David M. Thomas, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies and Associate Dean for Preclinical Education at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). He plays a key leadership role in shaping the preclinical curriculum and is a founding faculty member and master educator at OUWB. Dr. Thomas earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He received his Doctorate in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University and completed three years of postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan Medical School. His research and professional interests focus on medical education, curriculum design, and team-based learning (TBL). He is nationally recognized as a Certified Team-Based Learning Consultant-Trainer and has held leadership roles in the TBL Collaborative, including chair of the Educational Development Committee and member of the Steering Committee. Dr. Thomas previously served as Assistant Dean for Medical Education at OUWB and has held course leadership roles, including Course Director for the Endocrinology Organ System. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University. LCME Fellow (2017) Certified Team-Based Learning Consultant-Trainer, TBL Collaborative He has been actively involved in curriculum governance at OUWB, serving as Biomedical Sciences representative on the Academic Success Team, chair of the Curriculum Evaluation Subcommittee, and secretary of the Curriculum Committee. Nationally, he is a member of the AAMC Medical Education Senior Leaders community, contributing to the advancement of medical education policy and practice.
Dr. Thomas Greven is a private lecturer (Privatdozent) in political science at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, where he teaches seminars on U.S. politics, foreign policy, populism, labor movements, and the political role of comics. He is also affiliated with the International Center for Development and Decent Work at the University of Kassel and works as an independent political analyst, consultant, and public commentator. Freie Universität Berlin – Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft (Ph.D., 2000; Habilitation, 2009) Western Michigan University – M.A. in Political Science (1994) APSA Congressional Fellow, U.S. House of Representatives (1995–1996) Thomas Greven’s research centers on U.S. politics and foreign policy, right-wing populism and extremism, labor rights in international trade, globalization, and the intersection of graphic literature with political discourse. His work examines transnational labor campaigns, the Tea Party movement, and the crisis of American democracy. He frequently contributes to public debates through media outlets such as Der Tagesspiegel , Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft , and Comixene . His recent publications reflect a strong focus on right-wing populism, democratic backsliding, and transnational labor organizing. Articles analyze the rise of authoritarian nationalism in the U.S. and Europe, the strategic use of corporate campaigns by unions, and the political narratives embedded in graphic novels. His work bridges academic research and public engagement, emphasizing the role of culture and ideology in shaping political realities. Right-Wing Populism and Authoritarian Nationalism in the U.S. and Europe (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2017) The Rise of Right-Wing Populism in Europe and the United States (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2016) Country Report Senegal, Bertelsmann Transformation Index (2020) Transnationale Einblicke: Gewerkschaftliche Organisierung in den USA (IG Metall, 2020) Greven has received research funding from institutions including the German Research Foundation (DFG), DAAD, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, United Nations University, and the European Parliament. He has held visiting positions at the University of British Columbia, UC Berkeley, York University, Johns Hopkins University (AICGS), Max Planck Institute, and the University of Warsaw. He mentors no publicly listed students but has significantly contributed to policy debates on trade, labor, and democracy. His work on comics and politics highlights an innovative interdisciplinary approach, using graphic narratives to explore historical and contemporary political themes.
Anis Yazidi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, where he leads research in the Research Group for Digital Signal Processing and Image Analysis. His academic profile demonstrates significant contributions to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and signal processing with over 50 publications between 2021-2025 in high-impact venues including IEEE Transactions, Frontiers journals, and AAAI proceedings. Professor Yazidi's research spans multiple interconnected domains with particular emphasis on Tsetlin Machines, deep learning for medical applications, and signal processing theory. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical implementations, developing novel frameworks like DREAMS for EEG analysis with model card reporting and interpretable methods for ECG classification. His contributions to learning automata theory, particularly in convergence analysis of Tsetlin-based algorithms, represent significant theoretical advances. The research portfolio also extends to cybersecurity applications of AI for IoT protection, agricultural technology for plant disease detection, and renewable energy modeling for wind-speed statistics. Yazidi's publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary approach, with collaborations across computer science, neuroscience, medical diagnostics, and engineering disciplines. His recent work shows increasing focus on trustworthy AI systems, ethical considerations in medical applications, and specialized neural architectures tailored for specific data modalities including EEG, ECG, and eye-tracking data. The research demonstrates both theoretical rigor in algorithm development and practical implementation for real-world problems. Professor Yazidi maintains an active collaboration network with researchers across the Department of Informatics at UiO, particularly with Pedro Lind, Hugo Lewi Hammer, and Paal Engelstad, while also engaging in international collaborations. His work contributes significantly to both the theoretical foundations of learning systems and their practical implementation in diverse application domains from healthcare to renewable energy.
