Humanities & Social Sciences

Esteemed speakers contributing their insights into human culture, behavior, and societal development

José Luis Jiménez Figarotti

José Luis Jiménez Figarotti

EdTech scholar & VE expert, Prof. Jiménez is a prolific author on equity & human rights. His work bridges cultures inspiring empathy. His publications spark critical conversations on global exchange & social justice.

EdTech scholar & VE expert, Prof. Jiménez is a prolific author on equity & human rights. His work bridges cultures inspiring empathy. His publications spark critical conversations on global exchange & social justice. Show more

Dr. Christ-Lee Lizaire-Ganthier

Dr. Christ-Lee Lizaire-Ganthier

Dr. Christ-Lee Lizaire-Ganthier is a U.S. Navy veteran, chaplain, author, nonprofit executive, and public speaker dedicated to serving vulnerable communities. As the founder of the Pelagie Foundation and Pelagie Resource Center in Conyers, Georgia, she leads programs that support veterans, survivors of domestic violence, seniors, and families experiencing poverty.

Through her work in chaplaincy, community outreach, and holistic care, Dr. Lizaire-Ganthier advocates for dignity, stability, and hope. She frequently speaks on veteran reintegration, faith-based community leadership, nonprofit innovation, and healing through service.

Speaking Topics:

Healing Through Service: Veteran Reintegration After Military Life
Faith and Community Care: The Role of Chaplaincy in Social Impact
From Intake to Impact: Building Effective Nonprofit Programs
Women Veterans Leadership and Empowerment
Turning Pain into Purpose Through Philanthropy

Dr. Christ-Lee Lizaire-Ganthier is a U.S. Navy veteran, chaplain, author, nonprofit executive, and public speaker dedicated to serving vulnerable communities. As the founder of the Pelagie Foundation and Pelagie Resource Center in Conyers, Georgia, s... Show more

Ayush Hazare

Ayush Hazare

Ayush Hazare is a practicing architect, independent researcher, and speaker working at the intersection of spatial design, Indigenous knowledge systems, and decolonial frameworks. His work explores how built environments shape identity, belonging, and cultural continuity.

He is a Junior Architect at Pioneer Construction and MAP Studio, Pune, and an Archivist and Journalist with Manasaram Architects and CGBMT, Bangalore. His research has been recognized internationally, including being an Asia Regional Winner at the Global Undergraduate Awards (2024), alongside multiple academic distinctions, research awards, and publications in Springer Scopus-indexed platforms. He has presented his work at national and international conferences and delivered invited lectures at institutions such as Cardiff University (UK) and Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Architecture, Pune.

Grounded in participatory fieldwork in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, he collaborates with Adivasi communities to reimagine educational spaces rooted in cultural and ecological contexts. His practice positions design as a tool of resistance and regeneration-moving beyond functionality to create spaces that sustain identity, dignity, and collective futures.

Ayush Hazare is a practicing architect, independent researcher, and speaker working at the intersection of spatial design, Indigenous knowledge systems, and decolonial frameworks. His work explores how built environments shape identity, belonging, an... Show more

YoungBin Kim

YoungBin Kim

Youngbin's research explores how race, gender, migration, and space intersect to shape belonging, exclusion, and everyday experiences of inequality across transnational contexts. She is broadly interested in the racialization of Asian communities, public-space violence, and the shifting meanings of national identity and hospitality in a global era. Drawing on feminist theory, intersectionality, and critical race studies, her work seeks to illuminate the often invisible dynamics that structure social hierarchies and to imagine more just and relational futures for migrant and marginalized communities.

Youngbin's research explores how race, gender, migration, and space intersect to shape belonging, exclusion, and everyday experiences of inequality across transnational contexts. She is broadly interested in the racialization of Asian communities, pu... Show more

Kirsten Berthold

Kirsten Berthold

Studium der Psychologie mit Nebenfach Erziehungswissenschaft in Kiel, Lund (Schweden) und Freiburg i. Brsg.
Post doc an der ETH Zürich (Schweiz) und an der Universität Freiburg
seit 2009 Juniorprofessorin für Bildungspsychologie an der Universität Bielefeld
seit 2011 Professorin für Bildungspsychologie an der Universität Bielefeld

Studium der Psychologie mit Nebenfach Erziehungswissenschaft in Kiel, Lund (Schweden) und Freiburg i. Brsg. Post doc an der ETH Zürich (Schweiz) und an der Universität Freiburg seit 2009 Juniorprofessorin für Bildungspsychologie an der Universität ... Show more

Frank Abe

Frank Abe

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Music Press), and with collaborators Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki was named a Finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Washington State Book Award. He won an American Book Award with Cheung and Greg Robinson as co-editor of JOHN OKADA: The Life & Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy (University of Washington Press), in which he authored the first-ever biography of Okada and traced the origins of his novel. He is currently developing a new stage adaptation of NO-NO BOY in partnership with Seattle Rep.

