Gerald D. DeMaio serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science within the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at the City University of New York (Baruch College). With continuous teaching since the 1970s, he maintains an active role instructing core courses including American Government, Religion and Politics in the United States, and American Conservatism. His educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Politics from New York University and a B.A. in Government from Manhattan College. His scholarly work centers on the intersection of religion and American politics, particularly examining culture wars, religious prejudice, media framing of religious groups, and church-state relations. DeMaio's research portfolio reveals a consistent focus on religious dimensions of American political behavior since the 1980s, with particular emphasis on anti-Christian fundamentalist sentiment as a political phenomenon. His publications demonstrate methodological diversity spanning quantitative analysis of survey data, historical examination of founding era principles, and critical discourse analysis of media coverage. Selected Honors: Nomination for Best Paper Award, APSA Religion and Politics Section (1999) NEH Summer Stipend (1987) Multiple NEH-funded seminars and institutes (1980-1987) New York State Regents Teaching Fellowship (1970-1972) Karl Holtznecht Memorial Scholarship (1975) His funded research includes two PSC-CUNY grants: 'Church-State Interactions: A Policy History Perspective' (2009-2010) and 'Cultural Depictions of Christian Fundamentalists in the Pre-Religious Right Period' (2007-2008). DeMaio actively contributes to academic service through committee work including the Faculty Senate, Library Liaison, and Departmental Review Committees, while maintaining extensive peer review activities for journals including the Journal of Politics and Political Behavior.
Elaine Treharne serves as the Roberta Bowman Denning Professor of Humanities at Stanford University, holding primary appointment in the Department of English with courtesy appointments in German Studies and Comparative Literature. She concurrently acts as Senior Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Director of Curriculum, while directing Stanford Text Technologies—a major initiative exploring textual transmission across historical periods. Her leadership extends to co-directing SILICON and spearheading NEH-funded projects that redefine digital approaches to manuscript studies. Her academic foundation includes a B.A. in English Language and Literature (First Class Honors) from the University of Manchester (1986), a Master of Archive Administration from the University of Liverpool (1987), and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Manchester (1992). This archival training underpins her dual expertise in traditional manuscript scholarship and digital innovation. Treharne's research pioneers intersections between medieval materiality and contemporary technology, investigating the haptic experience of medieval books, AI applications for manuscript analysis, and the long history of text technologies. She challenges conventional periodization through projects like 'Disrupting Categories, 1050-1250' while developing computational frameworks for fragmentology and textual distortion. Her work consistently bridges paleography with digital methodology to examine how writing systems shape cultural memory. Recent publications reveal a decisive shift from foundational medieval scholarship toward integrative digital-humanities frameworks, with increasing emphasis on phenomenological approaches to both physical and digital texts. This trajectory culminates in current projects applying machine learning to manuscript transmission patterns and developing ethical guidelines for digital archival tools. Her scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries Fellow of the Royal Historical Society Honorary Lifetime Fellow of the English Association (former Chair and President) Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales American Philosophical Society Franklin Fellow Princeton Procter Fellow Fellow of the Stanford Clayman Institute for Gender Studies Treharne actively supervises graduate students in early literature, Book History, and Digital Humanities while securing major grants including NEH funding for Stanford Global Currents, AHRC support for the Production and Use of English Manuscripts project, and Stanford Impact Labs fellowship for archival tool development. She maintains commitment to ethical scholarly environments through her leadership in VPUE initiatives and digital pedagogy. She directs the Stanford Text Technologies initiative hosting the annual Collegium series, co-directs SILICON for internet longevity research, and leads specialized projects including 'Digital Ker' for Anglo-Saxon manuscript cataloging and 'Medieval Networks of Memory' analyzing mortuary rolls. These interconnected efforts form a comprehensive ecosystem for advancing textual scholarship across temporal and technological boundaries.
