Assist Prof Dr. Samson Ndanyi | Sovereignty Award | Best Researcher Award

Assist Prof Dr. Samson Ndanyi | Sovereignty Award | Best Researcher Award

Assist Prof Dr. Samson Ndanyi, Rhodes College, United States

Samson Kaunga Ndanyi, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of African History and Africana Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. He earned his Ph.D. in History with a focus on African history and double minors in World History and African American History and African Diaspora Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 2018. He also holds an M.A. in History from Morgan State University and an M.S. in Social Science from Towson University, where he completed his B.S. in Film and T.V. Production, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Ndanyi specializes in a diverse array of fields, including African history from precolonial times to the present, Black Cinema, the Black Diaspora, and the global histories of cannabis and piracy. He teaches a range of courses, including surveys of traditional and modern Africa, Black protests, and diseases in Africa, as well as specialized classes like “Ganja: A Global History of Marijuana” and “Ocean Pirates and Piracy.” Dr. Ndanyi is committed to innovative pedagogy and has undergone extensive training in teaching college history. Prior to his current role, he served as an Associate Instructor at Indiana University, where he facilitated student discussions and supported academic advising.

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Summary of Suitability for Research for Community Impact Award: Samson Kaunga Ndanyi, Ph.D.

Dr. Samson Kaunga Ndanyi, an Assistant Professor of African History and Africana Studies at Rhodes College, stands out as a compelling candidate for the Research for Community Impact Award. His extensive academic background and diverse research interests uniquely position him to contribute to community engagement and social transformation.

Education

  • Ph.D. in History (African History)
    • Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 2018
    • Double Minors: World History; African American History and African Diaspora Studies.
  • M.A. in History
    • Morgan State University, Maryland, 2013
  • M.S. in Social Science
    • Towson University, Maryland, 2008
  • B.S. in Film and T.V. Production (Magna Cum Laude)
    • Towson University, Maryland, 2006

Work Experience

Academic Appointment

  • Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies
    • Rhodes College, Memphis, TN (2018-present)

Teaching Experience

  • Associate Instructor
    • Indiana University, Bloomington, 2014-2018
    • Responsible for facilitating student discussions, grading assignments, attending lectures, and providing academic support.

Non-Academic Work

  • National Refugee Processing Specialist
    • World Relief, Baltimore, Maryland (2006–2013)
  • Unit Manager
    • Creative Options Inc., Baltimore, Maryland (2003–2006)
  • Freelance Journalist
    • Daily Nation, Kenya (2002–2003)
  • Drama Director/Teacher
    • Limuru Girls’ High School, Kiambu, Kenya (1996–2001)
  • Artistic Director/Actor
    • Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya (1992–1994)
  • Artistic Director
    • Wadada Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya (1989–1995)

Publication top Notes:

A film is banned if the ladies say so: Women and film censorship in Kenya, 1912-1963

CANNABIS IN KENYA

Read Africans, decenter scholarship

Reassessing Jomo Kenyatta’s Crackdown on Theatre for Education and Development

Charalampos Tsavdaroglou | migration studies | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Charalampos Tsavdaroglou | migration studies | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Charalampos Tsavdaroglou, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Dr. Charalampos Tsavdaroglou is a prominent academic specializing in critical and radical geography, urban sociology, and migration studies. He holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Currently, he serves as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, focusing on housing-energy nexus and refugees’ solidarity cities. Dr. Tsavdaroglou has received multiple accolades, including the Wiley Top Cited Article Award and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship. His fieldwork spans cities like Athens, Istanbul, and Thessaloniki, contributing significantly to urban commons and social movements. 🌍🏙️📚

Publication profile

Google Scholar

Research Contributions

Dr. Tsavdaroglou’s research focuses on critical urban theory, migration, and the right to the city, which are highly relevant topics in contemporary social science. His involvement as a Principal Investigator in significant research programs, such as “Refugees’ solidarity city” and post-doctoral projects like “Prototypes for addressing the housing-energy-nexus,” underscores his leadership in addressing pressing societal issues. His work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizes the importance of community practices among refugees, showcasing his dedication to socially relevant research.

Academic Achievements

Dr. Tsavdaroglou has been recognized for his scholarly contributions, receiving awards such as the Wiley Top Cited Article for his work on refugees during the pandemic and the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship. His research publications have not only gained academic recognition but also contribute to the policy discourse surrounding refugee integration and urban planning. His thesis, “Commons and Enclosures: Dialectic Approach of Space,” demonstrates a profound understanding of the dynamics of space and social structures.

Teaching Experience

Dr. Tsavdaroglou’s teaching experience spans several reputable institutions, including Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Hellenic Open University. His role as a visiting professor in Human Geography and Sociology of Space reflects his expertise in these fields, while his leadership in course development indicates his commitment to education. His teaching interests align well with his research, allowing him to inspire the next generation of scholars.

Fieldwork and Global Experience

His extensive fieldwork experience in cities such as Athens, Belgrade, and Istanbul enriches his research perspective, grounding his theoretical work in real-world contexts. This practical experience is vital in understanding urban dynamics and the lived experiences of marginalized communities, making his research highly applicable and impactful.

Conclusion

Dr. Charalampos Tsavdaroglou’s robust research profile, significant academic achievements, and diverse teaching experience, he stands out as an exceptional candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His commitment to addressing societal issues through critical urban research and his proven ability to engage with both academic and non-academic audiences make him a deserving nominee. His contributions not only advance academic discourse but also have the potential to influence policy and community practices positively.

 

Publication Top Notes

  • The Newcomers’ Right to the Common Space: The case of Athens during the refugee crisis – Cited by: 67 📚, Year: 2018
  • Urban planning and revolt: a spatial analysis of the December 2008 uprising in Athens – Cited by: 52 📚, Year: 2011
  • The refugees’ right to the centre of the city: City branding versus city commoning in Athens – Cited by: 47 📚, Year: 2022
  • The refugees’ right to the center of the city and spatial justice: Gentrification vs commoning practices in Tarlabaşı-Istanbul – Cited by: 34 📚, Year: 2020
  • ‘The Right to the City’ in Athens during A Crisis Era. Between Inversion, Assimilation and Going Beyond – Cited by: 33 📚, Year: 2015
  • Acts for refugees’ right to the city and commoning practices of care-tizenship in Athens, Mytilene and Thessaloniki – Cited by: 24 📚, Year: 2019
  • The golden ‘salto mortale’ in the era of crisis: Primitive accumulation and local and urban struggle in the case of Skouries gold mining in Greece – Cited by: 22 📚, Year: 2017
  • Housing commons vs. state spatial policies of refugee camps in Athens and Thessaloniki – Cited by: 19 📚, Year: 2020
  • Reimagining a transnational right to the city: No Border actions and commoning practices in Thessaloniki – Cited by: 17 📚, Year: 2019
  • Refugees’ caring and commoning practices against marginalisation under COVID‐19 in Greece – Cited by: 16 📚, Year: 2022