Abe wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning PBS documentary CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION on the largest organized resistance in the camps, and with writer Frank Chin helped organize the first-ever “Day of Remembrance” in Seattle in 1978. He was an original member of Chin’s Asian American Theater Workshop in San Francisco and studied at the American Conservatory Theater.

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Mu... Show more

Sibila Erdei

Sibila Erdei

I'm a psychologist & Gestalt psychotherapist that likes to spend her time between the world of business and technology.
I like to get creative about the human element in organisations and create value by boosting the value of others.

I was born by the sea in Croatia and found myself thriving in an international environment from a young age studying in English, working in DACH, Nordic and Central EU markets.

I'm a psychologist & Gestalt psychotherapist that likes to spend her time between the world of business and technology. I like to get creative about the human element in organisations and create value by boosting the value of others. I was born b... Show more

Khadyajah Jenkins, M.A.T

Khadyajah Jenkins, M.A.T

Khadyajah Jenkins, M.A.T is a scholar-practitioner, cultural strategist, and doctoral candidate whose work examines the future of education, leadership, and relational labor in the age of artificial intelligence. Her research centers African-American executives and early-career professionals to understand how cultural conformity, emotional expression, respectability politics, and algorithmic bias shape leadership trajectories and mentorship opportunities in tech and media ecosystems. Through narrative inquiry and critical pedagogy, Jenkins studies how care, love, and cultural memory can serve as legitimate frameworks for leadership development and equitable system design.

Positioned at the intersection of higher education, innovation, and community infrastructure, Jenkins develops programs and pilots that translate academic knowledge into workforce outcomes. Her initiatives include college and career advising systems, city-aligned book fairs and literacy programs, AI literacy pathways for students and families, and archival storytelling series that reframe education as a cultural, relational, and economic project. Her platforms span LinkedIn, TikTok, Substack, and Patreon, where she produces research-informed content on education equity, postsecondary transitions, hidden industries, and love as a leadership practice.

Jenkins partners with civic, philanthropic, and educational stakeholders to design models that increase economic mobility, expand access to labor market information, and prepare communities for AI-mediated professional environments. Her work emphasizes that the future of work requires both technical and emotional infrastructure: knowledge, skills, networks, and care.

Her long-term vision is to build a research and learning firm with three pillars education, leadership , and economic justice—that integrates archival research, AI-enabled instructional design, and culturally situated learning systems. Through this interdisciplinary lens, she aims to reimagine how communities learn, lead, and love, and to create academic, civic, and digital ecosystems where Black intellectual and emotional labor are centered rather than extracted.

Khadyajah Jenkins, M.A.T is a scholar-practitioner, cultural strategist, and doctoral candidate whose work examines the future of education, leadership, and relational labor in the age of artificial intelligence. Her research centers African-American... Show more

Aldo Pisano

Aldo Pisano

My research fields are Ethics and AI, Narrative Ethics, Didactics of Philosophy. I had my bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 2018 and I worked in Aix-Marseille University with Carlo Rovelli linking Contemporary Sciences to Philosophical Anthropology. Humankind ontological status has changed because we share a digital and physical identity.
I'm a Phd Student in Learning Sciences and Digital Technologies and I work with Prof.ssa Ines Crispini, Full professor of Ethics.

My research fields are Ethics and AI, Narrative Ethics, Didactics of Philosophy. I had my bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 2018 and I worked in Aix-Marseille University with Carlo Rovelli linking Contemporary Sciences to Philosophical Anthropology.... Show more

Oshin Danish

Oshin Danish

Oshin Danish is an educator, researcher, and international teacher trainer whose work sits at the intersection of academic writing, student engagement, and educational psychology. With over 12 years of experience in higher education across the UK and the Gulf region, she is passionate about transforming research insights into practical strategies that improve learning outcomes.

Her doctoral research investigates how scaffolding influences academic writing development among Saudi EFL learners, with emerging interests in psychological safety, confidence, and academic risk-taking. Oshin regularly presents on teaching, learning, and curriculum innovation and has chaired international conferences and professional development events for educators across the Middle East.

