Aaron Rhodes was born and raised in the Southern Tier of New York State, where he attended a public school. He was further educated at Reed College and the University of Chicago, where he was awarded a Ph.D. in the Committee on Social Thought. After serving as Assistant to the President of Boston University, he worked on higher education reform projects in post-communist societies at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. In 1993, Rhodes was named Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, a post he held until 2007. He was subsequently a co-founder of both the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and the Freedom Rights Project and was President of the Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe, from 2014 to 2025. Rhodes is the author of The Debasement of Human Rights (2018). His numerous articles and editorials have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Newsweek, Die Zeit, Law & Liberty, the National Interest, and elsewhere. The Republic of Austria made Rhodes an honorary citizen for his human rights work, and he has received the University of Chicago Alumni Association’s Public Service Citation as “one of the leading human rights activists in the world.” He lives in Hamburg, Germany with his family.

Editors: Suvro Parui is Research Fellow at the Vivekanada International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi and attached to Amity School of Languages. Parui holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Chinese language, literature, and culture from Banaras Hindu University and a Ph.D. in Chinese Literature from Visva Bharati University. His scholarly interests include national movements, historical literature, and Chinese documentation and translation, particularly in social and economic topics. He has been a Fellow of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), a Courtesy Faculty Member at the University of Calcutta’s China Center, Visiting Lecturer at Visva Bharati University’s Cheena Bhawan Center, and Lecturer at the School of Languages of the Ahmadabad Management Association (AMA) in Ahmadabad.

Udaya Narayana Singh is Chair-Professor at Amity University Gurugram, Haryana. Formerly Director of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, he has taught at the Universities of Hyderabad, Delhi, South Gujarat, and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He has published seven collections of poems, six books of essays, twelve plays, and 250 research papers, and created 545 documentary films. A poet-invitee at the Frankfurt Book Fair (2006) and Leader of the Cultural Delegation of Writers to China (2007), Singh has lectured in numerous countries. His latest book is The Other India: View From Below (2022).

Editors: Suvro Parui is Research Fellow at the Vivekanada International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi and attached to Amity School of Languages. Parui holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Chinese language, literature, and culture from Banaras Hindu University and a Ph.D. in Chinese Literature from Visva Bharati University. His scholarly interests include national movements, historical literature, and Chinese documentation and translation, particularly in social and economic topics. He has been a Fellow of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), a Courtesy Faculty Member at the University of Calcutta’s China Center, Visiting Lecturer at Visva Bharati University’s Cheena Bhawan Center, and Lecturer at the School of Languages of the Ahmadabad Management Association (AMA) in Ahmadabad.

Udaya Narayana Singh is Chair-Professor at Amity University Gurugram, Haryana. Formerly Director of the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, he has taught at the Universities of Hyderabad, Delhi, South Gujarat, and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He has published seven collections of poems, six books of essays, twelve plays, and 250 research papers, and created 545 documentary films. A poet-invitee at the Frankfurt Book Fair (2006) and Leader of the Cultural Delegation of Writers to China (2007), Singh has lectured in numerous countries. His latest book is The Other India: View From Below (2022).

Arthur L. Lazarus, MD, MBA, is a healthcare consultant, certified physician executive, and nationally recognized author, speaker, and champion of physician leadership and wellness. He has broad experience in clinical practice and the health insurance industry, having led programs at Cigna and Humana. At Humana, Lazarus was vice president and corporate medical director of behavioral health operations in Louisville, Kentucky, and subsequently a population health medical director in the state of Florida. Lazarus has also held leadership positions in several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and AstraZeneca, conducting clinical trials, and reviewing promotional materials for medical accuracy and FDA compliance. He has published more than 400 articles and essays and written or edited 11 books, including 7 related to the field of narrative medicine. Lazarus attended Boston University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with distinction. He received his medical degree with honors from Temple University School of Medicine, followed by a psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital, where he was chief resident. After residency, Lazarus joined the faculty of Temple faculty, where he currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry. He also holds non-faculty appointments as Executive-in-Residence at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, where he received his MBA degree, and Senior Fellow at Jefferson College of Population Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lazarus is a past president of the American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership, a former member of the board of directors of the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL), and a current member of the AAPL editorial review board. In 2010, the American Psychiatric Association honored Lazarus with the Administrative Psychiatry Award for his effectiveness as an administrator of major mental health programs and expanding the body of knowledge of management science in mental health services delivery systems. Lazarus is among a select group of physicians in the United States who have been inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society of collegiate schools of business. Lazarus enjoys walking, biking, playing piano, and listening to music. He has been happily married to his wife, Cheryl, for over 40 years. They are the proud parents of four adult children and have five grandchildren.

Olga Kenton holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham, where she currently teaches in the Department of Modern Languages. Born in Moscow, she moved to New Zealand in her early twenties and has lived in Hong Kong, France, and the UK, where she currently resides. As a prose writer and journalist, Olga has taught Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and published articles with leading Russian and Eastern European filmmakers, theatre directors, actors, writers, and artists. In addition to her published creative works, Olga’s publications include reportage about the Christchurch earthquake (Discovery) and interviews with Andrey Zvyagintsev, Nikolas Pasternak-Slater, and Dolya Gavanski. Her novels include At the Edge of the World and The Girl from the House on Embankment.

