Humanities & Social Sciences

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

Eleonora Buonocore

Eleonora Buonocore

Born and raised in the medieval city of Siena, Italy, Eleonora Buonocore earned a Master in Philosophy and a PhD in Philosophical Sciences from University of Siena (2009). In the USA she earned an MA in Italian from University of Notre Dame, IN and a PhD in Italian Language and Literature from Yale University (2016), where she worked on Medieval and Renaissance Italian Literature, completing a dissertation titled “Ciphers of Remembrance and Fluidity of Oblivion: A Study of Memory in Dante.” Her research lies at the intersection between philosophy and literature in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance. Her work includes a thesis on medieval philosophy, and she has published articles on medieval logic, Ramon Llull and Lullism, Giordano Bruno, Dante, and Italian Cinema. In the modern period, she also has an interest in Italian women poets and novelists. Since August 2017, Eleonora teaches Italian language and literature at the University of Calgary, AB where she is also finishing her book on memory in Dante.

Born and raised in the medieval city of Siena, Italy, Eleonora Buonocore earned a Master in Philosophy and a PhD in Philosophical Sciences from University of Siena (2009). In the USA she earned an MA in Italian from University of Notre Dame, IN and a... Show more

Gimena Rodriguez Matto

Gimena Rodriguez Matto

I am an English teacher specializing in virtual learning environments, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Education at UdelaR. My focus is on integrating technology into teaching. With experience in curriculum design and online learning, I am dedicated to creating engaging and impactful educational experiences.

I am an English teacher specializing in virtual learning environments, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Education at UdelaR. My focus is on integrating technology into teaching. With experience in curriculum design and online learning, I am dedicat... Show more

Heejoo Park

Heejoo Park

Assistant Professor of English at Texas Christian University

Assistant Professor of English at Texas Christian University Show more

Catherine Ma

Catherine Ma

Dr. Catherine Ma is an accomplished and influential figure in psychology and academia. Her role as the first Chinese full professor of psychology at Kingsborough Community College is a testament to her accomplishments, and she acknowledges the invaluable support of her loving husband, three children, parents, mother-in-law, and pug in her success. Dr. Ma is a highly accomplished and dedicated professor whose work encompasses a wide range of essential topics such as antiracism pedagogy, Chinese immigrant experiences, and the impact of race and class in various settings. Her commitment to education and community involvement shines through in her significant contributions to teaching, scholarship, and service, particularly in areas related to antiracism pedagogy, Chinese immigrant experiences, and the impact of Chinese mothers. Dr. Ma's dedication to supporting students is exemplified in her decade-long mentorship of students of color, her ongoing mentoring of junior faculty at Kingsborough’s HURFS-RC (Historically Underrepresented Faculty and Staff Resource Center), and the creation of the Yuet Chun & Tai Yee Ma Memorial Endowment Fund which offers an annual scholarship to a hardworking Kingsborough student in perpetuity.

Her newest venture addresses the lack of mentorship among AAPI faculty and staff. Dr. Ma cofounded AAMPOWER (Asian American Mentorship Providing Opportunities to Women for Empowerment and Resilience) CUNY with her distinguished colleagues Dr. Trang Le-Chan, Dr. Payal Doctor, and Dean Sandie Han. This role in this organization highlights her commitment to fostering mentorship, empowerment, and resilience among Asian women in higher education. By creating a supportive community for sharing experiences and addressing critical issues, AAMPOWER CUNY represents a significant endeavor in championing diversity, inclusion, and support for future generations of Asian women at CUNY. Dr. Ma's collaborative efforts in establishing this initiative reflect her dedication to advocacy and empowerment within the academic community.

Dr. Ma's impressive achievements are reflected in her receipt of several prestigious awards, including Kingsborough's Fostering Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Works Awards, and her dedication to teaching and mentoring excellence in the academic community was recognized with the SPSSI Two-Year College Teaching and Mentoring Excellence Award in 2022. Dr. Ma's numerous awards and accolades speak to the quality and impact of her work. Her passion for empowering others and addressing systemic injustices makes her a valuable asset in academia and beyond.