Bradley A. Smith is the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law at Capital University Law School, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. He is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading authorities on election law and campaign finance, and co-author of "Voting Rights and Election Law," a leading casebook in the field. Professor Smith previously served as Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (2004) after being appointed by President Clinton to fill a Republican-designated seat in 2000, where he served until 2005. He has held visiting positions including the Visiting Judge John T. Copenhaver Chair of Law at West Virginia University (2013-15) and a James Madison Fellowship at Princeton University (2018-19), and has also taught at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Professor Smith received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Kalamazoo College. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Augustana College. Professor Smith's research focuses primarily on election law, campaign finance, and the First Amendment. His influential 2001 book, "Unfree Speech: The Folly of Campaign Finance Reform," was praised by columnist George Will as "the year's most important book on governance." His scholarly work consistently argues against campaign finance restrictions on First Amendment grounds, examining how such regulations impact political speech, electoral competition, and democratic participation. He has been particularly influential in shaping legal and scholarly debates around campaign finance reform, consistently advocating for a more permissive regulatory environment that prioritizes free speech protections while addressing legitimate concerns about corruption and equality in the political process. His scholarly output over the past two decades reveals a consistent focus on campaign finance regulation, election law, and constitutional interpretation, particularly regarding the First Amendment. Smith's work has evolved to address new legal developments like the Citizens United decision while maintaining his core arguments about the relationship between money, speech, and democracy. His publications span traditional law reviews, interdisciplinary journals, and popular media outlets, demonstrating his ability to engage both academic and public audiences on complex legal issues. The trajectory of his scholarship shows increasing engagement with judicial elections, electoral college reform, and the administrative challenges of campaign finance enforcement. Bradley Prize from the Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2010) - awarded annually "to recognize individuals of extraordinary talent and dedication who have made contributions of excellence defending the institutions of free, representative government and private enterprise." Professor Smith has been an active participant in public discourse on election law, appearing as a guest on major TV networks including The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Hannity & Colmes. His scholarly work has been published in top law journals including the Yale Law Journal, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Georgetown Law Journal, and Harvard Law Journals. He has also contributed to popular publications like the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post. While the text doesn't specify grant funding or advisees, his extensive publication record and national recognition suggest significant scholarly impact in his field, with his work frequently cited in legal arguments and judicial opinions concerning campaign finance regulation. Though not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, Professor Smith's work with the Federal Election Commission and his numerous amicus brief submissions indicate deep engagement with practical election administration and constitutional litigation. His expertise has clearly positioned him as a leading voice in election law scholarship and policy debates, with his views often representing a libertarian perspective on the relationship between money, speech, and democracy.
Steve Sanders is a Professor of Law and Val Nolan Faculty Fellow at Indiana University Maurer School of Law , with additional appointments as Adjunct Professor, Department of Political Science and Affiliated Faculty in the Department of Gender Studies and The Kinsey Institute . He teaches Constitutional Law, Conflict of Laws, and LGBTQ+ rights-focused courses while maintaining active involvement in appellate litigation. Education: Indiana University A.B. University of Michigan J.D. ( magna cum laude ) His scholarship focuses on Fourteenth Amendment issues, particularly LGBTQ+ rights and marriage equality litigation , with publications in Michigan Law Review , Hastings Law Journal , and Fordham Law Review . His work has been cited in federal court opinions and major media outlets. Recent articles examine institutional transparency , constitutional dialogue , and political process theory applications. Key awards include two IU Trustees Teaching Awards , Remak Distinguished Scholar recognition, and 2022 SPJ Courage Award for investigative journalism on IU's presidential search. Academic Leadership: Faculty Director of Judicial Clerkships Faculty advisor to Indiana Law Journal Founding member of Academic Freedom Alliance Active in public litigation , he co-authored amicus briefs for Obergefell v. Hodges and represented constitutional law professors in transgender Medicaid access cases. Media presence includes SCOTUSBlog contributions and appearances on MSNBC and Bloomberg Radio .
