Julianna Sandholm-Bark, PhD
Head of Global Citizenship Program; Faculty, Current Art, Composition, First Year Seminar
Julianna Sandholm-Bark, PhD, has over 20 years of experience working in international education, teaching courses in art history on a regular basis since 2008. As the Head of the Global Citizenship Program since 2017, she oversees the institution's liberal arts curriculum which hosts courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and which provides students with a core educational foundation that emphasizes critical thinking skills. From 2018 to 2023, she oversaw the Meet the Artist Lecture and Podcast Series, an educational initiative that brought Geneva’s creative community to the Webster campus.
She has been contributing her expertise in art and education at Geneva's annual art fair artgenève since 2019. A contributor to the “Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible,” she has presented her work on art and pedagogy at numerous academic conferences since 2014. Her most recent publication explores how curatorial and practice-led teaching methods transforms contemporary art education for non-art history majors. Through case studies at artgenève and Meet the Artist, it argues that experiential learning fosters deeper cultural literacy, critical inquiry, and student agency.
Degrees
PhD in Art History, The Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, USA
MA in English Literature, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Affiliations
Member, Association for General and Liberal Studies (AGLS)
Member, College Art Association (CAA)
Member, Association for Art History (AAH)
Sandholm-Bark, J. (2025). Redefining liberal arts education for a VUCA world: The case of Webster University’s Global Citizenship Program. INTED 2025 Proceedings, 19th International Technology, Education and Development Conference.
Sandholm-Bark, J. (2025). Critical AI literacy in higher ed: Lessons and next steps. INTED 2025 Proceedings, 19th International Technology, Education and Development Conference.
“Dreamer's Water: Why data isn’t enough, with apologies to Hans Rosling.” 78 Magazine, April 2, 2021.
Possible in Visual Arts. In Glăveanu V.P. (Ed.), “The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible.” Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (2020).
F. Arese Visconti, and J. Sandholm-Bark. (2018). "Enabling effective assessment through collaboration." INTED2018 Proceedings. ISBN: 978-84-697-9480-7
Julianna Bark and Anders Sandholm. Describing the Value of Art through Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic Models. In Rodríguez-Ortega, “IV Encuentro Internacional de Historia del Arte y Cultura Artística Digital. Libro de resúmenes.” (2016).
“(Not just) spots on a wall — a review of Hirst’s spot paintings, exhibited at Gagosian in Geneva,” Le Flaneur, 21 Feb. 2012.
“Portraiture, Authorship, and the Authentication of Shakespeare,” Swiss Papers in English Language and Literature 25 (2011), 215-229.
Jean-François Guillebaud, in “Artistes à Genève,” Karine Tissot, ed. (Geneva: Editions Notari, 2010), 286-287.
“Jean-Etienne Liotard, Mimesis, and History Painting,” Cantor Arts Center Journal 6 (2008-2009), 19-25.
“The Spectacular Self: Jean-Etienne Liotard’s Self-Portrait Laughing,” Inferno 12 (2007-8), 49-56.
Reni Atanassova, MASE, MA, MS
Faculty, English as Second Language
Reni Atanassova is an educator and scholar with interdisciplinary expertise spanning education, literature, linguistics and psychology. She holds 3 advanced degrees from the University of Geneva: a Master of Advanced Studies in Secondary Education (MASE), a Master of Arts in English Literature and Linguistics, and a Master of Science in Psychology. Her academic background supports her work in international education, where she contributes to curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and student mentorship.
Atanassova’s interests lie in the integration of psychological principles into teaching practice, the role of language in learning, and the promotion of inclusive and effective educational strategies across diverse student populations.
Degrees
MASE in Secondary Education, University of Geneva, Switzerland
MA in English Literature and Linguistics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
MSc in Psychology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Lucie Cardinaux, MA
Faculty, French
Lucie Cardinaux is a French language instructor and academic advisor at Webster Geneva Campus. Holding dual nationality—Swiss and French—she brings a multicultural perspective to her teaching, enriching classroom discussions with intercultural insights.
She holds a Master of Arts in French as a Foreign Language and a Master of Arts in Translation and Intercultural Communication, both from the University of Geneva. Before joining Webster, Cardinaux taught in a Swiss linguistic program for refugees, where she supported language acquisition and integration.
In addition to her academic responsibilities, Cardinaux is a practicing visual artist specializing in painting and drawing. She also supports Webster’s student-led Art Club, fostering creativity and expression on campus. A passionate reader with a particular love for science fiction, she enjoys exploring new creative projects in her free time.
