Megan Sweeney is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of English, Afroamerican and African Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Michigan. Her research examines African American literature, reading practices in carceral settings, and autotheory through works like Reading Is My Window and the lyric essay collection Mendings . Her scholarship has been supported by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Ford Foundation, and Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Sweeney received the university's highest teaching awards including the 2021 John D'Arms Award for graduate mentoring and 2014 Thurnau Professorship. She serves as Director of Graduate Studies in English and Interim Editorial Director for Feminist Studies .
Richard Jochelson serves as Dean of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba (Robson Hall), a position he has held since July 1, 2016. Previously, he taught criminal law for 10 years at the University of Winnipeg. Dr. Jochelson holds a Ph.D. in Law from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, an LLM from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, an LL.B. with Gold Medal from the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, and a B.Sc. in Zoology with Distinction from the same institution. He completed his legal training as a clerk at the Alberta Court of Appeal and Court of Queen's Bench before working at a major Canadian law firm. Dr. Jochelson's research program centers on critical issues in criminal justice and constitutional law, with primary interests in police powers jurisprudence, sexual regulation (particularly obscenity and indecency law), jury systems and representativeness, and legal pedagogy. His interdisciplinary approach bridges law with sociology and psychology, bringing empirical and theoretical rigor to legal scholarship. His work consistently addresses social justice concerns, examining how vulnerable populations interact with the justice system and how concepts like risk, precaution, and visibility shape legal decision-making. He has developed a distinctive methodology combining doctrinal analysis with empirical research on judicial behavior and jury decision-making. His recent publications reveal evolving scholarly priorities that respond to contemporary legal challenges. The 2025 article "Morbid Matters" addresses medical assistance in dying within federal corrections, while his 2024 works on youth terrorism cases and agnotology demonstrate expansion into new interdisciplinary territories. His longstanding commitment to police powers scholarship continues with "Ancillary Police Powers in Canada" (2024). The pandemic period saw significant contributions to understanding digital justice, mental health in legal education, and remote court proceedings. His criminal law scholarship maintains focus on jury representativeness, particularly regarding Indigenous inclusion following Bill C-75's elimination of peremptory challenges. Students' Teacher Recognition Award (CATL) - 2018 Dr. Jochelson has secured multiple SSHRC Insight Grants as both Principal and Co-investigator, demonstrating his ability to lead interdisciplinary research teams. His mentorship extends to junior academics and students, with several publications co-authored with emerging scholars. He has built significant research infrastructure, notably assembling nearly 40 interdisciplinary scholars across Canada for Robsoncrim.com, which has elevated the Criminal Law Edition of the Manitoba Law Journal to prominence as one of Canada's preeminent criminal law publications. As Dean of Law, Dr. Jochelson provides leadership in academic governance and legal education innovation. His service includes extensive committee work on academic affairs, workload policy, and hiring/tenure committees. His commitment to universal design principles informs both his teaching approach and administrative leadership, emphasizing accessibility and student-centered pedagogy that allows flexible evaluation methods tailored to individual learning preferences.
Naomi Murakawa is an Associate Professor in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, School of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the reproduction of racial inequality in American politics, particularly in the realms of crime policy and the carceral state. Her scholarly work bridges political science, critical race theory, and legal studies. Key areas of interest include mass incarceration, racial liberalism, the historical development of crime control, and the paradoxes of reform within the criminal justice system. Her research, reflected in publications such as The First Civil Right: How Liberals Built Prison America and numerous journal articles, reveals how ostensibly progressive policies have contributed to the expansion of the prison system. Themes across her work include the racialized foundations of state power, the limitations of liberal reform, and the structural persistence of racial inequality in law and governance. Scientific Awards and Fellowships: Fellowship from Columbia Law School’s Center for the Study of Law and Culture Fellowship from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Policy Research Program Professor Murakawa has advised graduate students and contributed to major scholarly and public conversations on race and justice. Her work has been supported by significant research grants and fellowships, enabling deep historical and theoretical analysis of the American carceral state. She is a leading voice in interdisciplinary debates on decarceration, abolition, and transformative justice. She is affiliated with research initiatives focused on race, law, and inequality, contributing to collaborative teams examining the intersections of policy, history, and social movements. Her ongoing scholarship continues to challenge conventional narratives about crime, punishment, and racial progress in the United States.
