Paize Keulemans is an Associate Professor of Chinese Literature at Princeton University's Department of East Asian Studies. His research focuses on the interplay between oral and written literary traditions in Chinese literature, particularly exploring acoustic dimensions in 19th-century martial arts fiction and the role of gossip and rumor in 17th-century texts. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2004) and a B.A. from Leiden University (Netherlands). His work bridges literary analysis with cultural studies, examining topics like Dutch-Chinese interactions since the 17th century and the adaptation of classical texts like The Three Kingdoms into modern media such as video games. Education: Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of Chicago B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature, Leiden University Research Interests: Acoustic imagination in printed novels Rumor dynamics in late-Ming literature Cultural exchanges between the Netherlands and China Modern adaptations of classical Chinese narratives Publications highlight his exploration of Ming-Qing transition narratives through Dutch tragic plays and the sonic dimensions of martial arts fiction. Current projects include analyzing video game adaptations of classical texts and the role of 'idleness' in literary production.
Claudia Lehmann is a University Professor of Film Art & Visual Communication at the Institute for Open Arts, Department of Scenography at Mozarteum University Salzburg. She has been a professor at Mozarteum University since 2019 and previously served as a visiting professor at the Berlin Weissensee Art Academy. As a faculty member, she contributes to the Institute management, teaches as a Teacher, and serves on the Curricular Commission. Dr. Lehmann holds a doctorate in physics (Dr. rer. nat.) with her dissertation "GAUGE COVARIANT MULTISCALE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS" published through DESY-Publications in 2004. Her academic journey reflects a unique interdisciplinary trajectory from scientific research to artistic practice. Claudia Lehmann's research interests center around the intersection of art and science, with particular focus on perception, reality, and systemic phenomena. Her work spans documentaries, feature films, music videos, art videos, installations, and performances, constantly searching for new forms and formats. She develops visual concepts, video stage sets, and unique live video performances, often in collaboration with Nicolas Stemann. Through her work, she explores diverse possibilities for new structures, especially in the form of artistic collaboration. Her recent artistic output shows a consistent trend toward interdisciplinary work that blends theater, film, and digital media. Lehmann frequently collaborates with Nicolas Stemann and Konrad Hempel, creating innovative performances that integrate video technology with traditional stagecraft. Her work often addresses social and political themes while experimenting with form and presentation. The Institute for Experimental Affairs (IXA), which she co-founded with Konrad Hempel, serves as a platform for exploring the interfaces between science and art through various projects and research initiatives. Dr. Lehmann has received several prestigious awards for her work: Samsung Smartfilm Award 2013 Shocking Shorts Award 2007 Nomination for German Documentary Film Music Prize 2013 Nomination for Studio Hamburg Young Talent Prize for Best Screenplay As an educator and researcher, Lehmann has developed numerous collaborative projects and performances that have been featured at major international festivals including the Berlin International Film Festival, Leipzig Documentary Film Festival, and various theater festivals. Her work with IXA represents a significant research initiative at the intersection of science and art. Lehmann co-founded the Institute for Experimental Affairs (IXA) with visual artist and composer Konrad Hempel. Through IXA, she conducts research and realizes projects at the interfaces between science and art. Her collaborative work spans theater productions, film projects, and interactive installations that have been presented at venues including the Schauspielhaus Zürich, Münchner Kammerspiele, Opéra Comique Paris, and various international festivals.
