Aida Levy-Hussen is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Michigan's LSA (Literature, Science, and the Arts) College. Her research focuses on African American literature, trauma studies, gender and sexuality studies, and 20th-century American literature. She holds an A.B. from Harvard University (2003) and a Ph.D. from Emory University (2009). Levy-Hussen's work interrogates the intersections of race, memory, and cultural expression. She examines how African American writers engage with historical trauma, particularly slavery's legacies, and explores themes like boredom, affect, and narrative form in contemporary works. Her recent scholarship includes analyses of Ishmael Reed’s postmodern historiography and Spike Lee’s satirical film Bamboozled . She currently teaches courses on African American literature, Toni Morrison, and narrative theory. Her office is located in 3232 Angell Hall, with regular appointment-based office hours. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned, but her prolific publication record reflects sustained academic impact in literary studies. Levy-Hussen’s writing emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending literary criticism with cultural theory, psychoanalysis, and historical analysis. Her book How to Read African American Literature (2016) provides a transformative framework for interpreting post-civil rights fiction.
Thomas Lemke is Professor of Sociology with a focus on 'Biotechnology, Nature and Society' at the Institute of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. He has held this position since September 2008 and is an active faculty member in the Graduate Research College (GRK) 'Life Sciences – Life Writing,' contributing his expertise in biopolitics and science and technology studies. His educational background includes studies in Political Science, Sociology and Law in Frankfurt am Main, Southampton and Paris. He obtained his doctoral degree at Goethe University in 1996 for research on the concept of power in Michel Foucault's work. Lemke's research focuses on the intersection of social theory, biopolitics, and science and technology studies. His work explores governmentality, new materialism, and the sociological implications of biotechnology. He approaches these topics through a critical lens that challenges conventional understandings of life, agency, and power relations in contemporary society. His recent publications demonstrate ongoing scholarly productivity with works published in 2025, including the third revised edition of 'Biopolitics for introduction' and a Spanish translation of 'Foucault, Governmentality and Critique.' These works reflect his continued engagement with theoretical frameworks for understanding power dynamics in biomedicine and the life sciences. Heisenberg scholarship from DFG (2007) Lemke contributes significantly to interdisciplinary research through his involvement with the GRK program, which brings together expertise from medicine, life sciences, and social sciences. He is currently working on a book project entitled 'The Government of Things: Foundations and Perspectives of New Materialism' funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, exploring posthumanist concepts of agency and self-organization.
Przemysław Kordos is a Professor at the University of Warsaw , affiliated with the Faculty of Liberal Arts , where he serves as Coordinator for the Development of the Modern Greek Philology Program . He holds two PhDs in Humanities (2007, 2019) and was awarded the Loukis Papaphilippou Seat of Advancement in Modern Greek scholarship. Education: MA in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology (University of Warsaw, 2001) MS in Sociology (University of Warsaw, 2002) PhD in Humanities (University of Warsaw, 2007) Second PhD in Humanities (University of Warsaw, 2019) His research interests span: Contemporary Modern Greek and Cypriot literature Polish-Greek cultural relations (philhellenism) Social and ethnographic issues in Greece and Cyprus Travel literature analysis Fantasy literature's cultural implications His scientific work reveals a focus on linguistic assimilation in foreign language learning (via fMRI studies), historical parallels between Polish and Greek independence movements, and critical analyses of Cypriot folk culture's politicization. Key scientific awards include: Loukis Papaphilippou Seat (University of Warsaw) Internships at EKPA and IKY (Greece) Scholarships at IMXA (Greece) and MUNI (Czech Republic) His academic contributions include cataloging 60+ Polish travel accounts to Greece, analyzing the shift from travel literature to tourism discourse, and examining the Hellene-Romios dichotomy's role in modern Greek identity construction.
