Taslima Ivy is a Lecturer in Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. She holds a PhD (2021) from the same institution, focusing on multimedia teachers in rural Bangladesh, complemented by an MA in Educational Technology (2013) and another in Applied Linguistics (2008). Her research explores educational technology adoption in developing contexts, rural education dynamics, and second language writing practices. Her expertise aligns with UN SDG 4 (Quality Education). Key projects include co-coordinating the Learning Technologies SIG for Bangladesh English Language Teacher Association and collaborating on initiatives like the 'Digital Research Journeys' project (2024–2025). She has received two Commonwealth scholarships (2012, 2016) and contributed to impactful works such as a co-constructed teacher toolkit for Indian schools and analyses of rural Bangladesh's educational technology challenges. Recent activities include invited talks on decolonizing digital education and participatory data methods. Her work bridges sociocultural theory with practical teacher development, emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches in low-resource settings.
Joel Cabrita is a Professor of History and Susan Ford Dorsey Director of the Center for African Studies at Stanford University, holding a courtesy appointment in Religious Studies. She also serves as a senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg's Department of Historical Studies. Her research focuses on modern Southern Africa, emphasizing religion, gender, and the politics of knowledge production, particularly in Eswatini and South Africa. Cabrita's academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Cambridge and positions at SOAS (University of London) and Trinity College, Cambridge. She has been recognized with prestigious awards like the Albert C. Outler Prize (2019) and the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2017), along with an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University (2023). Her work bridges transnational networks, media studies, and decolonial methodologies. Her research interests include: Religious movements and their global connections Gender dynamics in colonial and postcolonial contexts Apartheid-era intellectual suppression and racial erasure Media's role in shaping marginalized communities Notable publications include Written Out: The Silencing of Regina Gelana Twala (2023) and The People’s Zion: Southern Africa, the United States and a Transatlantic Faith-Healing Movement (2018), which explores evangelical networks between Africa and North America. She co-edited Relocating World Christianity (2017), advocating for non-Western-centric religious studies. Cabrita’s work has been featured widely in media outlets such as The Guardian, BBC World Service, and NPR. She actively engages with public scholarship, emphasizing the societal relevance of historical inquiry.
Shana Agid is an Associate Professor of Art, Media, and Communication at Parsons School of Design, The New School. Currently serving as Dean of the School of Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons, she holds a Ph.D. in Design from RMIT University, an MA in Visual and Critical Studies, and an MFA in Printmaking and Book Arts from California College of the Arts. Her research focuses on participatory design, critical prison studies, and visual culture, with a practice bridging art, activism, and education. Agid co-developed the 'Working with People' curriculum (working-with-people.org), emphasizing critical frameworks for collaborative practices. Her work critiques systems of power through design interventions, abolitionist methodologies, and community-led frameworks. She is a founding member of Critical Resistance and a longtime advocate for transformative justice. Recent roles include the Transformative Justice Skill Up Fellowship at Interrupting Criminalization (2024–2025). Publications span design theory, abolitionist praxis, and pedagogy, including contributions to Space and Culture , Design in Crisis , and Design Studies . Her art practice includes letterpress printing and book arts, reflecting themes of resistance and collective agency.
Tony Marks-Block is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology, Geography & Environmental Studies at California State University, East Bay. His research focuses on ecological anthropology at the intersection of anthropogenic fire, Indigenous sovereignty, and political ecology in California. He collaborates with Karuk and Yurok peoples to study cultural burning practices, supported by NSF and Stanford University grants. Dr. Marks-Block teaches courses on pyrogeography and community-engaged methods on unceded Chochenyo Ohlone lands. His work emphasizes anti-colonial frameworks and Indigenous land stewardship. Education: Advanced training in ecology and anthropology at Stanford and Cornell Universities. Previously developed STEM education programs at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. Research highlights include studies on fire suppression impacts, Indigenous fire sovereignty, and participatory environmental justice. Publications span cultural burning revitalization, fire governance, and environmental policy. His scholarship critiques settler colonial fire management while advocating for Indigenous self-determination. No specific grants or awards listed, but extensive fieldwork and community partnerships underpin his work. Labs/Teams: Engaged with Karuk Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources and Western Klamath Restoration Partnership. Focus areas include decolonizing fire management and restoring Indigenous ecological practices.