Christina Fawcett is an Instructor in the Department of English at the University of Winnipeg. She is an active member of the Centre for Research in Young People’s Texts and Cultures (CRYTC) and the Centre for Research in Cultural Studies (CRiCS), and holds editorial roles for Jeunesse: Young People’s Texts and Cultures as a former Book Reviews Editor and current Advisory Board member. She also participates in the Canadian Games Studies Association (CGSA/ACÉJ). Her research explores interdisciplinary intersections of narrative, ethics, and popular culture, with emphases on: Monster Theory and representations of transgression Video game analyses of gender, justice, and ludic mechanics Genre fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, horror) in legal/cultural contexts Young people’s media and digital cultures She co-leads the SSHRC-funded project "Contemporary Cozy Media," examining comfort aesthetics in fantasy, mystery, and games. Fawcett’s recent publications (2020–2025) predominantly dissect video game narratives ( Bioshock Infinite , Spiderman , Resident Evil 7 ) through frameworks of criminology, ethics, and monstrosity. Her work consistently bridges game design with cultural critique, emphasizing themes of justice, identity, and speculative futures. In teaching, she covers popular literature genres (fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery) and media studies.
Deborah M. Weissman is the Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law. Her work focuses on domestic violence, gender and human rights, political economy, and critical legal theory. She has published extensively on intersections between law, social control, and marginalized communities. Research Interests: Her scholarship examines the political economy of gender-based violence, neoliberalism's impact on legal advocacy, and the criminalization of survivors. She advocates for community-driven legal reforms and human rights frameworks. Collaborations: Weissman frequently collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and institutions like the University of Miami School of Law, Syracuse University, and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Scientific Awards: Reef C. Ivey II Distinguished Professor of Law Recent Publications: Highlights include analyses of lifelong criminalization of gender violence survivors (2025), economic justice in domestic violence policy (2023), and critiques of carceral systems (2021). Her work spans journals like Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy and North Carolina Law Review .
Ellen J Amster is the Jason A. Hannah Chair in the History of Medicine at McMaster University and holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Religious Studies. She is an interdisciplinary historian and qualitative health researcher specializing in global health, bringing together history with health and religious studies. Her work focuses on the history of medicine in the West, the Islamic world, and French empire. Dr. Amster received her B.A. from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She has established herself as an expert in the history of public health, Islam and North Africa, France and French empire, maternal and infant health, global primary care, Islamic studies, religion and nonwestern healing systems, colonialism and postcolonial theory, and women's histories and gender. Her research portfolio reveals strong thematic continuity across time periods, with a focus on the intersection of medicine, colonialism, and identity. Recent publications demonstrate increasing engagement with critical race theory in medicine, gender studies, and contemporary social justice issues including analyses of the George Floyd protests. Her work spans history of medicine, medical humanities, and global health policy, with particular attention to Morocco and French colonial contexts. Dr. Amster has secured funding from prestigious sources including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the IIE Fulbright-Hayes program, the Chateaubriand Program of the French Government, and the American Institute for Maghrib Studies. She teaches courses on gender and religion, public health, and Middle East/North Africa for the Department of Religious Studies, the Master of Public Health Program, and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Dr. Amster also organizes the Hannah History of Medicine and Medical Humanities Speaker Series and created the History of Medicine and Medical Humanities Research Portal (https://medhumanities.mcmaster.ca/), funded by Associated Medical Services.