Dr. Catherine Ma is an accomplished and influential figure in psychology and academia. Her role as the first Chinese full professor of psychology at Kingsborough Community College is a testament to her accomplishments, and she acknowledges the invalu... Show more

Isabelle Rotter

Isabelle Rotter

With a foundational background in psychology, Isabelle brings a unique perspective to the tech industry, where she specializes in human-centric issues. At her company, she's renowned for her expertise in enhancing team communication and serving as a transformative coach, translating complex code into understandable language for all stakeholders. Communication isn't just her job; it's her passion.

With a foundational background in psychology, Isabelle brings a unique perspective to the tech industry, where she specializes in human-centric issues. At her company, she's renowned for her expertise in enhancing team communication and serving as a ... Show more

Gracie Diverseempowerment

Gracie Diverseempowerment

Gracie Brendah Nanyunja
(Born November 10, 1989)

Gracie Brendah Nanyunja is a distinguished LGBTQ disability rights activist, writer, and intersectional feminist from Uganda. As the founder and Advocacy Officer of the Diverse Empowerment Foundation (DEF), she is dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of LGBTQ individuals with disabilities. Her tireless advocacy work was recognized in 2023 when she was awarded the prestigious Hivos/Winq Diversity International Activist Award.

Early Life and Education
Born at Lubaga Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, Gracie was raised in Luzira, a suburb on the outskirts of the city, within a large family and a strict Catholic upbringing. From an early age, she faced significant challenges due to her disability. Growing up in a society that often viewed disability as something needing correction, Gracie’s childhood was shaped by efforts to find solutions to her condition, including visits to witch doctor shrines, Born-again churches, and hospitals. Despite these hardships, she developed a strong sense of determination and resilience, gaining the respect of those around her.

Gracie pursued higher education at Kyambogo University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Guidance and Counseling. Her academic background, combined with her personal experiences, prepared her to tackle the social challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Career and Advocacy
In 2018, Gracie founded the Foundation for the Differently Abled (FDA), aimed at supporting people with disabilities, particularly in overcoming employment barriers. However, she soon realized that the organization lacked space for her lesbian identity, making her feel like a "unicorn" within her own creation. This experience underscored the limitations of single-issue advocacy in addressing the complex intersections of identity, prompting Gracie to seek a more inclusive approach.

In 2020, a pivotal moment in her personal life occurred when she came out to her friends and family after falling in love with her partner. This decision marked a turning point, leading Gracie to co-found the Diverse Empowerment Foundation (DEF) to address the unique challenges faced by the "double minority" community—LGBTQ individuals with disabilities. Through DEF, Gracie has created a safe and inclusive space where members can access socio-economic skills, build their confidence, and advocate for their rights and inclusion within society and the broader LGBTQ movement.

As an intersectional feminist, Gracie emphasizes the importance of considering multiple aspects of identity, such as sexual orientation, disability, and gender, in the fight for equality and human rights. Her work with DEF is a testament to her commitment to a more inclusive and equitable society.

Writing and Intersectional Approach
Beyond her activism, Gracie is a passionate writer, known by her pen name Lunah Steph. Through her writing, she amplifies the voices and experiences of LGBTQ individuals with disabilities, contributing to a deeper understanding of their intersecting identities. Her literary work further complements her advocacy efforts, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to human rights.

Gracie’s approach is deeply rooted in intersectional feminism, recognizing that individuals often face multiple, overlapping forms of discrimination. By addressing the intricate interplay between sexuality, gender identity, and disability, she strives for a comprehensive understanding of social justice and human dignity.