S. Louisa Wei is a Professor of Cinematic Art at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, where she has taught since 2001. With a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Alberta and an MA in Comparative Literature from Carleton University, she has taught over 4,000 students in both theoretical and production courses including Documentary 1, Documentary 2, Visual Storytelling, Visualizing Literature, and Chinese Cinema. Her educational background includes: PhD in Film Studies, University of Alberta, Canada MA in Comparative Literature, Carleton University, Canada Wei's research focuses on Sinophone cinema with particular emphasis on women filmmakers across historical periods, Chinese film history, and documentary practice. Her work often explores the intersections of gender, politics, and cultural identity in Chinese cinema, with special attention to neglected historical figures and transnational connections. She approaches film history through both scholarly research and documentary filmmaking, creating a unique methodology that bridges academic and creative practices. Her research has significantly contributed to recovering the histories of early Chinese women filmmakers and documenting politically sensitive historical narratives in Chinese literary and film history. Her recent scholarly and creative output shows a consistent focus on biographical documentary work centered on Chinese intellectuals and artists, women's contributions to cinema history, and politically significant moments in Chinese cultural history. Her publications and films often work in dialogue with each other, with documentary projects frequently informing scholarly books and vice versa, creating a rich interdisciplinary approach to her subject matter. Her notable awards include: Hong Kong Book Award 2017 for Esther Eng: Ocean-crossing Film and Women Pioneers Distinguished Publishing Prize in the Literature and Fiction Category of The First Hong Kong Biennial Publishing Prize for Wang Shiwei: A Reform in Thinking As an educator, Wei has advised hundreds of student projects, many of which have won awards in international and local film festivals. She is not currently accepting PhD students but has been instrumental in mentoring emerging filmmakers through her teaching. Her documentary work has gained international recognition from both academic circles and film festivals, attracting media attention from Hollywood trade magazines to major newspapers in Hong Kong and mainland China. She has served as a professional jury member for the Hong Kong Film Awards and became a member of the Hong Kong Director's Guild in 2018. While she doesn't appear to lead a formal research lab, her work involves extensive collaboration with historians, archivists, and fellow filmmakers across multiple countries, creating an informal network of scholars and practitioners focused on recovering marginalized histories in Chinese cinema and literature.
Theodora Varvarigou is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). She holds a B.Eng. from NTUA and M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University. Her career includes research at AT&T Bell Labs and roles at the Technical University of Crete. From 2008-2012, she served as director of NTUA's 'Technoeconomic Systems' postgraduate program. Her research focuses on Cloud Computing, Multimedia Content Processing, Social Networking Technologies, and emerging areas like blockchain, edge computing, and cybersecurity. She has published over 200 papers and led numerous European research projects, emphasizing scalable systems, data management, and smart infrastructure applications. Her work spans technical innovations such as intrusion detection systems, edge resource optimization, and blockchain-based solutions for IoT, healthcare, and smart cities. Recent publications highlight advancements in AI-driven resource allocation, privacy-preserving blockchain designs, and predictive analytics for edge computing environments. Professor Varvarigou has contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives, including cohort data harmonization in biomedical research and social media analytics for urban planning. Her teaching includes courses on digital systems, network programming, and fault-tolerant systems.
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.
Wing Chung Ng is Professor and Department Chair in the History Department at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. A cultural and social historian specializing in Chinese migration and traditional Chinese opera, he teaches courses on Chinese and Japanese history as well as the Chinese diaspora. Dr. Ng's research focuses on Modern China, East Asia, and Migration History, with particular expertise in Chinese diaspora communities and Cantonese opera preservation. His scholarly work examines how Chinese communities maintain cultural identity while adapting to new environments across the Pacific, analyzing the interplay between traditional cultural practices and modern social transformations. His publication record reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory examining Chinese cultural transmission across borders. Recent works include analyses of Kunqu opera in the 21st century and historical soundscapes of Sino-Western encounters, building on his foundational research on Cantonese opera and Chinese communities in North America. His interdisciplinary approach spans cultural history, migration studies, and Asian American studies. Dr. Ng has received significant scholarly recognition: Fulbright Scholar (2012) from the United States Department of State Faculty Research Award (2004) from the National Endowment for the Humanities National Humanities Center Fellow (1996) His research has been supported by substantial grants including $5,000 for 'Connecting Worlds: Master Wong Toa's Trans-Pacific Life and Career 1914-2015' (2020-2021) and $40,000 for 'Local Theater, Transnational Arena: A New Social History of Cantonese Opera, 1860-1945' (2004-2005). He was previously a Commonwealth Scholar at UBC and has received support from the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation and NEH. Most recently, he served as a Fulbright Scholar at Hong Kong Baptist University. Currently, Dr. Ng is working on a centennial biography of Master Wong Toa (1914-2015) to study his life and music across early 20th century South China, Cold War Hong Kong, post-exclusion era Chinatown Vancouver, multicultural Canada, and the age of China's rise.