Degrees
MA in French as a Foreign Language, University of Geneva, Switzerland
MA in Translation and Intercultural Communication, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Peter Carson, JD
Faculty, Media Law, Ethics and Policy
Peter Carson combines experience in law, journalism and education with expertise across media and nonprofit sectors. He has practiced tort litigation and served as a reporter and editor for publications in the United States and Switzerland. Carson worked in community investment at a major Houston nonprofit, focusing on social impact and resource allocation.
At Webster University Geneva, Carson manages academic advising and student success while teaching. He helps students navigate academic challenges and align educational goals with career development, drawing from his interdisciplinary background to provide practical guidance.
Degrees
JD, University of Denver, USA
BA in Political Science and International relations, Ohio Wesleyan University, USA
Affiliations
Member of the Ohio State Bar Association
Member of the Colorado Bar Association
Lucia Del Moro, MA
Faculty, German Language
Lucia Del Moro is a licensed counselor and language instructor specializing in Italian and German in the Geneva/Nyon area. Her Italian and Swiss background brings a multicultural and multilingual perspective to both education and mental health work. Del Moro holds MA degrees in foreign languages from the University of Florence, translation and interpretation from the University of Geneva, and counseling from Webster University.
A certified member of the Swiss Association for Counselling (SGfB), she is trained in logotherapy, the existential approach developed by Viktor Frankl. Her counseling practice focuses on helping individuals find meaning and purpose, while her language teaching draws on her understanding of cultural and linguistic nuance. Del Moro's interdisciplinary expertise supports her commitment to holistic student development and well-being.
Degrees
MA in Foreign Languages, University of Florence, Italy
MA in Translation and Interpretation, University of Geneva, Switzerland
MA in Counseling, Webster University, Switzerland
Affiliations
Licensed Counselor, Swiss Association for Counselling (SGfB)
Agnès Demornex, MA
Faculty, English as Second Language
Agnès Demornex is an English as a Second Language and Global Cornerstone teacher at Webster University Geneva and a teacher trainer at Haute École Pédagogique du Canton du Vaud in Lausanne. She studied architecture at École d'Architecture de Lyon and English civilization and literature at Université Lyon II before moving to the United States. She has earned an MA in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education from the American College of Education and is completing an MA in English Literature and Culture at the University of Hertfordshire.
Her research interests include universal design for learning (UDL), developing students' choice, voice and autonomy, and meaningful technology integration. She taught at high schools and middle schools in the United States for more than 10 years before returning to France and focusing on her current positions at the university level. She is committee director of the Kamilala Swiss Competition of Plurilingual Kamishibai, which involves the Japanese art of storytelling in French along with the integration of several other languages.
Besides her passion for language teaching and education, Demornex is an avid gardener.
Degrees
MA in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education, American College of Education,
USA
[In progress] MA in English Literature and Culture, University of Hertfordshire, UK
Affiliations
Committee Director, Kamilala Swiss Competition of Plurilingual Kamishibaïs
Demornex, A. (2022). Fostering student voice, choice, and autonomy in the foreign language classroom. ETAS Journal, 39(no.1), 34-35.
Bemporad, C., et Demornex, A. (Eds.). (2023). Le kamishibai plurilingue multimodal: un outil d’éducation numérique ? Edilettre, 1.
Bemporad, C., et Demornex, A. (2023, juin). Le kamishibaï plurilingue : enjeux de la multimodalité et défis du numérique. Communication présentée à 10ème congrès international de l’association EDiLiC: L’éducation plurilingue de la petite enfance à l’âge adulte: Transitions, continuités et ruptures, Copenhague, Danemark.
Demornex, A., Lehmacher, S., et Viret Couchoux, E. (2024). Aide à l'apprentissage des langues. Cahiers Pédagogiques (Les), 593, 40-41.Yohan Frei, PhD
Faculty, Biology and Mathematics
Yohan Frei is a biologist and educator who recently joined the faculty at Webster
University Geneva, teaching biology and mathematics. He holds a Ph.D. in biology from
the University of Geneva, having begun his studies at Grenoble University in France
before moving to Geneva in 2009. His research focuses on genetics, molecular biology
and developmental biology in insect systems, including a notable discovery in "Drosophila"
genetics that revealed a unique expression pattern of messenger RNA in the brain critical
for reproductive processes.
Frei creates a welcoming classroom environment that encourages curiosity, confidence
and active engagement in science learning. Beyond academics, he holds an IPMA Level
D project management certification and pursues interests in French, Japanese and Italian
culinary arts, as well as playing drums in a band.
Degrees
PhD in Biology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Undergraduate Studies, Grenoble University, France
Affiliations
IPMA Level D Certified Project Manager
Frei Y, Immarigeon C, Revel M, Karch F, Maeda RK (2024) Upstream open reading frames repress the translation from the iab-8 RNA. PLoS Genet 20(9): e1011214.