Dr. Catríona Clutterbuck is a Lecturer in the School of English, Drama and Film at University College Dublin (UCD), where she has been a core faculty member since 1996. Her academic work centers on modern and contemporary Irish poetry, with a strong emphasis on gender, ethics, faith, and aesthetics in literature. She has made significant contributions through publications, teaching, and academic service. Research Interests: Her research spans modern and contemporary Irish poetry , women’s poetry , gender and nation , subjectivity and ethics , memory and mourning , and creative writing . She explores the intersections of personal and national identity, particularly in the works of poets like Eavan Boland, Seamus Heaney, and Thomas Kinsella. The most recent articles (2021–2024) demonstrate a consistent focus on emotional and ethical dimensions in Irish poetry, especially themes of grief, vulnerability, faith, and the role of art in processing loss. Her work frequently engages with female poets and feminist reinterpretations of national narratives, employing close textual analysis and cultural criticism. Scientific Awards: College of Arts and Humanities Award for Teaching Excellence (2018) Foreign and Commonwealth Scholarship Award (1993) Graduate Scholarship (1993) Postgraduate Studentship (1992) Advising and Grants: While no specific PhD advisees are listed, she has coordinated postgraduate modules such as Dissertation Research Methods and Irish Poetry: Representing Self and Other , indicating active involvement in graduate supervision. She has served as an external examiner for PhD theses and undergraduate programs at multiple institutions, reflecting her recognized expertise. There is no mention of research grants in the provided text. Labs and Teams: No formal research labs are mentioned. However, she has been an active member of academic communities, including the Committee for the Study of Anglo-Irish Literature at the Royal Irish Academy and editorial boards for journals like Irish University Review .
Renée Desjardins is an Associate Professor at the Translation School of the University of Saint-Boniface. Her work bridges Translation Studies , Digital Humanities , and Food Studies , with a focus on multilingual communication in digital spaces. She teaches courses in general and specialized translation, translation theories, and academic/professional writing. Her research explores the role of translation in: social media and the creator economy Canadian cultural identity and linguistic policy food studies and culinary discourse pandemic communication strategies Desjardins has secured significant grants from SSHRC and CRSH for projects like Translation in the Creator Economy and Translation as a Framework for Analyzing Social Media . Her work has been recognized with the 2022 University of Saint-Boniface Research Excellence Award . Key trends in her recent publications include: the intersection of translation and social justice analysis of digital geographies in translation methodologies for translating pandemic-related content theoretical frameworks for social media and inter-semiotic practices Awards: 2022 - Research Excellence Award, University of Saint-Boniface Her outreach includes keynote presentations at international conferences on topics like Translation and Social Media , Crisis Translation , and Linguistic Inclusion , reflecting her commitment to public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Elisabeth (Lies) Wesseling is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literature and Art at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University. She serves as Director of the Centre for Gender and Diversity and leads the international research network PLACIM (Platform for a Cultural History of Children's Media). Her interdisciplinary work bridges literature, cultural history, and the humanities' engagement with science and identity. Her educational background includes MA degrees in English Language and Literature and Comparative Literature (both cum laude) and a PhD in Comparative Literature, all from Utrecht University. Dr. Wesseling’s research focuses on the cultural construction of childhood, particularly through narrative forms in fiction, life writing, and film. She investigates how global adoption narratives forge kinship across cultural boundaries, drawing on postcolonial theory, literary anthropology, and life writing studies. Her work critically examines implicit cultural assumptions about parenthood, orphanhood, and identity, aiming to enrich ethical discourse on transnational adoption. Her recent publications (2020–2023) reflect a strong trajectory in children’s literature, narrative theory, and cultural critique, with a particular emphasis on mermaid myths, adoption memoirs, and postcolonial family formations. These works span edited volumes and journals, demonstrating sustained scholarly engagement. She is actively involved in academic service as congress convenor of the 21st Biennual IRSCL Conference and board member of the International Research Society for Children's Literature. She also belongs to several learned societies including the International Society for Cultural History and the Society for Literature, Science, and Art. Dr. Wesseling has supervised multiple PhD candidates and coordinates research programs funded by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). Her teaching spans BA, MA, and MPhil levels, focusing on arts and culture, postcolonialism, and problem-based learning. She has led major educational innovation projects such as ForUM and TAC, enhancing pedagogical practices across institutions. She leads the externally funded research program Emergent Cultural Literacy: Assimilating Children's Literature and directs the Centre for Gender and Diversity, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on gender, identity, and cultural inclusion within the faculty.
