Dawn Mannay is Professor of Creative Research Methodologies at Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences. Her research examines education, identity, and inequality using participatory, visual, and creative methods with communities. She leads projects on care-experienced children's educational experiences and employs innovative methods including film, artwork, and digital media. Her work emphasizes participatory approaches that amplify marginalized voices in research. Her publications demonstrate extensive methodological innovation in qualitative research. Recent books develop frameworks for creative data analysis and sandboxing techniques in qualitative interviewing. Health and Care Research Wales Public Involvement Award (2017) Social Research Association Innovation Award (2017) Learned Society of Wales Dillwyn Medal (2018) Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Award (2019) She mentors doctoral researchers studying youth identity, educational experiences, and gender norms. Her research has informed national policies supporting care-experienced young people in Wales.
Radha S. Hegde is a Professor in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. Her work focuses on migration, media flows, globalization, transnational feminism, and South Asian diaspora studies. She authored Mediating Migration (Polity, 2016), edited Circuits of Visibility (NYU Press, 2011), and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of the Indian Diaspora (2018). Her research bridges media practices, migration, and cultural politics, with recent work on neoliberal success narratives among South Asian immigrants and the cultural role of English in India. Dr. Hegde holds a Ph.D. in Communication from The Ohio State University, an M.A. in English from the University of Delhi, and an M.S. in Journalism from Ohio State. Before academia, she worked as a journalist for the Indian Express in Chennai. She has served as co-editor of Feminist Media Studies (2013–2019) and sits on editorial boards of major media and cultural studies journals. Her awards include the 2024 International Communication Association (ICA) Fellowship, the 2019 Teresa Award for feminist scholarship, and the 2014 Fulbright-Nehru Professional Excellence Award. She co-founded Manavi , a U.S.-based feminist organization addressing gender violence and migration. Her current research explores the cultural politics of English in India as a language of global aspiration.
Professor Kiera Vaclavik is a Professor at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the Department of Comparative Literature and Culture within the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film. She serves as Director of the Centre for Childhood Cultures. With a PhD from the same institution, her research focuses on children’s literature, material culture, adaptation studies, and fashion’s intersection with literature. Her work bridges disciplines such as postcolonial studies and museum studies, emphasizing global and comparative approaches. Her research explores how stories adapt across media and borders, with a particular focus on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, children’s creativity, and well-being. Notable projects include the AHRC-funded The Alice Sound collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra and the V&A Museum of Childhood exhibition The Alice Look . She has secured funding from organizations like the British Academy and Medical Research Council. Professor Vaclavik has supervised over 14 PhD students, addressing topics ranging from child migration to speculative fiction. Her awards include a REF2021 Impact Case Study and recognition for public engagement. Her publications span monographs, journal articles, and book chapters, with a focus on children’s literature’s cultural and historical dimensions. Her work extends beyond academia through collaborations with institutions like Liberty, Fevered Sleep, and the London Symphony Orchestra, emphasizing creative and public impact. She regularly engages with media and public lectures, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and community outreach.
Jaimey Fisher is Professor and Chair of Cinema and Digital Media and Professor of German at UC Davis. He holds a PhD from Cornell University with emphases in German intellectual history and film studies. His research explores German cinema, postwar reconstruction, and genre theory. Fisher authored four books: German Ways of War (2022), Treme (2019), Christian Petzold (2013), and Disciplining Germany (2007). He edited seven volumes including The Berlin School and Its Global Contexts (2018) and publishes widely on war films, transnational cinema, and critical theory. His articles analyze affective geographies in war cinema, transnational art film movements, and ethics in speculative media. Recent work examines New German Cinema's global resonances and AI ethics in Black Mirror . Fisher developed a summer-abroad course at the Locarno Film Festival and received grants from the Mellon Foundation and NEH. He directs graduate studies and mentors students in critical media analysis.
James Mulholland is a Professor of English and Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at North Carolina State University. He oversees academic and student affairs for a college serving 3,900 undergraduates and 800 graduate students. His research focuses on the global eighteenth century and world anglophone literature, particularly works from British Asia before 1820. His book Before the Raj: Writing Early Anglophone India (2021) explores literary history in colonial India and has received multiple academic accolades. He holds a Ph.D. in English from Rutgers University (2005) and a B.A. from the University of Virginia (1997). His work has been supported by grants from ACLS, the Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, and the Whiting Foundation. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Mulholland also writes about higher education issues, including humanities advocacy and academic career development. His research publications span literary analysis and professional advice, with notable contributions to PMLA , Literature Compass , and Journal of Scholarly Publishing . He has been featured in The Guardian and Chronicle of Higher Education for essays on public engagement and academic publishing. Mulholland’s recent work includes studies on translocalism in anglophone literature, queer historical poetics, and the cultural dynamics of British imperial expansion. His interdisciplinary approach bridges literary studies with historical and global perspectives.
