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Research Program Mentors

Polygence mentors are selected based on their exceptional academic background, teaching experience, and unique ability to inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers and industry leaders.

History
Rachel Nefertari

Rachel Nefertari

PhD

Expertise

Cross Cultural conflict resolution, cultural medicine, refugee health diplomacy and policy, Middle East and North Africa

William

William

MA

Expertise

Game Design and Development, Web Design, Agile software development, Game Design theory Archaeology, Digital Humanities, Research Essays, Photogrammetry, Digital Art, Virtual Reality, Unity Game Engine

Katy

Katy

MA

Expertise

Early and Modern Middle Eastern history, Political Science, Latin American history, Arab and Latin American cinema, feminist cinema, film theory, ethnography, Islamic Studies

Bailey

Bailey

PhD

Expertise

Writing, rhetorical analysis, feminist analysis, archival research, creative writing

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Griffin Smith-Nichols

Industry expert

Expertise

Ancient Greek and Latin classics, medieval literature and languages, history of religion, German

Christine

Christine

PhD candidate

Expertise

mental health, inequality, culture, qualitative methods (interviews, ethnography, archival analysis, content analysis), social justice, social problems, sociology, sociology of religion and spirituality, gender and sexuality studies, sexual and reproductive health, ethnic studies, disability studies

Alexandra

Alexandra

PhD candidate

Expertise

20th Century American History

Alyssa

Alyssa

PhD candidate

Expertise

Communication. Political Communication. Rhetoric. Political Polarization. Politics. Government.

Hunter

Hunter

PhD

Expertise

History; Religion; Islamic Studies; History of the Middle East; History of South Asia; Issues in Science and Religion; the History of Philosophy; Science and Technology Studies (STS)

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

PhD

Expertise

European and Middle East History, Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, French Literature,

Rose

Rose

MS

Expertise

Comparative religion, drama and esl education, cultural experiences, Ed tech

AJ

AJ

PhD candidate

Expertise

Journalism (reporting, multimedia, publishing, editing), French, Arabic, contemporary Arabic culture, international relations, international political economy, creative writing (novella, short story, haiku), photography, history of post-world war Europe and Middle East

Kristen

Kristen

PhD

Expertise

History; Anthropology; STS (Science, Technology & Society Studies); Environmental History; Medical Anthropology; colonial, post-colonial, de-colonial studies; feminist anthropology; the social study of science and technology; East African history; Imperialism; social science; creative writing & ethnographic writing/autoethnography

Rebecca

Rebecca

MA

Expertise

Memorialization culture (monuments, memorials, and museums); Public history; Genocide, crimes against humanity, and mass atrocities; History of human rights; Germany [German literature, poetry, film, and art]; 20th century; World War II

Sophia

Sophia

MA candidate

Expertise

physics (particle physics, biophysics), history (modern Chinese history, Soviet history, Cold War history, environmental history, intellectual history)

Mikaela (Mik)

Mikaela (Mik)

MS

Expertise

History; Cultural heritage; archaeology; anthropology; Classical studies (Ancient Greek & Roman history, language and culture); library science and archives

Katie

Katie

MPA

Expertise

History, English, Psychology, Environmental Science/Studies, Political Science, Environmental Policy, Environmental Justice, Immigration Rights, Social Justice, Advocacy

Anthony

Anthony

PhD

Expertise

Classical studies (Latin and Greek language and literature), Greek and Roman archaeology, Greek and Roman history, art history, history of architecture, US history, world history, creative writing

Ievgeniia

Ievgeniia

PhD

Expertise

Ukraine, Ukrainian history and literature, the Renaissance and the Reformation in Western Europe, Eastern European and Russian history.

Melissa

Melissa

MS

Expertise

Human Computer Interaction, User Experience, History