Vision and Legacy
Gracie Brendah Nanyunja’s journey from a childhood marked by adversity to becoming a respected and influential advocate demonstrates her unwavering resilience and dedication. Through her leadership at DEF, she continues to inspire many, working tirelessly for a Uganda where equality, inclusion, and justice prevail for all. Her determination is encapsulated in her guiding philosophy: "When I want to achieve something, I don't rest until I've succeeded."

Gracie Brendah Nanyunja (Born November 10, 1989) Gracie Brendah Nanyunja is a distinguished LGBTQ disability rights activist, writer, and intersectional feminist from Uganda. As the founder and Advocacy Officer of the Diverse Empowerment Foundati... Show more

Rocío Mieres

Rocío Mieres

Socióloga, con especialización en videojuegos, fenómenos digitales y economías sociales y solidarias
docente en la universidad UNIACC y en la universidad SEK
Miembro de la red de estudios ludocriticos de Chile
Miembro del Observatorio de Innovación Social de la Universidad Central
Asesora en La consultora Hahuun

Socióloga, con especialización en videojuegos, fenómenos digitales y economías sociales y solidarias docente en la universidad UNIACC y en la universidad SEK Miembro de la red de estudios ludocriticos de Chile Miembro del Observatorio de Innovació... Show more

Angela Jackson

Angela Jackson

Angela is an author, writer, educator, and activist. She is on the path to completing her doctorate in educational leadership. Her dissertation topic is centered around African-American Parental Involvement. She is a former VP and active member of the UCLA Black Alumni Association. Her passion for youth and parents drives her to empower parents and youth to demand the public school system properly educate students of all colors, starting with capable African-American students who, as a whole, underperform their peers at every level of education.

Angela is an author, writer, educator, and activist. She is on the path to completing her doctorate in educational leadership. Her dissertation topic is centered around African-American Parental Involvement. She is a former VP and active member of t... Show more

Claudiu Forgaci

Claudiu Forgaci

I am an assistant professor of urban design and analytics at TU Delft, passionate about asking spatial and non-spatial questions with R. I co-initiated Rbanism, a community of R users that aims to empower urbanism researchers, students, educators and practitioners to use open-source software and related open-science practices effectively and with confidence. Currently, I focus on developing an open-source tool for urban river space analysis, and on text mining applied in urbanism education.

I am an assistant professor of urban design and analytics at TU Delft, passionate about asking spatial and non-spatial questions with R. I co-initiated Rbanism, a community of R users that aims to empower urbanism researchers, students, educators and... Show more

Elle Benson

Elle Benson

WHY IS SHE SO HAPPY?
Elle Benson is a keynote speaker, author, and renowned national consultant who specializes in helping organizations transition to greater impact and build capacity. She founded Nonprofit Leadership LLC to support the social sector. With a remarkable career in the nonprofit sector, she has gained extensive expertise in various areas, including organizational development and change, executive transition consultancy, strategic planning, leadership development, and board governance.

Academically, Benson holds an MBA in organizational change and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. She has obtained certifications in BoardSource and Group Facilitation to support nonprofit board of directors.

Notably, Benson's thought-provoking TEDx talk, titled "A Crash Course in Learning to Laugh," has catapulted her into the spotlight as a highly sought-after keynote speaker. Benson's passion for sharing wisdom extends to her writing as well. She is the author of two books that focus on mindfulness and happiness. Her publications, "Cultivate Your Happiness: Mama-to-Be" and "Cultivating Calmness in Children," provide practical strategies and insights making happiness obtainable daily. Through her books and keynote presentations, Benson aims to empower individuals and teams to cultivate wellbeing in their lives.

