Kirk Sanders is an Associate Professor split between the Departments of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Illinois. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the Joint Classics-Philosophy Program at the University of Texas at Austin. His research focuses on Hellenistic philosophy and Xenophon's Socratic writings, with notable contributions including co-editing Epicurus and the Epicurean Tradition (2011) and ongoing projects on Xenophon's texts. His work bridges classical philology, philosophical analysis, and historical context. Education: PhD in Philosophy (UT Austin) Research interests include Hellenistic philosophical traditions, Socratic literature, and ancient Greek language structures. His recent publications explore Roman Epicureanism and textual analysis of classical works like Xenophon's Apology . Publications include contributions to Mnemosyne , Illinois Classical Studies , and edited volumes. Sanders also serves as an editor for peer-reviewed journals and maintains affiliations with the Center for Hellenic Studies. His current projects involve translating and commenting on Xenophon's Socratic writings, combining philological rigor with philosophical interpretation.
Dr Joe Sampson is a University Assistant Professor in Legal History at the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Law and a Fellow of Trinity College. His work focuses on comparative legal history, particularly examining the interplay between civilian scholarship and common law traditions. He holds a BA in Law and MPhil in Medieval History from Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by a PhD (awarded a Yorke Prize) under Prof. David Ibbetson. Previously held positions include Associate Professor at Magdalen College, Oxford (2018–2022) and David Li Fellowship at Selwyn College, Cambridge (2015–2018). Research interests include medieval and early modern legal thought, the influence of Thomist theology on natural law, and Roman legal traditions. Current projects explore autonomy in medieval civilian scholarship and Romanization in Visigothic law. He supervises doctoral research on topics ranging from medieval debt to 18th-century natural law. Teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including a new LLM module on comparative legal history analyzing systems from ancient Mesopotamia to modern codifications. His outreach roles at Trinity include admissions tutoring in Arts & Humanities and directing legal studies. Active in research networks like the Cambridge Private Law Centre and Centre for English Legal History.
Arthur Weststeijn is an Assistant Professor in Political History at Utrecht University, specializing in the history of the Dutch Republic and its colonial empire, the history and contemporary politics of Italy, and the history of Spain and Latin America. He is affiliated with the Department of History and Art History within the Humanities faculty and is part of the Research Institute for History and Art History, focusing on International and Political History. Dr. Weststeijn's educational background includes: PhD in History, European University Institute, Florence (2010) RMA in History, European University Institute, Florence (2006) MA in Philosophy, University of Amsterdam (2005) MA in History, University of Amsterdam (2004) Erasmus Exchange, Universidad de Sevilla (2000-2001) His research focuses on the intellectual history of power, particularly examining ideas that express and contest political authority through two main themes: colonialism (how ideas have shaped European colonialism and resistance against it) and republicanism (how resistance to autocratic rule has given rise to ideas of liberty, citizenship, and democracy). His work spans early-modern Dutch colonialism, anticolonial thought, the history of democracy, and connections between ancient and modern forms of settler colonialism. He has published extensively on early modern republicanism, the political uses of classical heritage, and the making of modern Italy. Weststeijn's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersections between political thought, colonial history, and republican theory. His work often examines how historical ideas continue to shape contemporary political discourse, particularly regarding democracy, citizenship, and colonial legacies. He frequently engages with both European and transatlantic intellectual traditions, showing particular expertise in Dutch and Italian political thought. His notable awards and fellowships include: Fellow, Huntington Library, San Marino, California (Summer 2022) Fellow, John Carter Brown Library, Providence, Rhode Island (Spring 2019) Director of Historical Studies, Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome (2011-2017) Dr. Weststeijn has served as a visiting researcher at prestigious institutions including the Cambridge Centre for Political Thought, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and University of Padua. He frequently appears as an expert commentator on Italian culture and politics in Dutch media and maintains an active public intellectual presence. He is involved in multiple research initiatives including the IOS research themes on Contesting Governance, Futures of Democracy, and Longtermism and Institutional Change. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with archaeologists, classicists, and scholars from various humanities disciplines.