Known for combining research, real-world classroom experience, and a learner-centred approach, she is committed to helping educators create environments where students feel confident enough to participate, challenge themselves, and succeed.

Oshin Danish is an educator, researcher, and international teacher trainer whose work sits at the intersection of academic writing, student engagement, and educational psychology. With over 12 years of experience in higher education across the UK and... Show more

Celine Maerz

Celine Maerz

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an der Professur für ökonomische Bildung

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an der Professur für ökonomische Bildung Show more

Sebastian Lang

Sebastian Lang

Sebastian Lang arbeitet als interdisziplinärer Researcher mit Künstler:innen, Wissenschaftler:innen und Philosoph:innen an den Beziehungen zwischen zeitgenössischen Gesellschaften, dem Individuum und digitalen Räumen. Er ist Absolvent des Studiengangs Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (BA) an der Universität für Angewandte Kunst Wien, und studiert aktuell Theorie und Geschichte der Wissenschaft und Technik (MA) an der TU Berlin. Sein besonderes Forschungsinteresse gilt der Frage, wie digitale Technologien unseren Alltag prägen und wie Individuen und Gemeinschaften mit den Anforderungen einer postdigitalen Welt umgehen.

Sebastian Lang arbeitet als interdisziplinärer Researcher mit Künstler:innen, Wissenschaftler:innen und Philosoph:innen an den Beziehungen zwischen zeitgenössischen Gesellschaften, dem Individuum und digitalen Räumen. Er ist Absolvent des Studiengang... Show more

Gina Maiellaro

Gina Maiellaro

Gina Maiellaro is a Teaching Professor and Associate Director for Curriculum and Instruction at the World Languages Center at Northeastern University. Her academic research explores second language acquisition, with a focus on language testing and assessment, curriculum development, Intercultural Competence, and Actor-Network Theory in language teaching. She is also the director of the AATI National Italian Exam.


Gina Maiellaro is a Teaching Professor and Associate Director for Curriculum and Instruction at the World Languages Center at Northeastern University. Her academic research explores second language acquisition, with a focus on language testing and as... Show more

Bernard James Remollino

Bernard James Remollino

Dr. Bernard James Remollino (He/They/Siya) is an Associate Professor of U.S. and Asian American & Pacific American History at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. Their doctoral work focused on the history of Filipinx American popular culture, labor, and migration in California during the early twentieth century. Bernard writes on Filipinx American histories, Asian American popular cultures, and transpacific cultural imaginaries in the Philippine diaspora. Bernard is a 1.5-generation undocumented immigrant from Makati, Philippines. Their family first settled in Stockton and still resides in the San Joaquin Valley.

Bernard collaborates with several Filipinx American organizations across California in amplifying the histories of struggle and community building that make Filipinx experiences part of the larger fabric of U.S. history. They are a National Trustee for the Filipino American National Historical Society representing the Mid-California FANHS chapters of Stockton, Central Valley, California Central Coast, Fresno, and Delano. They currently live on occupied, unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land (San Francisco), where they are conducting research for an upcoming book project.

Dr. Bernard James Remollino (He/They/Siya) is an Associate Professor of U.S. and Asian American & Pacific American History at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. Their doctoral work focused on the history of Filipinx American popular c... Show more

Patricia Gosch

Patricia Gosch

My work is shaped by professional experience and lived reality.

A career in law enforcement and public service has included leading programs focused on community safety, supporting missing persons investigations, and working in close partnership with Tribal communities across Washington State. That work has revealed gaps that often exist between systems and the communities served—and the critical role of trust built through consistency, respect, and accountability.

Connection to this work is also deeply personal.

Previously a foster parent, having an extended kinship network, and a descendant of a federal Indian boarding school survivor, bringing a perspective shaped by lived experience and a deep understanding of loss, resilience, and the lasting impacts of historical and intergenerational trauma. These experiences inform relationship-building, listening, and engagement—with a strong commitment to culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices.

Work alongside Tribal leaders, advocates, and partner agencies has supported efforts addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP), with a focus on strengthening collaboration and improving system responses.

At the core of my work is a belief that meaningful change happens at the intersection of relationships, accountability, and action. Focus remains on building trust and creating solutions informed by the voices and experiences of those most impacted.

