We are proud of the truly outstanding faculty members who join students each summer in Oxford, Paris, Yale, and Tokyo. They are Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, and British Academy scholars, with teaching posts at Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, The American University of Paris, Columbia, and other top institutions. They have earned awards for excellence in the arts and sciences, in scholarship and in teaching, and they bring unparalleled energy and passion for their subjects to the classroom. Meet our featured faculty members below.

“The faculty on the program were incredible. I got so much out of my classes, as they led discussions and courses that pushed my knowledge. They helped me outside of my comfort zone, and were always there for questions or support.”

—Biagia G., Avenues: The World School, New York, NY

Adin Chan

Oxford Academia at Oxford

War & World History

International Relations & Diplomacy

University of Oxford, DPhil (canidate), MPhil, International Relations
McGill University, B.A. Political Science & Economics

Adin’s PhD research explores identity and historical memory, with a particular interest in Canada. In Oxford, he serves as a Senior Editor for the Oxford Political Review and enjoys five-a-side Sunday football. He has also been involved in the Oxford SDG Impact Lab and the Oxford Refugee-Led Research Hub mentorship program. Adin has conducted fieldwork in Kosovo and Bosnia and has taught undergraduate seminars at Oxford and Sciences Po. He speaks French and Cantonese. This fall, Adin will be returning for the third year of his doctoral studies at Oxford.

Alexander Yen

Oxford Academia at Oxford

University of Oxford, D.Phil, International Relations (candidate)
University of Oxford, M.Phil, International Relations
University of Oxford, B.A., (Hons.) History and Politics

While at Oxford, Alexander focused on the history and politics of early modern England and China, as well as international relations, with a particular interest in war, diplomacy, empire, and the stories nations tell about themselves. His work has taken him from the archives and libraries of Oxford to conferences and military institutions, including presenting research at the United States Military Academy. He has taught and tutored students in politics, history, and international affairs, and enjoys helping young people see that world history is not just a list of dates and dead men with increasingly alarming facial hair, but a living drama of ambition, fear, invention, courage, and catastrophe. Alexander is currently completing a doctorate at Oxford on diplomatic language at the United Nations, studying how China, India, and the United States use speeches to argue over power and world order. Alongside his academic work, he writes on geopolitics, technology, and international security, and is developing Lampadion Advisory, a small geopolitical consultancy focused on historically informed analysis. This fall, Alexander will continue his doctoral work at Oxford while writing, teaching, and building his profile as a geopolitical analyst. He has previously taught at Oxford Academia. Beyond academia, he has been honoured with a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts and commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel.

Alyssa Mohammed

Oxford Academia at Oxford

University of Oxford, M.Sc., Comparative Social Policy (Candidate)
University of the West Indies, University of Oxford, B.Sc. Sociology, PGDip Gender and Development

While at the University of the West Indies, Alyssa focused on sociology with a concentration on gender and intersectional analysis. She further explored these themes in her Diploma in Gender and Development, where her preliminary research focused on the politics of sexual and reproductive health and rights for women in the Caribbean. She was also closely involved with women’s/vulnerable youth activism in Trinidad and Tobago, where her academic concentrations provided a useful theoretical framework for her practical work. At this time she also guest lectured a number of undergraduate social science classes at the University of the West Indies. At Oxford, Alyssa continues to nurture her passion for women’s sexual health and rights, with her research concentrating on differing sex education policies in the Anglophone Caribbean. She now works as a marker for the University of the West Indies and continues to contribute meaningfully to causes she is passionate about, especially ones which foreground women and minoritised groups, in the Caribbean, the UK, and beyond. Alyssa is fluent in English and proficient in Spanish and Arabic, with passable French. This fall, she will further her research in Caribbean sex education through a DPhil (PhD) at the University of Oxford.

