Humanities & Social Sciences

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

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

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

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

Leah Milne

Leah Milne

Leah Milne is the author of Novel Subjects: Authorship as Radical Self-Care in Multiethnic American Narratives https://linktr.ee/leahmilne

Leah Milne is the author of Novel Subjects: Authorship as Radical Self-Care in Multiethnic American Narratives https://linktr.ee/leahmilne Show more

Benalia Kaouther

Benalia Kaouther

-Clinical Psychology student
-Writer, Speaker, and Content maker

-Clinical Psychology student -Writer, Speaker, and Content maker Show more

Olga Afanaseva

Olga Afanaseva

I'm 34 y.o. and I live in Russia. I have university degree in Human Resources speciality. As many people in the world I'm worried a lot about what happens in our planet now. As a mother I couldn't stop thinking what future my child will have. As a human being I want to do anything possible for our human race to evolve with love and peace, because it is the only way we can help our planet and develop the other ones. For the last 2 years I've been writing my book, which I'd love to present you.

I'm 34 y.o. and I live in Russia. I have university degree in Human Resources speciality. As many people in the world I'm worried a lot about what happens in our planet now. As a mother I couldn't stop thinking what future my child will have. As a hu... Show more

Debby Spitzer

Debby Spitzer

Debby Spitzer is an international speaker, literacy specialist, educational consultant, and historical fiction author with more than 25 years of experience in education and publishing.

Debby speaks at education conferences throughout the United States, as well as international literacy and early childhood education conferences. Her presentations focus on the Science of Reading, early literacy development, phonemic awareness, phonics, play-based learning, and social-emotional development. Known for her engaging, interactive presentation style, Debby brings research to life through hands-on activities, practical strategies, and real-world classroom applications that inspire educators and provide ideas they can immediately put into practice.

In addition to her work in education, Debby is passionate about history and storytelling. She is the author of The Girl Who Rode in Secret, a young adult historical novel set in the Netherlands during World War II. Inspired by more than 20 years of historical research, visits to the Netherlands, and interviews with individuals connected to the Dutch Resistance, her writing explores courage, resilience, and the extraordinary contributions of ordinary people.

Her manuscript was shortlisted for the 2026 Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition (Children's & YA) and was a finalist in the 2025 Writers' League of Texas Manuscript Contest.

Whether speaking about literacy, early childhood education, or history, Debby brings research, storytelling, and practical insights together to engage and inspire audiences.

Debby Spitzer is an international speaker, literacy specialist, educational consultant, and historical fiction author with more than 25 years of experience in education and publishing. Debby speaks at education conferences throughout the United St... Show more

Ileana Moreno

Ileana Moreno

Dort.ssa Ileana Moreno Viqueira è Professoressa di Lingua e Letteratura Italiana presso
l’Università di Porto Rico, Recinto di Río Piedras, dove insegna corsi intensivi di lingua
italiana
e seminari avanzati di letteratura, incluso il corso interdisciplinare “Literatura y ciencias en
la
cultura italiana,” che esamina Calvino come chiave critica per letteratura, matematica e
scienza.
Cresciuta a Madrid prima del trasferimento della famiglia a Porto Rico, la Dott.ssa Moreno
ha
attraversato due sistemi educativi distinti, esperienza che ha plasmato il suo approccio
comparativo alla lingua e alla cultura. Un semestre universitario in Italia segnò l’inizio di
molti
anni vissuti nel paese, dove ha ricoperto il ruolo di Direttrice delle Attività Culturali presso
la
Casa Italiana. La sua carriera ha incluso anche traduzione letteraria, interpretariato legale
e tutoraggio accademico.
Prima del dottorato in Letteratura Italiana alla Columbia University — la cui tesi ha
esplorato le strutture matematiche di Calvino — ha conseguito una laurea in Matematica e Informatica
alla Stanford University, lavorando come Systems Engineer presso IBM.