My work is shaped by professional experience and lived reality. A career in law enforcement and public service has included leading programs focused on community safety, supporting missing persons investigations, and working in close partnership w... Show more

Hannah Sari

Hannah Sari

Hannah Sari ist Sozialarbeiterin, Sexualpädagogin und studiert den Master "Gesellschaftlicher Wandel als Gestaltungsaufgabe" an der Hochschule München. Sie arbeitet vor allem zu den Themen Konsens und Awareness.

Hannah Sari ist Sozialarbeiterin, Sexualpädagogin und studiert den Master "Gesellschaftlicher Wandel als Gestaltungsaufgabe" an der Hochschule München. Sie arbeitet vor allem zu den Themen Konsens und Awareness. Show more

Ji-Yeon Yuh

Ji-Yeon Yuh

Ji-Yeon Yuh received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania and is the founding faculty member of the Asian American Studies Program at Northwestern University, where she teaches Asian American history, Asian diasporas, US militarism and war, race and gender, and oral history. Her book, Beyond the Shadow of Camptown: Korean Military Brides in America, was the first substantive work to examine the consequences of U.S. militarism for Korean migration and diaspora. Her current projects include a digital oral history repository focused on Asian diasporas, an oral history project on the Midwest as an Asian American space, a book on Korean diaspora in China, Japan, and the United States, and a study of reunification and Korea peace activism in the Korean diaspora. She has been a consultant for numerous public history, media, and education projects, including Still Presents Pasts, an exhibit on Korean Americans and the Korean War, Crossing East, a radio documentary on Asian Americans, and Pollyanna’s high school racial literacy curriculum. As a longtime advocate for Korea peace and reunification, she occasionally publishes op-eds in places like the Chicago Tribune and the National Interest. She serves as the board chair of Women Cross DMZ, an associate (and former board member) of the Korea Policy Institute, and an advisor for Action for One Korea. She is a co-founder and the emeritus board president of the Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago and a former board president of KAN-WIN, an Asian American women’s anti-gender-violence organization. A native of Seoul and Chicago, she is a fan of pungmul, a taekwondo black belt, a science fiction reader, and the mother of three children.

Ji-Yeon Yuh received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania and is the founding faculty member of the Asian American Studies Program at Northwestern University, where she teaches Asian American history, Asian diasporas, US militaris... Show more

Maggie Ivanova

Maggie Ivanova

Maggie Ivanova is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theatre, Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM). She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and World Literature (Drama) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.F.A. in Directing - Asian Performance, from UHM. Maggie is a multi-lingual teaching artist: a dramaturg, theatre director, and researcher, working with the performance traditions of Ireland, Britain, Sweden, Norway, Japan, and Russia. Since 2020, Maggie has been affiliated with the East-West Center as Student Affiliate and Foundation Scholar. Currently, Maggie is serving as a co-dramaturg and stage manager for "Panji and the Last Princess," a Balinese wayang listrik show which opens in April 2026 at Kennedy Theatre, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Maggie Ivanova is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theatre, Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM). She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative and World Literature (Drama) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an ... Show more

Arin Kimmel

Arin Kimmel

Hi! My name is Arin Kimmel. I struggled for years to make friends, win over audiences and express myself in conversations. I didn't have the right words or the right mindset and it was continuously sabotaging my life. Before I got to University I knew something had to change. I read as much as I could about Persuasion, Psychology and People. When I walked onto campus I realized with a shock that I'd gone from the worst communicator I knew to the best! I was making friends left and right. People wanted to hear what I had to say and even crazier…people actually liked listening to me (can you believe it)! But, I didn't stop there... I did Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Philosophy and anything else that could improve my communication. I graduated from University of Waterloo with a degree in Speech Communication and today I specialize in helping individuals just like yourself better express themselves. Anyone can become a better communicator, I'm living proof. You have a story to tell and I'm here to help you share it!

Hi! My name is Arin Kimmel. I struggled for years to make friends, win over audiences and express myself in conversations. I didn't have the right words or the right mindset and it was continuously sabotaging my life. Before I got to University I kne... Show more

Diletta Fabiani

Diletta Fabiani

Diletta Fabiani is a research fellow a one of the largest think tanks in Asia. Her research interests include security-related multilateral frameworks in the Asia-Pacific, cyber security and AI governance developed in international institutions, and AI regulations in Japan. She has a Ph.D. in International Studies from Waseda University and an M.A. in International Relations from Bologna University.

