College of Arts and Sciences Welcomes New Faculty for 2023-24
September 18, 2023
Communications Staff
Students choose Oberlin—and thrive at Oberlin—because of the nurturing mentorship of the outstanding faculty who guide their learning. We are honored to welcome the newest additions to our faculty across the College of Arts and Sciences for 2023-24.
Ghassan Abou-Zeineddine
Education
- BA in Psychology with a minor in Creative Writing, George Washington University
- MA in Creative Writing, Columbia University
- PhD in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Abou-Zeineddine’s stories draw on real-life observations. His recent short story cycle, “Dearbornites,” captures the Michigan city’s evolution and reflects his dedication to portraying the essence of communities.
Kari Barclay
Education
- BA in Theater Studies and Political Science, Duke University
- PhD in Theater and Performance Studies, Stanford University
Barclay specializes in the nexus of performance and politics. With expertise in intimacy directing, queer and trans performance, and theater history, his work emphasizes consensual and trauma-informed approaches.
Matthew Berkman
Education
- BA in Philosophy and Religious Studies, NewYork University
- MA in Near Eastern Studies, New York University
- PhD in Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
Berkman is a political scientist with expertise in American Jewish history, race and ethnicity, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. His research delves into the role of philanthropic federations in shaping American Jewish political infrastructure post-WWII.
Monica Blatnik
Education
- BS in Biology, Xavier University
- PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Ohio State University
Blatnik’s research focuses on understanding gene regulatory programs underlying vertebrate development using the zebrafish model system. She’s an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the scientific community.
Shana Cui
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Capital Normal University
- PhD in Economics, Beijing Jiaotong University
- Visiting Predoctoral Fellow in the Strategy Department, Northwestern University
- MA in Economics, University of Florida
- PhD in Economics, University of Florida
Cui specializes in industrial organization, economics of regulation, antitrust, transportation economics, and applied microeconomic theory. Her research has been featured in the International Journal of Industrial Organization and the Journal of Regulatory Economics.
Joshua Davidson
Education
- BA in English, Oberlin College
- Master of City Planning, University of Pennsylvania
- PhD in City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania
A 2012 Oberlin graduate, Davidson specializes in research related to city planning and transportation. He will teach statistics and data science and visualization.
Rachel Diethorn
Education
- BS in Mathematics, Saint Vincent College
- MS in Mathematics, Syracuse University
- PhD in Mathematics, Syracuse University
Diethorn focuses on Koszul homology and resolutions over commutative rings. In a previous role at Yale University, she championed undergraduate research mentorship and innovative pedagogical initiatives.
Joshua Freedman
Education
- BA in Political Science, University of Toronto
- MA in Political Science, University of British Columbia
- PhD in Political Science, Northwestern University
Freedman specializes in global politics, international law, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His research explores the politics of recognition in international diplomacy, with insights from events like Brexit and China’s rise.
Jihye Heo
Education
- BA in Economics, Korea University
- MA in Economics, Vanderbilt University
- PhD in Economics, Vanderbilt University
Heo specializes in industrial organizations, international trade, and applied econometrics, with a focus on product bundling in global markets. Her research offers insights into multi-product firm strategies and the determinants of export decisions.
Ledina Imami
Education
- BA in Psychology, University of Michigan-Dearborn
- PhD in Social Psychology, Wayne State University
Imami delves into the effects of poverty, inequality, and social disempowerment on motivation, well-being, and physical health. She is recognized for her insights on health disparities.
Vladimir Ivantsov
Education
- Diploma of Specialist in Russian Language and Literature, Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University
- Candidate of Sciences in Philology, Russian Literature, St. Petersburg State University
- PhD in Russian Studies, McGill University
Ivantsov delves into Dostoevsky, 20th-century Russian culture, existentialist literature, and rock music. He will teach on Russian culture and art.
Michelle Johnson
Education
- BA in Neuroscience and Biology with a minor in Chemistry, Oberlin College
- PhD in Neuroscience, Emory University
- IRACDA Postdoctoral Scholar, Tufts University
A 2015 Oberlin graduate, Johnson specializes in the molecular mechanisms underlying frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Her research includes a publication on the protein FUS and its role in neurodegeneration.