Abdulhamit Arvas is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania, with affiliations in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies; Comparative Literature & Literary Theory; the Middle East Center; and Global Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is an extraordinary member of Exeter College at the University of Oxford. BA, Hacettepe University, Turkey MA, Eastern Michigan University PhD, Michigan State University His research and teaching focus on early modern literature and culture, comparative histories of sexuality and race, queer studies, trans history, cross-cultural encounters, and Islam in the Renaissance. His work bridges literary analysis with critical race and gender theory, particularly examining the intersections of homoeroticism, empire, and race in transnational Mediterranean contexts. Dr. Arvas’s publications span journals like GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies , English Literary Renaissance , and Shakespeare Survey , alongside edited collections such as The Cambridge History of Gay and Lesbian Literature . He is currently editing a new edition of Shakespeare’s Othello for Oxford University Press, reflecting his engagement with transhistorical and cross-cultural dialogues. 2025 Charles Ludwig Distinguished Teaching Award 2025 and 2022 David Delaura Teaching Awards Fellowships from Fulbright, Folger Shakespeare Library, SSHRC Early Modern Conversions at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, and University of California Humanities Research Institute His courses at Penn include topics like “Premodern Trans Studies,” “Queer Islam and the Renaissance,” and “Shakespeare Now,” emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to gender, race, and cultural memory. Dr. Arvas also co-edited the tenth anniversary issue of postmedieval , later published as a book, and his first monograph Boys Abducted: The Homoerotics of Empire and Race in Early Modernity (Duke UP, 2025) redefines early modern transnational sexualities.
Vance Byrd is an Associate Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pennsylvania , with a secondary appointment in History of Art. He serves as Special Advisor in the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty (2024–2025) and is completing an Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellowship. Education: Ph.D., M.A. University of Pennsylvania B.A., University of Georgia Research Interests: Byrd’s work focuses on late-eighteenth- and nineteenth-century German literature , visual and print culture , media history , and commemoration . He engages with race, gender, and sexuality studies , environmental humanities , and the history of books and periodicals . His scholarship examines how panoramic media, illustrated journals, and printed materials shaped cultural memory and identity. Scientific Awards: New Directions Fellowship, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2019) Residential Fellow, National Humanities Center (2021–2022) Getty Scholar, Getty Research Institute (2021–2022) Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellow (2024–2025) Grants and Affiliations: His research has been supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright Commission, and the Quadrangle Historical Research Foundation. He serves on editorial boards for Monatshefte , The German Quarterly , and the Signale book series, and participates in international academic networks like the Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies.
Janet Gyatso is the Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies at Harvard Divinity School (HDS), affiliated with Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She holds academic ties to the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations and the Committee on Inner Asian and Altaic Studies. Her research focuses on Tibetan and South Asian cultural/intellectual history, Buddhist epistemology, gender studies, and the intersection of religion and medicine. Dr. Gyatso earned her BA, MA, and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. She previously taught at Amherst College before joining HDS in 2014 as Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (until June 2024). Her major works include Being Human in a Buddhist World (2015) and Women in Tibet (2006), exploring themes like early modern Tibetan medicine and Buddhist gender dynamics. Her current research addresses ethical relationships with animals and Buddhist ministerial training. She has held leadership roles, including president of the International Association of Tibetan Studies (2000–2006) and co-chair of the American Academy of Religion's Buddhism Section (2004–2010). She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2018. Gyatso's teaching spans Buddhist history, ritual, and Tibetan literary practices. She actively develops programs like the Buddhist Lay Ministry Initiative at HDS, blending academic rigor with practical ministry training.
Shawn Miller is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of California, Davis, where he also earned his PhD. His work focuses on philosophy of biology, science studies, and ethical inquiries. He maintains a prominent resource at philbio.net , curating a comprehensive reading list for philosophy of biology graduate programs. His research interests include functional analysis in biology, evolutionary theory critiques, and scientific methodology. He has contributed to debates around adaptationism, gene-environment interaction, and feminist approaches in science. Miller's published works appear in Anarchist Review of Books , The Montréal Review , and Crack the Spine . His 2016 article ' There is No Future Tree ' explores temporal ontology, while recent publications reflect interdisciplinary engagement with anarchist thought and cultural critique. He has maintained active involvement in journalism, writing for outlets like Sacramento News & Review and The Pacific Sun , often blending philosophical perspectives with social commentary. His creative writing includes poetic reflections on existence and ethical decision-making.