Lisa Wallner Samstag is a Professor of Psychology at Long Island University's Brooklyn Campus, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Department of Psychology. She is Director of Psychotherapy Research and Clinical Supervisor at LIU's Psychological Services Center, and Senior Consultant at Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Psychotherapy Research Program. B.A. in Psychology from Queen’s University M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from City University of New York Her research focuses on therapeutic alliance development, alliance ruptures, process-outcome dynamics, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and developmental themes like parenting and infertility. She has extensively published on ruptures in psychotherapy and their resolution. Dr. Samstag's publications span from 2004 to 2022, emphasizing therapeutic alliance dynamics, rupture repair strategies, and clinical outcomes across diverse psychotherapy approaches. Her work bridges theoretical concepts with practical applications in alliance-focused training. Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) She supervises trainees in alliance-focused therapy, co-edited a book on rupture repair, and contributes to psychotherapy literature through book chapters and editorship roles in APA journals.
Jennifer J. Baker is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at New York University's College of Arts and Science. Holding a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania (2000), her academic focus spans 18th- and 19th-century American literary, cultural, and intellectual history. Key research areas include literature and science, environmental literature, transatlantic Romanticism, and Civil War literature. She is currently working on a reception history of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick , examining its rise to canonical status through Cold War politics and academic culture. Education: Ph.D. in English, University of Pennsylvania (2000) Her upcoming book American Romanticism and the Evolutionary Idea (Stanford UP, 2026) investigates how evolutionary theories intersected with Romantic concepts in 19th-century American literature. Previous publications include Securing the Commonwealth: Debt, Speculation, and Writing in the Making of Early America (Johns Hopkins UP, 2006). Recent research includes articles on Herman Melville, Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Judith Sargent Murray, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach combining literary analysis with financial history, scientific thought, and cultural studies. Faculty Fellowship, NYU Center for the Humanities (2014-15) Heyman Prize, Yale University (2004) Morse Fellowship, Yale University (2005) Andrew W. Mellon Dissertation Fellowship (1997-98) She serves on the Board of the Melville Society Cultural Project and has held academic appointments at Yale University and the McNeil Center for Early American Studies.
Dr. Alexa Quinn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education at James Madison University's College of Education. Her research focuses on culturally responsive teaching, family-school interactions, and inclusive education practices. She holds a terminal degree in Education and is dedicated to preparing future educators to address the diverse needs of students, particularly in early childhood and elementary settings. Her work emphasizes the importance of teacher training programs that foster cultural competence and self-efficacy, alongside strategies for supporting students with disabilities. Dr. Quinn’s scholarship bridges theory and practice, advocating for policies that prioritize equitable educational access and family engagement. Her publications span topics such as inquiry-based learning, morning meeting practices in social studies, and the role of wordless picturebooks in multilingual families. While no formal awards are listed, her contributions to teacher education and policy-relevant research reflect her commitment to impactful educational solutions. Dr. Quinn advises no listed students and does not mention current grants or labs, though her research interests suggest involvement in collaborative projects focused on early childhood education equity and teacher development.