Andrea Land

Oxford Academia at Paris

Photography & Digital Storytelling: Paris

San Francisco Art Institute, M.F.A. Photography (Graduate Fellowship)
Missouri State University, B.F.A., Photography B.A., French, minor in Art History

Andrea holds a great passion for the arts, culture, and animals. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute (Graduate Fellowship) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Missouri State University, including a year abroad at Université Paul Valéry III, Montpellier, France. Prior to graduate studies in the visual arts, Andrea also taught English to French primary students in Paris. Her experience in art extends to include the SIM Artist Residency program in Reykjavik, Iceland, and the Artist Residency Project at the School of Visual Arts, New York. Moreover, Andrea has been an advocate for the study abroad experience, developing, implementing, and leading art and culture study away programs in both France and Japan for seven years at Missouri State University. Her independent research on environmental sustainability expands to include architecture, animals, and ecosystems. Onsite in Japan, she conducted fieldwork on Sado Island relating to the Japanese crested ibis (toki). Her conversations with Yoko Kondo, a ranger with the Ministry of the Environment, and Fumi Oyama, a renowned photojournalist, explore changes in human behavior to assist in saving the species. Collaborating with her sister, Sarah-Marie, the two cultivated an innovative, educational unit on Lascaux Cave, earning the Excellence Award at The Wilson School in Spring 2025 and presented at the Japanese Association of Art Education (JAAEd) Research Conference at Waseda University in Tokyo in Spring 2026. Entitled Forward-Thinking Artifacts, her presentation included methodologies for engaging students through innovative practices and cultural perspectives. This is Andrea’s fifth year teaching art courses with Paris Academia.

Benjamin Mach

Oxford Academia at Paris

Fashion Design & Culture

University of Technology Sydney, School of Design, Ph.D., Architecture and Built Environment (in progress); Sydney Institute of Technology, Fashion Design Studio TAFE, B.A., Fashion Design

While at S.I.T. Fashion Design Studio, Benjamin studied womenswear design, focusing on the creative and technical aspects of creating apparel. After being awarded the Grand Marnier Evening Wear Award in his final year, he went on to launch his first collection under the spotlight of national media and the Australian fashion industry. This recognition led to various collaborations with textile artists, namely Indigenous Australian artist Robyn Caughlin, resulting in a runway presentation at Australian Fashion Week (2003) and a profile in Australian Vogue. Benjamin then moved to London, working for notable brands, including Marchesa (couture), WINTLE (luxury menswear), and Roberto Torretta (womenswear) in Madrid. After 10 years in London, Benjamin relocated to New York, where he was the first Australian designer to be a contestant on Project Runway (season 11), returning to compete in Project Runway All Stars (season 4) the next year. Still based in New York, Benjamin continues to design evening wear for private clients and explore the role of educator. He was the Education Director for the fashion school within the world-famous Mood Fabrics from 2015-2020. For the past six years, Benjamin has also been Head Instructor and Mentor for the Brooklyn Fashion Academy, a program run by Brooklyn Public Library. In 2021, Benjamin became the Studio Technologist for the M.F.A. Fashion Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC. He has also taught fashion design for Putney Pre-College programs in Vermont and Barcelona. In 2024, Benjamin began research for his Ph.D. with the University of Technology Sydney (by distance), focusing on sustainability in fashion.

Charlotte Oertel

Oxford Academia at Oxford

History of Art & Architecture: Oxford

University of Oxford, M.Sc., Digital Scholarship
University of Heidelberg, M.A., Art History

As a trained art historian with a Magister’s degree from the University of Heidelberg, Charlotte has built a versatile career, including research stays at the Vatican Library and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Following her work as the primary researcher for a digital art libraries initiative and several fellowships—including at the Wikimedia Foundation and the renowned Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel—she expanded her training by completing an M.Sc. in Digital Scholarship at the University of Oxford in 2023. She recently began a new role as a researcher at the Centre for Digital Scholarship at the Bodleian Libraries, where she has an opportunity to help inform how artificial intelligence will support data management and cultural heritage discovery at the University of Oxford. Charlotte’s experiences in collections-based research and personal international travel inform her teaching beyond the classroom. She has solo-backpacked across Africa, Japan, and the U.S., and is excited to return to Oxford Academia.

