Visiting Summer Scholars 2025

Balša Ivanović is a third-year doctoral student and teaching assistant in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Montenegro. His doctoral research examines the discourse and translation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgments related to Montenegro. This research uses a corpus-based approach to analyze genre, metaphors, and legal terminology. The findings aim to improve the translation of Legal English texts, help students understand legal phraseology, and assist court interpreters with complex legal language. This study also emphasizes the importance of precise legal translation for Montenegro's EU accession, ensuring alignment with European legal standards and enhancing judicial transparency.

He holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Translation Studies (English and Russian Languages) from the Institute of Foreign Languages at the University of Montenegro. As a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Philology, he teaches various undergraduate and postgraduate English courses. His work focuses on language, translation, and legal discourse, providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Beyond his academic role, he is a certified court interpreter, ensuring the accurate translation of legal documents and proceedings.

Originally from Chile, Blanca Besa's academic background includes studies in Philosophy and Education. Following a period working in schools, she furthered her education by completing a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Theology. Her professional experience includes directing the Centro Universitario Ignaciano (comprising the Undergraduate Core in Theology and Campus Ministry) at Universidad Alberto Hurtado. During her time there, she also taught theology courses, a practice she continued at Universidad Católica. Currently, she remains on the faculty at Universidad Católica while undertaking doctoral research focused on feminist Mariology.

With over two decades of experience managing a bookstore and founding a printing center, Carla made a significant career change to pursue social work. She earned a Bachelor's in Social Work with a focus on Social Animation, followed by a Master’s in Social Work, and is currently a PhD candidate at the Lebanese School of Social Work. Since 2023, Carla has served as an adjunct lecturer at the Lebanese School of Social Work (ELFS) at USJ.

Carla strongly believes a paradigm shift in training future social workers and in human life itself is essential to address complex challenges related to climate change and the environment. Her primary academic interest lies in integrating eco-social work into the social work curriculum in Lebanese universities. Through her PhD research, Carla explores the intersection of social work and ecology, aiming to develop holistic frameworks for social and environmental issues.

Passionate about socio-cultural and socio-educational animation, Carla has actively participated in initiatives promoting youth engagement, the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities, and environmental preservation. As a creator of games for social change and educational tools, she works to raise awareness and mobilize youth and communities around critical social and environmental issues.

Carla looks forward to the exchange program at Boston College, where she hopes to engage with like-minded researchers and students who share her passion for eco-social work, exchange ideas, and collaborate on advancing this critical field of study.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, David Londoño attended a Lycée Français, a dual French and Colombian high school, before moving to Paris. He holds a bachelor's degree in Law and Political Science, with an emphasis on French Public Law, from Sorbonne University Paris I, and a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences from Sorbonne University Paris IV.

Returning to Bogotá, he completed a master's degree in Philosophy at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, graduating magna cum laude. His master's dissertation, "Drugs, choirs and songs, or the constant search for the best laws: a contemporary interpretation of Plato's Laws," explored the Platonic dialogue Laws.

David has worked as a high school and university professor in Bogotá and was an employee at the Ministry of Justice and Law of Colombia, contributing to the implementation and evaluation of Colombian drug policy.

He is currently a PhD student in Law at the Xavierian Pontifical University of Bogotá. His research focuses on international drug conventions and the oscillation between administrative and crime policy approaches to narcotic production, distribution, and consumption in Colombia. In his spare time, David enjoys walking his dogs and playing jazz piano.

José is a doctoral student in Education, pursuing his degree jointly at Alberto Hurtado University and Diego Portales University in Chile. He holds a Master's degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Chile and a Psychology Degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. Before starting his doctorate, José worked as a psychologist in various educational settings, where he was instrumental in implementing educational policies focused on inclusive education and fostering positive school environments. He has also taught in higher education, contributing to both pre-service teacher training and in-service leadership development programs. José's research experience includes the development of critical reflection and teacher growth, and his current doctoral project examines school leadership for inclusive education through a social practice lens.