Pierre-Luc Landry is an Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Victoria (UVic), where he has been based since 2019 on the traditional territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. He is affiliated with UVic’s Media Studies and Cultural, Social and Political Thought programs. His academic career spans teaching at Cégep de l'Outaouais, Université Laval, University of Ottawa, and the Royal Military College of Canada. Landry holds a PhD and MA in research-creation from Université Laval, following a B.A. in literature studies and a historical foundation from Cégep du Vieux-Montréal. Education: PhD in Research-Creation (Université Laval), MA in Research-Creation (Université Laval), BA in Literature Studies (Université Laval), Cégep du Vieux-Montréal (history) Research Affiliations: Director of Colonialisme, culture & critique / Colonialism, Culture & Critique; Director of Groupe de travail et d’expérimentation sur l’indiscipline; Regular Member of Esthétique et politique de l’image cinématographique (EPIC); Associate Member of Équipe de recherches en études queer au Québec (ÉRÉQQ) Landry’s research integrates queer activism, cultural critique, and creative experimentation. His work spans queer theories, settler colonial studies, Indigenous literature, and media studies, often blending scholarly analysis with artistic practice. His publications include critical essays, experimental texts, and novels that interrogate human behavior, temporalities, and marginalized identities through magical realism and existential themes. Notable awards include the Ottawa Book Prize (2016) for *Les corps extraterrestres* and the APFUCC Best Book Award (2021) for *QuébeQueer*. He received a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship and was a finalist for the Gabrielle-Roy Prize and Radio-Canada Readers’ Prize. Landry co-hosts the podcast J’habite où je lutte with Vanessa Jérome, exploring political resistance and queer lived experiences. Key Themes: Queer resistance, anti-assimilationism, research-creation, political essays, and LGBTQ+ cultural production Media & Artistic Work: Podcast co-host, webzine creator, and multidisciplinary artist
Assoc Prof Siok Kuan Tambyah is an Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School and a Fellow at The College of Alice & Peter Tan, NUS. She holds a PhD in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on consumer behavior, consumer culture theory, services marketing, and happiness/quality-of-life studies. She has authored/co-authored five books and numerous articles in leading journals such as the Journal of Consumer Research and Journal of Service Research . Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels, including courses on Principles of Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and The Pursuit of Happiness. She has supervised over 60 undergraduate research projects and advised two PhD students. Her pedagogical research emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and residential college environments, highlighted in works like Student Growth and Development in New Higher Education Learning Spaces . A/P Tambyah’s work on Singapore’s quality of life and well-being has positioned her as a leading expert. Key publications include Happiness and Wellbeing in Singapore: Beyond Economic Prosperity (2023) and Drivers of Sustainability and Consumer Well-Being (2022). Her research often bridges consumer behavior with societal issues, such as immigrant inclusion and economic hardship impacts. She is an award-winning educator, recognized for innovative teaching methods in residential colleges and executive education programs. Her contributions to interdisciplinary learning and community engagement are further detailed in her writings on reflective practices and community-based research models.
Darshana Sreedhar Mini is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she teaches and conducts research at the intersection of feminist media, gender & sexuality studies, transnational media, migrant media, and South Asian screen cultures. She is also the Director for Media and Gender Justice at the 4W Initiative and holds affiliations with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Center for Visual Cultures, Center for South Asia, and the Havens Wright Center for Social Justice. Ph.D., Division of Cinema and Media Studies, University of Southern California M.Phil., Center for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta (CSSSC), India Dr. Mini’s research centers on Global Media Cultures, Transnational Cinemas and Migration, South Asian Cinema, and Feminist Media. Her work critically examines soft-porn cinema in India, media publics, censorship, labor in the entertainment sector, and migrant media practices. Her first book, Rated A: Soft-Porn Cinema and Mediations of Desire in India (UC Press, 2024), is a groundbreaking study that combines archival and ethnographic methods to explore the social and cultural impact of Malayalam soft-porn from the 1970s to the 2000s. Her second book project, Telegeographies of Indian Migration , investigates media flows between South Asia and Southeast Asia, focusing on colonial-era labor migration and its lasting effects on identity and community formation. Her recent publications span a diverse range of topics including South Asian pornographies, digital intimacy, anti-caste activism, #MeToo and intersectional feminism, transnational empathy in cinema, and media infrastructures. These works reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, feminist, and decolonial scholarship that challenges dominant canons in film and media studies. Edward Cameron Dimock, Jr. Prize in the Indian Humanities, AIIS, 2024 Early Career Award, NCA, 2024 Race, Ethnicity and Indigeneity Fellow, IRH, UW-Madison, 2024 Byerly Award for Feminist Political Economy, ICA, 2023 First Book Award, The Center for Humanities, UW-Madison, 2022 SCMS Student Writing Award, 2017 Dr. Mini has been actively involved in academic service and leadership, including directing the Media and Gender Justice initiative, co-organizing seminars on migrant media, and contributing to feminist and anti-caste scholarship. Her research has been supported by prestigious grants from the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), American Institute of Indian Studies (AIIS), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She also leads a significant grant-funded project as Principal Investigator for the 'South Asian Film and Media Collection' at UW-Madison. She is a key member of several collaborative research environments, including the Center for Visual Cultures and Performance Studies (CVCPS), the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research (WCFTR), and the 4W Initiative, where she directs programming on media and gender justice. These affiliations reflect her commitment to interdisciplinary, socially engaged scholarship and the creation of inclusive academic communities.
