Our People



Marlon M. Bailey

Marlon M.
Bailey

Chair of African and African American Studies
Professor of African and African American Studies, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Faculty Affiliate in the Performing Arts Department and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Equity
Candace Borders

Candace
Borders

Mellon Modeling Interdisciplinary Inquiry Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Humanities
​Talia Dan-Cohen

​Talia
Dan-Cohen

​Associate Professor of Sociocultural Anthropology Associate Director of the Center for the Humanities
"a man in a black shirt standing in an outdoor setting"

Damon
Davis

The Engaged City Community Fellow in Residence
Alicia Dean

Alicia
Dean

Administrative Coordinator II
Rachael DeWitt

Rachael
DeWitt

Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Humanities
Kristin Emanuel

Kristin
Emanuel

Graduate Student, Literature and Comparative Literature

Kathleen G.
Fields

Publications & Communications Manager
Richard Harrod

Richard
Harrod

Graduate Student in History Status: PhD
Clarissa Rile Hayward

Clarissa Rile
Hayward

Associate Chair of Political Science
Professor of Political Science
Professor of Philosophy (By Courtesy), and American Culture Studies (Affiliate)
Elizabeth Hunter

Elizabeth
Hunter

Assistant Professor of Drama Director of Graduate Studies, M.A. in Performance Studies
Christine Johnson

Christine
Johnson

​Associate Professor of History
Meredith Kelling

Meredith
Kelling

Assistant Director for Student Research and Engagement
Stephanie Kirk

Stephanie
Kirk

Director of the Center for the Humanities Professor of Spanish, Comparative Literature, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Caroline Kita

Caroline
Kita

Associate Professor of German Director of Graduate Studies, German and Comparative Literature
Performing Arts Department, Program in Film and Media Studies (Affiliate)
Esther Viola Kurtz

Esther Viola
Kurtz

Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology, Performing Arts Department (Affiliate), 
Department of African and African-American Studies (Affiliate),
(On sabbatical Spring 2026)
Jillian Lepek

Jillian
Lepek

Graduate Student, PhD
Thembelani (Themba) Mbatha

Thembelani (Themba)
Mbatha

Assistant Professor of African & African American Studies Assistant Professor of English (Courtesy Affiliate)
Caitlin McCoy

Caitlin
McCoy

Finance Cluster Supervisor
Hoyon Mephokee

Hoyon
Mephokee

Graduate Student, PhD
Patricia Olynyk

Patricia
Olynyk

Florence and Frank Bush Professor in Art , Professor, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts Affiliate Faculty in Medical Humanities, Performing Arts, and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Faculty Scholar, Institute for Public Health
Biodiversity Fellow, Living Earth Collaborative
College of Arts & Sciences

Affiliate Faculty, Center for Humanism and Ethics in Surgical Specialties
School of Medicine

Medicine + Media Arts Fellow, UCLA
Co-Director, NY LASER, (Leonardo/ISAST), New York
Laura Perry

Laura
Perry

Assistant Director for Research and Public Engagement
John Powers

John
Powers

Assistant Professor, Film and Media Studies
"Headshot of a woman in a black top sitting in an outdoor setting"

Daisy
Reid

Mellon Modeling Interdisciplinary Inquiry Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Humanities

Marlon M.  Bailey

  • Chair of African and African American Studies

  • Professor of African and African American Studies, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Faculty Affiliate in the Performing Arts Department and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Equity

McMillan Hall 231

Clarissa Rile  Hayward

  • Associate Chair of Political Science

  • Professor of Political Science
    Professor of Philosophy (By Courtesy), and American Culture Studies (Affiliate)

Seigle 238

Stephanie  Kirk

  • Director of the Center for the Humanities
  • Professor of Spanish, Comparative Literature, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Ridgley 409

Caroline  Kita

  • Associate Professor of German
  • Director of Graduate Studies, German and Comparative Literature
    Performing Arts Department, Program in Film and Media Studies (Affiliate)

Ridgley Hall, Room 328

Esther Viola  Kurtz

  • Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology,
  • Performing Arts Department (Affiliate), 
    Department of African and African-American Studies (Affiliate),
    (On sabbatical Spring 2026)

Seigle Hall, 105

Patricia  Olynyk

  • Florence and Frank Bush Professor in Art
  • Professor, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts
  • Affiliate Faculty in Medical Humanities, Performing Arts, and Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
    Faculty Scholar, Institute for Public Health
    Biodiversity Fellow, Living Earth Collaborative
    College of Arts & Sciences

    Affiliate Faculty, Center for Humanism and Ethics in Surgical Specialties
    School of Medicine

    Medicine + Media Arts Fellow, UCLA
    Co-Director, NY LASER, (Leonardo/ISAST), New York

Walker 004

Daisy  Reid

  • Mellon Modeling Interdisciplinary Inquiry Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for the Humanities

Umrath Hall, Room 214