Collin May is a Canadian lawyer and Adjunct Lecturer in Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. He has published several articles and reviews on topics in political philosophy, cancel culture, professional regulation, and countering antisemitism. His writing has appeared in the National Post, Jerusalem Post, Law and Liberty, The Hub, C2C Journal, and such academic publications as Academic Questions and Society Journal. Educated at Harvard University, the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris, and Dalhousie Law School, May worked with the United Nations International Telecommunication Union and the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland, before returning to Canada to study law. In 2022, following his appointment as Chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, May became the target of a cancel culture campaign that cost him his job and severely damaged his career. Since that time, May has worked to combat cancellations through his writing and public advocacy.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller (ret.), born in 1957, is a seasoned diplomat, scholar, and independent consultant renowned for his expertise in international politics, security, and economics. With a career spanning over four decades, he has navigated complex geopolitical landscapes, advised global leaders, and contributed significantly to academic and cultural initiatives, particularly in the Middle East and Armenia. Gfoeller’s diplomatic career with the U.S. Foreign Service (1984–2010) saw him rise to the rank of Ambassador and Minister Counselor, serving in some of the world’s most critical regions. His postings included two stints in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires (2004–2008), managing U.S.-Saudi relations during a pivotal period of counterterrorism cooperation. He also served in Manama, Bahrain, fostering ties with Gulf allies; Baghdad, Iraq, during the height of the Iraq War; Moscow, Russia, across two tours amid Cold War and post-Soviet tensions; Yerevan, Armenia, supporting post-Soviet transition; Chisinau, Moldova, navigating Eastern European geopolitics; Warsaw, Poland, strengthening NATO partnerships; and Brussels, Belgium, engaging with transatlantic institutions. From 2008 to 2010, Gfoeller served as Senior Political Advisor to General David Petraeus at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, crafting political strategies for U.S. military operations across 19 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. His work bridged diplomacy and defense, earning him recognition for navigating complex tribal and political dynamics.
Upon retiring from the State Department, Gfoeller transitioned to the private sector, bringing his geopolitical acumen to global corporations. From 2010 to 2012, he led Middle East and North African affairs at ExxonMobil’s International Government Relations Department, advising on energy security and regional stability. He later consulted for prominent firms, including DynCorp, Alcoa, Kissinger Associates, KKR, and Cerberus Capital Management, providing strategic insights into government contracts and international markets. As an independent consultant, Gfoeller continues to advise on global risks and opportunities, with a focus on the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and energy markets. An accomplished scholar, Gfoeller holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. His academic journey included intensive Arabic studies at the American University in Cairo (1979–1981), equipping him for his Middle East postings. Fluent in Arabic, Russian, German, French, Polish, Romanian, Latin, and Greek, he is a polyglot whose linguistic skills enhanced his diplomatic and scholarly work. Gfoeller taught at Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (2000–2001), where he mentored future diplomats. His publications reflect his diverse interests, including United by the Caspian, a study of Caucasian and Central Asian geopolitics, and works on archaeology and architecture, such as A New Golden Age of Archeology: Recent Discoveries in Armenia (Academica Press, 2022). These books explore international cultural heritage, blending historical analysis with beautiful photography.
Gfoeller’s commitment to cultural preservation led him in 2001 to establish the Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation, which funds archaeological and scientific research in Armenia. The foundation supports excavations and studies illuminating Armenia’s role in human evolution and civilization, reflecting Gfoeller’s passion for history and heritage. He remains an active voice in public discourse, speaking at forums like the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations on topics such as Saudi Arabia’s evolving role in global energy markets, U.S.-Iran tensions, and Middle Eastern security dynamics. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Ben Franklin Fellowship, the Cosmos Club, and the Union League Club of New York, Gfoeller is deeply engaged in intellectual and policy circles. He is married to Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller-Volkoff, a distinguished U.S. diplomat and novelist whose career included senior roles in the State Department and postings in Europe and the Middle East. The couple, who met during their university studies, have one son, Major Emmanuel Gfoeller, an Army Ranger serving in the U.S. military. Residing primarily in Miami, Florida, Gfoeller balances his consulting work with writing and philanthropy, continuing to shape global conversations on diplomacy and culture.

Monique Dixsaut is Professor Emerita at the University of Paris I.
Translator: Kenneth Quandt holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley

Throughout his life, J. J. Penniman has immersed himself in humanist education. As an amateur Classics scholar, he has sung Homer in the original Greek to both public and scholarly audiences, lectured at the Classical Association of New England Summer Institute, and published an original translation of an anciently debated passage in Plato’s Timaeus for The Classical Journal. As a psychoanalyst, now in his 46th year of practice, he has published in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Quarterly, and the Journal of Clinical Psychoanalysis. He trained psychology interns and psychiatric residents in psychoanalytic therapy for thirty years. In a lighter vein, the author, as a middling bridge player, produced a feuilleton for The Daily Bulletin, the newspaper of the American Contract Bridge League Championships. He also devotes two hours weekly to math. Penniman and his wife live in the shadows of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range.

Sid Lukkassen is a Dutch historian and philosopher who has taught at Radboud University Nijmegen. He was a city councilor for the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 2010 to 2018 and was a policy advisor to the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sid actively participates in the public debate with books, frequent opinion articles, and media appearances. He comes from a family of no-nonsense middle class entrepreneurs and hardworking laborers. He writes to connect, for people and country, under the motto “clarity is the ultimate sophistication.”

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.

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.

David B. Honey is a longstanding member of the department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University, where he teaches classical Chinese language and literature. He graduated in Oriental Languages from the University of California Los Angeles in 1980 and earned his M.A. in 1984 and Ph.D. in 1988 from the University of California Berkeley. For the past twenty years, he has been researching the history of Chinese classical scholarship. In 2012, Dr. Honey published in Chinese a short history of Western classical scholarship published by Eastern Normal University Press and is working on a Chinese-language study of Biblical scholarship.

William Franke is a philosopher of the humanities and professor of comparative literature at Vanderbilt University. He has been professor of philosophy at University of Macao; Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Intercultural Theology at University of Salzburg; Alexander von Humboldt Foundation research fellow in Berlin; and Francesco de Dombrowski Visiting Professor at Harvard University’s Center for Italian Renaissance Studies in Florence. In 2021 he became Professor Honoris Causa of the Agora Hermeneutica. His apophatic philosophy is conceived and expounded in On What Cannot Be Said (2007) and A Philosophy of the Unsayable (2014). It is extended into a comparative philosophy of culture in Apophatic Paths from Europe to China: Regions Without Borders (2018) and applied to address current controversies in education and society in On the Universality of What Is Not: The Apophatic Turn in Critical Thinking (2020). His most recent Pandemics and Apocalypse in World Literature: The Hope for Planetary Salvation (2025) plies his apophatic philosophy to illuminate issues of urgent public purport. He lectures and leads seminars on his ideas in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish on five continents.

Kenneth Quandt holds a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of California Berkeley. He writes commentaries on the Greek text of Plato’s Dialogues and translates books by contemporary European thinkers.