Professor Daniel Lee is a faculty member at the University of California, Berkeley, holding a dual appointment in the Department of Political Science and as an affiliated Professor of Law at the UC Berkeley School of Law. His research focuses on political theory, the history of political thought, and jurisprudence, with a particular emphasis on the reception of Roman and canon law in modern political thought. His work examines figures like Jean Bodin and Hugo Grotius, exploring their influence on sovereignty, rights, and international law. He has authored two books: *The Right of Sovereignty* (2021) and *Popular Sovereignty in Early Modern Constitutional Thought* (2016), and is currently working on projects including *Sacrosanct* (under contract with Harvard UP) and *Divisions of Law* (forthcoming with Oxford UP). Lee’s academic credentials include a Ph.D. from Princeton University, and prior teaching positions at the University of Toronto and Columbia University. He has received prestigious awards such as the APSA Leo Strauss Award and the Forkosch Prize. His research intersects with legal science, deontic logic, and the philosophy of social sciences, addressing themes like constitutional theory, republicanism, and democratic foundations. He contributes to interdisciplinary dialogues through his involvement with the Kadish Center for Morality, Law, and Public Affairs. Lee’s scholarly output spans book chapters, edited volumes, and articles in journals like the *European Journal of International Law* and the *History of Political Thought*. His work bridges historical legal thought with contemporary political debates, emphasizing the enduring relevance of early modern legal frameworks in shaping modern political concepts.
M. Rahim Shayegan is a prominent scholar in Iranian and Near Eastern studies, specializing in Old and Middle Iranian philology, Achaemenid-Sasanian history, and Greco-Roman-Iranian cultural interactions. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Göttingen and Sorbonne. His work bridges philology, epigraphy, and historical analysis to explore ancient political ideologies, religious traditions, and cross-cultural exchanges. Education: PhD, Iranian Philology & Ancient History, Harvard University MA, Iranian Philology, Sorbonne University BA, Philosophy & Comparative Philology, University of Cologne Research Interests: Iranian epigraphy and royal inscriptions Political dynamics of pre-Islamic Iranian empires Greco-Roman and Iranian cultural dialogues Zoroastrianism and ancient Near Eastern religions His publications include seminal works like Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic Persia (2011) and Cyrus the Great: Life and Lore (2019). He has held prestigious fellowships at the Guggenheim Foundation and is a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Awards: Ehsan Yarshater Book Award (2012) Academia Europaea Membership (2019–) Courses Taught: Achaemenid Civilization Sasanian History Old Persian Cuneiform Zoroastrianism and Ancient Religions
Andreas Stoehr is a renowned Austrian conductor and professor at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna, leading the conducting department and symphony orchestra since 2013. His career spans prestigious engagements including the Paris Opéra Comique, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and St. Gallen Theatre, focusing on operatic repertoire from Monteverdi to modernism. He is celebrated for reviving neglected works like Meyerbeer’s Emma di Resburgo and Gluck’s Ezio , emphasizing historical performance practices. His research explores stylistic transitions in music history, blending baroque precision with modern innovation. Education: Trained at Vienna's former Conservatory (now University of Music and Performing Arts), studying piano under Alfred Kremela, conducting with Gennadij Rozhdestvenskij, and musicology at the University of Vienna. Key mentors included David Lutz (accompaniment) and Reinhard Schwarz (conducting). Research Interests: Explores interdisciplinary connections between diverse musical eras, such as Bach’s influence on Schoenberg, and advocates for vocal-orchestral balance in historical repertoires. Projects include CD recordings of Amanda Maier-Röntgen and Andrea Tarrodi’s works, nominated for Swedish Grammis. Awards: Grammy nomination (2016) for Amanda Maier-Röntgen’s Violin Concerto recording. Recognized for innovative stagings of operas like Berg’s Wozzeck and Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande . Teaching & Leadership: As professor and symphony orchestra director, Stoehr mentors young conductors. Notable collaborations include the Langenlois Castle Festival (2012–2019) and interdisciplinary projects like Heart and Mouth, and Deed and Life blending Bach with sociological texts. His teaching emphasizes 21st-century conductorship as collaborative architecture, prioritizing emotional engagement over technical authoritarianism. Labs/Ensembles: Leads the MUK Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with ensembles like the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège. His work bridges academic research with performance practice through projects like the Styriarte Festival’s Schubert revival.