Dr. Michael Arnheim (“Doctor Mike”) is a practicing London barrister, sometime Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge, and author of 26 books. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand at age 16 and received a first-class B.A. in History and Classics at 19, first-class honors in Classics at 20, and an M.A. with distinction at 21. He then attended St John’s College, Cambridge, on a National Scholarship, and received his Ph.D. In 1972, his doctoral dissertation was published as The Senatorial Aristocracy in the Later Roman Empire. He was elected a Fellow of St John’s, where he continued his research and also taught classics and ancient history at Cambridge before returning to South Africa to head Witwatersrand’s classics department. Despondent over his country’s future, Dr. Arnheim returned to Britain, where he was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn. His most recent books include U.S. Constitution for Dummies, Anglo-American Law: A Comparison, Why Rome Fell: Decline and Fall, or Drift and Change?, and Five Thousand Years of Monarchy.

Harry Saul Markham, a 25-year-old recent graduate of University College London (UCL), takes a keen interest in addressing threats to democracy, social cohesion, and the rights of minorities. In his roles as a Junior Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy and an Advisory Board member of Academics for Academic Freedom, he has been involved in media interviews, discussions with policymakers, journalists, and other prominent public figures in advancing centrist, but bold approaches, to some of the major social issues facing Western Europe. As the former Head of Research and Policy at the Association of British Muslims, the oldest Muslim organization in the UK, Markham supported not only important counter-extremism initiatives, but also novel efforts to renew Jewish-Muslim relations.

John Andrew Morrow is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he completed his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. He is also the product of several decades of Islamic seminary studies. A polymath and a prolific author, Professor Morrow has published hundreds of academic articles and several dozen scholarly books in a wide array of specialized fields. Dr. Morrow is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and administrator, as well as a geo-political analyst, a best-selling author, and an activist for peace and justice. He has received an interfaith service award from the Islamic Society of North America, a certificate of recognition from the United States Congress, and recognition from the Interfaith Institute of Long Island as one of the most influential American Muslim scholars.

Mustafa Kayyali, Ph.D., is an ardent advocate for excellence in higher education, driven by a relentless pursuit of quality, recognition, and innovation. As the Manager of HE Higher Education Ranking, he leads initiatives that play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of academia. Having earned a master’s degree in Quality Management and Evaluation in Higher Education from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, followed by a Ph.D. in Quality Management from Azteca University, his academic pursuits have laid a strong foundation for his expertise in Accreditation, Quality Assurance, and Higher Education Rankings. Dr. Kayyali has made significant contributions to academic literature, boasting more than 30 published papers and 10 book chapters. Additionally, he takes pride in his role as a translator, having translated five books, thus bridging language gaps and promoting knowledge exchange on a global scale. In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Kayyali serves on the British Accreditation Council’s Accreditation Committee, the Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency as an International Expert, and the Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education AKOKVO as an Accreditation Expert. His international engagements also include being an expert for the Kosovo Accreditation Agency KAA and the ECBE - European Council for Business Education, as well as serving as a Lead Auditor at the Centre of Assessments for Excellence (COAE). Dr. Kayyali has also submitted a patent to USPTO about rankings entitled Holistic & Multidimensional Ranking Methodology for Universities. As an entrepreneur, researcher, translator, and publisher, Dr. Kayyali is deeply involved in various facets of the academic world. His diverse interests encompass management, translation, interpretation, and academic consulting, contributing to a well-rounded understanding of the education industry.

Sally Jasem is a dedicated educator and researcher with over 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and translation. Based in Dubai, she earned her Ph.D. in World Literature from Aleppo University in 2022, with a focus on Orientalism and the works of renowned travelers and authors. She also holds a master’s degree in Literary Criticism, showcasing her expertise in deconstructive analysis of American literature. Dr. Jasem has a wealth of academic experience, having served as a university lecturer at Aleppo University and Cordoba Private University, where she taught courses in English literature, criticism, and translation. Her academic contributions include ESP courses for engineering, business, architecture, and dentistry students. Sally’s research spans Orientalism, sociology, and deconstruction, resulting in several published papers. She has also translated literary works and participated in international conferences. Beyond academia, Dr. Jasem has extensive experience in humanitarian efforts. She volunteered with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent for six years, receiving training in first aid, emergency response, and trauma counseling. Additionally, she served as a life skills trainer with the Norwegian Refugee Council, empowering displaced individuals through tailored courses in communication, problem-solving, and resilience building.

Walaa Shekho is an accomplished lecturer and translator with a strong academic and professional background. Based in Aleppo, Syria, she holds a Ph.D. in Literary Studies and Comparative Literature from Aleppo University (2023) as well as master’s degrees in Literary Studies and English-Arabic Translation. Her expertise is in translation and English literature. Dr. Shekho is currently a university lecturer at Aleppo University, Cordoba Private University, and Ebla Private University. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in medical and literary translation, comparative literature, literary criticism, and ESP for students of sociology, geography, dentistry, and medical sciences. She has contributed over 900 hours to teaching general and medical English at the Higher Institute of Languages. Her volunteer work at the institute included teaching visually impaired students, reflecting her dedication to inclusive education.
As a translator, Dr. Shekho brings over a decade of experience, exceling in medical and literary translation. She has published articles in reputable journals, including the GIS Science Journal and the Journal for Basic Sciences, and has actively contributed as an interpreter at international conferences. Dr. Shekho’s professional skills include curriculum development, exam preparation, and student assessment. Beyond academia, she has served as an English language and translation trainer at the Nama’a Developmental and Charitable Association, underscoring her commitment to community engagement.

Kevin Kaufmann is celebrating his 16th year of employment at Loyola University Chicago, where he received his Ph.D. in 2011. In that time, he has taught multiple courses and served in several administrative capacities. Kevin received his master’s from Michigan State University in 1995 and his undergraduate degree from Ohio University in 1991. He lives in Chicago.