About Wesleyan University

Alexis May serves as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, where she conducts groundbreaking research on suicide prevention and intervention. Her work employs multiple research methodologies to understand the progression from suicidal thoughts to actions. With funding from the Military Suicide Research Consortium, she develops innovative approaches to suicide prevention, including couple-based interventions for military service members. After earning her PhD from the University of British Columbia, she completed training at Brown University's Alpert Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah's National Center for Veterans Studies. Her clinical expertise includes dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. Her research has revealed important distinctions between factors that predict suicidal thoughts versus attempts, contributing significantly to understanding suicide risk and prevention strategies.

Amity Gaige is an acclaimed American novelist and creative writing instructor at Yale University. Her literary portfolio includes four celebrated novels: "O My Darling," "The Folded World," "Schroder," and "Sea Wife." Her work has garnered significant recognition, with "Schroder" being shortlisted for the Folio Prize in 2014 and "Sea Wife" selected as a New York Times Notable Book in 2020. As a 2016 Guggenheim Fellow in Fiction, her work has been translated into 18 languages and has earned critical acclaim from major literary publications. Her novels explore complex themes of family, identity, and relationships, drawing praise for their poetic style and narrative intensity. Beyond her writing, she contributes to the development of emerging writers through her teaching at Yale University, where she serves as a Lecturer in English. Her accomplishments also include a Fulbright Fellowship and residencies at prestigious writers' colonies including MacDowell and Yaddo.

Amy Bloom serves as the Distinguished University Writer in Residence and Director of the Shapiro Center for Creative Writing at Wesleyan University. A renowned author and former psychotherapist, she has earned critical acclaim for her novels, short stories, and most recently, her memoir "In Love." Her work has garnered numerous prestigious nominations, including the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. Her writing spans multiple genres, from fiction to essays, appearing in leading publications such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and Vogue. Her novels, including "Lucky Us," "Away," and "White Houses," have been translated into fifteen languages, demonstrating her global literary impact. Beyond her writing, she shapes future generations of writers through her leadership at Wesleyan, where she previously earned her own bachelor's degree before completing her MSW at Smith College. Her unique background in psychotherapy informs her nuanced character development and storytelling, contributing to her distinctive literary voice.

Andrew Szegedy-Maszak serves as Professor of Classical Studies and Jane A. Seney Professor of Greek at Wesleyan University. With degrees from the University of Michigan (B.A.) and Princeton University (M.A., Ph.D.), he has established himself as an expert in both Greek history and the history of photography. His interdisciplinary research combines classical studies with photographic history, particularly focusing on early photographic documentation of ancient Mediterranean sites. His significant publications include "The Nomoi of Theophrastus" and the collaborative work "Antiquity and Photography: Early Views of Ancient Mediterranean Sites." His excellence in teaching has been recognized with four teaching awards, demonstrating his commitment to both scholarship and education. Through his work, he has made important contributions to understanding how photography has shaped our perception and documentation of classical antiquity.

Ariel Levy, a Wesleyan University graduate (1996), has established herself as a prominent voice in contemporary journalism and literature. As a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2008, she has gained recognition for her insightful cultural criticism and compelling personal narratives. Her breakthrough book "Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture" critically examines post-feminist culture and women's relationship with sexuality in modern society. Her memoir "The Rules Do Not Apply" further showcased her talent for combining personal experience with cultural analysis. Her work has appeared in numerous prestigious publications, including The Washington Post, Vogue, and The New York Times. She has written notable profiles of influential figures and explored complex issues surrounding gender roles, sexuality, and modern feminism. Her contributions to journalism and literature earned her recognition as one of "Forty Under 40" most influential out individuals by The Advocate.

Brando Skyhorse serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Wesleyan University. His literary debut, "The Madonnas of Echo Park," earned both the 2011 PEN/Hemingway Award and the Sue Kaufman Award for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. A graduate of Stanford University and UC Irvine's MFA Writers' Workshop, he has established himself as a significant voice in contemporary American literature. His memoir "Take This Man" explores complex themes of identity and family, drawing from his experiences growing up in Echo Park, California. His work has been recognized through numerous fellowships, including residencies at Ucross, Can Serrat in Spain, and as the Jenny McKean Moore Writer-In-Washington at George Washington University. Through his teaching and writing, he continues to contribute to both academic and literary communities.