C. Immarigeon, Y. Frei, S.Y.N. Delbare, D. Gligorov, P. Machado Almeida, J. Grey, L. Fabbro, E. Nagoshi, J. Billeter, M.F. Wolfner, F. Karch, R.K. Maeda, (2021) Identification of a micropeptide and multiple secondary cell genes that modulate Drosophila male reproductive success, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118 (15): e2001897118.
Maeda RK, Sitnik JL, Frei Y, Prince E, Gligorov D, Wolfner MF, et al. (2018) The lncRNA male-specific abdominal plays a critical role in Drosophila accessory gland development and male fertility. PLoS Genet 14(7): e1007519.
Zuzana Hevler, MA
Faculty, Media Studies
Zuzana Hevler is a journalist, editor and media specialist with international experience across Central Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. She studied journalism and media studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSV), Charles University in Prague and pursued part of her academic training in New York and at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.
Her cross-cultural academic background laid the foundation for a career deeply rooted in both English-language and Central European media landscapes. Hevler is a trained journalist who has written extensively for a range of newspapers and weeklies in English. Her editorial experience includes roles at prominent publications such as Hospodářské Noviny, The Prague Post—an English-language weekly—and the Czech daily Zemské Noviny. She also contributed to the magazine Československý Šah, where she further honed her editorial and cultural commentary skills.
Since 2007, Hevler has collaborated with International Geneva, engaging in initiatives that connect journalism with global diplomacy and cultural dialogue. Her work reflects a sustained interest in transnational communication, media ethics and the evolving role of journalism in multilingual, multicultural contexts.
Degrees
MA in Journalism and Media Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences (FSV), Charles University,
Czech Republic
BA in Journalism and Media Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences (FSV), Charles University,
Czech Republic
Affiliations
Journalist for Denik N
Groundbreaking Referendum and Billion-Dollar Costs: Swiss Approve 13th Pension, March 4, 2024.
Zelensky Criticizes Putin in Davos: Once Again Urges Swiss, Who Promise Peace Conference, Jan. 16, 2024.
Watches Worth Hundreds of Thousands to Tens of Millions: Left a World-Renowned Watch Company and Started His Own in a Room, Nov. 4, 2023.
Swiss-Alps-Zermatt: Glaciers Melting Faster Than Expected, Surprising the Swiss. Only Some Snow-Capped Peaks Might Be Saved. Oct. 7, 2023.
Zelensky's Attempt to Convince Hesitant Swiss: Standing Ovations and a Few Walkouts. June 15, 2023.
Swiss Leopards Gather Dust: Will Bern Send Tanks to Ukraine? Arms Companies Await Permission, Public and Parliament Divided. June 7, 2023.
“It’s Important to Fulfill Dreams You Had as a Child,” Says Mystery Author Michaela Klevisová. April 26, 2023.
Swiss Dismantle Air Defense Missiles Despite Not Needing To: Criticism Arises, Could Have Sent Them to Ukraine. March 15, 2023.
“For Russia, It’s a Case of Let the Chips Fall Where They May,” Says the Highest-Ranking Czech Diplomat at the UN. March 13, 2023.
Petya Ivanova, PhD
Faculty, Creative Writing and Studio Acting
Petya Ivanova is a literary scholar, educator and opera dramaturg with a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Geneva, where she specialized in medieval literature. Her academic experience includes teaching literature and creative writing at the University of Geneva and theatre studies at the University of Plovdiv in Bulgaria.
As a freelance opera dramaturg, Ivanova has collaborated with opera houses in Geneva, Lausanne and Bordeaux, contributing literary and historical interpretation to productions. She writes original texts for contemporary Bulgarian jazz compositions, bridging scholarly research and creative expression through her work with language, performance and cultural history.
Degrees
PhD in English Literature, with specialization in medieval studies, University of
Geneva, Switzerland
Collective volumes
2025 “Les poèmes du MS Cotton Nero A.x.” (The Pearl Manuscript), critical edition and translation in French, in collaboration with Claire Vial, Tatjana Silec and Martine Yvernault, Garnier, Paris.
Edited volumes
2017 “La poésie didactique au Moyen Age,” eds. Danielle Buschinger, Mathieu Olivier and Petya Ivanova, Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, 2017.
Critical studies
2024 “New Pedagogical Practices for Presenting Literary Texts,” in Art Studies Quarterly, Vol. 3, 2024.
2023 The Art of Comedy in Europe, in “Licedey: recent research papers on European comedy,” PU Paisii Hilendarski, Plovdiv, p.13-24, 2023.
2022 Aspects de l’histoire du mime dans le théâtre français, in “Psychologie du Mime,” Maison d'édition de l'Université de Plovdiv, 2022.
