Prof. Dr. Elisa Marie Hoven is a professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Leipzig, specializing in German and foreign criminal law, criminal procedural law, and commercial/media criminal law. She works at Burgstraße 21, Room 1.10, Leipzig. Education: Law at Free University Berlin, Radboud University Nijmegen, and University of Cambridge Professional Background: Legal clerkship in Berlin and at the International Criminal Court; visiting roles at Berkeley, Harvard, Sydney, and others Her research focuses on: Corporate criminal law (particularly corporate sanctions) Media criminal law and digitalization (hate speech) Sentencing law reform Anti-doping legislation Animal welfare criminal law Current third-party funded projects: "Gerechte Strafzumessung" (DFG-funded, analyzing sentencing practices and proposing reforms) "Hate Speech im Internet" (funded by German Federal Ministry of Justice, interdisciplinary collaboration with media studies and sociology) Scientific awards: Habilitation award from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Dissertation prize from the Free University of Berlin She leads the "Legal Lab Hate Speech" and founded the national Moot Court Strafrecht. Her work spans legal education, empirical research, and public science communication.
Professor Findlay Stark is a Professor of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. His work bridges criminal law doctrine, evidence, and procedural aspects with deep engagement in legal, moral, and political philosophy. His research centers on foundational concepts in criminal law, particularly mens rea , recklessness , negligence , and constructive liability . He has made significant contributions to debates on joint enterprise, accessory liability, and the role of judicial lawmaking in criminal law evolution. His monograph Culpable Carelessness: Recklessness and Negligence in the Criminal Law (2016) is a key scholarly work in the field. He is also a co-author of the authoritative textbook Simester and Sullivan’s Criminal Law: Theory and Doctrine . The recent articles reflect a sustained focus on doctrinal refinement, philosophical underpinnings of liability, and critical analysis of judicial reasoning. Themes include causation, omissions, transferred intent, and the interplay between moral and legal responsibility. His work frequently appears in top journals such as the Cambridge Law Journal , Oxford Journal of Legal Studies , and Modern Law Review , and has been cited by appellate courts internationally. Editorial Board, Cambridge Law Journal Editorial Board, Criminal Law Forum Editorial Board, Criminal Law Review Academic Associate, 23 Essex Street (criminal law chambers) He currently supervises PhD students including James Browning, Anna Peters, Sara Trainor, and Forest Yu, and advises several others. Previous supervisees include Giordana Campagna and Khomotso Moshikaro. He is open to initial inquiries regarding potential research supervision. He is affiliated with the Cambridge Centre for Criminal Justice (CCCJ) , the Cambridge Forum for Legal and Political Philosophy (CFLPP) , and the Criminal Jurisprudence and Philosophy Group (CrimJur) , reflecting his interdisciplinary approach.
Dr. Mona Tokarek LaFosse serves as Assistant Professor of New Testament and Sacred Literature Studies (Teaching Stream) at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Divinity through a joint appointment at Emmanuel College and Victoria College. She teaches across undergraduate, basic-degree, and graduate programs at Victoria University, specializing in New Testament studies and early Christian history through interdisciplinary lenses. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Toronto's Department for the Study of Religion (2011), MA in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University (2001), Honors BA in Anthropology from the University of Waterloo (1998), and Biblical Studies certificate from Columbia Bible College (1994). She previously taught at Martin Luther University College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Huron University College, and the University of Toronto. Dr. LaFosse approaches New Testament scholarship through cultural anthropology, storytelling theory, and age studies. Her research examines early Christian communities through the lens of age structure, intergenerational dynamics, and oral storytelling practices. She explores how life course stages shaped social relationships in the ancient Mediterranean, particularly focusing on 1 Timothy's treatment of age hierarchies. Her innovative teaching methodology emphasizes 'embodied story'—integrating performance and physical engagement with texts influenced by Indigenous storytelling traditions. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on aging in early Christianity, with 2024 articles examining age demographics and comparative gerontology. She also maintains active scholarship in oral tradition studies, particularly regarding the Gospel of Mark and Shepherd of Hermas, while contributing to academic discourse through society leadership and book reviews. Dr. LaFosse holds significant leadership roles including current service on the Canadian Society for Patristic Studies Nominating Committee (2025–26) and co-chairing the Society of Biblical Literature's Social-Scientific Criticism of the New Testament section (2025–27). She actively participates in the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Society of Biblical Literature, and KW Biblical Colloquium. Her distinctive teaching portfolio includes innovative courses like 'Zombies, the Bible and the End of the World' and 'Gospel of Mark as Embodied Story,' reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary engagement with biblical texts through contemporary cultural frameworks and physical performance.