Dort.ssa Ileana Moreno Viqueira è Professoressa di Lingua e Letteratura Italiana presso l’Università di Porto Rico, Recinto di Río Piedras, dove insegna corsi intensivi di lingua italiana e seminari avanzati di letteratura, incluso il corso int... Show more

Jinah Kim

Jinah Kim

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liberties Grant.

Jinah Kim's research focuses on the American Century in Asia, decolonizing Korea, and legacies of US militarism in the Asia-Pacific. She is the recipient of the 2020-2021 National Endowment for the Humanities Award and the 2020 California Civil Liber... Show more

Taylor Norfleet

Taylor Norfleet



Taylor Norfleet is an interdisciplinary legal scholar and researcher working at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and policy. She earned her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, with minors in Biology and Chemistry. At Emory Law she served as Staff Editor for the Southern Journal of Policy and Justice and competed in the AIPLA Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial Patent Moot Court Competition.

Her scholarly research addresses blind spots in emerging technology governance by bridging cognitive science with legal theory. She serves on the Editorial Board of the Law Student Engagement Committee for the ABA Science and Technology Law Section and co-authored “Who Owns the Decision? Why Emotion AI Demands a New Legal Framework” in The SciTech Lawyer, analyzing how real-time emotional decoding subverts traditional notice-and-consent regimes. Her scholarly work includes research on AI companionship platforms (“Engineered Intimacy”), applying vulnerability theory to argue for a functionalist regulatory framework that protects universal human cognitive vulnerabilities, and work on generative AI (“Hybrid Thinking Systems”) conceptualizing Large Language Models through the extended mind thesis as a digital exocortex that scaffolds cross-disciplinary human thought.

Her practical experience spans research and litigation. As a Team Member at the Emory University Center for AI Learning, she authored the legal and ethical considerations for institutional data pipeline projects. She has served as research assistant, researching global intellectual property frameworks supporting technological ecosystem development in emerging markets, and as law clerk supporting trade secrets litigation and confidential document reviews. She is the founder and proprietor of Norfleet Digital LLC, a learning practice building a sociotechnical culture inclusive of all minds by helping people to better grasp human-AI interaction and develop language to describe their own lived experiences.

Taylor Norfleet is an interdisciplinary legal scholar and researcher working at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and policy. She earned her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of S... Show more

Amber Daughn

Amber Daughn

Amber Daughn is an international speaker, facilitator, entrepreneur, and founder of Women Onstage Collective whose work explores communication, connection, leadership, gender, and the lived experiences that shape how we show up in the world.

Her talks and workshops are built around a simple premise: some of the most useful things we know aren’t things we learned from a textbook. They come from what we’ve lived, noticed, navigated, questioned, screwed up, and figured out along the way.

Amber brings those ideas into rooms through keynotes, interactive workshops, and multi-day facilitated experiences. Her work ranges from helping people uncover and articulate their Lived Genius and tell better stories, to examining how gender shapes feedback and recognition, why women can be highly rated yet less heard, how leadership changes across different environments, and why most of us were never actually taught how to network and build meaningful professional relationships.

Her current talks and facilitated experiences include Lived Genius Mapping, Pocket Story + Campfire, Networking Primer, Rated Higher + Heard Less, Alpha to Omega Leadership, and Atta Boy vs. Good Girl.

A full-time nomad with no home base, Amber has built businesses, communities, and relationships across cultures and countries. That global perspective runs through her work, along with a curiosity about the assumptions we inherit about how we’re supposed to communicate, connect, work, and lead.

Amber Daughn is an international speaker, facilitator, entrepreneur, and founder of Women Onstage Collective whose work explores communication, connection, leadership, gender, and the lived experiences that shape how we show up in the world. Her t... Show more

Marina Krizman

Marina Krizman

Meet Marina, a self-proclaimed Fleabag fanatic! Ever since stumbling upon the show during a lazy Sunday binge-watch session, she's been hooked on the witty humor and raw honesty of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's masterpiece. From the iconic fourth-wall breaking to the hilarious and heart-wrenching relationships, Marina can't get enough of Fleabag's antics. She's watched every episode multiple times, analyzed every character's motives, and even started a Fleabag-themed Instagram account. Her friends and family might think she's a bit obsessed, but Marina knows that Fleabag is more than just a show - it's a work of art that speaks to her soul.