Alexandra Walsham is Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Emmanuel College. She previously held roles as Chair of the Faculty of History (2019-2022) and currently serves as President of the Historical Association. Her academic roots include a PhD from Trinity College, Cambridge, following studies at the University of Melbourne and Exeter University. Her research focuses on religious and cultural history of early modern Britain, particularly the Protestant and Catholic Reformations. Key themes include post-Reformation Catholicism, religious tolerance, providence, miracles, the history of the book, and the relationship between religion and landscape. Her work has been supported by grants from the British Academy, AHRC, and the Leverhulme Trust. Walsham has authored award-winning books like Providence in Early Modern England and The Reformation of the Landscape , and edited volumes on topics such as archives, memory, and confessional history. She has delivered prestigious lectures including the Ford Lectures at Oxford (2018) and the Wiles Lectures at Queen’s University Belfast (2024). Her professional service includes editorial roles for Past and Present and the Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History series. She led the AHRC-funded 'Remembering the Reformation' project (2016-2019) and chairs the Early Modern Section of the British Academy. Awarded a CBE in 2017 and an honorary doctorate from Melbourne in 2023, Walsham’s work bridges academic rigor and public engagement, influencing both scholarly discourse and historical education.
Dr David Pratt is a Fellow in History at Downing College, University of Cambridge , where he also serves as Archivist and Keeper of Art and Artefacts. His academic career focuses on early medieval political thought and court culture, particularly in Anglo-Saxon England and the Carolingian world. Academic Rank: Research Fellow Honors: FRHistS (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society) Research Interests center on the political ideology of King Alfred the Great, the origins of English coronation rituals, and broader themes of kingship, law, and social order in the later Anglo-Saxon period. His comparative approach highlights interactions between Anglo-Saxon and European medieval traditions. Recent Publications include English Coronation Ordines in the Ninth and Early Tenth Centuries (2023) and studies on Alfredian texts, taxation systems, and monastic reform. These works emphasize textual analysis, royal authority, and cross-cultural influences. Scientific Awards: FRHistS
Emmanuel K. Akyeampong is the Ellen Gurney Professor of History and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, with affiliations to the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and the Hutchins Center. He earned his Ph.D. in African History from the University of Virginia (1993), MA in English Labor History from Wake Forest University (1989), and BA in History and Religions from the University of Ghana at Legon (1984). Education Ph.D., African History, University of Virginia (1993) M.A., English Labor History, Wake Forest University (1989) B.A., History and Religions, University of Ghana at Legon (1984) His research spans African history, eco-social dynamics, cultural change, and post-colonial nation-building. He has edited major works including Themes in West Africa's History and co-edited the Dictionary of African Biography , focusing on Ghanaian societal structures and transnational African narratives. Recent projects like Independent Africa analyze leadership and governance in the post-independence era. Scientific Awards and Recognitions : Zora Neale Hurston Fellow (Northwestern University, 1993-1994) Corresponding Fellow, Royal Historical Society (UK, 2002) Fellow, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (FGA) Honorary Doctor of Laws (University of Ghana, 2018) Loeb Harvard College Professor (2005) As Oppenheimer Faculty Director of Harvard's Center for African Studies and former chair of the Committee on African Studies, he co-founded the International Institute for Advanced Study of Cultures, Institutions and Economic Enterprise (IIAS) in Accra. He also leads the African Public Broadcasting Foundation, promoting development-oriented media.
Bart Wallet is Professor of Jewish Studies specializing in Early Modern and Modern Jewish History at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Humanities, where he is affiliated with the Department of Semitic Languages and Cultures. His academic work focuses on the intricate relationship between Jewish communities and Dutch society throughout history, with particular emphasis on the connections between the Dutch Royal House and Jewish communities. Wallet's research interests span Dutch Jewish history from the early modern period to the contemporary era, with special attention to Yiddish studies, religious history, cultural integration, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands. His scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on how Jewish communities navigated their position as a religious minority within Dutch society, particularly examining the complex dynamics between Jewish citizens and the Dutch state and monarchy. His work often explores the tension between religious tradition and modernization, and how Jewish communities maintained their identity while integrating into broader Dutch society. Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong thematic concentration on Orange-Jewish relations throughout Dutch history, Jewish military service, religious education, and the material culture of Jewish communities. His scholarship demonstrates a methodological approach that combines cultural history with religious studies, often revealing how seemingly mundane aspects of daily life reflect broader societal patterns of integration and identity formation. The geographic focus remains predominantly on the Netherlands, though with comparative perspectives on Jewish communities in other European contexts. Professor Wallet has been active in public scholarship through media appearances, radio programs, and contributions to encyclopedias. His work has appeared in both academic journals and public-facing media outlets, demonstrating his commitment to making Jewish history accessible to broader audiences. He has contributed to numerous radio programs on Jewish history for Dutch Jewish radio stations and has written for newspapers including the Reformatorisch Dagblad. His academic contributions include extensive work on Dutch-Jewish relations, particularly focusing on the relationship between Jewish communities and the Dutch Royal House throughout history. He has also produced significant scholarship on Jewish integration in Dutch society, religious education, and the development of Jewish identity in the Netherlands from the early modern period to the present day. His work often examines how Jewish communities maintained religious traditions while adapting to changing social and political contexts.