Dr. John Severn is a Research Fellow at Macquarie University's Department of International Studies: Languages and Cultures. His career spans academia, law, and translation, with a focus on theatre internationalization, Shakespearean adaptation, and community engagement. Education: PhD in Theatre Studies and English, University of New South Wales MA(Hons) in Shakespeare and Theatre, University of Birmingham LLB(Hons) in Law and French, University of Edinburgh Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh BA(Hons) in Theatre Studies and Opera Studies, University of Manchester/Rose Bruford College CertHE in Scottish Gaelic language and culture, University of the Highlands and Islands His research explores theatre and internationalization through opera, musicals, and Shakespearean adaptation. He investigates how performing arts foster inclusive/exclusive communities and addresses barriers to participation. His work intersects European cultural history, arts policy, and transnational practices. Recent publications highlight trends in Shakespearean operatic adaptation, Australian theatre censorship, and decolonial processes in performance. His co-edited works include The Routledge Companion to Theatre and Internationalization and Theatre and Internationalization: Perspectives from Australia, Germany, and Beyond . Dr. Severn collaborates with institutions like the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and the Goethe-Institut Australia. He founded the research cluster 'Staging Migration in Berlin' and co-organizes international conferences on theatre internationalization.
Tatjana Marković is an Austrian Academy of Sciences researcher and Adjunct Professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where she leads the FWF project on music historiography at the Habsburg Monarchy's southern borders (1750–1914). As editor of TheMA journal and chair of the IMS Study Group Music and Cultural Studies, she specializes in reconstructing pluricultural musical life along the Austro-Ottoman frontier. Adjunct Professor, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna Head, FWF Discourses on Music project Editor, TheMA – Theatre, Music, Arts Chair, IMS Study Group Music and Cultural Studies Her research intertwines musicology with cultural studies, focusing on Southeast European musical traditions and their representation in Habsburg and Ottoman contexts. Key areas include diplomatic music exchanges, military border cultural dynamics, and gendered perspectives in regional music history. Recent publications address microregional musical networks, operatic diplomacy, and 19th-century battlefield commemorations through music. She contributes to international conferences on Balkan musicology and Austro-Ottoman cultural interactions, with editorial roles in multiple academic series.
David Imhoof is Professor of History at Susquehanna University and serves as the NCAA Division III Faculty Athletic Representative. He has twice chaired the History Department (2006-2015, 2020-2023) and directed the Global Opportunities (GO) Austria study abroad program since 2010. His research focuses on cultural and political history in 20th-century Germany with particular emphasis on Göttingen between the World Wars. Education : Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin, B.A. in History and Liberal Arts from Trinity University. Imhoof's research explores how cultural practices like sports, music festivals, and film shaped political integration in Weimar and Nazi Germany. His current projects include a biography of a Nazi mayor and a history of Germany's 20th-century recording industry. He has published extensively on topics ranging from the Total Work of Art concept to sound studies in German contexts. His recent publications form trends in cultural history, media studies, and political integration analysis. These works examine how music, sports, and film served as vectors for both traditional values and ideological transformation during Germany's turbulent 20th century. Scientific Awards : Multiple Susquehanna Research Grants, DAAD Fellowship, Nachtegall Junior Scholar Award, and Presidential Scholar at Trinity University. Imhoof advises senior theses and independent study projects. He has led assessment reforms in Susquehanna's history department and coordinated over $3,500 in donor campaigns. As director of GO Austria, he develops international curricula and faculty training programs. He co-founded Susquehanna's Holocaust-Genocide Studies Group (2000-2014) and leads a rock band Faculty Lounge with fellow professors. His service includes NCAA representation, university strategic planning, and organizing academic events ranging from opera performances to Holocaust survivor talks.