Meet Marina, a self-proclaimed Fleabag fanatic! Ever since stumbling upon the show during a lazy Sunday binge-watch session, she's been hooked on the witty humor and raw honesty of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's masterpiece. From the iconic fourth-wall break... Show more

Haeun Park

Haeun Park

Haeun Park is a researcher in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, working at the intersection of child mental health, disability, and public health policy. Park’s research examines the association between early-life adversity and resilience, management of self-injurious behavior in people with disabilities, and the use of ecological momentary assessment and thematic analysis to inform prevention and intervention. Guided by implementation science, Park aims to develop feasible, evidence-based supports for vulnerable populations and pursue doctoral training in health and social sciences.

Haeun Park is a researcher in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, working at the intersection of child mental health, disability, and public health policy. Park’s research examines the association between early-life adversi... Show more

Nicole Walker

Nicole Walker

Nicole Walker is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement at Louisiana State University's Center for Academic Success, where she leads campus-wide initiatives focused on student success, academic engagement, and belonging. She oversees outreach programming, develops academic success workshops, coordinates bridge and transition programs, and collaborates with campus partners to create meaningful support systems for undergraduate students.

Prior to her work in higher education, Nicole served as a speech-language pathologist, bringing a student-centered approach and strong foundation in communication, learning, and development to her work. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of South Alabama and a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Louisiana State University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research with a concentration in Higher Education Administration at LSU.

Nicole serves as President of the Louisiana College Learning Center Association (LCLCA), where she works to advance collaboration and professional development among learning center professionals across the state. Her research interests include college readiness, bridge programs, academic support services, student persistence, and the role of learning centers in promoting student success.

A frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, Nicole enjoys sharing practical, evidence-informed strategies that higher education professionals can immediately apply on their own campuses. Her presentations blend research, real-world experience, and interactive learning to create engaging sessions that leave participants with actionable ideas and renewed enthusiasm for supporting students.

Nicole Walker is the Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement at Louisiana State University's Center for Academic Success, where she leads campus-wide initiatives focused on student success, academic engagement, and belonging. She oversees outre... Show more

Mohamed Laghdaf

Mohamed Laghdaf

Mohamed Laghdaf is a 22-years old certified software engineer from BlueCrest College, where he obtained a diploma in software engineering. He also holds a diploma with distinction in Peace and Conflict Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sierra Leone. Currently, he is in the final stage of pursuing an LL.B alongside an LL.M (Master of Laws) simultaneously, with a particular interest in technology law.

Professionally, Mohamed Laghdaf is an academia, aspiring to become a global expert in AI accountability and liability frameworks. In 2024, he serves as the director of the FALAS Human Rights Student Wing at the Republic of Sierra Leone. In October 2025, he serves as a keynote speaker in Liberia and has also been invited to Kigali for a subsequent session in October 2026. Additionally, he is the president of the Njala Association of Law Mooters. He is fluent in English and Arabic and a beginner in Spanish.

Mohamed's professional memberships include being a Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Freetown Peninsula, a young student member at the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (England), and an honorary member of the Honours Society (USA).

His currently trying to obtain a license from the Chartered Institute of Professional Security Studies in AI governance and risk management. He is also a PhD applicant at the University of Canberra, Australia, focusing his research on "Assessing the Concept of Legal Personhood in the Age of Artificial Intelligence."

In summary, Mohamed Laghdaf is an emerging international legal scholar dedicated to integrate law, technology, and conflict resolution, with the aim of promoting a better global policy framework.

Mohamed Laghdaf is a 22-years old certified software engineer from BlueCrest College, where he obtained a diploma in software engineering. He also holds a diploma with distinction in Peace and Conflict Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Peace and Conflict S... Show more

Clara Adams

Clara Adams

Clara is an independent public philosopher and cultural critic whose work examines the subconscious systems, practices, and beliefs that quietly structure contemporary life. She focuses on the shadow sides of culture: the unspoken assumptions and deeper forces that shape how we live, relate, and organize society. Drawing on interdisciplinary methods, she connects philosophy, cultural analysis, and concept design to surface what usually remains hidden. Through her brand Metanoia, she develops projects that translate these inquiries into tangible experiences. She is currently preparing her debut dining pop-up as one such exploration.