Yuliya Zabyelina is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She teaches and provides service in the BA program in International Criminal Justice (ICJ), MA program in International Crime & Justice (IC&J), and the Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies (ACTOCS). Previously, she held a postdoctoral position at the University of Edinburgh School of Law and lectured at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. She has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and has taught at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). Dr. Zabyelina earned her Post-doc/Newton Fellowship from the University of Edinburgh, UK (2014), Ph.D. from the University of Trento, Italy (2013), and M.A. from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany (2008). Her research covers various forms of transnational organized crime and corruption and the existing domestic, regional and global mechanisms for their prevention and control. Her scholarship is interdisciplinary and draws from the theoretical foundations and methodologies of international law, criminology, and sociology. Her work particularly focuses on European and post-Soviet contexts, examining topics like human trafficking, terrorism financing, and organized crime in resource extraction industries. Dr. Zabyelina's scholarly output demonstrates strong trends in examining the intersection of organized crime with legitimate business sectors, corruption mechanisms in post-Soviet states, and transnational crime control measures. Her research spans multiple disciplines including political science, criminology, international relations, and post-Soviet studies, with particular emphasis on Ukraine and Russia. Newton International Fellowship (2013) SAGE Junior Faculty Teaching Award (2015) Aleksanteri Institute Visiting Scholar Fellowship (2015) Fellow Award (2021) from ACJS Henry Wasser Award (2020) Outstanding Scholarly Mentor Award (2020) Presidential Student-Faculty Research Award (2019) Dr. Zabyelina has received significant grant funding for her research, including from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US Department of State for the Western Hemisphere Anticorruption Index project. She has mentored numerous students through the Presidential Student-Faculty Research Award program and received recognition as Outstanding Scholarly Mentor. Her current research assesses the implementation of anticorruption conventions in the Western Hemisphere. She is actively involved with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and has served as Chair of the International Section of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS IS) between 2021-2023. Since 2019, she has served as the ACJS Alternate Representative to the United Nations and beginning fall 2023, she serves as Secretary of the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Neslihan Yılmaz is a Professor and Department Head at Boğaziçi University, holding a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Her academic career centers on finance with teaching expertise in Financial Management, Corporate Finance, and International Finance, while her research primarily explores behavioral and corporate finance phenomena within emerging markets. Her educational background is anchored by a doctoral degree from Michigan State University, though specific details of earlier degrees remain unspecified in the source material. Ph.D.: Michigan State University Yılmaz's research concentrates on Behavioral Finance, Corporate Governance, Managerial Turnover, and Product Market Competition, with particular emphasis on psychological factors influencing financial decision-making in Turkish and international contexts. She investigates how cognitive biases affect investor behavior, executive decisions, and market efficiency, often employing spatial econometric techniques to analyze real estate and stock market dynamics. Her work bridges theoretical finance with empirical analysis of emerging market peculiarities. Recent publications (2020-2023) reveal a strong focus on spatial analysis in real estate markets and behavioral corporate finance. Key themes include pricing anomalies in housing markets, analyst coverage effects on stock returns, and the impact of CEO overconfidence on competitive performance. Her methodological approach frequently combines traditional econometrics with geospatial modeling, demonstrating consistent contributions to understanding market inefficiencies in developing economies. No scientific awards or honors are documented in the provided materials. Information regarding student advising, research grants, or funded projects is not present in the source texts, suggesting either omission or non-disclosure of such activities in the referenced profiles. There are no mentions of laboratory facilities, dedicated research teams, or institutional centers associated with Professor Yılmaz's work in the available documentation.
Anne Kolb is a Professor at the Department of Ancient History, University of Zurich. She specializes in Roman Empire studies, focusing on infrastructure, administration, and epigraphic sources. Her work bridges political structures with everyday life in antiquity. Chair holder at University of Zurich Editor for Roman road studies and literacy publications Organizer of international conferences on Roman governance Research interests include: Roman infrastructure (roads, ports, aqueducts) as political-economic intersections; provincial administration communication between communities and imperial representatives; epigraphy as evidence for governance and technology; women's roles in Roman power structures; and ancient literacy patterns. Her publications like Roman Roads (2019) and Literacy in Ancient Everyday Life (2018) analyze these themes through case studies. Scientific contributions emphasize: 1) Roman road systems connecting urban and provincial networks; 2) milestone epigraphy revealing administrative practices; 3) comparative studies of Roman and non-Roman spatial perception; 4) emperor-provincial interactions through infrastructure projects.