Professor Robert Vilain is Senior Tutor at St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford, and Lecturer in German at Christ Church. Previously, he held the position of Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of Bristol (2010–2023) and served as Director of the South, West & Wales Doctoral Training Partnership (2020–2023). He was Warden of Wills Hall (2015–2018), overseeing welfare and pastoral care. Vilain earned his DPhil in comparative literature from Christ Church, where he also studied French and German as an undergraduate in the 1980s. His research focuses on comparative literature, modernist poetry, and the avant-garde, with a particular emphasis on Rainer Maria Rilke, Yvan Goll, and Hugo von Hofmannsthal. His work bridges German, French, and Austrian cultural contexts, exploring themes like spirituality, exile, and interdisciplinary art forms. Education: Bachelor of Arts (French and German), Christ Church, Oxford Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Comparative Literature, Christ Church, Oxford Research Interests: Vilain’s studies delve into modernist lyricism, the avant-garde’s interplay with visual and musical arts, and the reception of German and French literary figures in transnational contexts. He is renowned for his analyses of Rilke’s spiritual and existential themes, as well as his examinations of Yvan Goll’s exile writings and Hofmannsthal’s engagement with 20th-century political history. Publications: His scholarly works include edited volumes on Austrian cultural identity, translations of Rilke’s texts, and critical studies on figures like Hermann Bahr and Georg Trakl. His recent articles explore Rilke’s engagement with Venice, Beethoven, and Rome, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach. Labs/Teams: As Senior Tutor, Vilain oversees academic and pastoral affairs at St Hugh’s, fostering an inclusive intellectual environment. He collaborates with institutions like the South, West & Wales DTP to support doctoral training in the humanities.
Zhu-Tian Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, where he leads research in data visualization, human-computer interaction, and augmented reality. Prior to this, he held postdoctoral positions at Harvard University and UC San Diego, working with leading researchers in visual computing and interactive design. Ph.D. in Computer Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology B.Eng. in Software Engineering, South China University of Technology His research focuses on augmenting human intelligence through hybrid human-AI systems, particularly in everyday and outdoor environments. He specializes in designing intelligent AR interfaces, embedded visualizations, and language-oriented interactions for applications in sports analytics, education, and data analysis. His work integrates human-centered design with applied machine learning to create intuitive and effective visualization tools. The recent trend in his publications shows a strong emphasis on intelligent AR systems for dynamic scenes, LLM-based code generation interfaces, and real-time augmentation of sports videos using natural language and gaze-based interactions. His work frequently appears in top-tier venues such as IEEE VIS, ACM CHI, and UIST. Best Paper Award, ACM CHI'23 Best Short Paper Honorable Mention, EuroVis'23 Best Paper Honorable Mention, IEEE VIS'22 (twice) Certificate of Distinction and Excellence in Teaching, Harvard University Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Dr. Chen actively mentors undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students, as well as visiting scholars and interns, and is building a new research lab focused on visualization for intelligent AR systems. He has served on program committees for major conferences including ACM CHI, IEEE VIS, and EuroVis, and has been invited to speak at institutions such as Apple, JP Morgan, and multiple universities worldwide. He also contributes to the academic community through grant reviewing for NSF and the Department of Energy. He leads research projects in intelligent AR systems for sports, language-oriented interactions with LLMs, and immersive data visualization, often in collaboration with institutions like Harvard, UC San Diego, and HKUST. His lab welcomes students and collaborators interested in visualization, HCI, and applied AI.
Lisa Binkley is an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University's Department of History, serving as Graduate Coordinator and Coordinator of the Art History Certificate program. Her work bridges historical geography, material culture, and Indigenous studies, emphasizing textiles as political and heritage artifacts. BAH in Human Geography (Queen's University) MA in Human Geography (Queen's University) PhD in Art History and Material Culture (Queen's University) W.P. Bell Post-doctoral Fellow at Mount Allison University Her research focuses on Indigenous and settler women's histories, critical heritage studies, and the role of craft in resistance and reclamation. Current projects include collaborative grants (2020) exploring Indigenous approaches to cultural canons and climate grief through artistic practices. Awards include the prestigious W.P. Bell Post-doctoral Fellowship.