WHY IS SHE SO HAPPY? Elle Benson is a keynote speaker, author, and renowned national consultant who specializes in helping organizations transition to greater impact and build capacity. She founded Nonprofit Leadership LLC to support the social sect... Show more

Kristen Engelke

Kristen Engelke

As a Licensed Spiritual Guide for the decade, Kristen has a thriving private practice helping others shift their thinking to change their lives. Her book, Bliss Breaks®, empowers individuals by challenging the misconception that mindfulness is difficult, time-consuming, and needs to be performed in private. Her workshops share fast, free, focused exercises that swiftly alleviate stress anywhere, anytime. She is a speaker, author, trainer, and workshop facilitator. Embracing creativity at every step, Kristen is seasoned in appealing to all types of participants and loves sharing a message of empowerment and hope.

As a Licensed Spiritual Guide for the decade, Kristen has a thriving private practice helping others shift their thinking to change their lives. Her book, Bliss Breaks®, empowers individuals by challenging the misconception that mindfulness is diffi... Show more

Guido Thys

Guido Thys

Guido Thys (b. 1956) studied General, Psycho- and Neurolinguistics and the Philosophy of Language in Antwerp (B), Leuven (B), Brussels (B) and Salzburg (AT). As a Lecturer in Strategy, Marketing and Database Management at a Business School, he (co-)authored 20 books & dozens of articles on these subjects and has presented over 2,600 times to business audiences. Wrote the (dBase-II) code for his first database in 1985 and has been at the forefront of database use ever since.
He is an avid collector of books (printed in Antwerp) and vice-president of the Antwerp Bibliophile Society.

Guido Thys (b. 1956) studied General, Psycho- and Neurolinguistics and the Philosophy of Language in Antwerp (B), Leuven (B), Brussels (B) and Salzburg (AT). As a Lecturer in Strategy, Marketing and Database Management at a Business School, he (co-)a... Show more

Ann Thuy-Ling Tran

Ann Thuy-Ling Tran

Ann Tran is an Assistant Professor of Asian & Asian American Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Tran's research brings together digital studies, food studies, religious studies, and sociolinguistics to explore how Vietnamese community cultural identity, hauntology, and familial stories of intergenerational trauma and healing are digitally archived to foster a global Viet Nam.

Ann Tran is an Assistant Professor of Asian & Asian American Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Tran's research brings together digital studies, food studies, religious studies, and sociolinguistics to explore how Vietnamese communit... Show more

Srebrenka Peregrin

Srebrenka Peregrin

Srebrenka Peregrin pripovijeda po knjižnicama, školama i vrtićima, na različitim kulturno-turističkim događanjima i SF&F konvencijama. Prevodi beletristku i piše kratke priče, od kojih je nekolicina nagrađena (metaFORA, Fairytalez, Sfera). Su-autorica je zbirki "Bajkarice", "Bajkari" i "Bajkarenje" te autorica romana o Frini, kurtizani u usponu.

Srebrenka Peregrin pripovijeda po knjižnicama, školama i vrtićima, na različitim kulturno-turističkim događanjima i SF&F konvencijama. Prevodi beletristku i piše kratke priče, od kojih je nekolicina nagrađena (metaFORA, Fairytalez, Sfera). Su-autoric... Show more

Lena Chen

Lena Chen

Lena Chen (she/her) is an artist and Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. Her scholarship examines the figure of the Asian America woman as (Tiger) Mother and Whore. Her work appears in the edited volumes Curating as Feminist Organizing (Routledge, 2022), Sex Work Now (NYU Press, forthcoming), and To Be Named (Routledge, forthcoming). She has taught classes on feminist theory, performance art, and socially engaged art. As an artist, she has exhibited, performed, and screened her work internationally. She has been awarded grants and residencies from Mozilla Foundation, Sundance Institute, Millay Colony for the Arts, Center for Cultural Power, Burning Man Global Arts Fund, Office of Public Art, and others. Currently, she is hosting community workshops on AAPI sexuality to devise a collective performance as part of her practice-based research.

She is a co-founder of JADED, the largest AAPI arts and cultural platform in Western Pennsylvania, and a founding member of MATERNAL FANTASIES, an interdisciplinary collective of mothers/artists and their children. She coordinates the Performing Asian American and Diasporic Sexualities working group at UC Berkeley’s Center for Race & Gender.