Clara is an independent public philosopher and cultural critic whose work examines the subconscious systems, practices, and beliefs that quietly structure contemporary life. She focuses on the shadow sides of culture: the unspoken assumptions and dee... Show more

María Fernanda Vélez Argoti

María Fernanda Vélez Argoti

Aufgewachsen in einem mehrsprachigen Umfeld, interessiere ich mich besonders dafür, wie Sprachen erworben werden und wie sich das eigene Selbstbild in verschiedenen Sprachen verändert. Fachlich liegen meine Schwerpunkte auf Mehrsprachigkeit, kultursensibler Sprachbildung und kritischen Perspektiven auf Native-Speakerism.

Aufgewachsen in einem mehrsprachigen Umfeld, interessiere ich mich besonders dafür, wie Sprachen erworben werden und wie sich das eigene Selbstbild in verschiedenen Sprachen verändert. Fachlich liegen meine Schwerpunkte auf Mehrsprachigkeit, kulturse... Show more

Sagan C.

Sagan C.

Hello! My name is Sagan, and I am a painter and author. In 2018 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and now I speak at events about my journey through that, about art, and about philosophy.

Hello! My name is Sagan, and I am a painter and author. In 2018 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and now I speak at events about my journey through that, about art, and about philosophy. 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

Susanne Iris Bauer

Susanne Iris Bauer

seit Feb 2026 Professur für Soziale Arbeit an der DHSH Kiel
2021- 2025 H³ - Projektkoordination HS Fulda
seit 2017 Lehre und Forschung Sozialwissenschaften
Systemische Organisationsentwicklerin
Doktorandin HS Fulda, M.A. Social Works

seit Feb 2026 Professur für Soziale Arbeit an der DHSH Kiel 2021- 2025 H³ - Projektkoordination HS Fulda seit 2017 Lehre und Forschung Sozialwissenschaften Systemische Organisationsentwicklerin Doktorandin HS Fulda, M.A. Social Works Show more

Lindsey Jarrett

Lindsey Jarrett

Lindsey Jarrett, PhD, serves as VP of Ethical AI Services at the Center for Practical Bioethics, and Adjunct Faculty for the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center. She works to identify and articulate ethical problems, risks, and potential harms associated with the unexamined use of artificial intelligence and machine learning when applied to health information and services. Dr. Jarrett holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Sociology and in Criminal Justice and Criminology (2004), a Master’s Degree in Social Policy and Administration from the University of Nottingham, (2007), and a Ph.D. in Therapeutic Science from the University of Kansas (2015). When she's not wearing her professional hat, you can find her living the Mom life, on the soccer field, listening to her husband's music, or giving her cat Otis all the pampering she deserves.

Lindsey Jarrett, PhD, serves as VP of Ethical AI Services at the Center for Practical Bioethics, and Adjunct Faculty for the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center. She works to identify and articulate ethical ... 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