David Walthall

Oxford Academia at Paris

French Cuisine

Middlebury College/University of Florence, M.A., Italian Studies
Dartmouth College, B.A., Italian Studies

While at Dartmouth, David earned his B.A. in Italian Studies; was active in the Outing Club; founded an a cappella singing group; and played ultimate frisbee. His love of the arts and humanities, sparked through study abroad in Europe, has proven to be a life-changing experience, earning advanced degrees in Italian studies, a professorship at the University of Siena, and regular collaboration with international education programs focusing on food, art history, and culture. He continues to blend his professional life in Italy with hometown visits to Mobile, Alabama. David is particularly interested in understanding the socio-cultural contexts that produce and promote food culture and artistic expression and enjoys exploring creativity in many forms, such as visual arts, music, and dance. These align with a deep curiosity in rural and traditional cultures, pilgrimage, and cross-cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. An avid hiker, singer in local Renaissance choirs, swing dancer, foodie, and polyglot, David loves to share his passion for meaningful travel, sustainability, and history with others. He has taught on Putney Pre-College programs in Italy since 2018 and returns to Paris Academia for the third time in 2026.

Dr. Luka Katic

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Psychology

University of Oxford, DPhil, Experimental Psychology
University of Vienna, M.Sc., Cognitive Science
University of Novi Sad, M.Sc., Economics

Luka is a psychologist, cognitive scientist, and economist whose academic career spans some of the world’s leading institutions. His doctoral research at Oxford investigated the social psychology of guilt, exploring how people seek forgiveness and engage in self-punishment following transgressions. His earlier work at the University of Vienna examined Terror Management Theory and the psychology of fear, specifically whether reminders of death motivate greater risk-taking. He has since presented his work at some of the most prestigious international conferences in the field across the USA and Europe, addressing topics ranging from guilt and social emotion to personality psychology and behavioural economics. Beyond research, Luka has built an exceptional teaching record, tutoring at Oxford and Stanford University and leading programmes in psychology, cognitive science, genetics, and economics across four continents. He is currently preparing his first book for publication and is developing a new theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between shame and guilt, with publications in this area forthcoming. This is Luka’s fifth summer teaching with Oxford Academia.

Dr. Predrag Bjelogrlic

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Medicine

University of Belgrade, M.D.
University of London, M.Sc.

Predrag is a distinguished clinician and researcher educated at the University of Belgrade, with advanced medical training at the University of London, the James Paget Hospital in Norfolk, and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. For more than 25 years, he has been a member of the senior faculty of the Medical School at St. Andrews University, the oldest Scottish University. He specializes in the clinical training of medical students at the University of St. Andrews and has taught in summer programs for high school students since 2012, including several summers with Oxford Academia. His main interests are in Clinical Skills, Medical Education, and OSCE assessment. He is fluent in Serbian, Croatian, and English.

Dr. Princy Sebastian

Oxford Academia at Yale

Medicine

University of North Texas, Ph.D., Educational Psychology
University of North Texas, M.S., Biological Sciences
University of Texas at Arlington, B.S., Microbiology

For the last decade, while also pursuing and earning advanced degrees, Princy has worked in various roles. She has taught composite sciences at the high school level, in both public schools and a college preparatory day and boarding school in Dallas; she has worked on clinical research studies for pharmaceutical companies, pairing physicians with research teams; and while teaching, she also sponsored the tennis and crochet clubs. Additionally, she has taken graduate public health courses in the UNT Health Science Center and graduate business courses at Portland State University. Princy has had the opportunity to travel around the U.S., as well as to the Maldives, Germany, India, and Kuwait. A mother of two, she is a biologist and nature lover at heart. She recently completed her PhD in educational psychology, and has previously taught on academic programs with Putney Student Travel.