Lena Chen (she/her) is an artist and Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. Her scholarship examines the figure of the Asian America woman as (Tiger) Mother and Whore. Her... Show more

Barbra Pansiri

Barbra Pansiri

Barbra is currently on study leave and a Ph.D candidate at Bowling Green State University. Otherwise, she holds the position of Director of Student Welfare at the University of Botswana (UB). The job entails directing the management of halls of residence and general on-campus life to support students’ development, with functional areas in Student Orientation, Student Housing, Student Governance, Student Life Programs, Auxiliary Services, Disability Support Services, Off-Campus Students, and Student Conduct.

Barbra is currently on study leave and a Ph.D candidate at Bowling Green State University. Otherwise, she holds the position of Director of Student Welfare at the University of Botswana (UB). The job entails directing the management of halls of resi... Show more

Nicky Meindl (They/Them)

Nicky Meindl (They/Them)

Nicky is a queer, Chicane, and non-binary educator based in Long Beach, CA. They hold a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in curriculum and instruction, both of which were awarded by Chapman University. Nicky's research primarily focuses on the intersection of Queer Theory and Ethnic Studies. Their current role as a neurodivergent special education teacher has helped shape their understanding of disability in education.

Nicky is a queer, Chicane, and non-binary educator based in Long Beach, CA. They hold a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in curriculum and instruction, both of which were awarded by Chapman University. Nicky's research primarily focuse... Show more

Ala Kuzniatsova

Ala Kuzniatsova

Agilist, feminist, humanist

Agilist, feminist, humanist Show more

Zemara Waru-Keelan

Zemara Waru-Keelan

Triple Major Psychology, Anthropology and Māori Visual Art
MA in Kaupapa Māori Art Therapy
PhD Candidate Māori Womens History

Passionate about community and healing.
I share my tools for cohesive environments and well being techniques.

Keynote Speaker at Musical Theatre NZ Conference 2025: Performance Art and Mental Health

I can also run workshops, wānanga pertaining to any of my special areas.
I have been a mentor, tutor, teacher in the arts and social sciences for over 15 years.

Triple Major Psychology, Anthropology and Māori Visual Art MA in Kaupapa Māori Art Therapy PhD Candidate Māori Womens History Passionate about community and healing. I share my tools for cohesive environments and well being techniques. Keyno... Show more

Ivana Vermiglio

Ivana Vermiglio

Ivana Vermiglio (1996) è una dottoranda di ricerca in Studi Umanistici presso l’Università di Palermo. Si occupa dello studio della microtoponomastica di tradizione orale-popolare degli arcipelaghi e delle piccole isole siciliane. Fa parte del comitato scientifico del progetto ASES (Archivio dei soprannomi etnici siciliani) e di quello redazionale della collana DATOS (Dizionario-atlante dei toponimi orali in Sicilia) diretto dal Centro di studi filologici e linguistici siciliani, con cui collabora per l’allestimento della piattaforma digitale ATOS (Archivio dei toponimi orali in Sicilia): cfr. Chichi M., Vermiglio I., Verso la realizzazione di ATOS: struttura e progetto di una piattaforma digitale sulla toponomastica siciliana, in «Bollettino dell’Atlante Linguistico Italiano» 47, 2023, pp. 186-211. Tra i suoi interessi principali la toponomastica (Isola Ferdinandea. Breve resoconto di una storia onomastica emersa e inabissata, in «RIOn» 39/2, 2023), lo studio della testualità nei nuovi media (Quando la testualità si fa lingua nei giochi televisivi, in Paternostro G., Pinello V. (a cura di), Teorie e pratiche del testo. Grammatica, nuovi metodi, didattica e letteratura, University Press, Palermo 2024, pp. 143-165), l’onomastica letteraria (Emersioni letterarie e testuali di Ferdinandea dall’Ottocento a oggi: un casus anche onomastico, in «the Italianist», in corso di pubblicazione). Ha preso parte a diversi convegni nazionali e internazionali.

