ASPECT Students
Samuel Beckenhauer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Conspiracy Theory and Paranoia, Media and Technology, Critical Security Studies, U.S. Foreign Policy, Environmental Political Theory
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., International Politics, Aberystwyth University, 2019
B.A., Political Science, Vassar College, 2018
John Bernardi
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Philosophy of language, colonialism and governmentality, posthumanisms
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Religion in Culture, University of Alabama, 2021
B.S., Mathematics, University of Alabama, 2017
Alexandra Briggs
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Race and Ethnicity, Environmental Justice, Discourse Analysis, Feminist Political Theory, Aesthetics and Radical Politics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT,Virginia Tech
MA: Political and Civic Engagement, Winthrop University, 2016
BA: Political Science, Winthrop University, 2013
Casey Anne Brimmer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Queer Theory, Feminist Theory
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Women's and Gender Studies, University of Northern Iowa, 2017
B.A., Ethnic and Gender Studies, Westfield State University, 2014
Reed Byg
PH.D IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Political economy, political ecology, critical security studies, food systems, environmental ethics.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2020
B.A., Sociology / Philosophy, Green Mountain College, 2016
Ana María Camargo Palomino
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Environmental Politics, Environmental Justice, Postcolonial Theory and Latinx Studies.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A. Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2019
B.A. International Relations, Universidad del Norte, 2012
Sean Chambers
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
The MAAFA, Religious Ethics & Moral Problems, African American Studies, Interfaith Communication, Literature & Creative Writing.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.F.A., Creative Writing, Manhattanville College
B.A., English Language & Literature, U.Va.
Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate, Bryn Mawr College
Marie-Lys Chambraud
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Race and Ethnicity, Feminist Political Theory, Cultural Theory, Indigenous Studies, Decolonial Theory
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.S., English, Radford University, 2020
B.A., English & Spanish, Université Catholique de l’Ouest (France), 2018
Armin Firouzi
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical heritage studies, heritage politics, material culture, architectural history and theory, Middle Eastern geopolitics of cultural heritage.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Cultural Heritage Studies, Eastern Mediterranean University, 2021
B.A., Architectural Studies, Iranian Cultural Heritage Institute, 2018
B.Sc., Electrical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, 2014
Hannah Gignoux
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Political Economy, Political Theory, Literary Theory, Theories of Reading, Critical Pedagogy, Methodology
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2022
B.A., English / Politics (International Studies), Ithaca College, 2018
Hannah Glasson
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Environmental Political Theory, Systems Theory, 20th Century Economic Thought
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Philosophy of Religion, University of Chicago, 2014
BA: Comparative Study of Religion, Harvard University, 2010
Elhom Gosink
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Decolonial theory, Pedagogy, Critical theory, Indigenous knowledges, Post-Structuralism
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Community Leadership, Westminster College, 2021
B.A., Political Science, Westminster College, 2017
Shreya Hari Nurani
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
South Asian History, Ancient and Early Medieval Indian History, Religion, Society and Culture, Art and Aesthetics, and Performing Arts
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., History, St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, 2021
B.A., History, St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, 2019
Sabrina K. Harris
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Relations, International Organizations, Peacekeeping and Interventionism, Feminist and Gender Studies, Decolonial Theory, Critical Security Studies.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2021
B.A., Political Science, The College of Wooster, 2019
Cory L. Higgs
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Mass media communication, communication theory, Appalachia, marginalized culture, popular culture, visual social media.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.S., Strategic Communication, Radford University, 2022
B.S., Media Studies - Journalism, Radford University, 2019
Robert Hodges
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
International Security, Violent Non-state Actors, Culture and Belief Systems, International Order, International Society/System, IR Theory, and International Law
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2017
BA: Political Science, Virginia Tech, 2016
Trevor Jeyaraj Samraj
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Postcolonial Theories, Decolonial Theories, Theologies of Liberation, Political Theologies, Caste and Religion, Violence and Subaltern Identity, Affect Theories.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
MA., Theological Studies, Columbia Theological Seminary, 2019
M.Phil., English, University of Delhi, 2015
M.A., English Literature, St. Xavier’s College, 2013
BBA., Scott Christian College, 2010
Bai Jiang
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Global Digital Fandom, Digital Media Readership, Translingual Practice, Contemporary Chinese Popular Culture, Media Ecology, Critical Theory
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., East Asian Language and Culture, Washington University in St.Louis, 2023
B.A., Chinese Language and Literature, Fudan Uniersity, 2020
June Ann Jones
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Political theory, environmental politics, agrarian studies
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Vanderbilt University, 2018
B.A. Government and Psychology, University of Maryland, 2014
Andreza da Silveira Jorge
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Race and Ethnicity, Black Feminist Theory, Cultural Theory, Art and Dance and Perfomance Studies, Memory and public history.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Race and Ethnicity Relations/ CEFET/RJ/ 2019.
