga.
Dr. Jocelyn Buckner is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the BA Theatre Studies program at Chapman University's College of Performing Arts. She teaches courses in theatre history, dramaturgy, and dramatic theory, while also mentoring student research through the University Honors Program. Education: B.A., Converse College M.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University in Theatre Pedagogy Ph.D., University of Kansas in Theatre Studies Her research focuses on intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality in contemporary plays and U.S. popular entertainment. She is a leading scholar on Lynn Nottage, editing the first scholarly collection on the playwright. Dr. Buckner’s expertise spans dramaturgy, theatre historiography, and identity politics in performance. Recent Publications: Contributions to Contemporary Black Theatre and Performance: Acts of Rebellion, Activism, and Solidarity (2023), and editorial work for Theatre History Studies (2022-2027). Her articles appear in journals like African American Review and Theatre Journal . Awards: Faculty Excellence Award in Mentorship Valerie Scudder Award for Teaching and Research Sigma Alpha Pi Excellence in Teaching Award Dr. Buckner collaborates with theatres such as Donmar Warehouse, Center Stage Theatre, and Native Voices at the Autry. She serves as dramaturg for Chance Theater’s New Works Series and mainstage productions, and holds leadership roles in professional organizations like the American Theatre and Drama Society.
Thomas E. Garrett serves as a Lecturer at Cornell University's Brooks School of Public Policy in the Cornell in Washington program, joining the institution in Fall 2024 after previously holding the Lund Practitioner-in-Residence position at the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. His educational background includes: Master of Arts in Diplomacy-International Relations from Norwich University Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Oklahoma Garrett's research and professional focus centers on International Relations, Democracy Promotion, and Human Rights, with deep expertise in Native American Affairs and Tribal Governance stemming from his enrollment in the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. His 23-year career at the International Republican Institute (IRI) involved advancing democratic governance across 80+ countries through election support and civil society development, followed by leadership as Secretary General of the Community of Democracies (CoD) from 2017-2024 where he built consensus among diverse global stakeholders. His contributions were recognized with Romania's National Order of Merit, Grand Officer for human rights work. Professional experience spans Vice Presidency at IRI, Middle East Regional Directorship, Chief of Party roles in Ukraine/Mongolia/Indonesia, legislative work for Senator Frank Murkowski on Native issues, and Director of Congressional & Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Elizabeth O'Donnell Gandolfo is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Earley Associate Professor of Catholic and Latin American Studies at Wake Forest School of Divinity. Her work bridges Catholic theology with contemporary social issues, focusing on vulnerability, ecological degradation, and decolonial studies. She earned a BA from Saint Joseph’s University, MTS from the University of Notre Dame, and PhD from Emory University. Her research emphasizes decolonial theology through Latin American contexts, eco-theological responses to environmental crises, and maternal spirituality. Key works include Ecomartyrdom in the Americas (2023) and Re-membering the Reign of God (2022). She has received the College Theology Society’s Best Article Award (2013) for her work on breastfeeding and theology. Teaches courses on liberation theologies, eco-theology, and Latin American Christianity. Active in academic societies: American Academy of Religion, College Theology Society, Catholic Theological Society of America. Publications span over 15 years, addressing intersectional topics like racism, capitalism, and gender in ecological ethics. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates theology with social justice activism, particularly advocating for environmental defenders in Latin America. Gandolfo’s scholarship challenges colonial structures while offering constructive theological frameworks for systemic change.
Andrew Denson is a Professor of History at Western Carolina University (WCU), serving as Director of the Cherokee Studies Program. He specializes in Native American and United States history, focusing on public memory, Indigenous autonomy, and cultural politics. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary issues in Native Southern communities. Education: PhD in History, Indiana University-Bloomington MA in History, Indiana University-Bloomington BA in History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Research Focus: Dr. Denson explores how public memory shapes narratives of Indigenous peoples, particularly Cherokee history. His studies analyze monuments, historical commemorations, and the intersection of Indigenous sovereignty with American cultural politics. Recent work examines Cold War-era public diplomacy involving Native nations and Civil Rights-era reinterpretations of Cherokee Removal. Publications: His scholarship spans monographs like Monuments to Absence and Demanding the Cherokee Nation , alongside journal articles addressing Cherokee monuments, Muskogee fairs, and Cold War Indigenous diplomacy. These works collectively critique historical narratives that marginalize Indigenous agency. Awards/Grants: No specific awards or grants mentioned, though his academic leadership in Cherokee Studies indicates sustained institutional support. Labs/Teams: Oversees WCU's Cherokee Studies Program, fostering interdisciplinary research on Cherokee history and culture.