Ean Tierney

Oxford Academia at Paris

Business & Entrepreneurship

Fordham University, M.A., International Political Economy & Development
EM Strasbourg, D.U., European Management
Canisius College, B.S. International Business, B.A. International Relations & French

After finishing his undergrad in Buffalo, New York, Ean spent two years as a volunteer teacher at Xavier High School in Chuuk, Micronesia. While there, he taught world history, English writing, and health, along with politics-oriented electives for juniors and seniors. After deliberating on staying for a third year abroad, Ean ultimately chose to pursue a master’s degree at Fordham University in New York. There, he continued to study development economics and remained interested in society, world cultures, and travel. He was offered a full-time position there as an international student advisor and continues to work and reside happily in the Bronx. Ean has led student programs in Oxford, Florence, Madrid, and Morocco.

Emile Bertherat

Oxford Academia at Paris

French Language: Streets of Paris (Advanced/Intermediate)

École Normale Supérieure, M.A., Art Theory and History,
La Sorbonne, B.A., Film Studies

After finishing his undergraduate studies in film at La Sorbonne in Paris, Emile worked as an instructor in various high schools throughout the city, leading political science workshops for teenagers. While earning his M.A. from the École Normale Supérieure, he also had the opportunity to study at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Looking for new adventures, Emile moved to the West Coast to join the Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages at Stanford University as a lecturer in French and French Cinema. He has since lectured at several institutions to share his passion for French culture, including the New York City Department of Education and various cultural venues. Presently, he is an educational advisor for an educational company based in New York and also works as an interpreter for French TV shows and film festivals. Emile speaks French (and German to some extent as well).

Erica Ferraro

Oxford Academia at Yale

Temple University, B.B.A., Marketing, M.S., Sport Business

While at Temple University, Erica focused on the areas in which lessons in sport can be applied to our daily lives. She spent the better half of her time in the program researching holistic ways to create intention in one’s life using sport as the driving tool. As part of a sales project for her master’s degree, Erica also earned the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Phillies game. She now works as an Office Manager at Playfly Sports, helping to execute multi-figure projects across the company’s real estate nationwide. When she is not working, Erica loves to play softball recreationally. Her team is currently undefeated in their last two seasons.

Fitzroy “Pablo” Wickham

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Debate & Public Speaking

University of Oxford, Ph.D., Clinical Neuroscience
Wesleyan University, B.A., Neuroscience and Theater

Pablo is a Jamaican Rhodes Scholar who recently completed his Ph.D. in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Oxford. Prior to Oxford, he attended Wesleyan University, where he pursued a double major in neuroscience and theater, along with a minor in chemistry. During his time at Wesleyan, he was actively involved in student theater and starred in a faculty production of The Laramie Project. He also competed on Wesleyan’s A-team in mock trial, earning All-American honors in 2020. In 2021, he was selected as the student speaker for TEDxWesleyan, where he presented his talk, “Seeking Solace and Success in Solitude.” At Oxford, Pablo’s theater credits include three productions at the Oxford Playhouse, most recently Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Sir Gregory Doran, former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also performed the titular role in Othello and played George in The Great Gatsby. This will be Pablo’s third year teaching the Debate & Public Speaking seminar at Oxford Academia.

Gonzalo García-Campo

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Law & Society

University of Oxford, Ph.D., Criminology
London School of Economics and Political Science, Master of Laws,
University of Chile, B.A., Law

Gonzalo is a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Criminology, where he leads a research project (2025–2028) examining everyday experiences of security in two Chilean cities. He earned his PhD in Criminology from the University of Oxford. Before entering academia, Gonzalo spent years volunteering in human rights advocacy in a shantytown in Santiago. He has also worked as a civil servant and taught at both the high school and university levels. Outside of his research, Gonzalo enjoys reading (both fiction and non-fiction) and watching football (the real one). Since the summer of 2022, he has taught Law & Society at Oxford Academia, enjoying the fantastic experience of building knowledge together with groups of students full of energy and creativity.