Prof. Bernet Elzinga is a leading researcher at the Clinical Psychology Department of Leiden University, focusing on trauma's psychological, cognitive, and neurobiological consequences. Her work spans stress-related disorders, depression, PTSD, and intergenerational trauma transmission. Key research themes: Intergenerational stress mechanisms Emotion regulation in BPD DSM-5 PTSD criteria validation Developmental psychopathology Her 2021 study on adolescent-parent perception discrepancies revealed critical insights into youth affective states. The 2018 Dutch CAPS-5 validation established high reliability (ICC=0.98) while refining PTSD factor models. Recent projects like RE-PAIR (2024) on emotional maltreatment neurobiology and BAT (2024) targeting familial anxiety transmission highlight her translational approach. Key findings: Demonstrated superiority of the six-factor Anhedonia PTSD model over DSM-5's four-factor structure. Identified Memory impairment (D1) and Reckless behavior (E2) as low-prevalence symptoms in professional trauma populations. Revealed clinician diagnostic ambiguity in moderate-symptom cases, emphasizing the need for collaborative assessment practices. Academic affiliations Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group collaborations Foundation Centrum '45 partnerships
Dr Rachel Rimmer-Piekarczyk is a Senior Lecturer in Drama and Contemporary Performance at the Manchester School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University. An artist-scholar and core member of the internationally recognized performance group Reckless Sleepers since 2012, she bridges critical theory and artistic practice. Her research centers on agency cultivation through critical reflection in dance training, drawing on Bourdieu and Freire to interrogate embodiment and pedagogical power structures within westernized technique frameworks. Her academic qualifications include: PhD in Dance Studies from Manchester Metropolitan University (2014-2021) MA in Contemporary Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University (2009-2011) BA in Community Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University (2004-2007) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from Manchester Metropolitan University (2011-2013), earning Advance HE Fellowship Rimmer-Piekarczyk's research investigates how dialogical reflection subverts dominant discourses in dance education to foster performer agency. Her ethnographic-action research examines social conditions within training environments, exploring how critical consciousness develops through praxical pedagogy. She extends this inquiry into contemporary scored performance, analyzing how choreographic scores like Reckless Sleepers' A String Section create structures for emergent agency while destabilizing habitual power dynamics. Her 2023-2024 publications reveal a concentrated focus on doxic agreements and ethical agility in British dance training, demonstrating how reflexive-dialogical approaches disrupt entrenched pedagogical norms. This work increasingly integrates theoretical frameworks with artistic practice, particularly through performance-presentations that materialize embodied knowledge. Her scholarship consistently emphasizes the transformative potential of critical reflection to cultivate 'somatic authority' and ethical responsiveness in dancers. She currently supervises PhD research in contemporary theatre practice, pedagogy, and musical composition while serving as External Examiner for the University of Wolverhampton's Dance and Creative Performance programme. Her academic leadership extends through postgraduate research supervision and curriculum development informed by her dual expertise as practitioner-scholar. As a core Reckless Sleepers member, she contributes to international touring projects as performer, deviser, and facilitator. The company's collaborative process—especially the long-term development of A String Section —functions as a living laboratory for her research, where theoretical concepts about agency and structure are tested and refined through embodied practice.