Marnie D. Racaza teaches in the Department of Theology at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. She earned her Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Ateneo de Manila University and is now a Ph.D. candidate in Theology, specializing in Systematic Theology, at the Loyola School of Theology. Her doctoral research focuses on a decolonial feminist sacramental reimagination of the diaconate, arguing for the ordination of women as deacons within the Catholic Church. Marnie's broader research interests encompass feminist contextual theologies, decolonial thought, and the theological implications of displacement and migration. Additionally, she holds the position of executive secretary for the International Network of Societies for Catholic Theology (INSeCT).

Michael is an accomplished vocalist and choir director whose musical foundation began with a degree in Music and Languages from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. During his time there, he gained significant performance experience as a chamber chorister, regularly appearing on RTÉ radio and television. He further honed his vocal skills training with Veronica Dunne in Dublin, followed by postgraduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, supported by prestigious Rosamunde Mott and Kathleen Creed scholarships. Michael's performance career has taken him across the UK, Ireland, and Germany, highlighted by roles at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and with the Thüringer Symphoniker Orchestra. In the UK, he also demonstrated his passion for community music by founding and directing choirs at The Avenue Club, Princess Alice Hospice, and Strawberry Hill House. Presently, Michael is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin, supervised by Dr. Orla Flanagan, where his research investigates the delicate balance between social inclusion and musical excellence within community choirs.

Neda Parvin Shaikh is currently a PhD researcher in the Department of English & Cultural Studies at Christ (Deemed to be) University, India. Her doctoral thesis focuses on Lebanese war literature, investigating its themes of conflict, gender, memory, migration, and the concept of home and belonging.

Prior to her current research, Neda served as an Assistant Professor of English & Communication Studies. She subsequently moved into a research role at the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, contributing to significant projects on India-Africa relations, migration, and gender studies. Since 2018, she has been deeply engaged in the fields of Women's Studies and African Studies, participating in several internationally funded research projects in various roles.

Neda's extensive experience includes presenting at international conferences, publishing in respected journals, and developing and teaching courses on conflict and gender studies for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has been awarded travel and accommodation grants, received a fully funded winter school fellowship, and is a member of the Board of Studies at Jai Hind College, Mumbai. Additionally, she has been invited to speak on numerous academic panels.

As a Boston College Summer Visiting Doctoral Fellow, Neda is eager to connect with faculty and academic resources, and to engage with the Lebanese diaspora. She aims to further refine her research and contribute meaningfully to global dialogues concerning war literature, gender, and migration.

Pearce Magee is currently a History PhD candidate at Queen’s University Belfast, having previously completed both his BA and MA degrees at the same institution. His doctoral work delves into legislative attempts to enact a federal anti-lynching law in the United States, offering fresh perspectives on the historical trajectory of racial justice advocacy and the broader "Long Civil Rights Movement." His scholarly contributions include presentations at significant conferences like the Barnes Conference in Philadelphia and HOTCUS, and he was a selected participant in the Heidelberg Centre for American Studies’ 2023 Spring Academy and the 2024 Roosevelt Institute Autumn Seminar in Middelburg.

At Queen's University, Pearce has actively contributed to undergraduate education as a Teaching Assistant and has given guest lectures on diverse subjects, including lynching, anti-lynching activism, and the history of civil rights. Demonstrating a strong commitment to digital humanities, Magee holds the role of PGR Lead for Queen’s Digital Learning Skills Assistant team, where he champions the development of digital literacy across the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Furthermore, he has played a part in a collaborative digital project focused on uncovering the histories of free people of color in antebellum Natchez, effectively merging meticulous archival research with compelling public storytelling. His research is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that bridges legislative history, racial justice, and innovative digital methodologies, underscoring his dedication to creating accessible and impactful scholarship.

Currently, Zhang Yinying is a doctoral candidate in Global Environmental Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. Her academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Logistics Management from Beijing Jiaotong University and a Master's degree in Environmental Studies also from Sophia University. Zhang Yinying's research interests lie in the critical areas of disaster management and waste management. Driven by the urgent challenges presented by global warming and extreme weather events, her doctoral dissertation is specifically focused on understanding and improving flood risk management within aging societies. Through this research, she aims to develop strategies that enable communities to transition from a defensive stance against floods to a more harmonious coexistence with flood risks, ultimately building greater resilience and hope.