Haitong Du

Oxford Academia at Oxford

International Relations & Diplomacy

University of Oxford, D.Phil., International Relations (Candidate); M.Phil., International Relations
Tufts University, B.A., International Relations

Haitong spent half of his life in China and the other half in the United States. While at Tufts, he majored in International Relations, co-led a club organizing annual academic symposiums on U.S.-China relations, and studied in France and the United Kingdom. Haitong is now reading his third degree in International Relations at Oxford, where he studies world politics under strongman-style leaders and is involved in the Oxford International Relations Society (though not as a strongman-style leader). Haitong greatly enjoys performing musical theater, visiting history museums, and cooking. He is fluent in three languages and has traveled to every continent in the world. He has been teaching the International Relations & Diplomacy seminar since 2023.

Hector Peralta

Oxford Academia at Yale

Yale University, Ph.D., American Studies (in progress)
Brown University, B.A. Ethnic Studies; B.A. Education Studies

Hector is a PhD candidate in the American Studies program within Yale’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Broadly, Hector’s research, writing, and teaching is focused on better understanding how ideas of race and ethnicity shape U.S. history; the history and culture of the U.S.-Mexico border region; and racial geographies in southern California. As an interdisciplinary scholar of race and ethnicity, Hector is committed to uplifting grassroots community-led education initiatives aimed at expanding access to, and enhancing the quality of, public schools, historical memory, and civic engagement. In his free time, Hector enjoys playing volleyball, taking dance classes, and taking care of Oiku, his German Shepherd dog. Hector is fluent in Spanish and English, and proficient in French. This fall, Hector will return to the county where he was born to begin a job as a visiting assistant professor at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley.

Iris Tadie

Oxford Academia at Paris

History of Paris

University of Cambridge, M.Phil., Linguistics (in progress); B.A., Linguistics
Lycée Louis Le Grand Paris, B.A., Humanities

Iris recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with a B.A. in Linguistics, which she will follow up with an M.Phil. in the autumn, focusing on the history of the Romance languages. She served as captain of her college’s Boat Club and is active in student theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. She recently put on a production of Hamlet in King’s College Chapel (which was attended by Ian McKellen!) and will star as Creusa in the 2026 Cambridge Greek Play, Euripides’ Ion (alumni of the production include Tom Hiddleston and James Mason). She previously completed an undergraduate Humanities programme at the Lycée Louis-Le-Grand in Paris (in conjunction with the Sorbonne), where she studied world literature, history, philosophy, and modern and classical languages. Iris has lived in Oxford, Paris, and now Cambridge, whilst also travelling throughout Europe. She is fluent in English and French, proficient in German and Ancient Greek, and can string together a few words in Spanish, Italian, and Latin. This is Iris’ fourth summer with Oxford Academia.

Ling Hang

Oxford Academia at Yale

AI: Applications & Ethics

Yale University, Ph.D., Computer Science (in progress)
Wuhan University, M.S., Computer Science and Technology
Wuhan University, B.E., Information Security

While at Wuhan University, Ling focused on the security of computer systems and machine learning. After completing his undergraduate studies, he spent three years exploring the real-world applications of machine learning and AI, traveling to various countries to study how AI technology could help people, while pursuing a master’s degree. Ling is now a Ph.D. student at Yale University, where his research interests include Machine Learning, Trustworthy AI, Biomedical Informatics, Quantitative Marketing, and Privacy. At Yale, he conducts interdisciplinary research in AI and Machine Learning in collaboration with several labs. Ling has published papers in top conferences and journals and holds patents aimed at leveraging computer science for global betterment.