Pamela Everett is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), within the College of Liberal Arts. She holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from UNR, where she was the top graduating senior in her college. Her career includes roles as an adjunct instructor at UNR (2007–2009) and as an assistant/associate professor at Wayne State College (Nebraska) until 2014. She currently volunteers with the California Innocence Project and Northern Nevada Legal Aid. Educational Background: J.D., University of San Diego School of Law, 1995 B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Reno, 1992 Research Interests: Everett focuses on wrongful convictions, mental health within criminal justice systems, and legal responses to societal challenges like the pandemic. Her work bridges historical legal analysis (e.g., Wickersham Commission studies) and modern policy issues, including public safety and immigration law. She has authored textbooks, encyclopedia entries on policing, and op-eds addressing topics like school security and texting while driving. Publications and Awards: Her notable works include a 2021 chapter on pandemic legal impacts and a 2018 book on historical crimes. She has received accolades such as first place in the Appellate Moot Court competition and the Best Brief/Best Oralist award during law school. Her op-eds in the Omaha World-Herald highlight her advocacy for legal reform and public safety. Professional Contributions: As a pro bono attorney and columnist, Everett emphasizes ethical legal practices and systemic reform. Her teaching and research reflect a commitment to bridging academic theory and real-world legal challenges.
Rachael Burgin is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Swinburne Law School , part of the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University of Technology. She holds a PhD in Criminology (2019) from Monash University and serves as the CEO of Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy (RASARA) , a non-profit organization focused on policy and legal reforms. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Criminology), Monash University (2019) Professional Roles: Senior Lecturer (2020–present), Senior Research Associate at ANROWS (2019), Research Associate at Monash University (2017–2018) Research Interests Burgin’s work critically examines legal responses to rape and sexual assault , with a focus on consent law reform , gendered violence , and feminist jurisprudence . Her PhD thesis analyzed the adoption of affirmative sexual consent in Victorian rape law and its practical implications. She advocates for systemic changes to prevent the retraumatization of victim-survivors in criminal justice mechanisms. Publications & Legal Analysis Her recent articles critique the hierarchy of rape offences and the limitations of affirmative consent legislation in jurisdictions like Victoria. She highlights how legal systems often prioritize defendant rights over victim-survivor dignity, perpetuating rape myths through judicial processes. Her scholarship emphasizes the need for active communication of consent and policy shifts to align with international best practices. Grants & Advocacy Burgin receives funding from Family Safety Victoria and has influenced NSW Law Reform Commission consultations. Her leadership in the Reviewing ACT Policing Processes Relating to Sexual Violence project underscores her role in bridging academic research and real-world legal reforms.
Professor Michael Pinchbeck is a Professor of Theatre at Manchester School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University, where he has been employed since January 2020. He serves as Senior Research Lead for the Art & Performance Research Hub and co-leads the Performance Research Group. Pinchbeck curates Bunker Talks, a series that invites artists and researchers to talk about geopolitical, ecological or economic concerns through critical encounters, presentations, provocation and dialogue. Since 2020, over 125 talks have been hosted and archived to create an online catalogue capturing how artists think about the world today. His academic background includes: BA Theatre Studies and Creative Writing, Lancaster University MA Performance and Live Art, Nottingham Trent University PhD English and Drama Dept., Loughborough University Fellowship of Higher Education Academy, University of Lincoln Pinchbeck's research focuses on the intersections between dramaturgy and practice-as-research, particularly exploring composed theatre, orchestral theatre, and 'staging scores.' His work investigates musical approaches to dramaturgy and dramaturgical approaches to music, with special interest in performance as commemoration and how theatre remembers. He has developed an extensive body of work around one-to-one performance and is writing 'Brief Encounters: The politics, poetics and ethics of one-to-one performance.' His recent publications and performances form 'The Berger & Mohr Trilogy,' examining performance and photography through adaptations of John Berger's works: 'A Fortunate Man,' 'A Seventh Man,' and 'Another Way of Telling.' His creative works demonstrate innovative approaches across immersive slideshows, audio walks, and site-specific performances that explore migration, healthcare, and visual storytelling. These