Hervé Lacombe is a Professor of Musicology at the University of Rennes 2, where he has held a faculty position since 2002. He serves as Director of the Music Department (2009-2011, 2022-2023) and previously as Head of the Master's degree in Music and Musicology (2016-2019, 2020-2022). Recognized for his scholarly contributions, he became a Senior Member of the University Institute of France (IUF) in 2023 and is a member of the Academia Europaea. His academic leadership extends to the History and Criticism of Arts Research Unit (UR 1279) and editorial roles including Head of the 'Studies' series for the French Musicology Society publications. Lacombe's research centers on French music from the 19th to 21st centuries, with particular focus on opera history, lyrical dramaturgy, and the globalization of opera. His work explores interdisciplinary connections between music and other arts, cultural contexts of musical production, and historiographical approaches to musicology. He is internationally recognized as a leading authority on composers Bizet and Poulenc, having authored definitive biographies on both. His most significant scholarly achievement is the three-volume 'Histoire de l'opéra français' (2020-2022), a comprehensive history involving nearly 200 international collaborators. This monumental work has received multiple prestigious awards including the René Dumesnil Prize (2020) and the France Musique Claude Samuel Grand Prix du Livre (2021). His earlier works 'Les Voies de l'opéra français au XIXe siècle' (1997) and 'Bizet' (2000) also garnered significant recognition from the Academy of Fine Arts and French Academy. Bernier Prize from the Academy of Fine Arts (1997) Eugène Carrière History Prize from the French Academy (1998) Bordin Prize from the Academy of Fine Arts (2001) Grand Prix des Muses (2014) France Musique Claude Samuel Grand Prix du Livre (2021) Lacombe has directed eight doctoral theses to completion and currently supervises two more. His international influence extends through keynote addresses at institutions worldwide including Keele University, the University of Montreal, and the Kyiv Music Academy. He regularly contributes to opera programs for major international opera houses and has participated in numerous radio broadcasts and documentaries on French musical heritage.
Harry White is a Professor of Music at University College Dublin (UCD), serving as Head of Department from 1993-2005. He holds academic positions such as visiting professorships in Canada, Croatia, Germany, and the UK. Educated at UCD, University of Toronto, and Trinity College Dublin, he specializes in cultural history of Irish music, Austrian baroque music, and Anglo-American musicology. His awards include the Harrison Medal (2014) and Royal Irish Academy membership (2006). Research focuses on music’s role in Irish cultural identity, European baroque traditions, and historiographical methods. Notable works include The Keeper's Recital (1998) and co-editing The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland (2013). Recent engagements include delivering the Alfred S. Hook Memorial Lecture (2022) and receiving a Festschrift in 2018. Education: BMus (UCD), MA (Toronto), PhD (Trinity College Dublin) Awards: Harrison Medal, MRIA, Honorary Fellowships (R.I.A.M., Croatian Musicological Society) Editorial Roles: General editor of Irish Musical Studies , advisory editor for New Grove Dictionary and Journal of the Royal Musical Association
Prof. Dr. hab. Marzena Górecka is a Full Professor at the Department of German-Language Literature and Culture , Faculty of Humanities , John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin . Her academic career includes habilitation (2006), Erasmus teaching assignments at the University of Freiburg (Switzerland), and leadership of the INTERREG III C project Language Bridges (2004-2006). Education: University of Lublin (Humanities), University of Zurich (Germanic Philology), University of Perugia (Italian Studies) Degree: Licentiata Philosophiae (1995), Doctorate in German Medieval Literature (1999) Research Focus: German medieval mysticism (Mechthild von Magdeburg, Hildegard von Bingen), Swiss German-language literature of the 20th century (Meinrad Inglin, Albin Zollinger), and literary translation theory with emphasis on Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI's Opera Omnia . She explores mystical anthropology, cultural boundaries, and the interplay between theology and literature. Recent Trends: Analysis of postmodern literary spirituality, translation challenges of theological texts, and cultural memory in European border regions. Her 2023 publications examine educational crises through religious pedagogy and contemporary social critique in Swiss literature. Key Awards: Feniks National Literary Award (2014, 2013), Ministerial Individual Scholarship (MEiN), Landes&Gyr Foundation Research Stipend (Switzerland) Academic Service: Active in international research (SNSF Berlin evaluation), editorial leadership for Opera Omnia Ratzinger , and conference organization on European values and migration. She serves on the Polish Ministerial Expert Panel for academic promotions.