Paul A. Gowder is a Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law since 2020. His research spans the rule of law , democratic theory , social and racial equality , institutional governance , and law and technology . Education BA from California State University JD from Harvard University PhD in Political Science from Stanford University His work integrates political philosophy , legal theory , and technology to address systemic inequalities and modern governance challenges. Recent publications focus on democratizing internet platforms and reinterpreting constitutional ideals through Black liberation movements. Scientific Affiliations Founding Fellow, Integrity Institute Elected Member, American Law Institute Member, EPLO Global Rule of Law Commission Member, Institute for Advanced Study (2014-2015) He has taught courses in constitutional law , torts , and critical race theory , and previously practiced civil rights law representing victims of police misconduct, predatory lending, and unlawful eviction.
Assistant Professor Amine Oudghiri-Otmani has served in Marshall University's Department of English since August 2011, following prior ESL program instruction from 2009-2011. He concurrently holds significant policy roles as Marshall's ACF Representative before the Faculty Senate and current Advocacy & Policy Chair of West Virginia TESOL, engaging with the Higher Education Policy Commission, West Virginia legislature, and federal representatives to advance English language programs and international student enrollment. His academic credentials include: Doctor of Education (EdD) — Marshall University MA in Political Science & Government — Marshall University MA in English — Marshall University Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics — Marshall University BA in English Language & Literature — Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (Fes, Morocco) Professor Oudghiri-Otmani's scholarly work centers on English as a Second Language instruction and TESOL methodologies, with specialized expertise in Systemic Functional Linguistics and professional writing domains including business and scientific contexts. His policy-focused research examines international student retention strategies, global leadership frameworks, and advocacy mechanisms for language program development, directly informing his collaborative initiatives with state and federal policymakers to strengthen West Virginia's educational infrastructure for non-native English speakers.
Anna Parkhouse is a Senior Lecturer at Halmstad University's School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. She is actively engaged in academic work within the Swedish higher education system, contributing to scholarly discourse through her research and teaching. Her research focuses on critical areas of contemporary political significance, particularly examining migration policy frameworks within the Nordic context. Her work explores the intersection of asylum systems, national identity, and the preservation of the Swedish welfare model. This research sits at the crossroads of political sociology, public administration, and comparative policy analysis, with special attention to how migration policies reflect and shape societal values in Scandinavian democracies. Her recent publication examines the complex relationship between migration governance and the maintenance of Sweden's distinctive social model. This work represents emerging scholarship on how Scandinavian nations navigate the tensions between humanitarian commitments and national policy sovereignty in an era of increased migration flows. Anna Parkhouse maintains active scholarly communication through her institutional email address, facilitating academic collaboration and student engagement within her field of expertise.
Eleanor Ford is a Marine Social Scientist at the Scottish Marine Institute (SAMS), part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), United Kingdom. Her research bridges marine environmental systems and societal dynamics, focusing on human dimensions of coastal resource management. Her expertise centers on community-industry relationships in fisheries and aquaculture sectors, examining cultural significance of coastlines and societal impacts of marine governance policies. Ford's work actively contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly life below water (SDG 14) and sustainable communities (SDG 11), through interdisciplinary analysis of how marine management schemes affect coastal populations. She employs social science methodologies to evaluate cultural dependencies on marine environments and policy-induced community transformations. Ford's 2022 publication in the ICES Journal of Marine Science represents her signature interdisciplinary approach, analyzing pandemic impacts on marine researchers through combined lenses of occupational science and marine policy. This work demonstrates her capacity to connect global crises with sector-specific workforce challenges, revealing productivity pressures and emerging adaptive strategies within the marine research community. Her academic impact is evidenced by an h-index of 11 with 11 Scopus citations, reflecting substantial influence in marine social science. Ford maintains an international collaborative network spanning multiple European institutions, as demonstrated by her multinational co-authorship on pandemic impact research. Her affiliation with SAMS UHI places her within a leading marine research ecosystem focused on integrated ocean solutions.