projects have received significant Arts Council England funding and have been selected multiple times for the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase. His notable recognitions include: Multiple Arts Council England grants totaling over £150,000 for productions including 'Concerto,' 'Solo,' 'A Seventh Man,' and 'Bolero' British Council funding of £75,000 for international touring of 'Bolero' Selection four times for the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase As a supervisor, Pinchbeck has guided PhD research on new writing and dramaturgy, with current supervision focusing on intersections between score theatre and music, and performance and photography. He has received external funding from the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership for a PhD project exploring the Greenroom archive. His leadership extends to external examiner roles at Central Saint Martins, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, and Sheffield Hallam University. Pinchbeck co-founded Metro-Boulot Dodo Theatre Company in 1997 and has been creating and touring performance work for over 25 years as a theatre-maker and dramaturg. His collaborative practice includes work with companies such as Reckless Sleepers, Third Angel, and Strange Names Collective, as well as international partnerships through COIL projects with San Jose State University and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Ekow N. Yankah is a Professor of Law and Philosophy at the University of Michigan, holding the Thomas M. Cooley Professorship. His work bridges political theory, criminal law, and racial justice, with a focus on political obligation, punishment justification, and voting rights. Education University of Michigan, BA Columbia University, JD Oxford University, BCL Yankah's research explores the intersection of legal philosophy, criminal law, and civil rights, with recent work on police violence, racialized mens rea, and systemic racism. His scholarship appears in journals like Harvard Law & Policy Review , Stanford Law Review , and Arizona State Law Journal . As a public intellectual, Yankah writes for major outlets ( New York Times , Washington Post ) and serves on nonprofit boards including the Innocence Project. Awards include the NYDLC Guardian of Democracy Award (2020), Cardozo's Inspiration Award, and the first non-Cardozo recipient of their Alumni of the Year Award.
Andrew Brown is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the MFA (Fine Art) at the Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University. His practice spans sound art, performance, and creative writing, with a focus on OpenCity soundwalk projects exploring contested spaces, ecology, and socio-political themes. He has been a visiting professor in Kiel, Aix-en-Provence, Budapest, Bergen, and Tokyo, and co-founded the percussion ensemble Left Hand Right Hand and press Tak Tak Tak. His research culminated in a 2023 PhD on soundwalking methodology. Collaborations include projects with Christine Stevens, Geoff Litherland, and Katja Hock, exhibited globally in venues like Venice Biennale and Nottingham Contemporary. Key research areas include spatial montage, deep listening techniques, and soundwalks as socio-cultural interventions. His work has been published in Humanities , Ways to Wander , and Drain Journal . He has led residencies, workshops, and public projects such as Oblique Cartographies (2016) and OpenCity Vilnius (2023). His teaching integrates artistic research with community engagement, emphasizing interdisciplinary practices. Andrew’s career includes roles as HEA Fellow and manager of performance company Reckless Sleepers. His creative outputs blend sound, text, and performance to interrogate urban environments and cultural memory. Current initiatives focus on expanding soundwalk methodologies and fostering international artistic dialogues through collaborative projects and academic publications.
David Yaffe was an Assistant Professor of Humanities at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, teaching American fiction, poetry, music, and creative nonfiction for nearly 20 years. His academic work blended literary scholarship with music criticism, focusing on jazz, rock, and popular culture. He authored three influential books on music and literature, including the award-winning Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell . Yaffe held adjunct roles at CUNY Hunter College and Sarah Lawrence College prior to joining Syracuse in 2005. Education: PhD from CUNY Graduate Center; BA from Sarah Lawrence College with an early arts training at a Dallas arts high school. Research interests centered on the intersection of American literature and music, particularly jazz’s influence on 20th-century writing. His critical work appeared in The Nation , Harper’s , and New York Times . Awards included the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award and multiple fellowships. Grants and recognitions highlighted his interdisciplinary contributions, including the Mellon Foundation Grant and CUNY Writing Fellowship. He advised no listed students but mentored through teaching and critical writing. No lab affiliations were explicitly noted, though his collaborations with musicians and archival research formed key aspects of his scholarship.