Peter B. Zinoman is a Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley specializing in Southeast Asian history with primary focus on Vietnam. His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to colonial and revolutionary Vietnamese history. His educational background includes a PhD from Cornell University and a BA from Tufts University, establishing foundational expertise in historical methodology and Southeast Asian studies. Zinoman's research centers on Vietnamese colonial history, prison systems, literary history, and Cold War-era political movements. His work critically examines French colonial structures, revolutionary intellectual networks, and the interplay between literature and political dissent. He is renowned for his revisionist interpretations of key historical events including land reform movements and intellectual purges. His publication record spanning 1995-2016 reveals persistent engagement with primary source analysis and interdisciplinary methodology. Articles consistently explore themes of colonial incarceration, literary resistance, and political transformation, with increasing focus on Cold War dynamics and memory politics in later works. His scholarly recognition includes: Association of Asian Studies, Harry J. Benda Prize for Southeast Asia Studies (2003) American Historical Association, John King Fairbank Award for East Asian History (2001) Professional service demonstrates deep institutional commitment through co-editing the Journal of Vietnamese Studies since 2005, co-directing the UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project since 2003, and former leadership roles including Chair of the Center for Southeast Asia Studies (2003-2008) and Resident Director of the UC Education Abroad Program in Vietnam (2001). No public records indicate graduate student advising or grant-funded research projects. His work operates primarily through editorial and institutional frameworks rather than laboratory settings, with significant influence through academic journals and Southeast Asia research centers.
Professor Caoimhe McAvinchey holds the position of Professor of Socially Engaged and Contemporary Performance at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), within the School of English and Drama. She specializes in applied theatre and socially engaged performance, with a focus on prison systems, criminal justice, and intergenerational arts practices. Her academic journey includes a BA (Double Hons) in English and Drama from Manchester University, an MA in Performance Studies from New York University, and a PhD from QMUL. Her research explores the intersection of performance with marginalized communities, particularly women in prison and criminal justice contexts. Key projects include leading the AHRC-funded Women/Theatre/Justice (2019–2023), examining Clean Break theatre’s impact, and co-authoring Phakama: Making Participatory Theatre (2018). She has supervised numerous PhD students and served as an external examiner for UK drama programs. Teaching includes undergraduate modules like Performance and Community and postgraduate courses on cultural industries. Her public engagement spans exhibitions, seminars, and collaborative projects like Globe , exploring migration and belonging. She actively contributes to academic journals, conferences, and arts policy discussions, advocating for socially engaged performance’s role in societal change. Education: BA Double Hons in English and Drama (Manchester University) MA in Performance Studies (NYU Tisch School) PhD (QMUL) Research Themes: Applied theatre, prison performance, criminal justice advocacy, intergenerational arts, cultural policy evaluation. Grants: £303k AHRC grant (2019–2023) for Women/Theatre/Justice . Labs/Teams: Principal Investigator for Women/Theatre/Justice ; collaborator with Clean Break, People’s Palace Projects, and Magic Me.
Sharon Dolovich is a Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law and Faculty Director of the UCLA Prison Law & Policy Program. She also directs the UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project, focusing on prison conditions and the Eighth Amendment. Her work addresses systemic issues in corrections, including pandemic impacts on incarcerated populations and sleep deprivation among prisoners and staff. Dolovich has held visiting roles at NYU, Harvard, and Georgetown, and was a Radcliffe Institute fellow. She has authored influential articles on prison law, including Cruelty, Prison Conditions, and the Eighth Amendment (2009). Education: B.A., Queen's University; Ph.D., Cambridge University; J.D., Harvard Law School (UCLA Faculty Since 2000). Research focuses on carceral systems, Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, and social justice advocacy. Her projects include landmark analyses of racial disparities in prison mortality during the pandemic and ongoing studies on sleep deprivation in corrections. She teaches courses on constitutional prison law and criminal law. Her articles consistently examine systemic failures in prison oversight and the human rights implications of mass incarceration. Recent work highlights racial inequities in carceral health outcomes and the impact of overwork on correctional officers' sleep deprivation. Awards: UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award (2021), UCLA Public Impact Research Award (2023), Young Scholar Award (2005). Advising: Hosts Prison Law JD, a listserv for law students advocating for incarcerated individuals. Teams: Directs UCLA’s Behind Bars Data Project and co-leads Criminal Justice Program, fostering collaborative research on policy reforms.