Fernando F. Segovia serves as the Oberlin Graduate Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Vanderbilt University's Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion since 1984-1985. He concurrently holds appointments as Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and Affiliated Faculty at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies-Middlesex University (UK). His academic foundation includes a B.A. from Pontifical College Josephinum (1970) and M.A./Ph.D. from Notre Dame (1976/1978). As a Roman Catholic scholar, he integrates theological and critical perspectives in his work. Professor Segovia's research pioneers ideological approaches to biblical interpretation , specializing in imperial-colonial , ethnic-racial , and materialist frameworks . He critically examines how Global South communities and diasporas deploy biblical texts in religious, social, and cultural spheres, with current focus on critical scholarship's role during systemic global crises. His distinguished service includes: Society of Biblical Literature Presidency (2014) Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians Presidency Editorial board memberships across major journals International lectureship and foundation consultancy Mentoring over thirty doctoral students to prominent academic careers, he explores how biblical critics should navigate intersecting global crises while maintaining critical vision for transformative mission.
Maria Adank is a Postdoctoral Fellow in History at the University of Chicago and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow. She holds dual affiliations with the University of Verona (Department of Cultures and Civilizations) and previously served as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Udine (2022-23). Her research focuses on gender history, material culture, and political agency in early modern European republics, particularly Venice and Genoa. Her current project, OSpaMa (2024-26), examines female political agency in Venetian and Genoese republics through objects, spaces, and material culture. This interdisciplinary work challenges traditional historiography by analyzing artworks, written texts, and domestic furnishings to trace women’s influence in republican governance. Recent publications explore Venetian patrician families, early modern libraries, and sartorial politics. Adank completed her Ph.D. in History at the University of Pisa (2021) with a dissertation on the Grimani di San Luca family’s material culture. An upcoming monograph, I Grimani di San Luca: Cultura materiale, genere e potere nella Venezia del Cinque e Seicento , will be published by Viella. Her work bridges art history, gender studies, and political history, emphasizing the interplay between material objects and social identity.
Professor D Graham J Shipley is the Professor of Ancient History at the University of Leicester's School of Archaeology and Ancient History since 2002. His research focuses on Hellenistic and Classical antiquity, particularly on political landscapes, environmental studies, and urban planning. He holds a D.Litt. from the University of Oxford (2020) and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014). Education: Graduated in Classics from Oxford University. Academic roles include serving on the Oxford Classical Texts Committee and the UK Education Honours Committee. Previously chaired the Council of University Classical Departments and convened the Dorothy Buchan Memorial lectures. Research interests emphasize ancient geography, socio-political structures, and environmental interactions. His work spans studies of Sparta, Greek urban planning, and the cultural impact of Hellenistic expansion. Recent publications examine Pseudo-Skylax's geographical texts and post-Alexandrian political dynamics. Scientific Awards: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014) D.Litt. (Doctor of Letters) from University of Oxford (2020) Advising and Grants: No specific advisees listed, but supervises research in ancient history and archaeology. Active in collaborative projects such as the Laconia Survey. Grants have supported archaeological fieldwork and publication initiatives. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Oxford Classical Texts Committee and has led interdisciplinary teams in regional archaeological surveys.