Zé Kielwagen
Education
- MFA, Studio Art, Michigan State University
- MA, Theory and History of Art, Santa Catarina State University (UDESC)
- BA, Graphic Design, União de Tecnologia e Ensino de Santa Catarina (UTESC)
Kielwagen has been prominently featured in exhibitions such as the 6th and 7th Ghetto Biennale in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and has showcased work in Brazil and India. His work spans experimental cinema and art biennials.
Hiroko Kumaki
Education
- BA in Anthropology, Harvard University
- MA in East Asian Studies, Yale University
- MA in Anthropology, University of Chicago
- PhD in Anthropology, University of Chicago
Kumaki specializes in the everyday politics and ethics of living with environmental toxicity, notably following the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan. Her research delves into community challenges after environmental disasters.
Howard Levinson
Education
- BA in Mathematics, Tufts University
- PhD in Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania
Levinson specializes in inverse problems in imaging, numerical analysis, and computational methods. He has mentored numerous undergraduate research projects and participated in mathematical outreach initiatives.
Eric Lin
Education
- MAcc and BS, Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University
- MBA, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
- DBA, Harvard Business School
Lin’s research centers on human capital and talent management. With experience from the United States Military Academy at West Point and McKinsey and Company, he brings expertise in human resource management, leadership, and innovation.
Carmen Merport Quinones
Education
- BA in English, University of California
- PhD in English, University of Chicago
Merport Quiñones specializes in comparative American studies, blending literary studies, art history, and media studies to explore the formation of identities based on race, gender, nationality, and more. Her book project Life in Motion: An Affective Genealogy of Minoritarian Art delves into avant-garde practices and visual culture.
Zeinab Mohamed
Education
- BS in Statistics, Cairo University
- MA in Statistics, Kuwait University
- MA in Mathematics and Statistics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- PhD candidate in Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mohamed’s research interests span spatial and spatiotemporal statistics, mathematical modeling in epidemiology, and machine learning.
Gabriel Moore
Education
- BA in Biology and Musical Studies with a minor in Chemistry, Oberlin College
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Moore ’15 focuses on microbial pathogenesis, virulence, bacterial physiology, and genomics. Before joining the faculty, he managed COVID-19 grant metrics at the New Jersey Department of Health and emphasized diversity, equity, and inclusion metrics as a Science Policy Postdoctoral Fellow.
Caroline Newhall
Education
- BA in History, Trinity College
- MA in United States History, University of North Carolina
- PhD in United States History, University of North Carolina
Newhall specializes in American History with a focus on slavery, warfare, and self-emancipation. Her research underscores American warfare and Black POWs. Beyond academia, she has experience in digital advertising and public speaking.
Jessica Resvick
Education
- ScB in German Studies & Neuroscience, Brown University
- MA in Comparative Literature, Dartmouth College
- PhD in Germanic Studies, University of Chicago
Resvik specializes in the poetics of knowledge in the 19th century, with interests spanning Goethe reception, media theory, and the history of science. She’s finalizing her book, Recognizing Reality: German Realism and the Transmission of Knowledge, and delves into the media history of “typological” thought.
Elizabeth Rogers
Education
- BA in Creative Writing and Dance, Oberlin College
- MFA in Creative Writing and Poetry, Cornell University
Rogers ’07 is the acclaimed author of poetry collections The Tilt Torn Away from the Seasons and Chord Box. She was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, and her work was recognized in the Boston Globe’s Best Books of 2020.
Aanchal Saraf
Education
- BA in Geography and Ethnic Studies, Brown University
- MA, MPhil in American Studies, Yale University
- PhD in American Studies, Yale University
Saraf focuses on the geographies and cultures of war, empire, and knowledge. Her work examines U.S. Cold War nuclear colonialism’s effects on Pacific perspectives by merging archives, cultural narratives, and ethnography.
Bryan Terrazas
Education
- BA in Astrophysics, Columbia University
- MS in Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Michigan
- PhD in Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Michigan
Terrazas studies the evolution of galaxies, emphasizing the role of black hole feedback on star formation. He champions inclusivity in astronomy and STEM and is a strong advocate for interactive learning.
Rebecca Totton
Education
- BS in Psychology, University of Evansville
- MA in Social Psychology, University of Chicago
- PhD in Experimental Psychology, Ohio University
Totton’s research examines stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination from an intersectional perspective. Much of her work looks specifically at discrimination and prejudice toward LGBTQ minorities.
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