Ivana Vermiglio (1996) è una dottoranda di ricerca in Studi Umanistici presso l’Università di Palermo. Si occupa dello studio della microtoponomastica di tradizione orale-popolare degli arcipelaghi e delle piccole isole siciliane. Fa parte del comita... Show more

Julia Hartmann

Julia Hartmann

Professorin für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie

Professorin für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie Show more

Andreas Wennmann

Andreas Wennmann

Theologian, Coach and public speaker

Theologian, Coach and public speaker Show more

Julia Dziubinska

Julia Dziubinska

I have been studying psychology for 5 years. Cutrently, I am helping people on Autism Spectrum at Warsaw’s clinical hospital. I have an experience in public speaking at various conferences, related with mental disorders.

I have been studying psychology for 5 years. Cutrently, I am helping people on Autism Spectrum at Warsaw’s clinical hospital. I have an experience in public speaking at various conferences, related with mental disorders. Show more

Suzanne Persard

Suzanne Persard

Suzanne C. Persard is Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies in the Department of Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies at American University, Faculty Affiliate of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center and a faculty member of the Ethnographies of Empire research cluster. As an interdisciplinary scholar, writer and curator, her research, teaching and curatorial practice center histories of gender and sexuality within indentured Indian archives; queer and feminist visual cultures; and theories of decoloniality.

Suzanne C. Persard is Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies in the Department of Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies at American University, Faculty Affiliate of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center and a faculty mem... Show more

Ian Siderits

Ian Siderits

Ian O. Siderits is a Ph.D. Candidate and primary instructor at North Carolina State University and an adjunct instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Meredith College. He has a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University. Ian’s research focuses on employee contact with nature, organizational trust, technology in the workplace, and employee health and well-being. He has presented on various topics at conferences such as the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP), the Academy of Management (AOM), the First International Network on Trust (FINT), and 21st Century Summit on Positive Psychology Women's Mental Health & Entrepreneurship.

Ian O. Siderits is a Ph.D. Candidate and primary instructor at North Carolina State University and an adjunct instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Meredith College. He has a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University.... Show more

Amy Dix

Amy Dix

“A breath of fresh air, Amy inspires others through her positive outlook on life!”

Positive Psychology Practitioner, Happiness Expert, Two-Time No. 1 International Best-Selling Author

Amy inspires others to live life on a different level, rooted in positivity and pure happiness. Once Amy learned that she may only have 20 more years left to live, she started to think differently, make different choices, and help others to design the life they are meant to have.

Influenced by her mom, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Amy researched the science of positivity and happiness as illustrated in her latest book, “SEVEN MORE DAYS: Live a Life That's Bursting with Positivity and Happiness ... Before It's Too Late.” Seven More Days celebrates the transformative power of positivity and the potential of ultimate joy. It became a bestseller in eight countries and eight categories.

She now brings this message to the stage, creating a gripping experience of emotion, catapulting happiness, and challenging the chaos in today’s world.

“A breath of fresh air, Amy inspires others through her positive outlook on life!” Positive Psychology Practitioner, Happiness Expert, Two-Time No. 1 International Best-Selling Author Amy inspires others to live life on a different level, roote... 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

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Dr. Stefan T. Siegel

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫 @HSGStGallen
🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience

Education Researcher & Lecturer 👨‍🏫 @HSGStGallen 🇨🇭 | Researching #educationaltheory #educationalmedia | Enjoying #highered #sustainability #openscience Show more

Kien Nghi Ha

Kien Nghi Ha

Researcher, writer, curator, public speaker and community activist in Asian Germany since the 1990s

Education
2009 Ph.D. Cultural Studies (summa cum laude), University of Bremen (Germany)
1998 Diploma Political Sciences, Free University of Berlin