2019 “Silent Adventures at the Arthurian court: Le Morte Darthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” Ce qui advient…les déclinaisons de l’aventure, eds. Danielle Buschinger, Mathieu Olivier, Till Kuhnle, Florent Gabaude et al., Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, 2019.
2019 The Ways of Pilgrimage in the Poetry of Leonard Cohen, in “Revue d’Etudes médiévales,” eds. Danielle Buschinger et Anne Ibos-Augé, Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, 2019.
2019 Sir Thomas Malory, ‘translator’ of the Arthurian prose cycle, in “Translatio and the History of Ideas,” ed. Anna Kukulka-Wojtasik, Peter Lang, 2019.
2017 Ceci n’est pas une chanson d’amour: Les manières amoureuses chez Chaucer et Gower, in “La poésie didactique au Moyen Age,” eds. Danielle Buschinger, Mathieu Olivier et Petya Ivanova, Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, 2017.
2016 Entre homme et animal: l’ange chez Torquato Tasso et Botticini, in “Mondes animaliers au Moyen Âge et à la Renaissance,” ed. Danielle Buschinger, Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, 2016.
2016 Parody in Malory’s Le Morte Darthur: Enactment and Fictionality, in “Courtly Parodies/ Parodies Courtoises,” éds. Margarida Madureira, Ana Paiva Morais and Carlos Carreto, Paris: Classiques Garnier, 2016, p. 431-442.
2016 Le mystérieux désir féminin entre la “femme hideuse” du Moyen Âge et Nastassia de Dostoïevski, en passant par l’Eve de Milton, in “Le mystérieux au Moyen Âge et ailleurs,” éd. Danielle Buschinger, Mathieu Olivier, Amiens: Presses Universitaires de Picardie, Revue d’Etudes médiévales, 2016.
2014 Afterlives: Petrarch and Geoffrey Hill’s The Triumph of Love, with Peter Behrman de Sinéty, in “Mémoire du Moyen Age dans la poésie contemporaine,” éds. Nathalie Koble and Mireille Séguy, Hermann, 2014.
2014 Versions of the Glorious Body: Language and Corporeity, in “Körper, Kultur, Kommunikation / Corps, Culture, Communication,” éds. Catalina Schiltknecht, Alexander Schwarz et Barbara Wahlen, Bern: Peter Lang, 2014, p. 353-364.
2014 Quand les émotions prennent chair — pour une histoire de l’émotion médiévale, sur La chair des émotions: Pratiques et représentations corporelles de l’affectivité au Moyen Âge, dossier coordonné par Damien Boquet, Piroska Nagy et Laurence Moulinier-Brogi, PUV, Université Paris 8, Saint-Denis, 2011, compte-rendu critique, Fabula: la recherche en littérature, vol. 15, no. 4, April 2014.
2014 “Le Bone Florence of Rome: The Profaned Body in Use and in Language," Hortulus: The Online Graduate Journal of Medieval Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, Spring 2014.
2014 Actualisation narrative du corps guerrier — perspectives textuelles/Re-enactment and narrativisation of the warrior’s body — a textual perspective, in “Les arts de guerre et de grâce (XIVe-XVIIIe siècle): De la codification du mouvement à sa restitution: hypothèses, expérimentations et limites. Actes du colloque du 21 au 22 mai 2012,” éds. Daniel Jaquet, Dora Kiss and Pierre-Henry Bas, Lille: Revue du Nord Histoire, 2014.
2011 Courtesy at the Limits of Language: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in “Cultures Courtoises en Mouvement,” éds. Isabelle Arseneau and Francis Gingras, Montreal: Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, 2011, p. 419-429.
2011 Kinesthetic Imagination and Free Meaning in the Work of Merce Cunningham, in “Free Verse and Free Dance: Embodied Sense in Motion,” éds. Aida Ailamazian, Julia Idlis, Irina Sirotkina and Tatiana Venediktova, Moscow: Moscow State University, Smysl, 2011, p. 338-58.
2010 “Affective Kinesis and Construction of Space in Anchoritic Texts,” Postgraduate English Issue 21 (March 2010): ISSN 1756-9761.