Languages: Italian (native), English (native level), Japanese (business level)

Diletta Fabiani is a research fellow a one of the largest think tanks in Asia. Her research interests include security-related multilateral frameworks in the Asia-Pacific, cyber security and AI governance developed in international institutions, and ... Show more

La-Toya Scott

La-Toya Scott

Dr. La-Toya Scott is a scholar and cultural critic whose work examines African American literature, digital culture, and the political stakes of storytelling. She serves as Assistant Professor of African American Literature and Culture and is the founder of In-House Scholar, a community and digital education initiative that bridges literary craft, cultural theory, and public discourse. Through workshops, talks, writing instruction, and humanities programming, she makes research-driven literary education accessible to broader audiences beyond the university. Her debut book, In Hush to Harbor: Black Sanctuary from Slavery to Trump’s America, will be released by Rutgers University Press in 2026. Dr. Scott’s work centers public humanities, narrative craft, and the creative futures of Black thought.

Dr. La-Toya Scott is a scholar and cultural critic whose work examines African American literature, digital culture, and the political stakes of storytelling. She serves as Assistant Professor of African American Literature and Culture and is the fou... Show more

Nitin Deckha

Nitin Deckha

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Development Professional (CTDP). As Principal of Enliven Learning, Nitin sprouts ideas and strategies to guide learners, clients and organizations  in the areas of leadership development, intercultural competence, and the future of work, including human-AI integration. Nitin has more than 15 years’ experience of postsecondary course development and teaching, including in the areas of anthropology, intercultural communication, and the transformation of work, and has taught at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, University of Guelph-Humber, in Canada, and Hochschule Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, in Germany. He has spoken at a range of conferences and events, including recently at the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), Institute for Performance and Learning (I4PL), and National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). Nitin is based in Toronto, Canada, where he is an active volunteer, organizer, and fundraiser.

Nitin Deckha (he/him) holds a PhD in Anthropology from Rice University, Houston, Texas, a Master’s Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, York University, Toronto, and is a Certified Training Devel... Show more

Jessica Tjiu

Jessica Tjiu

Jessica Tjiu (She/They) is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of San Diego. Her research interests focus on sex work, human/sex trafficking, and (im)migration.

Jessica Tjiu (She/They) is an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of San Diego. Her research interests focus on sex work, human/sex trafficking, and (im)migration. Show more

Roberta Coppola

Roberta Coppola

Master’s graduate with skills in digital communication, artificial intelligence, and data management. I have experience in public administration, focusing on document management and process automation, as well as in social media and content creation.
I am currently developing a thesis project involving AI, OCR, and digitization, combining analytical skills, precision, and creativity. I am proactive, well-organized, and results-oriented.

Master’s graduate with skills in digital communication, artificial intelligence, and data management. I have experience in public administration, focusing on document management and process automation, as well as in social media and content creation.... Show more

Doleh Khan

Doleh Khan

I am Doleh Usman Khan, and I have been working for over five years in the fields of gender research, youth empowerment, and community development. As a Silver Medalist in Gender Studies from the University of Sindh, I have served with organizations such as FAO, Research and Development Foundation (RDF), HANDS Pakistan, and Community World Service Asia, where my work has focused on vocational training, gender equality, monitoring and evaluation, and humanitarian response.

Through these roles, I have contributed to training more than 1,300 youth and 250 women across Sindh in tailoring, beautician trades, and other livelihood skills, enabling them to achieve decent work and economic independence. My research and advocacy extend to areas such as the Transgender Protection Act (2018), domestic violence case studies, and gender-responsive development policies.

Internationally, I have represented youth voices at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (UNCC Bangkok) and the World Youth Forum, presenting evidence and success stories on gender-inclusive vocational training. I am passionate about data-driven problem solving, participatory research, and policy engagement to create sustainable opportunities for women and youth in the MENA and South Asia region.

I am Doleh Usman Khan, and I have been working for over five years in the fields of gender research, youth empowerment, and community development. As a Silver Medalist in Gender Studies from the University of Sindh, I have served with organizations s... Show more

Thierry Secqueville

Thierry Secqueville

Trainer / Teacher (Agile, project management, edutainment), edutainment researcher, designer of specialist serious learning games (analogue, digital, hybrid).
Has been practising Agile since the 90s.

Trainer / Teacher (Agile, project management, edutainment), edutainment researcher, designer of specialist serious learning games (analogue, digital, hybrid). Has been practising Agile since the 90s. Show more

Julie Williamson, Ph.D.

Julie Williamson, Ph.D.