Neil Mackenzie is a Senior Lecturer at the Manchester School of Theatre , Manchester Metropolitan University , with a career spanning performance creation, curation, and academic research. He founded the performance collective Plane Performance in 1992 and serves as Artistic Director of the Flare International Festival of New Theatre , which he has directed since 2011. Education: MA in Contemporary Theatre Practice from Lancaster University BA (Hons) in English and Drama from Leicester University Research Interests: Deconstructive strategies in contemporary theatre Performance curation and avant-garde theatre trends Relationship between canonical texts and live performance Audience reception and shared physical experience Re-contextualization of dance/music in theatre Curatorial platforms for performance research Article Trends: His work focuses on experimental theatre, including text deconstruction, festival curation, and audience interaction. Publications often explore postdramatic performance, technological integration, and the theoretical underpinn'their impact on theatrical experiences. Professional Networks: Board member of Reckless Sleepers performance company Member of Live Art North West (LANWest) Associate Member of Live Art UK Key collaborator with Axis Arts Centre and HOME Manchester Teaching: He leads undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Drama and Contemporary Performance , emphasizing artistic practice, academic inquiry, and professional development. Supervised Jason Crouch's PhD on digital communication and performance.
Alex Leveringhaus is a Lecturer in Political Theory and Co-Director of the Centre for International Intervention at the University of Surrey. He is affiliated with the Department of Politics and International Relations within the Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences, and serves as the Exams and Assessments Officer at the university. His academic background includes a PhD in Government from the London School of Economics (LSE), supervised by Cecile Fabre and Paul Kelly. Dr Leveringhaus has held postdoctoral roles, including a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship at the University of Manchester and research fellowships at the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict and the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford. His research focuses on ethical issues in armed conflict, particularly emerging combat technologies like drones, autonomous weapons, and AI. He also explores the broader societal and political implications of AI, emphasizing its moral challenges in warfare and governance. His publications analyze themes such as autonomous weapon systems’ impact on international relations, ethical boundaries in military tech development, and accountability in automated targeting. Recent work (2023) highlights concerns about technology in espionage and cooperative frameworks in AI-driven conflict. While no scientific awards are listed, his scholarly contributions are evident through prestigious fellowships and authored works like "Ethics and Autonomous Weapons" (2016). Teaching includes core undergraduate political philosophy courses and global governance modules at postgraduate levels. He co-directs the Centre for International Intervention, promoting interdisciplinary analysis of military and humanitarian intervention strategies. His academic advising and grants are tied to postdoctoral fellowships rather than named students or specific grants mentioned here.
Dr Mark Dsouza is an Associate Professor at the University College London (UCL) Faculty of Laws. He holds an LLM (First Class) from the University of Cambridge and a doctoral degree from the same institution, focusing on the philosophy of criminal law defences. His career includes roles as an external examiner at King's College London, Imperial College London, and the University of Surrey. He has been recognized with awards such as the UCL EXALT Award for Excellence in Law Teaching (2019) and the SLS Best Paper Award (2020). Education: National Law School of India University (B.A. LL.B., First Class with Gold Medal), University of Cambridge (LLM, 2009; PhD, 2014) His research interests span criminal law theory, AI in legal education, corporate criminal liability, and philosophical foundations of legal defences. Recent work explores AI's impact on legal assessment, victim rights in justifications, and corporate agency in criminal contexts. His scholarship often critiques traditional legal frameworks and proposes modernised theoretical approaches. Awards: UCL EXALT Award (2019), SLS Best Paper Award (2020) Dr Dsouza has held external examiner roles across multiple UK institutions, focusing on criminal law, evidence, and ethics. His contributions include curriculum development in legal education and interdisciplinary research on AI's role in law. He is actively involved in policy discussions on criminal law reform and legal pedagogy.
Kevin Egan is Senior Lecturer at Manchester School of Theatre, Manchester Metropolitan University. He serves as Programme Leader for the MA/MFA Performance programme while maintaining active practice as a theatre maker, performer, and academic researcher. As core member of internationally renowned company Reckless Sleepers, he has co-created works including Schrödinger (2011), Negative Space (2014), It's Hot, It's Not (2019), and Binary Opposition (2025). His research focuses on: Performance scoring methodologies Musicological approaches to theatre composition Dramaturgical processes in collaborative creation Documentation of fragmented performance texts Devised performance techniques Affiliated with the Art and Performance Research Hub, Egan's practice-based research explores how musical notation can inform theatrical composition. His 2022 co-authored article Staging Scores and 2024 book chapter A Score of a Score of a Score demonstrate his ongoing investigation into musical-theatrical hybrids. Current projects include Binary Opposition (2025) examining structural contradictions in performance creation. Contact: k.s.egan@mmu.ac.uk