Dong Lou is a Professor of Finance at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where he serves as Associate Dean of Business and Management (Strategic Planning and Research) and Acting Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Finance. He is also a CEPR Research Fellow at the London School of Economics (LSE). His research focuses on asset pricing, investment management, and behavioral finance, with a particular emphasis on market inefficiencies, trading dynamics, and macrofinancial linkages. PhD in Finance, Yale University, 2009 His scholarly work explores liquidity provision, arbitrage activity, investor behavior, and the impact of information dissemination on financial markets. Recent studies include the effects of dollar asset holdings on global yields, retail margin trading dynamics, and the relationship between communication rates and security prices. His publications appear in top journals like Management Science , Journal of Financial Economics , and Review of Financial Studies . His research has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Crowell Memorial Award, NASDAQ OMX Award, and multiple INQUIRE and CRSP Forum grants. He mentors PhD students in finance and co-directs the HKUST-DXM AI for Finance Joint Laboratory, advancing AI applications in financial research and practice.
Chia-rong Wu serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, holding this position since June 2019. His academic work centers on Sinophone literature, film, and video games through postcolonial theories, Indigenous studies, diaspora, and ecocriticism frameworks. Dr. Wu earned his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His scholarly contributions include two monographs: Supernatural Sinophone Taiwan and Beyond (Cambria Press, 2016) and Remapping the Contested Sinosphere: The Cross-cultural Landscape and Ethnoscape of Taiwan (Cambria Press, 2020). He has co-edited Taiwan Literature in the 21st Century: A Critical Reader (Springer, 2023) and is preparing The Southern Discourse in Sinophone Literature: Moving Borders (Routledge, forthcoming September 2025). His research examines cultural production across Taiwan and the Sinophone world, with particular focus on how literature, film, and video games engage with historical trauma, identity formation, and cultural politics. Recent projects explore youth narratives in Taiwanese horror video games, Indigenous perspectives on Oceanic Taiwan, and the global South discourse in Sinophone literature, revealing connections between transnational migration, racial dynamics, gender politics, and indigenous awareness. Dr. Wu serves as executive editor and Advisory Board member of Taiwan Lit and the Global Sinosphere (ISSN: 2994-6816), and holds positions on the Board of the American Association for Chinese Studies, the International Advisory Board of Interdisciplinary and Transcultural Approaches to Chinese Literature (Routledge Book Series), and the Cultural History Editorial Advisory Board (Bloomsbury Book Series). Currently supervising PhD students in Sinophone literary and cultural studies, Dr. Wu is developing a new monograph focused on transmedia narratives of youth politics, continuing his exploration of how contemporary media forms engage with political consciousness and historical memory in Taiwan and beyond.