Mihaela Mitrovic

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Architecture & Design

University of Cambridge, PhD in Architecture and Neuroscience (in progress)
University of Oxford, M.St., Film Aesthetics
University of Vienna, M.Sc., Cognitive Science
King’s College London, M.Sc., Neuroscience
University of Novi Sad, M.Arch., B.Arch., Architecture

An engineer of architecture and a neuroscientist, Mihaela is an intellectual polymath with both architectural design and project management experience, as well as research experience in brain sciences. Her studies span multiple disciplines—including cognitive science, neuroscience, aesthetics, AI, and architectural engineering—and her current work aims to integrate architecture with cognitive and behavioral sciences to explore the complex and fascinating relationship between humans and their (built) environment. Mihaela is the former Director of Strategy and Development at The Oxford Foundation for Theoretical Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence. Until recently, she was the Convenor at the Martin Centre at the University of Cambridge and a Mentor at Engineers Without Borders. She is a researcher and consultant based in London and is working on her first book. Since 2014, she has delivered her innovative academic program in architecture, the Oxford School of Architecture (OSA), to students during the summer at Oxford University, along with programs in AI, ethics, engineering, psychology, and neuroscience.

Millie Lawrence

Oxford Academia at Yale

University of Bath, B.S., Psychology

Millie completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Bath (in the UK), where she studied psychology with a particular interest in clinical psychology and cognitive neuroeconomics. As a student, Millie completed an internship year where she helped to develop a new smartphone application that collects decision-making data, which is now being used in multiple psychology and neuroscience studies taking place across both the UK and the U.S. She has also spent a year abroad living in Tokyo, where she was able to travel Japan while improving her Japanese fluency. Since graduating, Millie now works as a research assistant in the Yale Department of Psychology, helping to research mood disorders and how aging can affect our decision-making.

Nicholas Triolo

Oxford Academia at Yale

Creative Writing

University of Montana, M.S., Environmental Studies, focus in Creative Nonfiction
University of Redlands, B.A., International Relations/Environmental Studies

During his time at the University of Redlands, Nicholas followed a curiosity about the intersection of political science, ecology, and communication. He lived for several months in Barcelona, Spain, to study the European Union’s land use policy and how mass media responds to social and environmental issues. This, along with several earlier intercultural learning experiences in Mexico, Guatemala, and southeast Asia, brought him to work in the intercultural education industry as Account Manager for American Field Service (AFS). During this tenure, he deepened a creative writing practice while studying ecology, psychology, and literature, which led him to pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Writing at the University of Montana, where he taught Writing Composition and was editor-in-chief of Camas Magazine. Upon graduation, Nicholas spent the next seven years working in senior editorial roles at Orion Magazine and Outside. His writing has been featured in Outside Online, Orion, Dark Mountain Project, Juxtaprose, Whitefish Review, Best American Poetry Blog, and others. He currently has a book coming out Spring 2025 with Milkweed Editions about pilgrimage and ecology.

Niels de Vos

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Sports Business & Media

University of Oxford, B.A. Hons., Modern History

Niels now has over 20 years of director-level experience in the development and delivery of major international sporting events, dating back to when he joined the Organizing Committee of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. There he was responsible for negotiating broadcasting contracts, ticketing, licensing, merchandising, and marketing activities. Following the success of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Niels stayed in Manchester as CEO of Premiership Rugby Union franchise, Sale Sharks. In 2007, Niels joined UK Athletics and helped deliver medal success at London 2012. Following London 2012, Niels led an overhaul of the business side of UK Athletics, establishing a profitable in-house event and sponsorship business. During his tenure at UK Athletics Niels also served as Chief Executive of the Organizing Committees for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, IAAF World Indoor Championships, and IAAF World Athletics Championships in London. He was also heavily involved in the oversight of the 2012 London Olympics & Paralympics as an elected Board member and Audit Chairman of The British Olympic Association. In 2018, Niels left UK Athletics to set up his own specialist consultancy, Fabric Group Ltd, to advise brands, cities, and governments on better investments in sport, community, and charity—the Fabric of Society. In this role, he has advised numerous sporting events and governing bodies, most recently the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Oregon, USA.

