Voicing Plurality in an Open World

Agnes Grond (1972), Mag. Dr. phil. University Assistant at the Institute for Translation Studies, Research Unit for Translation–Migration–Minorities, University of Graz. Her research on Kurdish diaspora languages in Austria draws on the concepts of critical sociolinguistics with a particular focus on new methodological approaches and the development of a practical framework for a broader understanding of the relationship between environmental influences, language policies, and language ideologies on language use in multilingual communication.

Angelika Heiling (1983), Mag.phil. She pursued her MA in English, American Studies and Gender Studies at the University of Graz and the University of Aberdeen. She is currently employed at the Plurilingualism Research Unit and writing a doctoral thesis on local and translocal voices in literature and films from southern Africa. Her main research interests are in critical sociolinguistics and literature, with a focus on Southern African multilingualism, urban multilingualism, and migrant and diaspora contexts.

Oana Hergenröther (1987), Dr. MA. She is post-doctoral researcher in literature at the Plurilingualism Research Unit and the Institute of Slavic Studies of the University of Graz. She studied English and American Studies at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and write her doctoral thesis on the novels and films of contemporary American author Paul Auster, basing her later monograph on her doctoral research. She has worked at the University of Graz since 2015, exploring her main interests: literatures in plurilingual and minority contexts with a focus on Southeastern Europe; Age/ing Studies, and contemporary American literature and culture. She is also an active literary translator between Serbian, Romanian, English, and Spanish.

Daniela Unger-Ullmann (1971), Mag. Dr. phil. Since 2007, Head of treffpunkt sprachen – Center for Language, Plurilingualism and Didactics at the University of Graz – and responsible for the university’s anchoring and securing as well as strategically developing the ongoing teaching and research. She studied German and Latin to become a teacher at the University of Graz and completed further academic training in German as a Foreign Language, and Media Studies. She completed her doctorate at the Institute for German Studies in Graz with a dissertation in Older German Literature. From 2010 to 2015 she was director of the Confucius Institute at the University in Graz. Her research focuses on education and teaching management, human resources and organizational development, and language teaching and learning research.