Abigail Hong

Abby graduated summa cum laude from Temple University with a B.S. in Public Health in 2023. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a passion for connecting people to community resources and using the power of relationship-building to improve wellness. She spent her time as a peer educator for the university’s Wellness Resource Center, a peer mentor for incoming students, and an intern at the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services.

She also served as a leader for Temple’s Service Immersion Program, where she collaborated with local organizations to teach fellow students about activism in Philadelphia and help them become active participants in their communities. Since graduating, she has worked to reduce health inequities and medical mistrust in minority communities by connecting patients in primary care clinics to community health workers.

While at Ulster University, she will examine the impact conflict has on a country’s healthcare system and investigate the role of community-based programming in the reconciliation process and prevention of conflict. In her future work, she plans to promote peace and reduce harm through public health programs and policies. She’s excited to spend her free time volunteering at local art organizations, finding new cafes to read in, and going on runs throughout the city.

Dr. Dionne Taylor

Dr. Dionne Taylor is an Associate Professor at Birmingham City University, where she serves as the MA Black Studies Course Leader and teaches across Sociology and Black Studies. With over 15 years of teaching experience and a PGCE, Dr. Taylor has a deep commitment to brokering community engagement and supporting individuals and groups in reaching their potential. 

Her PhD thesis, titled "'I Wanna Love You': An Exploration into the Lived Experiences of Young Black British Women’s Interpretation and Engagement with Representations of Black Womanhood," delves into the impacts of societal stereotyping and structural inequalities on Black British women’s daily lives. Dr. Taylor’s research focuses on Blackness and identity, mental health disparities, and inequalities in higher education. 

Dr. Taylor has led several notable initiatives, including a Black Studies student exchange with Xavier and Tulane universities in 2020, which facilitated cross-cultural learning among students and staff. She also spearheaded the Black Studies and Youth Work and Communities Summer School in 2022, a widening participation project that engaged socially disadvantaged youth in educational and social activities. 

Her research leadership is exemplified by the UKRI-funded SMaRTeN project, which aimed to improve the mental health of Black university students. Dr. Taylor’s commitment to racial justice and culturally astute research is further reflected in her forthcoming works, including "The Black Studies Textbook: Beyond the Academy" and "Black University Students Mental Health and Wellbeing Matters." 

Dr. Taylor’s contributions extend beyond academia; she was featured in Leigh-Anne Pinnock's 2021 documentary "Colourism and Me," and she continues to influence the discourse on Black identity and mental health through her interdisciplinary collaborations and community-focused initiatives. 

Daniel Scroop

Daniel Scroop graduated with a BA and DPhil in Modern History from the University of Oxford. As a doctoral student, he spent a year at Columbia University in New York City, where he conducted research in US political history, focusing on the New Deal and American liberalism. Since then, he has published and taught on a variety of American political, social, and intellectual themes. In 2015-16 he was the Walter Hines Page fellow at the National Humanities Center in North Carolina.

At the University of Glasgow, where he has worked since 2012, he has developed an interest in how the stories we tell about the past connect to questions about citizenship and expertise.. His Fulbright project at Emory and Henry University, a liberal arts college in southwest Virginia, will examine those questions. He looks forward to sharing his ideas with students, faculty, and the public.

In addition to being an historian, Daniel is deeply involved in the Scottish running scene both as a coach and club leader. He is the president of Garscube Harriers, one of Scotland’s largest running clubs. At Emory and Henry, he is keen to connect with local athletes and to build bridges between Scotland and Appalachia.