Journal articles
“'L’isolement fait partie de notre histoire,' regard historique sur le lien entre poésie et médecine,” Diagonales, No 135, May-June 2020
“'Ce n’est pas une guerre, c’est la nature,' le rôle de l’art et de l’humour dans la gestion d’une crise,” interview avec Daniel Koch, Diagonales, No 135, July-Aug. 2020
“ L’hypnose comme philosophie de l’acceptation: archetypes et inconnu,” interview avec Dr Eric Bonvin, Diagonales, No 136,July-Aug. 2020
“Enfants sous pression: le rôle de l’école et des relations familiales sur l’équilibre émotionnel des enfants,” Diagonales, No 136, July-Aug. 2020
“L’épreuve de l’exil: nostalgie et mémoire,” Diagonales, No 136, July-Aug. 2020
“Les filles surdouées: challenges et adaptation,” Diagonales, No 137, Sept.-Oct. 2020
“La culture comme antidote à l’entropie: le rôle de la vie culturelle comme facteur préventif du vieillissement cognitif,” Diagonales, No 137, Sept.-Oct. 2020
“Le théâtre: le souffle de la vie,” interview avec Omar Porras, Diagonales, No 146, April-May 2022.
Musical critique and accompanying texts
2024 George Sand: la meilleure musicienne parmi les écrivains, CD booklet to “George” by Sonya Yoncheva
2023 The Courtesan as a Diva, CD booklet to “The Courtesan” by Sonya Yoncheva
2021 The contemporary baroque, author booklet text to “Handel” by Sonya Yoncheva, Sony Classical, 2021.
2019 Anna Bolena, la première reine anglaise de Donizetti, Opéra de Lausanne, livret de salle, Feb. 2019.
2019 Ariadne auf Naxos de Richard Strauss: un fil pour relier les contrastes, Opéra de Lausanne, livret de salle, March 2019.
2019 Musique et parole dans Orphée et Eurydice de Gluck, Opéra de Lausanne, livret de salle, June 2019.
2019 Handel: Women in the history of opera, Sony Classical, author booklet, 2019.
2018 La dramaturgie de Ramuz/Stravinsky dans “Histoire du soldat,” Opéra de Lausanne, livret de salle, Sept. 2018.
2018 L' “Histoire du soldat” peut être extrapolée à n'importe quel conflit armé, Sep 28, 2018, 24 Heures.
2018 Verdi, history and drama, Sony Classical, author booklet, 2018
2018 Le jeu du regard à l’école des amants, Così fan tutte de Mozart, Opéra de Lausanne, livret de salle, Oct. 2018.
2018 La chauve-souris: la naissance surprenante d’un chef-d’œuvre, livret de salle, Opera de Lausanne, Dec. 2018.
2018 Le baroque de Purcell et Dowland, article de présentation, récital Anne-Sophie von Otter, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Jan. 2018.
2018 La Belle époque de la musique française, article de présentation, Benjamin Bernheim, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Jan. 2018.
Literary writing
2015 “Ring at Ciel,” “Untitled,” “Pentecost,” “Things as they are,” “A Vision,” Fulcrum: An Anthology of Poetry and Aesthetics, No. 8, 2015.
2015 “Gnossienne 1.A,” “East of Eden,” “Le rouge rougeoit,” The Battersea Review, No. 5, Vol. I, Summer 2015.
2013 “Three Poems,” The Battersea Review, No. 2, Vol. I, Winter 2013.
Kwihee Kauffmann-Bin, MA
Faculty, Music Appreciation
Kwihee Kauffmann-Bin is a pianist and music educator who has taught piano and music since 2000. Originally from South Korea, she earned a bachelor's degree in composition from KyungWon University in Seoul before relocating to Switzerland. She continued her studies at the Haute école de musique de Genève, earning a music theory teaching diploma (MA) and certificates in musical culture teaching, including advanced musical theory, music analysis and orchestration.
Kauffmann-Bin has performed across Switzerland, France, Scotland, the United States, Japan and South Korea, often in duet with soprano Kwihyun Bin and other musicians. Her focus on pedagogy and performance demonstrates her commitment to technical mastery and expressive musical interpretation.
Degrees
MA in Music Theory Teaching, Haute école de musique de Genève, Switzerland
BA in Composition, KyungWon University, Seoul, South Korea
Olivia Marcz, MA, PGDip
Faculty, Psychology
Olivia Marcz, a Canadian by birth, has lived extensively in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University in Geneva, studied cross-cultural trauma at Harvard University in Italy and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy from the University of Oxford.
Marcz works in private practice with adolescents and adults and has also served as a school counselor in Switzerland and Cuba. She is an international psychology educator with expertise in teaching diverse psychology curricula and specializing in neurodivergent education.
Degrees
MA Counseling Psychology, Webster Geneva, Switzerland
Afilliations
Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre)
Agnese Mariotti, PhD
Faculty, Genetics
Agnese Mariotti holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Pavia, Italy. She conducted postdoctoral research at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and later worked as a principal scientist at the University of Lausanne.
Mariotti has authored multiple scientific articles and two popular books on the impact of psychophysical stress on health. Her main research interest lies in understanding the biological mechanisms that link physical and psychological responses.
