Faculty Achievements and Publications
Congratulations to our faculty on their recently received awards and publications:
Gabeba Baderoon
Gabeba Baderoon, associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies, African studies, and comparative literature, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Nelson Mandela University in April 2026 for her outstanding contributions to Anglophone and African literary studies, poetry and creative practice, and gender and sexuality studies, particularly in relation to Africa. We are thrilled to celebrate this well-deserved honor and proud to have her as part of the WGSS community.
Jessica Birkenholtz
Jessica Birkenholtz published “‘There Are No Hijras in Nepal’ and Other Provocations: Rethinking Transgender and Queer Studies in Nepal” in Transgender Studies Quarterly as part of a special issue on Reimagining Trans in Contemporary South Asia: Moving with, against, and beyond the State. Her research thoughtfully connects questions of gender, sexuality, caste, religion, and activism, helping expand conversations in WGSS, Asian Studies, and transgender studies in meaningful and interdisciplinary ways.
Scott Burnett
Scott Burnett released the monograph Analyzing Environmental Discourse: A Critical Approach with Bloomsbury Academic in 2026. His work examines how environmental discourse can reproduce racial, colonial, class, and gendered inequalities, bringing together critical discourse studies, critical race theory, and gender studies in deeply interdisciplinary ways.
He also co-edited Battlefield Linguistics: Queer, Trans, and Feminist Interventions in Linguistic and Discursive Change with DeGruyter in 2026. Through both projects, Burnett continues to contribute important critical perspectives on language, power, environmentalism, race, gender, and sexuality, helping expand conversations across WGSS and beyond.
Freyca Calderon-Berumen
Congratulations to Freyca Calderon-Berumen, associate professor of elementary and early childhood education and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at Penn State Altoona, on completing Penn State Emerging Academic Leaders Program in fall 2025. Calderon-Berumen’s research focuses on linguistic diversity, multicultural education, and social justice through critical-dialogical pedagogies and community-centered qualitative research. We are excited to celebrate this important achievement with her.
Sasha Coles
Congratulations to Sasha Coles, assistant teaching professor of history, for receiving Penn State’s Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award for 2026. Coles is known for her engaging teaching, thoughtful mentorship, and commitment to student success. Her work in both public history and women’s history reflects the interdisciplinary spirit shared across history and WGSS, and her dedication to supporting students has made a lasting impact on the Penn State community.
C. Libby
Congratulations to C. Libby for being named “Advisor of the Month” for their work with the Ally House residential community on campus. Libby, whose scholarship explores the intersections of feminist theory, transgender studies, religion, and medieval history, is deeply committed to creating thoughtful and inclusive spaces for students both inside and outside the classroom. Their mentorship and advocacy reflect the values of care, critical inquiry, and community-building that are central to WGSS, and this recognition highlights the meaningful impact they continue to make on student life at Penn State.
Andrea Miller
Andrea Miller published an article titled “Questioning Irradiated Archives: Grief, Debility, and Politics inside/outside Feminist Science and Technology Studies,” which has been accepted to Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory and will appear in print later in 2026. Their interdisciplinary research and leadership through the Feminist Technocultures Lab continue to make important contributions to WGSS, communications, and feminist STS scholarship.
Mariana Ortega
Congratulations to Mariana Ortega on receiving a CHI Fellowship for spring 2027. A leading scholar in Latina/x feminisms, critical phenomenology, philosophy of race, and aesthetics, Ortega’s work explores questions of identity, relationality, memory, and visual culture through deeply interdisciplinary and feminist approaches. Her recent book, Carnalities: The Art of Living in Latinidad (2025), examines photography and creative practice as forms of transformation, memorialization, and mourning within Latinidad.
Aparna Parikh
Congratulations to Aparna Parikh on a remarkable year of teaching, research, and leadership. Aparna completed the Provost Endorsement in Inclusive and Equitable Teaching, reflecting her ongoing commitment to creating thoughtful, accessible, and supportive learning spaces for students.
This year, Aparna was also invited to serve as co-editor of ACME: An International Journal for Critical Geographies, a leading open-access journal dedicated to critical, feminist, anti-racist, queer, trans, anti-colonial, and interdisciplinary scholarship on space and place. We are so proud of all that Aparna continues to contribute to WGSS, and we look forward to seeing her work continue to grow and inspire others.
Ariana Steele
Ariana Steele published a chapter titled “Indexicality, Power, and Hegemony: The Case for Indexical Resistance” in the new edited collection Battlefield Linguistics: Queer, Trans, and Feminist Interventions in Linguistic and Discursive Change (DeGruyter, 2026), edited by colleague Scott Burnett. Their work continues to make important contributions to conversations in WGSS, applied linguistics, and queer and trans studies, while also fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through initiatives such as Trans/Queer: Terrains of Queerness at Penn State.
Jill Wood
We’re delighted to celebrate Jill Wood for completing Penn State’s Emerging Academic Leaders program in fall 2025. Over the years, Jill has been a deeply valued teacher, mentor, and advocate within WGSS, bringing care, critical thinking, and feminist pedagogy into every part of her work. Her teaching and research on reproductive justice, trauma-informed education, and the medicalization of women’s health continue to shape meaningful conversations both inside and outside the classroom. We are excited to see her continued leadership and all the ways she will keep supporting and inspiring the WGSS community.