B.A., Dance/ Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro-UFRJ/ 2017
Jessica E. Long
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Communication theory, social media analysis, deconstruction, American Evangelicalism, critical theory, systems theory.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.S., Strategic Communication, Radford University, 2023
B.A., Mass Communications, Emory & Henry College, 2006
Luther Lee McPherson IV
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical Security Studies, Modern Political Thought, Political Theology, Ontological Perspectives of the Nation-state and Security, Genealogy
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Philosophy, Art, and Social Thought, The European Graduate School, 2022
MSc., International & European Politics, The University of Edinburgh, 2018
B.A., Political Science, California Lutheran University, 2017
Vasilije Mesarovic
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical theory, sociology of culture, social and political analysis of literary speculative fiction, queer theory, religious studies, narrative analysis
EDUCATION
Ph. D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Sociology, University of Belgrade, 2020
B.A., Sociology, University of Belgrade, 2019
Zahra Modarres Vahid
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Postcolonial Theories, Decolonial Theories, Arts and Community Change, Social Entrepreneurship, Feminism and Gender Studies, Heritage Management, Sustainable Development and Women’s Empowerment
EDUCATION
Ph. D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.B.A., Fashion Management, Bahar Business School, 2022
M.A., Art and Crafts, Alzahra University, 2019
B.A., Art and Crafts, Alzahra University, 2016
Rebekah Mui Pei Ern
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Postcolonial Theory, Anarcho-Pacifist Political Theory, Anabaptism, Christian Anarchism, Women and Empire
EDUCATION
Ph. D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
Master in Media and Communications Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University, 2019
B.A. (Hons), Early Childhood Care and Education, Institute of Technology Tralee, 2017
Leah Ramnath
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Critical theory, cynicism, governmentality, biopolitics, sociospatial analysis.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Social Science - Environment and Community, Humboldt State University, 2019
B.S., Environmental Science, Florida International University, 2016
Michael Senters
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Cultural Theory, New Media Studies,Modern American History, History of the Internet, Sociology of Online Social Networks, Political Extremism.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.I.L.R, Collective Representation, Cornell University, 2021
B.A., Political Science, University of Kentucky, 2018
Muhammed Shah Shajahan
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Philosophical Anthropology, Anthropology of Islam, South Asian Histories of Caste, Religion and Nationalism, Space and Subjectivity, Contemporary Urban Theories, Political Theology
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M. Phil.: Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad, 2018
MA: Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad, 2016
BA: Mass Communication, University of Calicut, 2013
Maria Siddiqui
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Literary Theory and Criticism, Translation Studies, Cultural Theory, and South Asian English Literature.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Literary Art Creative Writing, School of Culture and Creative Expressions, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi.
B.A., English Literature, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi.
Aline de Souza
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
art, sound art, visual arts and music, critical social theory, aesthetic education
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.F.A., Creative Technologies, Virginia Tech, 2020
M.L.A., Landscape Architecture, Virginia Tech, 2018
B.Arch., Architecture and Urbanism, University of Brasília, 2011
Julie Walters Steele
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Public History, Slavery and US Plantation Narratives, Race and Gender Studies, Social Justice Activism.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., English, Clemson University, 1993
B.A., English, Clemson University, 1985
Hannah Steinhauer
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Digital Race Studies, Black Feminist Political Theory, Social Media Activism, Memory Studies, Affect Theory.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Women's Studies, The University of Alabama, 2022
B.A., Mathematics, James Madison University, 2020
Aanila Kishwar Tarannum
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Free Speech, Political Communication, Communication Law & Policy, Critical Cultural Studies, Popular Culture, Online Communities.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Communication, Virginia Tech, 2023
B. B. A, Marketing, Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University, 2019
Chayne Wild
PH.D. IN THE ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ETHICAL, AND CULTURAL THOUGHT
RESEARCH AREAS
Post-Marxism, Discourse, Deconstruction, and Environmental Political Theory.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., ASPECT, Virginia Tech
M.A., Political Science, Colorado State University, 2021
B.S., General Social Science: Applied Economics, Business and Society, University of Oregon, 2019