Academic and Professional Appointments
2023 Curator Asian Presences in Colonial Metropolis Berlin, Sinema Transtopia Berlin
Since 2020 Postdoctoral Researcher, Asian-Orient-Institute, University of Tübingen
2014-2016 Co-speaker of the Association for Intercultural Welfare, Empowerment and Diversity
2015 Senior Research Fellowship an der Bayreuth Academy of Advanced Studies, University of Bayreuth
Since 2012 Associated Fellow of the Institute for Postcolonial and Transcultural Studies, University of Bremen
2012 Co-curator of the Asia-Pacific Weeks at the House of World Cultures (Berlin)
2011 Visiting Professor at the Asia-Orient-Institute, University of Tübingen
2010 Curator Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond, Hebbel am Ufer Theater (Berlin)
since 2010 Member of korientation. Network for German-Asian Perspectives
2009-2010 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cluster of Excellence “Asia and Europe in a Global Context”, University of Heidelberg
2009 Visiting Scholar at Asian/Pacific/America-Institute, New York University
Since 2001 Independent researcher, writer and public speaker frequently invited to universities, museums, cultural and art institutions

Academic Awards (selected)
2023 Conference grant from the Platform “Global Encounters” of the University of Tübingen, funded by Excellence Strategy of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
2022 Project grant from “Promotion of Contemporary History and Remembrance Culture” of the Berlin Senate
2011 Augsburg Science Prize for Intercultural Studies – Main Award
2009 Publication grant from the FAZIT-Foundation of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
2007 Conference travel grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2001-2004 Doctoral scholarship of the Heinrich Böll Foundation
2001 European Commission’s “Human Potential Programme”

German Publications - Books (peer-reviewed)
2010 Impure and Mixed. Postcolonial Border Crossings through the Cultural History of Hybridity and Colonial “Racial Bastards” (Postcolonial Studies, Vol. 6), Münster: transcript
2005 Hype about Hybridity. Cultural Consumption of Difference and Postmodern Techniques of Utilization in Late Capitalism (Cultural Studies, Vol. 11), Bielefeld: transcript
1999 Ethnicity and Migration (Introductions: Basic Concepts of Social Philosophy and Social Theory, Vol. 9), Münster: Westfälisches Dampfboot

German Publications - Books (non peer-reviewed)
2025 Editor Anti-Asian Racism in Transatlantic Perspectives: History, Theory, Cultural Representations and Social Movements [in English in preparation]
2023 Editor Asian Presences in the Colonial Metropolis Berlin. Localizing Decolonialization. Berlin: Assoziation A [in print]
2012/2021 Editor Asian Germans [Extended]. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin: Assoziation A
2014 Editor Asian Germany–Asian Diaspora in Germany.Heinrich Böll Foundation
2013 Leading guest editor of the special edition surfacing – Empowering Asian Germany, No. 21, April 2013, Transcultural magazine freitext
2007 Co-editor Re/visions. Postcolonial Perspectives of People of Color on Racism, Cultural Politics and Resistance in Germany. Münster: Unrast
2005 Vietnam Revisited. Berlin: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Berlin
2004 Ethnicity and Migration Reloaded. Identity, Difference and Hybridity in Postcolonial Discourse. Berlin: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Berlin