Peter Bergamin

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Jewish History in Europe: The Middle Ages to the Present

University of Oxford, D.Phil., Oriental Studies
University of Oxford, M.St., Modern Jewish Studies
SOAS University of London, B.A., Hebrew and Israeli Studies

While at Oxford, Peter focused on European nationalism and political ideologies, especially Zionism and Fascism, and he spent much time in Jerusalem and Vienna. During his studies, he also worked during the breaks as an orchestra conductor, leading ensembles in the UK and Portugal. He has been teaching for various summer schools in Oxford since 2014 and balances his academic work by continuing his musical pursuits. Originally from Toronto, he has lived in Vienna, London, Jerusalem, and Oxford. Peter now works as a Lecturer in Oriental Studies at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and Research Fellow for the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. He has previously spent summers in China, teaching history to summer school students there. Peter is fluent in German and Hebrew and proficient in French. This fall, Peter will be finishing off two new books that he has been working on for the past year.

Rob Miller

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Creative Writing

University Southern California, M.F.A., Film
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., Art History

Rob is a writer, teacher, and Los Angeles native, although travel keeps him away from Hollywood for months at a time. As an undergraduate art history major at UCLA, he was assistant arts editor for the Daily Bruin and worked kitchen prep in his dorm. While pursuing his master’s degree in film at USC, he worked as a phlebotomist, middle school English teacher, and realtor. He is currently shopping a TV pilot (Runway) and adapting a feature-length script into a graphic novel. If he hadn’t pursued a writing career, his second choice would have been to become a chef. He is a charter member of Slow Food and once had to move because his library of cookbooks had outgrown his apartment. Rob has taught numerous seminars for Oxford Academia and Putney’s international Pre-College programs, where he also served as director.

Russell Mayhew

Oxford Academia at Yale

Math: Statistics & Probability

Northwestern University, M.S., Secondary Mathematics Education
Indiana University, B.A., Cognitive Science, minor in Psychology

Russell is the Math Department Chair, a crew coach, and the Music League coordinator at a boarding high school in southern Vermont. Over the summer he will be working on building a brick wood-fired bread and pizza oven on campus for students and faculty to enjoy. Russell loves basketball, making pizza from scratch, listening to records, and he taught himself how to snowboard last winter. He has led summer programs with Putney Student Travel to Alaska, Dominica, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sara Sisun

Oxford Academia at Oxford

History of Art & Architecture: Oxford

San Francisco Art Institute, M.F.A., Painting
University of Colorado Boulder, M.A., Art History
Stanford University, B.A., Art Practice and English

While at Stanford, Sara studied Art Practice and English. She went on to earn an M.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute and an M.A. in Art History from the University of Colorado Boulder. Growing up in Denver, Sara spent many hours oil painting at the Art Students League of Denver, an experience that helped shape her lifelong commitment to painting, teaching, and looking closely at art. Sara’s paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally, including an upcoming exhibition in Berlin. As an educator, she has taught studio art and art history, working with students as they develop technical skills, visual literacy, and independent creative ideas. She is especially interested in helping students connect what they see in museums, cities, and historical sites to their own observations and creative work. She is currently an Assistant Professor and Program Lead at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Denver, Colorado. Besides art, education, and travel, Sara loves museums, architecture, and the experience of encountering artworks in person.

Saúl Dorado Nuño

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Engineering & Innovation

Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Universidad de Navarra, Ph.D., Engineering Systems Modeling (candidate)
Universidad de Navarra, M.Sc., Biomedical Engineering
Universidad Pontificia Comillas, B.S., Electromechanical Engineering

While pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Saúl focused on mechanical engineering, patents, and medical devices. He volunteered with UNESCO in Jeju-do (South Korea), helping to restore cultural heritage sites, and also designed and patented a telescopic catheter intended to access hard-to-reach areas of the body. While completing his master’s degree at the University of Navarra, he specialized in biomechanics and medical devices, analyzing the viability of a new medical device for large intestine analysis. He traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany, to source providers for building the final design of the device. Saúl has conducted research in dental biomechanics for eight years and will continue to do so, researching current endodontic procedures and the methods of testing medical procedures, implants, and treatments. While doing so, he has designed several medical devices and works to get these ideas to different medical companies. He completed his Ph.D. in 2025, focusing on how dental treatments affect the long-term aging and durability of teeth. Together with his research partners, he found that certain commonly used treatments may be harmful to patients over time. Saúl now works as a professor and researcher, teaching future generations of engineers while investigating the causes of dental failure. He is fluent in Spanish and English, proficient in French, and has basic knowledge of Japanese.