Petra Bonfert-Taylor is a Professor of Engineering and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. After receiving her PhD in Mathematics from Technische Universität Berlin in 1996, she has built an impressive career spanning mathematics and engineering education. Her research interests combine complex analysis and geometric function theory with innovative approaches to engineering education and student-centered learning. Previously serving as a Professor of Mathematics at Wesleyan University until 2015, she has held teaching positions at numerous institutions worldwide, including Yale University and the University of Michigan. Her contributions to education have earned her significant recognition, including the 2019 edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning and selection as a Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics. She actively works to broaden participation in STEM fields and has published extensively in both mathematical theory and educational innovation.

Greg Pardlo serves as a Visiting Scholar at Wesleyan University, bringing his distinguished background as a poet, writer, and educator. His collection "Digest" won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary American poetry. His work, including "Totem" and the memoir "Air Traffic," has earned widespread recognition for its exploration of identity, family, and American culture. Beyond his creative work, he has served as poetry editor for the Virginia Quarterly Review and has taught at numerous institutions including Rutgers University-Camden, Columbia University, and NYU Abu Dhabi. His poems, which combine urban and scholarly language, have appeared in prestigious publications such as The American Poetry Review, Harvard Review, and Ploughshares. A Guggenheim Fellow, his contributions to literature extend beyond poetry to include essays, translations, and memoir writing.

Jennifer D'Andrea serves as Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Wesleyan University since 2011, where she also holds a position as Visiting Assistant Professor in Liberal Studies. With a PhD from Fordham University and postdoctoral specialization from Yale University Medical School, she brings extensive expertise in treating serious mental illness and early psychosis prevention. Her educational background includes a Master of Education from Boston College and a BA from College of the Holy Cross. Under her leadership, CAPS has expanded its community mental health model, integrating therapy with education, prevention, and outreach initiatives. Her clinical focus includes cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder and the development of peer mental health advocacy programs like WESupport. She combines administrative leadership with active clinical practice, maintaining her role as a therapist while directing campus mental health services.

Jennifer Rose serves as Director of the Center for Pedagogical Innovation and Professor of the Practice at Wesleyan University's Quantitative Analysis Center. Along with colleague Lisa Dierker, she co-developed the "Passion-Driven Statistics" curriculum, which has transformed statistics education through project-based learning approaches. Her innovative teaching methods have earned multiple National Science Foundation grants to disseminate their educational model nationwide. As Director of the Institutional Review Board and Professor of the Practice in the Center for Pedagogical Innovation, she has significantly influenced how statistics is taught to undergraduate students. Her course "Intro to Statistical Consulting" provides students with real-world experience by connecting them with nonprofits for data analysis projects. Her work has extended the reach of this innovative teaching approach to thousands of students globally through online platforms and institutional partnerships.

Jill Morawski serves as Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, where she has made significant contributions to feminist psychology and the history of psychological science. Her research spans gender issues, women's psychology, reproductive technologies, and the historical development of psychological theory. Her influential book "Practicing Feminisms" earned the William James Book Award from the American Psychological Association, recognizing her critical examination of feminist research methodologies in psychology. As president of both the Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology and History of Psychology divisions of the American Psychological Association, she has shaped scholarly discourse in these fields. Her leadership roles at Wesleyan, including faculty Chair and Director of the Center for the Humanities, have fostered interdisciplinary approaches to psychological research and feminist scholarship.

Lisa Dierker, Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University, has transformed statistical education through her innovative "Passion Driven Statistics" curriculum. Her expertise spans chronic disease epidemiology and advanced statistical methods, leading to significant National Science Foundation funding for developing accessible, project-based teaching approaches. Her collaborative work across disciplines including public health, medicine, engineering, and neuroscience has produced groundbreaking research while making statistics more engaging for diverse student populations. Through her leadership in curriculum development and cross-disciplinary research, she has significantly influenced how quantitative methods are taught at the undergraduate level, while maintaining active research in epidemiology and public health.

Mary Alice Haddad serves as the John E. Andrus Professor of Government and Professor of East Asian and Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University, where she specializes in environmental politics, city diplomacy, and civic engagement in East Asia. Her influential research spans environmental advocacy, democracy building, and urban policy, particularly in China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. A Fulbright and Harvard Academy scholar, she has authored four books including "Environmental Politics in East Asia" and "Effective Advocacy: Lessons from East Asia's Environmentalists," contributing significantly to understanding environmental movements and policy development in East Asia. As Director of the Office of Faculty Career Development, she combines her academic expertise with leadership in higher education while maintaining active engagement in environmental policy discourse through publications and international collaborations.