Annette Yoshiko Reed is the Krister Stendahl Professor of Divinity and Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Harvard Divinity School (HDS). She joined HDS in 2022 after roles at New York University, the University of Pennsylvania, and McMaster University. Her expertise spans Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, and Jewish-Christian relations, with a focus on how ancient texts shape identity and difference. Key research areas include apocalypses, demonology, and the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha. She has authored or co-authored books such as Fallen Angels and the History of Judaism and Christianity and Demons, Angels, and Writing in Ancient Judaism . Education: BA from McGill University, MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and MA/PhD from Princeton University. Her work integrates Biblical Studies, Patristics, Jewish Studies, and Classics. She serves on the editorial boards of Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism and Studia in Veteris Testamenti Pseudepigrapha , and chairs the Society of Biblical Literature’s “Jewish Christianity/Christian Judaism” section. A Fellow of the American Academy of Jewish Research, her current project explores the cultural power of forgetting in ancient Jewish history. Her research highlights marginalized writings like 1 Enoch and Pseudo-Clementine literature to bridge Jewish and Christian histories. Recent publications include studies on Enochic reception, rabbinic historiography, and demonology in ancient texts. She teaches at both HDS and Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
David Armitage is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University, where he serves as Chair of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies and teaches intellectual history and international history. He also holds affiliations with the Harvard Department of Government, Harvard Law School, and is an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney and Queen's University Belfast. Previously, he chaired Harvard's Department of History (2012-14, 2015-16) and taught at Columbia University for eleven years before joining Harvard in 2004. Armitage was born in Britain and educated at the University of Cambridge and Princeton University. His academic journey includes: Undergraduate studies at University of Cambridge PhD at Princeton University Teaching position at Columbia University (1993-2004) Professorship at Harvard University (2004-present) Honorary positions at University of Sydney, Queen's University Belfast, and St Catharine's College, Cambridge Professor Armitage specializes in intellectual history, international history, and global history, with particular expertise in the history of political thought, empires, and international law. His scholarly approach emphasizes the longue durée perspective, seeking to understand historical phenomena across extended time periods rather than narrow chronological frames. He has been a leading voice in advocating for historians to engage with "big history" that spans centuries, arguing that contemporary challenges like climate change and economic inequality require historical understanding that transcends the short-term thinking prevalent in modern politics and policy. His extensive publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with foundational texts and concepts in political theory, declarations of independence, civil wars, and oceanic history. Armitage's work shows a clear trajectory toward increasingly global and interdisciplinary approaches, connecting intellectual history with legal, political, and environmental frameworks. His scholarship bridges early modern and contemporary history, examining how historical concepts continue to shape modern international relations and political thought. Armitage's significant contributions to historical scholarship have been recognized with prestigious awards: Caird Medal from the National Maritime Museum (2006) for "conspicuously important work ... of a nature that involves communicating with the public" Walter Channing Cabot Fellow from Harvard (2008) for "achievements and scholarly eminence in the fields of literature, history or art" LittD from Cambridge University (2015), the university's highest degree, for "distinction by some original contribution to the advancement of science or of learning" As an advisor and mentor, Armitage has guided numerous graduate students through doctoral programs at Harvard and previously at Columbia. His scholarly leadership extends to co-editing two major book series with Cambridge University Press ( Ideas in Context and Cambridge Oceanic Histories ), serving on the Steering Committee of the Center for Early Modern Political Thought at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and contributing to various academic organizations. His work has attracted significant research funding supporting his global historical investigations. Professor Armitage is deeply involved in collaborative scholarly initiatives, particularly through his work with the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, where he serves as a Senior Scholar. His research often involves interdisciplinary teams examining oceanic histories, international law, and global political thought. He has been instrumental in developing the "Cambridge Oceanic Histories" series, which brings together scholars from multiple disciplines to explore the historical significance of oceans as connective spaces rather than barriers.
Steffen Patzold is a Professor for Medieval History and Auxiliary Sciences at the Department of History, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tübingen, since 2008. He previously held research and teaching positions at the University of Hamburg (1999–2006), Max Planck Institute for European Legal History (2007), and University of Kassel (2007–2008). His research focuses include the Carolingian period, political and ecclesiastical history, monasticism, perception patterns in the Middle Ages, and interdisciplinary projects like the DFG-funded 'Migration and Mobility in Late Antiquity' and Collaborative Research Center SFB 923 'Threatened Orders.' Education: University of Hamburg (History, Art History, Journalism, 1996–1999; PhD, 2000) Affiliations: Heidelberg Academy of Sciences, SFB 923 subprojects E02/F02, DFG Centre for Advanced Study in Humanities His recent publications analyze Carolingian political structures, feudal systems, historical semantics, and interdisciplinary topics like archaeogenetics. Key projects examine local societies in Carolingian Europe, bishop networks, and crisis management in early medieval orders. He collaborates extensively in edited volumes and international journals, particularly on comparative medieval studies.