Audric Vitiello serves as an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Tours within the School of Law, Economics and Social Sciences and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Legal Research (IRJI). He holds the administrative position of Head of the dual degree in Law and Political Science, demonstrating institutional leadership alongside his research commitments. His academic profile bridges theoretical political philosophy with empirical analyses of contemporary political systems. His research centers on critical examinations of democratic theory, with emphasis on theories of democracy, analysis of political systems, prefigurative practices, political subjectivation, pluralism, conflicts, and secularism. He investigates the tensions between radical democratic ideals and institutional frameworks, exploring how emancipatory processes manifest through communalism, self-management, and polycentric governance. His work consistently engages with political and moral philosophy, the history of political ideas, and contemporary political sociology, particularly examining citizenship education and secularism in multicultural contexts. Vitiello's publication record since 2008 reveals a sustained focus on democratic innovation and emancipatory politics, with significant output in 2025 exploring polycentric democracy and prefigurative alternatives. His scholarship demonstrates methodological pluralism, combining theoretical political philosophy with empirical case studies on political subjectivation and institutional hybridity. Key thematic threads include the relationship between autonomy and institutionalization, the role of education in democratic citizenship, and secularism's evolution amid immigration debates. As an active researcher within the Institute of Interdisciplinary Legal Research (IRJI), UR 7496, he contributes to cross-disciplinary legal scholarship that integrates political theory perspectives into legal studies. His collaborative work, including the 2022 Mansbridge translation, highlights engagement with international democratic theory debates while maintaining focus on French and European political contexts.
Johanna Chamberlain is a Senior Lecturer in Civil Law at the Department of Law, Uppsala University. She holds the academic rank of Associate Professor in Civil Law and teaches in the law program, supervising thesis students. Her research focuses on tort law, data protection, privacy, artificial intelligence liability, and environmental damage. She is currently leading a postdoctoral project on damages for PFAS contamination funded by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation, starting autumn 2024. Research Interests: Her work centers on the intersection of law, technology, and risk. She explores how tort law can address harms arising from AI systems, data breaches, and environmental contamination. She investigates risk management frameworks, the role of trust in regulation, and the enforcement of privacy rights under EU law, particularly GDPR. Her scholarship critically assesses administrative fines, non-material damages, and the balance between innovation and fundamental rights. Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2019–2025) show a strong focus on AI regulation, data protection beyond GDPR, and the evolution of privacy rights in Swedish and EU law. She frequently collaborates with scholars like Andreas Kotsios and Jane Reichel, contributing to journals and books on digital governance, risk regulation, and legal history. The works reflect a consistent engagement with EU legal developments and their domestic implementation. Scientific Awards: Winner of the Oscar Award, Uppsala University 2024 Winner of the Stig Strömholm Prize for Humanistic Legal and Social Science Research 2024 European Journal of Risk Regulation Annual Reviewer Award 2023 Winner of the Alumni Foundation's Essay Prize for Best Degree Thesis 2015 Advising and Grants: She supervises thesis students in the law program. She is leading a postdoctoral research project on damages for PFAS contamination and future harm, funded by the Ragnar Söderberg Foundation, starting in autumn 2024. Her prior work includes participation in a research project on AI and liability issues. Academic Service and Leadership: She has been actively involved in doctoral governance, serving as a member of Juridicum’s doctoral council (2016–2018), organizer of a doctoral conference (2016), and doctoral representative in the Education Committee (2017–2018) and the Equal Opportunities Working Group (2016–2019).
Alice el-Wakil is an Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) at the Department of Political Science , Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Zurich and an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Geneva. Research Focus : Normative political theory Democratic institutions and practice Direct democracy mechanisms (referendums, initiatives) Democratic representation and accountability Participatory democratic innovations Research Outputs : 2025: Referendums and Voters’ Accountability 2024: Democratic Representation Theories 2023: Climate Policy Advocacy 2022: Comparative Analysis of Participatory Processes Scientific Recognition : 2023: Djøf-Forlag Prisen (Best Early Career Paper) 2023: EPSR Early Careers Prize (Honourable Mention) Key Collaborations : University of Zurich (Chair of Political Philosophy) University of Geneva ("Forum citoyen" project) Universität Konstanz (The Politics of Inequality research cluster)