Leon Benade is a Professor in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University (ECU). He holds a Doctor of Education from New Zealand (2012) and has established a national and international reputation in learning environments research. His work focuses on 21st-century learning imperatives, innovative teaching practices, and bicultural education policy. Benade is a Co-Investigator in the 2021 Marsden Fund project exploring Māori flexible learning spaces. He has received several awards, including the 2017 Emerging Researcher Award from AUT. **Research Interests** Innovative Learning Environments Educational Philosophy Teachers' Work Educational Policy Cultural Spaces in Education **Awards** 2017 Auckland University of Technology Emerging Researcher Award 2021 Marsden Fund Co-Investigator 2016 Innovation in Teaching Award Benade supervises PhD/Master's students on topics like sustainability education and rural Colombian education policy. He has held editorial roles at journals like New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies and New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work . His recent publications (2021–2025) address Māori spatial pedagogy, flexible learning spaces, and peer review ethics in academic publishing.
Mark Rhodes is an Associate Professor of Geography at Michigan Technological University, where his research examines cultural and political geographies of memory, heritage, and national identity with a focus on post-industrial landscapes and memorial practices. His work critically engages with Welsh case studies, industrial heritage sites, and the memorial landscapes of Paul Robeson, addressing themes of cultural sustainability, political ecology, and transnational memory. His educational background includes: PhD in Geography from Kent State University MA in Geography from Kent State University Rhodes' research centers on the intersections of memory, place, and identity in post-industrial contexts. He investigates how heritage institutions and memorial landscapes shape national identity and cultural sustainability through political ecology frameworks, examining scalar dynamics in heritage management and the role of living memory practices. His expertise spans Welsh studies, cultural landscape analysis, and sustainable tourism, with particular attention to absence, appropriation, and decolonial approaches in memorialization. Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on industrial World Heritage sites, memorial entrepreneurship, and transcalar heritage dynamics. His work employs innovative methodologies like transoptic landscape analysis to explore how museums, tourism, and food-based memory practices sustain cultural heritage, with recurring themes of political economy, absence, and transnational connections across Welsh and comparative international contexts. Scientific recognition includes: American Philosophical Society Fellow (2025-2026) Fulbright-Schuman European Union Affairs Scholar (2025-2026) Rhodes has secured significant research funding including Fulbright-Schuman grants for EU industrial heritage policy studies, American Philosophical Society grants for national museum research, and National Park Service funding for equitable cultural resource management. These projects involve interdisciplinary collaborations examining sustainable futures for industrial heritage through community-engaged approaches and transnational policy analysis. Currently on research leave, he advances his work as a Fellow at the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and as a Fulbright Scholar at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, focusing on national identity construction and heritage institutionalization within European contexts.
Tannis Reynolds is a Lecturer in the Department of First Nations Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), located within the Faculty of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities. She holds a BA and MA in First Nations Studies from UNBC, with her MA thesis focusing on 'Stellakoh Talook: The Importance of Salmon to Stellat'en.' Her research emphasizes Indigenous spirituality and health, cultural competency, and First Nations governance. She actively engages in decolonization, anti-racism, and reconciliation efforts. Reynolds prioritizes teaching methodologies that bridge Indigenous knowledge systems with academic frameworks, drawing from her upbringing learning traditional practices from her grandmother. Currently pursuing a PhD (since 2021), her work explores integrating Indigenous health and healing practices into healthcare systems. She does not currently accept graduate students but contributes to UNBC’s mission of fostering understanding between students and Indigenous communities.
Dr Eleftherios Zenerian is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton's School of Art and Media, affiliated with the Creative Sound and Music Research Excellence Group. He specializes in teaching modules related to popular music cultures, music industries, media theory, and innovation studies. His research focuses on popular music cultures, social and cultural theory, creative labour, and fandom. Education: He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Sussex (2014), an MSc in Comparative and Cross-Cultural Research Methods (2008) and MSc in European and International Studies (2007) from the University of Sussex and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, respectively, alongside a BA in Political Sciences (2005). Research Interests: Zenerian explores the intersection of cultural and financial economies in music fandom, particularly through vinyl records and death metal subcultures. His work emphasizes auto-ethnographic methods and the role of cultural imagination in popular music research. He also contributes to decolonizing educational curricula through collaborative projects. Publications: His research spans 9 peer-reviewed articles and edited books, addressing topics like fan labor, music education, and cultural methodologies. Notable works include studies on vinyl economies and fanzine-making pedagogy. Labs/Teams: He collaborates within the Creative Sound and Music Research Excellence Group, contributing to interdisciplinary projects on music culture and media studies.