Lesley A. Sharp is the Barbara Chamberlain & Helen Chamberlain Josefsberg ’30 Professor of Anthropology at Barnard College, Columbia University, with a joint appointment as Senior Research Scientist in Sociomedical Sciences at the Columbia University Medical Center. Her research bridges medical anthropology, science and technology studies, and bioethics, focusing on the moral dimensions of biomedical practices. Education includes a BA in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and MA/PhD in Medical Anthropology from UC Berkeley and UCSF. Her scholarship examines body commodification, interspecies ethics, and experimental science through ethnographic work spanning Madagascar to US medical institutions. Research explores suffering, biomedicine's transformative properties, and moral conundrums in biotechnology. Recent work investigates prison hospice programs and lab animal ethics, with publications analyzing organ transplantation, biosecurity, and human-animal relationships in scientific contexts. Honors include the Guggenheim Fellowship, Wellcome Medal, and multiple teaching awards recognizing her contributions to anthropological theory and medical ethics.
E. Lea Johnston is the Clarence J. TeSelle Professor and Professor of Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. She is a leading expert in mental health law, criminal law, and criminal procedure, with her work appearing in top law reviews and peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journals. Her scholarship has been widely cited by legal scholars, appears in leading treatises, and has received attention from courts and social scientists. Her theory of sentencing forms part of the theoretical framework for the standard textbook for forensic psychiatry fellowship programs. Professor Johnston earned her A.B. from Princeton University and her J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School. Before entering academia, she worked as a litigation associate at Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C., served as director of the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, and clerked for Judge Richard Tallman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Johnston's research primarily focuses on the intersection of mental health and criminal justice. Her work examines how mental illness impacts criminal responsibility, competence to stand trial, sentencing, and diversion programs. She has made significant contributions to understanding diminished responsibility doctrines, insanity defenses, mental health courts, and assisted outpatient treatment. Her scholarship often employs interdisciplinary approaches, integrating legal analysis with insights from psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences to develop more humane and just approaches to mentally ill offenders within the criminal justice system. Her publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output with significant impact across multiple disciplines. The trajectory of her work shows an evolution from foundational analyses of legal standards for mentally ill defendants toward more comprehensive reform proposals addressing systemic issues in how the criminal justice system handles mental illness. Elected to American Law Institute (2020) Former Chair of Criminal Justice Section, American Association of Law Schools Former Chair of Law and Mental Disability Section, American Association of Law Schools Member of Legal Scholars Committee, American Psychology-Law Society Professor Johnston has significantly influenced both legal scholarship and practice through her theoretical contributions and practical recommendations. Her work on sentencing theory for mentally ill offenders has been incorporated into forensic psychiatry training materials, demonstrating real-world impact beyond academia. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record and leadership roles suggest substantial research support throughout her career. Her scholarship serves as a critical bridge between legal doctrine and clinical mental health practice, offering frameworks that balance therapeutic needs with justice considerations.
Professor Andrzej Aksamitowski serves at the Institute of Political and Security Sciences within the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Szczecin, where he maintains active research and academic duties. His distinguished career spans decades of scholarly contribution to military history and security studies, including prior leadership roles as Head of the Department of Conflict and Peace Studies (2012-2019) and significant positions at Poland's National Defence University and Military Historical Institute in Warsaw. Aksamitowski's research program centers on national security frameworks, historical military operations, and the specialized field of military cartography. His expertise in fortification systems and armed conflict analysis bridges historical scholarship with contemporary security applications, particularly through his innovative integration of geographic information into military history. This interdisciplinary approach has established him as a leading authority on 20th-century Polish military engagements and cartographic documentation of warfare. His publication trajectory from 1992-2014 reveals a sustained focus on World War II military campaigns, with particular emphasis on Polish defensive operations and North African theaters. Aksamitowski's signature contribution lies in historical atlases that combine rigorous archival research with precise cartographic representation, creating indispensable reference works for understanding battle dynamics and strategic decision-making. These publications consistently demonstrate his methodological innovation in visualizing complex military operations through specialized mapping techniques. Professional recognition includes: Silver Cross of Merit (1992) Gold Cross of Merit (2000) Medal of the National Education Commission (2005) Honorable Mention for Historical Book of the Year (2019) While specific graduate student mentorship details remain undocumented in public sources, Aksamitowski's institutional leadership roles—including departmental head positions and editorial responsibilities for major reference works—demonstrate substantial academic supervision capacity. His current work at the University of Szczecin continues to advance security studies through the Institute of Political and Security Sciences, where he contributes to both teaching and research infrastructure development in national security disciplines.