Dr. Julia Costa López is an Assistant Professor (tenured) in History and Theory of International Relations at the Department of International Relations and International Organisation, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen. Her work bridges international relations, history, and political thought, focusing on how historical frameworks shape modern disciplinary concepts. PhD from University of Oxford Lecturer at St Hilda's College Fulbright scholar at University of Denver's Josef Korbel School Graduate studies at University of Cambridge Research spans medieval political authority, sovereignty emergence, racialized medievalisms in extremism, and translation politics in global scholarship. Key projects include Routledge Handbook of Historical International Relations (2021) and the Oxford Handbook of History and International Relations (2023). Publications address Eurocentrism, conspiratorial ideology, and ritual's role in authority production. Scientific contributions appear in Cambridge Review of International Affairs , International Organization , and European Journal of International Law . Awards include the Fulbright scholarship. Recent work explores terraqueous relations and premodern world conceptualizations, challenging simplistic land-sea dichotomies in IR.
Rosa Andujar is a Senior Lecturer in Liberal Arts at King's College London, where she is affiliated with both the Department of Liberal Arts and the Department of Classics within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. She serves as Editor of the American Journal of Philology and holds positions on the editorial boards of Brazilian journals Nuntius Antiquus and PhaoS - Revista de Estudos Clássicos. Dr. Andujar was elected to the Program Committee of the Society for Classical Studies for a three-year term (2022-2025), serving as Vice President for Program and Chair from 2023-2025. Her research focuses on two complementary areas: Ancient Greek tragedy, particularly the tragic chorus and its performance capabilities Global receptions of Greek drama, with special emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean Dr. Andujar's work examines how engagements with Graeco-Roman antiquity intersect with questions of gender, race, class, and national identity. She has particular expertise in Cuban adaptations of Greek tragedy and Latinx receptions of classical drama, exploring how these cultural encounters create new narratives that challenge traditional understandings of classical reception. Her research has been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2020 London Hellenic Prize for 'The Greek Trilogy of Luis Alfaro' and the 2022 AJP Best Article Prize. She has secured significant research funding from the Loeb Classical Library Foundation, British Academy, A. G. Leventis Foundation, Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Fundación BBVA. Dr. Andujar's current research projects include 'The Cambridge Companion to Classics and Race' (edited volume), 'La Puerta Electra/The Electra Door' (critical bilingual anthology of Cuban rewritings), and 'Tragedy and Revolución' (monograph on Greek drama in Caribbean cultural history), supported by recent fellowships from the Loeb Classical Library Foundation and British Academy. She is actively involved in academic service as Editor of the American Journal of Philology, co-editor of the 'Classics and the Postcolonial' book series for Routledge, and Advisory Board member of 'Hesperides: Classics in the Luso-Hispanic World.' Her external examining work for the University of Birmingham (2018-2023) demonstrates her commitment to academic standards across institutions.
Roman Schnabel is a Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Hamburg , affiliated with the Institute for Laser Physics under the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences. He leads cutting-edge research in quantum optics, gravitational wave detection, and quantum technologies. Education : PhD in Physics (1999, Leibniz Universität Hannover); Physics degree (1988–1994, Leibniz Universität Hannover) Awards : QCMC 2018 Award, Gruber Cosmology Prize 2016 (LIGO team), Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2016 (LIGO team), Joseph F. Keithley Award 2012 His recent work explores high-frequency gravitational wave observatories , entanglement generation , and quantum-enhanced sensing . He holds patents for gas sensors and optical surface imaging technologies. Schnabel co-founded the start-up Noisy Labs in 2023 and served as Director of Outreach & Transfer for the Cluster of Excellence 'Quantum Universe' (2019–2022).
Paata Ivanisvili is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Department of Mathematics, School of Physical Sciences. His research focuses on Analysis, Probability, Harmonic Analysis, and Functional Analysis, with a particular emphasis on isoperimetric inequalities, functional inequalities, and discrete structures such as the Hamming cube. He has held visiting positions at institutions including the Hausdorff Research Institute for Mathematics and Princeton University. Ivanisvili has organized conferences such as the Dual Trimester Program at the Hausdorff Institute on Boolean Analysis in Computer Science (2024) and annual Summer/Fall Schools since 2021. He earned his PhD in Mathematics from Michigan State University (2015) and a BS from Saint Petersburg State University (2011). His research interests include sharp inequalities in analysis (e.g., Poincaré, Beckner, Ehrhard), hypercontractivity, and applications to discrete mathematics and probability. He has collaborated with prominent mathematicians such as Fedor Nazarov, Alexander Volberg, and Roman Vershynin. Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2021–2025) and Simons Fellowship in Mathematics (2025–2026). Ivanisvili’s recent work explores the interface between harmonic analysis and discrete mathematics, including studies on additive energies, convex hulls of space curves, and learning theory. His articles frequently address foundational questions in geometric functional analysis, often using tools like Bellman functions and optimal control theory. He actively advises PhD students and has mentored visiting researchers at UCI.