Matthew Kurtz serves as Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Behavior at Wesleyan University, while holding an appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. After earning his doctorate from Princeton University, he has dedicated his career to developing innovative treatments for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. His research focuses on cognitive remediation techniques, evaluating their effectiveness through functional neuroimaging, neurocognitive testing, and real-world outcomes. His work extends to improving social cognition and emotion recognition in schizophrenia patients, combining clinical practice with groundbreaking research to advance understanding of severe mental illness treatment.

Michael S. Roth serves as the 16th president of Wesleyan University, bringing expertise in intellectual history and cultural studies to his leadership role. A Wesleyan alumnus who completed his PhD at Princeton University, he has authored numerous influential books including "Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters" and "Safe Enough Spaces." His scholarly work spans psychoanalysis, memory studies, and educational philosophy, while his curatorial achievements include the landmark Freud exhibition at the Library of Congress. As university president since 2007, he advocates for pragmatic liberal education while maintaining an active teaching and publishing schedule. His leadership combines academic scholarship with administrative innovation, focusing on making higher education more inclusive and intellectually engaging.

Richard Adelstein, a distinguished professor at Wesleyan University since 1975, combines expertise in law, economics, and social history. With degrees from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, he has shaped interdisciplinary understanding of institutional development and social order. His scholarly work, including "The Rise of Planning in Industrial America" and "The Exchange Order," examines how economic systems and legal institutions evolve. A two-time recipient of Wesleyan's Binswanger Award for Excellence in Teaching, he has held visiting positions at Oxford, Harvard, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. His pioneering work in law and economics, coupled with his research on business history and institutional development, has influenced multiple academic disciplines while maintaining a commitment to undergraduate education.

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh serves as a Visiting Scholar at Wesleyan University, bringing his expertise as an acclaimed memoirist, playwright, and fiction writer. Winner of the 2010 Whiting Award for his memoir "When Skateboards Will Be Free," he has established himself as a significant voice in contemporary American literature. His work, including short story collections "American Estrangement" and "Brief Encounters With the Enemy," explores themes of cultural identity, social movements, and American life. His writing regularly appears in prestigious publications like The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and The New York Times, while his plays have been produced at notable venues including South Coast Repertory and The Humana Festival. Through his teaching and writing, he addresses complex themes of identity, politics, and contemporary American experience.

Salvatore Scibona serves as the Frank B. Weeks Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Wesleyan University, bringing recognition as a Guggenheim Fellow and National Book Award finalist for his novel "The End." Named one of The New Yorker's "20 Under 40: Fiction Writers to Watch" in 2010, he has significantly influenced contemporary American literature. His experience includes directing the writing fellowship program at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and establishing their online writing workshop program, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing emerging writers while maintaining his own distinguished literary career.

Scott Plous serves as Professor of Psychology at Wesleyan University and Executive Director of Social Psychology Network, transforming psychology education through digital innovation. After earning his PhD from Stanford University, he has dedicated his career to researching prejudice, decision-making, and ethical issues while developing groundbreaking educational resources. His contributions include founding the Social Psychology Network, which has received over 380 million page views, and creating a massive open online course reaching more than 1.3 million students worldwide. His excellence in teaching and research has earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Charles L. Brewer Award for Distinguished Teaching, the William James Book Award, and recognition as Connecticut Professor of the Year. Through his work in "action teaching" and development of educational technology, he continues to advance social psychology's role in promoting peace, social justice, and sustainable living.

Sharon Belden Castonguay serves as Executive Director of the Gordon Career Center at Wesleyan University, bringing over 20 years of experience as an adult developmental psychologist and career counselor. With a doctorate in Human Development & Psychology from Harvard and a master's from the University of Michigan, she combines academic expertise with practical career guidance. Her work, including her TEDx talk "The Psychology of Career Decisions" and courses like "Success and Failure," explores the intersection of identity, culture, and career development. Her insights have been featured in major media outlets including Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and Inc.com, while her podcasts "Careers by Design" and "First Year Out" demonstrate her commitment to innovative career education. Through teaching, writing, and leadership, she helps professionals at all career stages navigate their professional development.