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

Anthony Julian Tamburri

Anthony Julian Tamburri

ANTHONY JULIAN TAMBURRI is Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute and Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures. He is co-founder and co-director of Bordighera Press, with Fred Gardaphé and Paolo Giordano, which is now an official entity of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute. Tamburri served as president of the Italian American Studies Association and o fthe American Association of Teachers of Italian.
Concentrating on semiotics, the literature and cinema of Italy and its diaspora, and interpretation theory, he has authored twenty-two books, long and short, in both English and Italian, and more than 140 peer-reviewed essays and book chapters. Some of his books of the past thirty-five years include Of Saltimbanchi and Incendiari: Aldo Palazzeschi and Avant-Gardism in Italy. (1990); To Hyphenate or not to Hyphenate: the Italian/American Writer: Or, An Other American? (1991); A Semiotic of Ethnicity: In (Re)cognition of the Italian/American Writer (1998); Italian/American Short Films & Music Videos: A Semiotic Reading (2002); Una semiotica della ri-lettura: Guido Gozzano, Aldo Palazzeschi, e Italo Calvino (2003); Narrare altrove: diverse segnalature letterarie (2007); Re-reading Italian Americana: Generalities and Specificities on Literature and Criticism (2014); Un biculturalismo negato: La letteratura “italiana” negli Stati Uniti (2018); The Columbus Affair: Imperatives for an Italian/American Agenda (2021); Signing Italian/American Cinema: A More Focused Look (2021); A Politics of [Self-]Omission: The Italian/American Challenge in A Post-George Floyd Age (2022); Expanding Diasporic Identity: A Multi-directional Path to the New Italian Writer (2025); and Knowledge, What Is It Good For? Italian/American Leadership in the Twenty-first Century (2025).
Tamburri has been acknowledged by several organizations over the years for his work; some recognitions include Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Southern Connecticut State University (2000); Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (2010); “Frank Stella Person of the Year Award,” ILICA (2010); “The Lehman-LaGuardia Award for Civic Achievement,” OSDIA & B’nai B'rith International (2012); AATI Award for Distinguished Service for Colleges and Universities (2013); The Joseph Coccia Jr. Heritage, Language and Culture Award (2016); Italian American Leadership Award, Italian Charities (2023). In 2025 the A Colorni-Hershman International Institute published a selection of his essays in Italian in its series “Culture Mediterranee,” entitled Gli americani italiani: cultura e società, Nicoletta Stame and Sabrina Vellucci, eds.
When not directing two book series (one in English, “Italian Series” [Fairleigh Dickinson University Press]; the other in Italian, “Americana” [Franco Cesati Editore]), he is executive producer and host of the Calandra Institute’s TV program, Italics.
Tamburri’s degrees are from Southern Connecticut State University (B.S., Italian), Middlebury College (M.A., Italian), and University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D., Italian & Spanish). In addition to teaching at Smith College, Middlebury College, and Auburn University, he spent thirteen years at Purdue University before moving to Florida Atlantic where, from 2000 to 2006, he served as Chair of Languages and Linguistics and, subsequently, Associate Dean for Research, Graduate, and Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as director of the Ph.D. in Comparative Studies.

ANTHONY JULIAN TAMBURRI is Dean of the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute and Distinguished Professor of European Languages and Literatures. He is co-founder and co-director of Bordighera Press, with Fred Gardaphé and Paolo Giordano, which i... Show more

Abbie Marono

Abbie Marono

Dr. Abbie Maroño is an internationally recognized behavioral and social scientist, acknowledged by the U.S. Department of State as a top 1% expert. She has delivered behavioral analysis training to representatives from 29 U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as to senior leadership at INTERPOL. Dr. Abbie is the creator of The Upper Hand, a proprietary framework for understanding human decision-making and influence. After delivering this training, the U.S. Secret Service recognized her expertise with an award for outstanding contribution to their forensic services. ​

​Earning her PhD in Psychology, Abbie became a Professor of Psychology at 23 and now specializes in behavior analysis. She contributes regularly to Forbes, Court TV, and Apple News and has been featured on BBC News, Fox News, WIRED, Reuters, Forbes Breaking News, and many more. Dr. Abbie is also a highly sought-after expert witness, retained for high-profile cases, including lawsuits involving A-list celebrities.

As an active member of internationally recognized research groups, Abbie was honored as Reviewer of the Year for her significant contribution to the academic community. Additionally, she is an author, expert consultant, coach, and a TEDx speaker.

Dr. Abbie Maroño is an internationally recognized behavioral and social scientist, acknowledged by the U.S. Department of State as a top 1% expert. She has delivered behavioral analysis training to representatives from 29 U.S. federal agencies, inclu... 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 Ham

Julie Ham

Julie Ham is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Brock University.

Julie Ham is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Brock University. Show more

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