Professor Alberto Rigolio is a scholar of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, specializing in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Roman and Late Antique periods. He focuses on Syriac literature, Greco-Roman intellectual traditions, and the reception of classical texts in early Christian and Islamic contexts. Rigolio holds a D.Phil. from Oxford University and has held prestigious fellowships at Harvard, Princeton, and All Souls College, Oxford. He serves as Chair of the Board of Examiners at Durham and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research explores the transformation of classical dialogue forms in late antiquity, the transmission of Greek texts into Syriac and Arabic, and the cultural intersections between Greco-Roman, Christian, and Islamic traditions. Key works include Christians in Conversation (Oxford UP, 2019), which examines late antique dialogue literature, and a forthcoming book on the emergence of Syriac literature supported by British Academy and Princeton IAS fellowships. Education: BA/Milan, D.Phil./Oxford, Postdoctoral Fellowships at Harvard and Princeton Affiliations: Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Durham Rigolio's articles analyze Syriac translations of Aristotelian works, Plutarch, and Themistius, revealing how Greco-Roman thought was adapted to meet religious and cultural needs. His projects include studies on Syriac rhetoric, the Roman household in late antique conflicts, and para-biblical narratives. He supervises postdoctoral researchers and PhD students on topics ranging from Syriac literary culture to late antique religious identity. Awards: British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2024), All Souls College Visiting Fellowship (2024) Grants: Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, American Philosophical Society He directs research labs examining Syriac intellectual culture and co-ordinates interdisciplinary projects on late antique translation movements. Rigolio is actively involved in public outreach, offering talks on Roman religion, Palmyrene military identity, and the Graeco-Syro-Arabic textual tradition.
Prof. Zeljko Miletic serves as a full professor at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zadar, where he has been employed since 1986. He teaches core courses across all archaeology study levels including Institutions of the Roman World, Roman Army in Illyricum, Romanization of Ancient Illyricum, Economy of Roman Dalmatia and Histria, and Ancient Religion in the Adriatic-Danubian Region. His educational credentials include: Graduate Archaeologist and Art Historian, Faculty of Philosophy in Zadar (1986) Master of Science (Topography of the Salonitan necropolises), Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (1989) Doctor of Science (Mithraism in the Roman province of Dalmatia), Faculty of Philosophy in Zadar (1997) Miletic specializes in religious practices and military history within Roman provincial contexts, with particular focus on the Eastern Adriatic region. His research integrates field archaeology with socio-economic analysis of Romanization processes, examining how religious syncretism and military infrastructure shaped cultural transitions in Dalmatia and Pannonia. This interdisciplinary approach bridges classical archaeology, anthropology, and historical geography to reconstruct lived experiences in Roman frontier provinces. No scientific awards are documented in the source material. As academic leader, Miletic coordinated the Archaeology of the Eastern Adriatic postgraduate program and served as doctoral mentor/head until 2015. He secured principal investigator roles for the MZOS-funded projects Religious Life on the Eastern Adriatic in Roman Times and Cult and Religion on the Eastern Adriatic Coast in Roman Times, while collaborating on international initiatives including Corpus Monumentorum Mithriacorum with Heidelberg University. His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained focus on Roman provincial religious networks. Miletic directs field operations at Krka National Park's Burnum archaeological site and established antiquities collections at Humac Museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His excavation teams operate across key Adriatic-Danubian sites including Salona, Nin, Galovac, and Asseria, with continuous fieldwork spanning over three decades to document Roman provincial infrastructure.