Vanessa Barajas

Oxford Academia at Tokyo

Photography & Digital Storytelling: Tokyo

Columbia College, B.F.A., Photography and Illustration; Adler University, M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling (in progress)

Vanessa is a first-generation Mexican American and a multi-faceted artist with a double major in photography and illustration from Columbia College in Chicago. During her time in school, she gained national recognition for political cartooning while finding her footing in Chicago’s art and music scene as a performing guitarist and freelance illustrator and photographer. After graduating, she focused her energy on opening a shared art studio and community event space that serves as a pillar of the Chicago music and art community, providing a safe environment for people of all ages, genders, and orientations. Vanessa is an ever-evolving artist and photo instructor who embodies travel, culture, and music in both her work and personal life. She is propelled by new countries, enlightenment, and ice cream flavors she has yet to try! Vanessa has spent extended time living in France and Germany, led student travel programs in Italy and Greece, and taught a photography seminar at a summer college program in Tokyo.

Vanessa Lincoln

Oxford Academia at Paris

History of Paris

University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D., M.A., Modern European History
University of Chicago, B.A., Modern European History, minor in French

Vanessa is a Paris-based educator, administrator, and researcher. She first came to France while on a study abroad program with the University of Chicago and discovered the country’s rich history. After two years of teaching and learning in Germany, she earned a master’s and Ph.D. in Modern European History at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research has concerned France’s first historical museum and the beginnings of cultural heritage preservation, projects for European and international institutions in nineteenth-century France, and, most recently, the process of restitution after the First World War from Germany to France. She taught for over 10 years in universities, including the American University of Paris and Sciences Po, and has also worked with UNESCO in the World Heritage and Education sectors and in museum education. Vanessa is currently Head of Department and a History-Geography Professor for an Oxford program in a French Lycée. She speaks fluent French and basic German. This is her fifth summer with Paris Academia.

Will Jefferson

Oxford Academia at Oxford

Philosophy

University of Oxford, D.Phil., Philosophy
University of Oxford, B.Phil., Philosophy
University of Oxford, B.A., Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

While writing his D.Phil. on the philosophy of empathy at the University of Oxford, Will trained in an approach to conflict mediation called Nonviolent Communication. After completing his degree, he spent two years helping to manage a think tank researching how philanthropists can do good most effectively. Besides his research work, Will has spent a total of five months walking the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail in Spain. He has also directed an improvised comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and enjoys writing Shakespearean Sonnets. Will now works as a mindfulness facilitator and coach, helping people to explore philosophy through their moment-to-moment life experience. This is his fourth summer teaching the Philosophy seminar at Oxford Academia.

Ziad Majed

Oxford Academia at Paris

Sciences Po Paris, Ph.D., M.A., Political Science
American University of Beirut, M.A., Arabic Literature
American University of Beirut, B.A., Economics

Ziad is a university professor and researcher. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Sciences Po Paris, a master’s degree in Arabic Literature, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut. After working with the Lebanese Red Cross, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies in Beirut, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Stockholm, he joined the American University of Paris in 2010, where he has since taught Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations. Over the past three decades, Ziad has published extensively in journals, newspapers, and research institutions around the world on democratic transitions, political systems, elections, civil society, reform, and citizenship in Lebanon, Syria, and the wider Arab region, as well as on the Palestinian question. His recent books include Syrie, la révolution orpheline (Actes Sud, Paris, 2014); Iran and its Four Arab Fronts (International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam, 2017); Dans la tête de Bachar Al-Assad (with Subhi Hadidi and Farouk Mardam-Bey, Actes Sud, Paris, 2018; 2nd ed., 2025); and Le Proche-Orient, miroir du monde (La Découverte, Paris, 2025). This is his fifth summer teaching with Paris Academia.

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