Ato Quayson is the Jean G. and Morris M. Doyle Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Stanford University, where he also chairs the Department of African and African American Studies. He previously held professorships at New York University (2017–2019) and the University of Toronto (2005–2017), where he was inaugural director of the Centre for Diaspora and Transnational Studies and became a University Professor (2016), the university's highest honor. His academic journey includes a B.A. (First Class Honors) in English and Arabic from the University of Ghana (1989) and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Cambridge (1995). He held a Junior Research Fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford, and was a Reader in Commonwealth and Postcolonial Literature at Cambridge (1995–2005), concurrently directing the Centre for African Studies and serving as Pembroke College Fellow. Quayson’s research explores postcolonial literature, urban studies, disability studies, and cultural theory. His work bridges global and local contexts, with notable publications such as Oxford Street, Accra (Urban History Association Prize) and Tragedy and Postcolonial Literature (Warren-Brooks Prize). He co-edits the Cambridge History of Postcolonial Literature and chairs initiatives like Contours: The Cambridge Literary Studies Hour . His accolades include fellowships from the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006), the Royal Society of Canada (2013), the British Academy (2019), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023). He has also served as President of the African Studies Association (2019–2020). Quayson curates the YouTube channel Critic.Reading.Writing , discussing literature and urban studies, and teaches courses on global Black diaspora studies and Toni Morrison’s work. His current projects include Accra Chic: A Locational History of Fashion and studies on exile in African literature.
Francis King is a Lecturer in European History at the University of East Anglia, affiliated with the School of History and Art History. He serves as Co-Director of the East Centre: UEA Centre for the Study of East Central Europe and the Former Soviet Space. His research focuses on Soviet Studies, Russian Studies, Ukrainian Studies, and Georgian History, with particular attention to political conflict, nationalism, and social democracy in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. King has conducted extensive research on post-WWI national independence movements, Soviet-era cultural narratives, and the intersection of socialism and nationalism. His work often examines lesser-known historical figures and ideological tensions in regions such as Georgia and Ukraine. He has published in journals like New Area Studies , European History Quarterly , and Quaestio Rossica , contributing to debates on historiography and the legacy of Cold War dynamics. He has secured funding for two projects with SAGE Publications: an ongoing project (2024–2025) and a concluded project (2021–2023). His research outputs include peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and editorial contributions analyzing topics ranging from Soviet foreign policy to the historiography of European studies. As part of the East Centre leadership, King collaborates on interdisciplinary projects exploring East Central Europe and post-Soviet spaces. His work bridges academic analysis with public engagement through publications and institutional initiatives focusing on underrepresented historical perspectives.
Markus Koller is a faculty member at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, affiliated with the Center for Religious Studies (CERES). His research focuses on Ottoman history, South-East European studies, and religious historiography. He holds an academic rank of Researcher and has been active in multiple projects, including the CERES Research Department. His work spans Ottoman military expansion, religious policies, and cultural exchanges. Notable contributions include studies on Atatürk's political biography, Ottoman-European diplomatic relations, and the historiography of the Ottoman Empire. Koller's publications cover books, edited volumes, and articles in peer-reviewed journals, reflecting his expertise in interdisciplinary historical research. He currently serves as a member of the CERES Research Department and has contributed to collaborative projects such as the 'Ottoman Europe' research initiative. His email is Markus.Koller@ruhr-uni-bochum.de .
Scott Taylor is a Professor of Leadership & Organization Studies in the Department of Management at the University of Birmingham’s Birmingham Business School. He also serves as the Business School Director of External Engagement and Responsible Business and as Academic Lead for Accreditations. He has held academic positions at Open, Essex, Exeter, and Loughborough Universities, and has been affiliated with the University of Birmingham in two periods: 2002–2007 and since 2013, confirming his current active status. Education: PhD in Management, Manchester Metropolitan University MA in Human Resource Management, University of Bolton MA in Arts, University of Glasgow His research centers on feminism in organizations, with current projects exploring gender quotas in political parties and women in the craft brewing sector. His work critically examines misogyny, gendered workloads, and the roles of men in feminist organizational change. He has published extensively in top journals such as Gender, Work & Organization , Human Relations , and Organization . His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on gender, power, and organizational ethics, often from a feminist and critical perspective. Scott Taylor is currently Development Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics and serves on the editorial boards of Academy of Management Learning & Education , Leadership , and Organization . He supervises several postgraduate students including Jennifer Davies, Isbahna Naz, and Dannielle Dorn. He is also a member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools’ Equality, Diversity & Inclusion committee, reflecting his institutional leadership in equity issues. Scientific Awards and Recognitions: Member, Chartered Association of Business Schools EDI Committee He has taught and visited universities internationally, including Auckland, Delhi, São Paulo, Jeddah, Melbourne, and Lapland. His academic leadership, editorial roles, and sustained research output confirm his active and influential position in the field of organizational studies.