Julie is a dynamic and engaging speaker who brings her combined expertise in business and social science to help leaders understand the power of alignment to deliver on ambitious strategic goals. Her keynotes explore the HOW of leadership - the ways in which leaders can step into enterprise level roles and start to solve problems, set tough priorities, and inspire colleagues to connect to each other in ways that help them to break down silos and unlock the untapped potential of their businesses.

Julie is a best selling author on Amazon, with her book Make HOW Matter topping the list in several categories! Her book is available to support keynotes and workshops, and it comes with many supporting resources for participants to try. Check it out here: www.makehowmatter.com

On her podcast, The Failure Gap, Julie explores leadership journeys and how they align to deliver on ambitious goals. You can see it here: www.thefailuregap.com !

Julie is a dynamic and engaging speaker who brings her combined expertise in business and social science to help leaders understand the power of alignment to deliver on ambitious strategic goals. Her keynotes explore the HOW of leadership - the ways ... Show more

Jenny Bhatt

Jenny Bhatt

Jenny Bhatt is a writer, literary translator, and book critic. She is a 2025 NEA Translation Fellow. She has taught creative writing at various organizations, including Writing Workshops Dallas and the PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship Program. She was also the founder of Desi Books (March 2020 to January 2023), a global forum for showcasing South Asian literature from the world over. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student of literature at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research areas are Translation Studies, Literary Translation, South Asian Literature, and The Historical Novel.

Her debut story collection, Each of Us Killers: Stories (7.13 Books; Sep 2020), won a 2020 Foreword INDIES award. Her literary translation, Ratno Dholi: Dhumketu’s Best Short Stories (HarperCollins India; Oct 2020), was shortlisted for the 2021 PFC-VoW Book Awards. The US edition of her Dhumketu translation, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories, was released in July 2022. One of her short stories was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Her fiction has appeared in multiple other anthologies, too.

Her nonfiction has been published in various venues, including NPR, The Guardian, The Washington Post, BBC Culture, The Atlantic, Publishers Weekly, Dallas Morning News, Literary Hub, Poets & Writers, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Star Tribune, and more.

She resides in the in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Texas. Find her at https://jennybhattwriter.com.

Jenny Bhatt is a writer, literary translator, and book critic. She is a 2025 NEA Translation Fellow. She has taught creative writing at various organizations, including Writing Workshops Dallas and the PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship Program. ... Show more

Anna Sundermann

Anna Sundermann

Dr Anna Sundermann is a pedagogical psychologist and sustainability scientist at Leuphana University, specializing in learning and communication processes in higher education, particularly within the context of sustainable development. Her research is deeply rooted in exploring how innovative teaching, learning, and communication approaches—such as mindfulness, storytelling or digitalization—can promote competence development and foster engagement with sustainability issues. Her current work at the Graduate School not only advances academic understanding but also aims to create practical solutions for fostering sustainability and improving educational outcomes.

Dr Anna Sundermann is a pedagogical psychologist and sustainability scientist at Leuphana University, specializing in learning and communication processes in higher education, particularly within the context of sustainable development. Her research i... Show more

Angela May

Angela May

Angela May (she/her or they/them) is a mixed Japanese Canadian (gosei [fifth generation]) PhD Candidate in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University studying under the supervision of Dr. Amber Dean. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Angela has familial and community roots in the city’s Powell Street neighbourhood (Paueru Gai, “Powell Town”), the largest historic home of Japanese Canadians—which is also a central part of the present-day home of the Downtown Eastside community. Angela’s doctoral work thus focuses on the Japanese Canadian and Downtown Eastside communities, particularly as they overlap. Examining the last decades of the twentieth century, Angela interrogates established narratives in the Japanese Canadian community—about returning to Powell Street (1970s), about federal Japanese Canadian Redress (1980s), and about trauma, pain, and drug use (1990s)—to ask new questions about what it means to be a good neighbour in the Downtown Eastside today. Angela holds a BA in English (University of Victoria), an MA in the Socio-Cultural Studies of Health (Queen’s University), and a Creative Writing Certificate (Simon Fraser University, The Writer’s Studio Online). Her academic work has been published in the Urban History Review, the Annual Review of Interdisciplinary Justice Research, and Canadian Literature. For more, see www.angelamarianmay.com.

Angela May (she/her or they/them) is a mixed Japanese Canadian (gosei [fifth generation]) PhD Candidate in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University studying under the supervision of Dr. Amber Dean. Originally from Vancouv... Show more

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