Rebecca Schneider is a Professor of Modern Culture and Media at Brown University, specializing in performance studies, decolonial methods, and interdisciplinary art practices. Her work interrogates intersections of media, theatre, and Black feminist thought, with a focus on historical reenactment, gesture ethics, and postcolonial critique. Her research interests span decolonial methodologies, liveness in performance, and the prehistories of screen media. Key projects include *This Shoal Which is Not One* (2020), exploring African diasporic narratives, and *Slough Media* (2018), which examines media's materiality. She has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (2021) and the Notable Book Award (2011). Schneider has contributed to journals like TDR, edited special issues on precarity and new materialisms, and collaborated with global institutions including the British Museum and Guggenheim. Her current projects include a digital book on gesture and a work on dance in post-slavery capitalism.
Dr. Naomi Matsumoto is a Reader in Music at Goldsmiths, University of London , specializing in opera studies, music historiography, and Baroque performance practices. She serves as Convenor of the Integrated Degree in Music and International Admissions Tutor, bridging academic administration with research leadership. Key affiliations: Royal Musical Association, Society for Seventeenth-Century Music, Japan Musicological Society Fellowships: Royal Society of Arts, Royal Historical Society Research Interests include: Operatic madness from Monteverdi to Donizetti Baroque performance conventions and manuscript studies Transnational reception of Western opera in Japan Interdisciplinary work with medical history and cultural studies Her publications focus on Lucia di Lammermoor , Carmen , and Madama Butterfly , examining their cultural adaptations and diagnostic representations. Recent projects explore Wagner's influence on Japanese theatre and Bess of Bedlam's identity crisis. Scientific Awards : Overseas Research Scholarship British Federation of Women Graduates Award Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Award Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Award Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Award Royal Musical Association Prize As an educator , she supervises areas in 17th-19th century Italian opera, intercultural reception studies, and Baroque performance. She contributes to critical editions and liner notes for major musical releases.
Andrea Bechert is an Associate Professor & Designer in the Film & Theatre Department at San José State University (SJSU). She holds a prominent role in academic and professional theatre design, with over 400 productions designed nationally and internationally. Her affiliations include SJSU and prior teaching roles at the University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Stanford University, and others. Education History Extensive academic experience across multiple institutions, though specific degree details are not listed. Research & Creative Activity Focuses on theatrical and film design, including scenic, costume, and projection design. Her work has been featured in major exhibitions like the World Design Expo, USITT Design Expo, and the Prague Quadrennial. She emphasizes collaborative design processes and innovative technical approaches in live performance. Awards & Recognition Recipient of the Silicon Valley Laureate Award for design excellence Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Fun Home (TheatreWorks) RSCA Award from SJSU's College of Humanities & Arts Multiple Authors & Artists Awards from SJSU Advising & Service Actively involved in professional service, serving as Western Region Board Trustee for United Scenic Artists (USA829), National Wellness Committee member, and Chair of the Design Exam Committee. No formal advisees listed in the provided text. Labs & Collaborations Collaborates with major institutions like TheatreWorks (Silicon Valley), SMUIN Ballet, Opera San Jose, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Maintains an active design portfolio at ScorpionDesigns.net .
