Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Mahir Emrah Aktunc received his master's degree in psychology from the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. from the Science and Technology Studies program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In his scholarly work, Dr. Aktunc strives to develop an interdisciplinary trajectory of empirical and philosophical work employing methods and theories of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy of science. Specific research topics include human working memory, evidence and inference in neuroimaging, inductive reasoning, and a new project on symbolic cognition.

Mark Foster is a full time percussionist and educator. A member of the Grammy winning Albany Symphony Orchestra for over 40 years, he has performed with them at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center and has recorded over two dozen albums with them on CRI, Naxos, Koch, Albany and Decca labels. Additionally he has performed several seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including Bridges of Madision County (winner of 2 Tonys), Far From Heaven, Legendary Romance and Unknown Soldier. His performances with the New York State Theatre institute took him to Moscow and Jordan.

Justin’s work is situated within the intersection of Community Engaged HCI, UX and Media Ecology. His dissertation, titled “Theorizing in a Society of Nature: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Permaculture Online and Textual Discourse” explores how contemporary ecological designers imagine and reimagine their relationship with the built and unbuilt environment. He has presented his work at HCI International, Harvard University, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Future of Senses III conference among others.

Before joining RPI, Dr. Bebe was an Associate Professor of Music at the College of Saint Rose where he served as the Instructor of Violoncello, Director of Orchestras, and String Program Coordinator for over a decade. An active cellist, he performs regularly as a chamber musician in the Capital Region and he has soloed in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, with the Miami Bach Society Orchestra, Project Copernicus, and the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Dedicated to contemporary works, Dr.

Pianist Akina Yura joined the faculty at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2018. Her concerts have been heard throughout the United States, Europe, and her native Japan. She has performed as a guest recitalist in numerous concert series, including the Pianodrom International Piano Festival in Albania, the Kaleidoscope MusArt concert series, and the SUNY at Albany Performing Arts Center concert series.

I am a microeconomic theorist. My research focuses on auctions, mechanism design, and dynamic games. Currently I work on designing dynamic mechanisms that are immune to collusion among participants and on auction problems with asymmetric bidders.

Leslie is a game developer, educator, and creative coder. Appointed as a lecturer, she currently teaches in the Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences Program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her artistic work explores animals, gender, and cultural stereotypes as they convey the feelings and emotions of repressed members of society, those that are silenced by the people in power.