Carolina Machado Oliveira is a Senior Lecturer in Factual at Bournemouth University's Faculty of Media & Communication, specializing in documentary filmmaking and media advocacy. She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical Practice from the University of Sussex (2020) and has over 15 years of professional experience in media production, including roles at MTV, Red Bull Media House, and Indigenous advocacy organizations. Her research focuses on Indigenous Brazilian media production, climate justice, and transnational storytelling, with a commitment to elevating marginalized voices. Education: PhD in Creative and Critical Practice (University of Sussex, 2020) MA in Digital Documentary (University of Sussex, 2012) BA (Hons) in Media Studies (University of Brighton, 2011) PGCert in Postgraduate Certificate in Education Practice (Bournemouth University, 2023) Research Interests: Carolina’s work bridges academic and practical domains, emphasizing documentaries as tools for social change. She explores auto-ethnography, Indigenous filmmaking practices, and the intersection of climate justice with cultural preservation. Her current projects include collaborations with Indigenous communities in Brazil and advocacy for ethical representation in media. Key Contributions: Editorial Board Member, Journal of Media and Rights (2023–2026) External Examiner for Birmingham City University’s Media Production Program (2022–2026) Member of BAFTA, MeCCSA, and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) Grants & Outreach: Carolina leads initiatives like the 'Digital Narratives of the Amazon' program and has organized workshops on visual storytelling at institutions such as the NABA Institute of Modern Arts in Milan. She also contributes to justice-centered film festivals like the Novella Film Festival as a jury member. Labs & Networks: She chairs Bournemouth University’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Committee (DEDIC) and co-convenes the Women’s Academic Network, promoting equity in academia and the creative industries.
Corey D. B. Walker is the Dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, and Inaugural Director of the Program in African American Studies. His career includes leadership roles at Virginia Union University, Winston-Salem State University, Brown University, and the University of Virginia. A theologian and scholar, his work interrogates the moral foundations of American democracy through interdisciplinary lenses. He holds degrees from Norfolk State University (BS), Virginia Union University (MDiv), Harvard University (MTS), The College of William and Mary (PhD), and Brown University (MA ad eundem). Education: BS in Finance (Norfolk State University), MDiv (Virginia Union University), MTS (Harvard University), PhD in American Studies (William and Mary), MA ad eundem (Brown University). Research interests include religious freedom, Black intellectual traditions, democracy’s ethical frameworks, and critical pedagogy. His scholarship bridges religion, race, and politics. He has authored multiple books and over 70 articles, emphasizing transformative thought and social justice. Notable works include A Noble Fight: African American Freemasonry and the Struggle for Democracy in America and forthcoming Disciple of Nonviolence: Wyatt Tee Walker and the Struggle for the Soul of Democracy . Awards include the 2023-2024 Phi Beta Kappa Frank M. Updike Memorial Scholar distinction. He has served as Book Review Editor and Associate Editor of The Journal of the American Academy of Religion . Current roles include board memberships at Lincoln University, Habitat for Humanity, and the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project. Advising/grants: While no formal advisees are listed, his leadership roles involve mentorship across institutions. Grants include Ford Foundation support for the Center for the Study of Local Knowledge. Labs/teams: Directed the Ford Foundation-supported Center for the Study of Local Knowledge (UVA) and led interdisciplinary initiatives at multiple universities. His work centers collaborative research on race, democracy, and religion.
Kylie Fisher is an Assistant Professor of Art History at Furman University, specializing in early modern European print history. She holds a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University, an M.A. from The Courtauld Institute of Art, and a B.A. from Smith College. Her research disrupts traditional art historical narratives by examining how printed imagery shaped cultural memory and ideologies in early modern Europe. She advocates for decolonizing art history in academic and museum contexts. Education: Ph.D., Art History, Case Western Reserve University M.A., Art History, The Courtauld Institute of Art (London) B.A., Art History, Smith College Research Interests: Kylie focuses on print culture, museum studies, and art as activism. She explores how prints democratized access to cultural ideas and challenges exclusionary historical narratives. Her work emphasizes empathy and critical thinking in students to combat prejudices perpetuated through art. Awards: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship (2015–2020) Friends of Art Best Overall Performance Award (2020) Teaching & Outreach: Prior to Furman, she taught at institutions including Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Community College. She has curated exhibitions at major museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her project Untold Journeys uses digital tools to explore global cultural connections in Greenville. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Furman undergraduates on public humanities projects, such as the Untold Journeys digital storymap.