Degrees
Phd in Genetics, University of Pavia, Italy
Eric Ménétre, PhD
Faculty, Psychology
Eric Ménétré is a psychologist with a PhD from the University of Geneva, specializing in executive functioning and word production through neuroimaging. He also holds advanced degrees in Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychology. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University Hospitals of Geneva, he focuses on applying artificial intelligence to improve epilepsy diagnosis.
He leads the development of a medical device to detect biomarkers during a patient’s first seizure and coordinates multicenter studies across seven epilepsy centers. His work emphasizes methodological precision and advanced statistics, bridging academic research with clinical neurology.
Degrees
PhD in Psychology, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Francesco Pennacchio, PhD
Faculty, Science in the News
Francesco Pennacchio is a multidisciplinary professional whose expertise spans chemistry, physics, public health and visual storytelling. He holds a BS and MS in chemistry from the University of Pavia, Italy, and a doctorate in physical chemistry from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). After his scientific career, he transitioned to data science and population health, coordinating the Specchio-COVID-19 digital study, which tracked 20,000 participants during the pandemic.
Pennacchio holds an MA in photojournalism and documentary photography from the University of the Arts London. His photography explores themes of memory and identity, with work exhibited internationally at Galleria Civica Bosio, IPFO Haus der Fotografie, Modern Art Oxford and Il Meccanico. His work has appeared in Lonely Planet Magazine and LensCulture, earning recognition at the PhEST Open Call for Being Human, Athens Photo Festival and Siena Drone Photo Awards.
In addition to teaching at Webster University Geneva, Pennacchio collaborates with the Visual Art Biennale Images Vevey, teaches photography in Geneva and maintains a freelance practice combining scientific insight with visual storytelling.
Degrees
PhD in Physical Chemistry, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne – EPFL, Switzerland
MSc in Chemistry, University of Pavia, Italy
MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, University of the Arts London,
UK BSc in Chemistry, University of Pavia, Italy
Baysson, H., Pennacchio, F., et al. Specchio-COVID19 cohort study: a longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey participants in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. BMJ Open 2022;12:e055515. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055515
Stringhini, S. et al. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second pandemic peak. The Lancet. Infectious diseases vol. 21,5 (2021): 600-601. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00054-2
Stringhini, S. et al. Large variation in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence among essential workers in Geneva, Switzerland. Nat Commun 12, 3455 (2021). doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23796-4
Dumont, R., et al. A population-based serological study of post-COVID syndrome prevalence and risk factors in children and adolescentis. Nat Commun 13, 7086 (2022). doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34616-8
Pennacchio, F., et al. Design and implementation of an optimal laser pulse front tilting scheme for ultrafast electron diffraction in reflection geometry with high temporal resolution. Struct. Dyn. 1 July 2017; 4 (4): 044032. doi: 10.1063/1.4991483
Truc B., et al, Ultrafast generation of hidden phases via energy-tuned electronic photoexcitation in magnetite, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 121 (26) e2316438121, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2316438121 (2024).
Dusan Petkovic, PhD
Faculty, Media Studies
Dusan Petkovic, PhD, is a seasoned media technologies expert and post-production specialist with over 18 years of international experience. Petkovic’s extensive career spans four continents, where he has contributed to numerous award-winning media projects. His work has been recognized at prestigious international festivals and awards ceremonies, including the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, BAFTA, BfFA and the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Known for his technical excellence and creative vision, he has played a key role in shaping post-production processes that elevate storytelling in both documentary and narrative formats. His unique blend of anthropological insight and technical expertise allows him to approach media production with a holistic perspective, integrating cultural sensitivity with innovative technology.
Degrees
PhD in Media Technologies and Innovation, Greenwich University, UK
MA in Visual Anthropology, Free University of Berlin, Germany
BA in Film and Television, Dutch Film and Television Academy, Nederlandse Film en
Televisie Academie, The Netherlands
David Rouquet, PhD
Associate Professor, Mathematics
David Rouquet, PhD, manages a small IT firm while serving as an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Webster University Geneva. His work combines computer science with research and development projects, focusing on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) principles. His expertise spans natural language processing, data science, digital humanities and geophysics.
Degrees
- PhD in Computer Science, University of Grenoble-Alpes, LIG, FR
- Maîtrise in Mathematics, University of Grenoble-Alpes, Institut Fourier, FR
Affiliations
Co-Manager at Tétras Libre
Bardiot, Clarisse & Hart, Jacob & Rouquet, David. In search of an interpretative environment for digital traces: the building of Arvest. Journal of Digital History, 2025. DOI:10.1515/jdh-2024-0013.
Hart, Jacob, Clarisse Bardiot, and David Rouquet. “Arvest: An Open Source Tool for Multimodal Document Network Analysis.” In DH Benelux. Leuven, Belgium, 2024.