Naisargi N. Dave is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto. Her work spans sociocultural anthropology, queer theory, and animal studies, with a regional focus on India. She is affiliated with the Centre for South Asian Studies and the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies. PhD, University of Michigan (2006) Research interests include interspecies ethics, affect theory, and the politics of imagination in South Asia. Her ethnographic work explores how activists navigate legal systems, emotional exhaustion, and intersectional inequalities. She has published extensively on queer communities and animal rights in India, arguing for ethics of indifference and creative relationality. Key awards: 2024 Gregory Bateson Prize for Indifference , 2013 Ruth Benedict Prize for Queer Activism in India , and an honorable mention for the Ruth Benedict Prize for her latest book. Advises graduate students in queer anthropology and animal activism Teaches courses on animality, literary anthropology, and affect Current projects include a book titled Murder: The Social Life of Violent Death in Queer India , examining violence against queer communities.
Akane Kawakami is a Professor of French at Birkbeck, University of London, where she has taught since 2006. Prior to this, she held lectureships at the Universities of Cambridge and Warwick. Her research and teaching focus on twentieth-century and contemporary French and Francophone literature, with particular interest in travel narratives and exoticism, photography and the photographic, contemporary fiction, and intersections between literary and visual culture. BA Hons in Philosophy and Modern Languages (French), University of Oxford (1991) MPhil in English and French, University of Oxford (1993) DPhil in French Literature, University of Oxford (1996) Senior Fellow, Advance HE (2017) Her research explores how photographic and visual elements intersect with literary texts, especially in French postmodern and contemporary fiction. She investigates transnational narratives, focusing on Franco-Japanese cultural exchanges, and examines the role of autobiography in photobiography (works by Proust, Guibert, Ernaux, and Macé). She has published extensively in refereed journals and authored three monographs, including Photobiography (2013) and a revised edition of her Modiano study (2015), which reflects on his Nobel Prize-winning work. Recent publications highlight trends in French literature post-2000, including analyses of Michael Ferrier’s transnational narratives and Patrick Modiano’s treatment of trauma and memory. Her work engages with Deleuzian concepts (e.g., rhizomatic poetry) and examines how literary forms challenge capitalist ideologies. She is a member of the steering group for the Centre for Research in Aesthetics of Kinship and Community and serves on the executive committee of the Association of University Professors and Heads of French . Senior Fellow, Advance HE (2017) Kawakami supervises PhD students working on themes such as contemporary French Catholic novels, rhizomatic poetry, and representations of South Asians in Japanese animation. She welcomes supervisees in her specialist areas: contemporary French fiction, travel narratives, and literature-photography intersections. Her academic collaborations include discussions with Japanese novelist Horié Toshiyuki on Modiano’s works.
Nalini Iyer is a Professor of English at Seattle University, affiliated with the Department of English and the African and African American Studies Program. She holds the Wismer Professorship and the Theiline Pigott-McCone Endowed Chair in the Humanities. Her research focuses on Global Anglophone Literature, Postcolonial Studies, South Asian and Postcolonial African Literature, and Transnational Feminism. Dr. Iyer earned her Ph.D. in English from Purdue University. She teaches courses such as Literature of India, African Literature, and Asian American Literatures, emphasizing postcolonial perspectives and diasporic narratives. She serves as Editor of the South Asian Review and has held leadership roles in the Modern Language Association and the South Asian Literary Association. Her research explores themes like the hegemony of Anglophone writing, diaspora studies, and Partition Studies. Recent publications include Teaching Anglophone South Asian Diasporic Literature (2024) and articles on Muslim representation in American literature and trauma narratives in South Asian texts. Her work bridges literary analysis with feminist, race, and caste critiques. Awardees of her endowed chairs reflect her scholarly impact. She has authored/co-authored books on South Asian diasporas in the Pacific Northwest, language debates in Indian literature, and postcolonial canons. Her academic contributions span pedagogy, critical biographies, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Iyer’s advising and grants focus on fostering inclusive literary education and amplifying marginalized voices. She collaborates with institutions globally, contributing to transnational scholarly networks.
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