Stephen Benson is Associate Professor in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he has been a faculty member since 2005. He is affiliated with the Modern and Contemporary Writing Research Group and holds an active ORCID profile (0000-0001-7175-9979). His research centers on the intersections of literature with music, sound, and the visual arts, focusing on modern and contemporary writing. Key areas include narrative theory, the folktale, and creative forms of criticism. He has published extensively, including monographs such as Cycles of Influence and Literary Music , and co-edited volumes like Creative Criticism: an Anthology and Guide . Stephen Benson's recent publications (2020–2025) show a sustained engagement with literature and music, post-critical reading, and interdisciplinary art forms. His work often appears in major academic companions and journals, reflecting a strong presence in contemporary literary scholarship. His editorial role in the Edinburgh Companion to Literature and Music further demonstrates leadership in the field. He has received notable recognition, including two Choice Outstanding Academic Titles awards. His scholarly contributions reflect a blend of critical rigor and creative experimentation. Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2003) - Cycles of Influence: Fiction, Folktale, Theory Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2008) - Contemporary Fiction and the Fairy Tale Stephen Benson has supervised numerous research projects and graduate students through his role at UEA, though specific advisees are not named in the text. He has secured editorial and collaborative research opportunities, particularly around sound, literature, and critical innovation. His work on the theory and practice of description suggests ongoing and future scholarly direction. He is a core member of the Modern and Contemporary Writing Research Group at UEA, contributing to a vibrant interdisciplinary research culture focused on innovative literary and critical practices.
Rochelle Scheuermann is Associate Professor of Evangelism & Leadership at Wheaton College's A. Duane Litfin Divinity School, where she also serves as Program Director for the Doctor of Ministry degree and Assistant Dean of Ministry and Evangelism. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and an M.Div. from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Ph.D., Intercultural Studies – Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Master of Divinity – Assemblies of God Theological Seminary Her research interests focus on disability and the church, theology of mission, and the intersection of preaching and culture. She explores how theological frameworks can better include people with disabilities and how cultural engagement shapes effective preaching and missional practice. Her recent publications span topics in disability theology, missiology, and homiletics, with a consistent emphasis on inclusion, contextualization, and ecclesial integrity. Her work appears in journals such as Missiology , Christian Scholar’s Review , and Trinity Journal . Knox Fellowship Award for Research in Evangelism (2022) Scheuermann has held leadership roles in the Evangelical Missiological Society, including President (2022–2024), and serves on editorial boards for Missio Dei Journal , Koinonia Journal , and Missiology . She is also a board member for Can Do Kids International and part of the Lausanne Mission and Disability Catalyst Group. Her ministry experience includes serving as Associate Pastor at a church plant in Salt Lake City, UT, and teaching internationally in Thailand, Cambodia, and Kenya. She is co-author of Preaching in the Contemporary World and co-editor of Communication in Mission and Controversies in Mission , with a forthcoming book titled Not Forgotten: Mission to Women Amid Global Crises .
Donnacha M. Dennehy is a Professor of Music at Princeton University and Director of the Princeton Sound Kitchen. Previously a tenured lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, he was appointed a Global Scholar at Princeton University in Autumn 2012 and joined the music faculty in 2014. Dennehy founded Crash Ensemble, Ireland's renowned new music group, in 1997 after returning to Ireland from studies in the USA, France, and Holland. Dennehy's research interests focus on contemporary composition with particular emphasis on opera, experimental music theatre, overtone series exploration, and ensemble music. His work bridges traditional composition with innovative approaches to sound and performance, often incorporating elements of Irish musical tradition within contemporary frameworks. He has developed a distinctive compositional voice that has earned him international recognition. His compositions have been performed at major festivals and venues worldwide including the Edinburgh International Festival, Royal Opera House London, Carnegie Hall New York, The Barbican London, and many others. Dennehy's work shows consistent exploration of narrative structures within contemporary classical music, with a particular interest in collaborations across artistic disciplines including theatre, visual arts, and literature. Scientific Awards: Elected to Aosdána (Ireland's Academy of Creative Artists), 2005 Fulbright Scholarship Irish Times Theatre Award for best opera (for The Last Hotel), 2015 International Rostrum of Composers 'recommended' for Crane, 2010 Dennehy has received numerous commissions from prestigious organizations including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, BBC, and RTE National Symphony Orchestra. His collaborations extend to renowned artists including Dawn Upshaw, Kronos Quartet, and writers Colm Tóibín and Enda Walsh. As Director of Princeton Sound Kitchen, he leads an ensemble dedicated to innovative contemporary music performance and creation. Dennehy's work with Crash Ensemble has been particularly influential in the new music scene, with their 2011 Nonesuch release of his music, Grá agus Bás, named by NPR as one of its '50 favorite albums' of 2011. His teaching at Princeton includes courses in composition, instrumentation, and music theory through performance.
/prod02/channel_1/media/faculty/Rochelle-Scheuermann-2021-1.jpg)