Bardiot, Clarisse, David Rouquet, Jacob Hart, Alexandre Michaan, Irénée Blin, Mei Menassel, Sébastian Hildebrand, Stefania Ferrando, Cosetta Graffione, and Daniele Marranca. “From MemoRekall to MemoRekall-IIIF: Developing a Video Annotation Web Application in the Context of Citizen Science Co-Creation Practices” In ADHO Digital Humanities Conference 2023 (DH2023), 2023.
Cadet, Héloïse, David Rouquet, and Anne Lescurier. “SIGALE: An Online Early Warning System for Gravitational Hazard (Savoie, France),” EGU-7499, 2023.
Lamercerie, Aurélien, and David Rouquet. “Construction d’ontologies à Partir de Textes : Démonstration d’une Approche Basée Sur l’analyse de Graphes AMR.” In Revue Des Nouvelles Technologies de l’Information, Extraction et Gestion des Connaissances, RNTI-E-39:589–96. Lyon, France, 2023.
Rouquet, David, Aurélien Lamercerie, Valérie Bellynck, Christian Boitet, Vincent Berment, and Guillaume de Malézieux. “TENET, Un Outil Pour Construire Des Ontologies OWL à Partir de Textes En Langue Naturelle” In Extraction et Gestion Des Connaissances - EGC’2022, Vol. E-38,. Revue Des Nouvelles Technologies de l’Information. Blois, France, 2022.
Rouquet, David. “Semantic Web Technologies for Lexical Linked Data Management” In Proceedings of TALN 2013 (Volume 3: System Demonstrations), 803–4, 2013.
Falaise, Achille, Olivier Kraif, Agnès Tutin, and David Rouquet. “ScienQuest: A Treebank Exploitation Tool for Non NLP-Specialists” In Proceedings of COLING 2012: Demonstration Papers, 131–40, 2012.
Rouquet, David. “Multilinguisation d’ontologies dans le cadre de la recherche d’information translingue dans des collections d’images accompagnées de textes spontanés” Phd Thesis, Université de Grenoble, 2012.
Rouquet, David, and Hong-Thai Nguyen. “Interlingual Annotation of Texts in the OMNIA Project” Poznan, Poland, 2009.
Julia Sader, PhD
Faculty, Psychology
Julia Sader, PhD, is a distinguished academic and researcher with expertise in psychology and medical education. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Medical Education) from the University of Geneva, a Master’s in Developmental Psychology from UCL and a BA in Psychology with a Philosophy minor from Webster University (magna cum laude).
Her work focuses on integrating psychological principles into medical education and understanding cognitive and emotional development across life stages. Her academic excellence and interdisciplinary approach make her a respected figure in her field.
Degrees
Phd in Medical Education, University of Geneva, Switzerland
MS in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology, UCL, London, UK
PhD publications (thesis by article plus 323-page document available upon request)
Letter to the editor: “Clinical reasoning and COVID-19 pandemic: current influencing factors – Let us take a step back!” (Audétat, M-C; Sader. J. & Coen, M. 2021) Intern Emerg Med. 2021 Jun;16(4):1109-1111. doi: 10.1007/s11739-020-02516-8. Epub 2020 Oct 12. PMID: 33044737; PMCID: PMC7549420.
Opinion paper: “Clinical reasoning in dire times. Analysis of cognitive biases in clinical cases during the COVID19 pandemic.” (Coen & Sader et al, 2021)
Research article 1: Coen M., Sader J. (Both authors equally contributed to the paper). Junod-Perron N., Audétat MC., Nendaz M.. Clinical reasoning in dire times. Analysis of cognitive biases in clinical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intern Emerg Med. 2022 Jun;17(4):979-988. doi: 10.1007/s11739-021-02884-9. Epub 2022 Jan 8. PMID: 34997906; PMCID: PMC8742156 (Coen & Julia et al, 2023) Journal of emergency medicine IF 3.2 (2023)
Position paper 1 “Serious game training in medical education: potential to mitigatecognitive biases of healthcare professionals.” (Sader et al, 2021; Diagnosis – SIDM – Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine – member since 2019).
Position paper 2 “Design Bioethics, not only as a Research Tool but also a Pedagogical Tool (Sader et al, 2021; American Journal of Bioethics I.F. 7.647 (2019).
Scoping review research article 2 “Theoretical models, interventions, and tools to mitigate cognitive biases: can other fields bring a new perspective to medical education?” (Sader, Nendaz & Audétat, 2024)- Submitted to medical education IF 3.2
Randomized control trial: (RCT) research article 3 “Impact of a single training intervention on the mitigation of susceptibility to cognitive biases in medical residents: a multi-centric randomized controlled trial on serious game vs. instructional video” (Sader, Cerutti, Audétat & Nendaz, 2024) -Submitted to BMJ quality and safety IF 2.7
Correlational study research article 4: “What role does critical thinking play in medical residents' susceptibility to cognitive biases?” Therefore, a (Sader, Cerutti, Nendaz & Audétat, 2024) -Submitted to Advances in health sciences education: theory and practice.