Astri Dankertsen is an Associate Professor in Sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nord University. She leads the MINS Research Group and specializes in Sámi and Indigenous studies, focusing on identity, urbanization, colonization, and gender. Her work addresses decolonization, Indigenous policymaking, and Nordic social dynamics. She has held a faculty position since 2010 and earned her PhD in Sociology from Nord University in 2014. Education : PhD in Sociology (2014), University of Nordland (now Nord University). Teaching : Courses on gender, ethnicity, Indigeneity, and gender equality. Research Projects : Leads the NFR-funded Indhome project on Indigenous homemaking and contributes to initiatives on gender balance and Nordic truth commissions. Research Interests : Sámi urbanization, colonialism, gender perspectives in Nordic contexts, and Indigenous methodologies. Her recent work explores Sámi resistance through haunting narratives and urban Indigenous identity formation. Collaborates with the Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education and serves on Nord University’s PhD committees. Grants & Projects : Norwegian Research Council grants for Indhome and urban Sámi studies. Engaged in truth and reconciliation processes in the Nordic region. Local Role : City council member in Bodø, advocating for Indigenous and cultural issues. Labs/Teams : MINS Research Group, Nord University’s Arctic Vulnerabilities specialization, and partnerships with international Indigenous networks. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology, gender studies, and decolonial theory.
Neil Curtis is Head of Museums and Special Collections and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Social Science at the University of Aberdeen. He holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Glasgow, an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, and an MSc in Education from the University of Aberdeen. His roles include leadership in museum ethics, collections management, and academic teaching. He has worked with the Aberdeen collections since 1988 and teaches across Archaeology, Anthropology, Art History, History, Law, Museum Studies, and Scottish Ethnology. Research interests focus on museum ethics (repatriation, decolonization), Scottish museum history, prehistoric archaeology of North-East Scotland, and material culture studies. He is a Fellow of the Museums Association and served on key committees including the Museums Association Ethics Committee and Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel. Recent work emphasizes co-production in community heritage projects, radiocarbon dating of archaeological materials, and the role of 3D photogrammetry in museum education. His publications span journals like Journal of Community Archaeology & Heritage , PNAS , and Oxford Handbook of History and Material Culture . Grants: Leverhulme Trust (Beakers and Bodies Project), AHRC Connected Communities (Bennachie Project) Labs/Teams: Leads University Museums in Scotland network, coordinates curatorial courses at Aberdeen
Laura Gibson is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Content Management at King’s College London’s Department of Digital Humanities, within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Her research focuses on decolonisation, digitisation, and cultural heritage in Sub-Saharan Africa, informed by her work in South African museums. She leads the MA in Digital Asset and Media Management and teaches undergraduate theory modules. Her current Wenner-Gren Foundation-funded research explores indigenous knowledge exchange and repatriation using digital tools. Education: PhD in Decolonising South African Museums in a Digital Age (King’s College London, 2019); MPhil in African Studies (University of Cape Town, 2006); First-Class BA (Hons) in History (University of Durham, 2004). Research interests include challenging colonial-era classifications, digital museum ethics, and participatory archiving projects like the Amagugu Ethu Documentation Project. Her articles critically examine barriers to democratic heritage access and the role of digital tools in cultural repatriation. Awards include the 2018 University of Antwerp Cultural Management Award and an AHRC_IPS Fellowship (2014). She co-leads the Global Digital Cultures Research Group, exploring digital practices across geographies, and is involved in projects like the Sudan Memory Project. Her teaching and research emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to digital cultural management.
Affiliations Dr. Michael Kandiah is a Lecturer in Contemporary British History and Director of the ICBH Witness Seminar Programme at King's College London's Department of Political Economy within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. He holds editorial roles at British Scholar and chairs the International History Seminar at the Institute of Historical Research. Education BA (Hons.) in Economics and History from the University of Victoria, Canada PhD in History from the University of Exeter (1993), focusing on Lord Woolton's leadership of the Conservative Party (1946–1955) Research Interests His work centers on elite oral histories of 20th-century British political and diplomatic events, including postwar policymaking, Cold War dynamics, and Conservative Party history. He leads projects like the Witness Seminar Programme capturing testimonies of key figures in British history. Current projects include editing Lord Woolton's wartime diaries for Oxford University Press and studying the Thatcher governments' global impact. Publications Overview His research spans British diplomatic history, Cold War strategy, and institutional analysis, with notable works on the Cuban Missile Crisis, Rhodesian decolonization, and the Windsor dynasty. He frequently collaborates with institutions like the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Institute of Contemporary British History. Awards & Grants No explicit awards listed, but his roles include Associate Fellow at the Institute of Romance and Germanic Studies and membership in the Human Rights Consortium steering group. Advising & Grants He advises the Rhodesian Forces Oral History Project (AHRC-funded) and directs the Witness Seminar Programme. Projects include studies on the Falklands War, the East of Suez withdrawal, and the Nott Review. Labs & Teams He leads the Witness Seminar Programme , collaborates with the Centre for British Democracy, and participates in the History and Political Economy Research Group at King’s College London.