More than 60 Book Chapters and Articles in Academic Journals (translated)
In print: On the Colonial Matrix of Anti-Asian Racism: Yellow Danger, Invisibility and Exoticization. In: German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) (ed.): Racism Research: Racisms, Communities and Anti-Racist Movements, Vol. 2, Bielefeld: transcript
In print: The Pogrom in Rostock-Lichtenhagen as Institutionalized Racism. In: Gudrun Heinrich/David Jünger/Oliver Plessow/Cornelia Sylla (eds.): Perspectives from Science on 30 Years of Lichtenhagen 1992. Berlin: Neofelis
2023 Coloniality and Asian-German perspectives in Hito Steyerl's “The Empty Middle” (1998). In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian presences in the colonial metropolis of Berlin. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A [in print]
2023 Chinese community in Berlin. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian presences in the colonial metropolis of Berlin. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A [in print]
2023 Interwoven Concealment: Coloniality, Anti-Semitism and Racism in Hito Steyerl's The Empty Middle (1998). In: Ömer Alkin/Alena Strohmaier (eds.): Racism and Film. Marburg: Schüren Verlag [in print]
2023 Human Rights: Multiple (State) Citizenships, Democracy, Anti-Racism and Decolonization. In: new German organizations (ed.): Citizenship Reloaded. Critical perspectives on citizenship in post-migrant society. Berlin, pp. 48-66.
2023 Anti-racist Alliances and Self-designations. A Critical Reflection on the BIPoC Approach. In: Birgit Jagusch/Yasmine Chehata (eds.): Empowerment and Power Sharing. Anchor Points – Positioning – Arenas. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa, 2023, pp. 156-177.
2022 On the Transnational Coloniality of Anti-Asian Racism: Yellow Peril and Anti-Chinese Migration Policy in the Pacific. In: Mechthild Leutner/Pan Lu/Kimiko Suda (eds.): Anti-Chinese and Anti-Asian Racism. Münster: LIT-Verlag, pp. 38-58.
2021 Hybridity and resistance. Constructions of identity and culture in the age of colonial globalization. In: Frank Eckardt/Hamidou Maurice Bouguerra (eds.): City and racism. Analyzes and perspectives for anti-racist urbanity. Münster: Unrast, 2021, pp. 27-42.
2021 Looking back and looking forward: Decentralized communities and transnational solidarities. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 11-20.
2021 The arrival of the Vietnamese boat people. Conjunctures and anomalies of an exceptional refugee and integration policy. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 132-139.
2021 Nguyễn Ngọc Châu and Đỗ Anh Lân († Hamburg 1980): No two-class society in cultural and remembrance politics!. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 140-149.
2021 Rostock-Lichtenhagen – The return of the repressed. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 150-166.
2021 Decolonial commemoration: The Peace Statue in honor of Asian defiant women. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 364-369.
2021 Solidarity and critique of power relationsships within the movement? Anti-Asian Violence and Intercommunal Alliances. In: Kien Nghi Ha (ed.): Asian German Extended. Vietnamese Diaspora and Beyond. Berlin-Hamburg: Association A, 2021, pp. 418-459.
2021 History and conception of Asian-German presences. In: Overview: Quarterly magazine of the IDA-NRW. No. 2/2021. June 2021, pp.3-9.
Full listing: See https://uni-tuebingen.de/en/208381

Researcher, writer, curator, public speaker and community activist in Asian Germany since the 1990s Education 2009 Ph.D. Cultural Studies (summa cum laude), University of Bremen (Germany) 1998 Diploma Political Sciences, Free University of Berli... Show more

Yuria Celidwen PhD

Yuria Celidwen PhD

I am Indigenous Nahua and Maya from the highlands of ‎Chiapas, Mexico. I study self-transcendence in Indigenous contemplative traditions ‎and how it enhances prosocial behavior (ethics, compassion, ‎kindness, and a sense of awe, love, and sacredness).‎ My ‎approach intersects ‎Indigeneity, psychology, and contemplation for ‎epistemological equity, relational ‎well-being, and actions toward planetary flourishing. I co-chair the Indigenous Religions ‎Unit of the American Academy of ‎Religion, I'm on the Contemplative ‎Studies committee, and I'm contemplative ‎faculty and scholar at UC Berkeley.‎

I am Indigenous Nahua and Maya from the highlands of ‎Chiapas, Mexico. I study self-transcendence in Indigenous contemplative traditions ‎and how it enhances prosocial behavior (ethics, compassion, ‎kindness, and a sense of awe, love, and sacredness)... Show more

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