Other Selected Publications
Lavallard V, Cerutti B, Audetat Voirol M-C, Broers B, Sader J, Galetto-Lacour A, Hausmann S, Savoldelli GL, Nendaz M, Escher M. Formative assessments during COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study on performance and experiences of medical students. MedEdPublish. 2023;13:7.
Bajwa NM, Sader J, Kim S, Park YS, Nendaz M, Bochatay N. Development and validity evidence for the intraprofessional conflict exercise: An assessment tool to support collaboration. PloS one. 2023;18(2):e0280564.
Cleverley-Leblanc H, Chemin C, Sader J, Junod Perron NA, Zamberg I, Schiffer E, Nendaz M, Audetat Voirol M-C. Favoriser le développement du raisonnement clinique des étudiants en médecine : une démarche d'amélioration. Pédagogie médicale. 2023;23(4):225 33.
Sader J, Cerutti B, Meynard L, Geoffroy F, Meister V, Paignon A, Junod Perron NA. The pedagogical value of near-peer feedback in online OSCEs. BMC medical education. 2022;22(1):572.
Sader J, Diana A, Coen M, Nendaz M, Audetat Voirol M-C. A GP's clinical reasoning in the context of multimorbidity: beyond the perception of an intuitive approach. Family practice. 2022;cmac076.
Sader J, Cairo Notari S, Coen M, Ritz C, Bajwa NM, Nendaz M, Audetat Voirol M-C. Métaphores : une porte d'entrée pour accéder à la richesse du raisonnement clinique des médecins généralistes. Pédagogie médicale. 2022;23(1):17 26.
Coen M, Sader J, Junod Perron NA, Audetat Voirol M-C, Nendaz M. Clinical reasoning in dire times. Analysis of cognitive biases in clinical cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internal and emergency medicine. 2022.
Jeanette Tantillo, MA
Faculty, Professional Seminar, INGOs
Jeanette Tantillo holds two master degrees from the Bloustein School of City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA and from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
Her research focus has been the impact of information and communication technologies on international relations. She has worked with various international organizations in Geneva organizing and moderating dialogues, acting as liaison and providing presentations and training on sustainable development in the areas of digital technologies, trade and ethics.
She began working at Webster Geneva Campus in 2007, where she engages students in exploring the complicated mandates of international organizations, including the contributions of civil society, corporations and digital technologies upon the evolution of international trade, global health, environment and sustainable development, IHL and human rights.
As part of her curriculum, she organizes student debates, and since 2024, the WebMUN (Webster’s Model United Nations in Geneva). She is otherwise a private consultant for lectures, workshops, research and editing; a Model United Nations and debating coach, a poet (Matters to Me) and fiction author (The Aspirants) as J Loretta, founder of the Geneva Open Mic Poetry Readings, and Steering Committee Member of the Geneva Writers Group.
Degrees
MA in International Studies, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,
Geneva Switzerland
MCRP in City and Regional Planning, Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School
of Planning and Public Policy, New Brunswick, New Jersey USA
BA in Political Science, Rutgers University, Douglass College, New Brunswick, NJ USA
Affiliations
Membership: Chatham House
Membership: Geneva Internet Platform
Membership: frank - Center for Public Interest Communications at the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications
Steering Committee: Geneva Writers Group
Founder: GOMPR/GOMPR FB
Email: jtantillo84@webster.edu
Davide Vité, PhD
Faculty, Business Administration and Mathematics
Davide Vité is a physicist and educator with a multidisciplinary background in science, education and the arts. Born in Italy, he earned an M.S. in physics before completing a Ph.D. in physics at Imperial College London, conducting doctoral research at CERN in Geneva. He later became a research associate at the University of Geneva, collaborating with CERN and NASA, before earning an MBA from Webster University Geneva.
Vité has held leadership roles in learning and development at CERN and UNAIDS, and since 2007 has focused on teaching. He holds a MASE in physics and mathematics and is pursuing a master's degree in musicology at the University of Geneva. His teaching emphasizes student-centered approaches in a dynamic classroom environment. His interests include innovative pedagogy, environmental science and ancient music.
Degrees
PhD in Physics, Imperial College London, UK
MSc in Physics, University of Torino, Italy
MBA, Webster University, Switzerland
[In progress] MA in Musicology (University of Geneva, Switzerland)
Email: vitedav@webster.edu