Dr. Michael Fiddler is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Greenwich, affiliated with the School of Law and Criminology within the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences. He serves as Lead of the Centre for Transformative and Global Justice. Fiddler joined the University in 2006 following his PhD in Criminology at Keele University, where his thesis explored prison spaces’ production. His research focuses on the interplay of space, architecture, and visual arts in criminological understandings, particularly through the lens of 'Ghost Criminology' informed by Derrida’s hauntology. His research interests span penal systems, spatial theory, and the representation of crime in cinema and media. Notable works include analyses of haunted architecture, Nazisploitation films, and gendered viewing strategies in Holocaust-related media. Fiddler engages in interdisciplinary critiques of incarceration’s spatial dimensions and the uncanny in cinematic narratives. Publications highlight themes like 'spectral criminology,' hauntology, and the Gothic underpinnings of penal spaces. His work bridges criminological theory with cultural studies, emphasizing how spatial and visual elements shape perceptions of crime and punishment. Collaborations include co-authorship with Stacy Banwell on gendered representations in film and historical prison studies. Award-winning achievements are not explicitly noted in the provided texts, though contributions to special journal editions and editorial roles reflect academic recognition. Fiddler’s leadership in the Centre for Transformative and Global Justice underscores his commitment to advancing interdisciplinary criminological discourse.
Dr. Sruti Bala is an Associate Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities. Her research focuses on the intersections of theatre, politics, and social justice, particularly in contexts of colonialism, nonviolent resistance, and global asymmetries. She critically examines cultural practices, including protest performance, translation, and decolonial pedagogy. Bala is known for her analyses of the cultural sector's role in societal debates, such as the controversy surrounding Lenny Kuhr's concert and Israel-Palestine relations. Her work bridges academic theory and public discourse, emphasizing ethics, participatory art, and institutional critique. Her educational background and professional trajectory reflect a deep engagement with global theatre traditions and their socio-political dimensions. Bala frequently publishes in peer-reviewed journals and contributes to public intellectual debates through op-eds and media commentary. Her recent work includes studies on carceral states, academic freedom in India, and the legacy of colonial historiography. Key Research Areas: Nonviolent resistance, colonial theatre, performance activism, translation studies, decolonizing education Public Engagement: Op-eds on cultural politics, critiques of institutional complicity, and advocacy for ethical art practices
Professor Panikos Panayi is Professor of European History at De Montfort University's School of Humanities, where he has worked since 1990 and held a personal Chair since 1999. His extensive academic career has focused on migration history, ethnic relations, and European history, making significant contributions to our understanding of how immigrants have shaped societies, particularly in Britain and London. Professor Panayi's research interests encompass the history of immigration and interethnic relations, the history of food, the First World War, German history, the history of London, and the history of the Cypriot people. His work consistently examines how migration has been fundamental to the economic, social, political, and cultural development of societies, with a particular focus on Britain and London as case studies. He approaches his research through detailed historical analysis combined with contemporary relevance, often highlighting how historical patterns of migration and integration inform current debates. His publications reveal a consistent focus on migration history, particularly examining how immigrants have shaped British society. A central theme across his work is the argument that London's development as a global city has been inextricably linked to immigration patterns spanning two millennia. His research demonstrates how migrants have contributed to London's economy, culture, and social fabric, from Roman invaders to contemporary European Union citizens, acting as cheap labor, contributing to the financial sector, establishing curry houses, and influencing football clubs. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Research funding from prestigious organizations including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Arts and Humanities Research Council, British Academy, Gerda Henkel Foundation, Leventis Foundation, and Leverhulme Trust Professor Panayi actively supervises PhD students, currently guiding research on topics including 'Sedition and State Overwatch: Radicalism, Racial Politics and Britain's Black Communities' and 'The Burger in Britain: A Symbol of Americana.' His externally funded research projects have examined subjects such as 'The Cypriot Peasant,' 'Real Londoners: Immigration and the Making of London,' and 'Knockaloe in Local, National and Global Context.' He serves as reviews editor of 'Immigrants and Minorities' and is a member of the international editorial board of the 'Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History.'
