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Joanna AbillamaCohort 2024

Education

  • MA, Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, Lebanese American University, 2022
  • MA, Theatre, Kansas State University, 2015
  • BA, Psychology, American University of Beirut, 2013

Research

  • Psychological anthropology 
  • Neurodiversity
  • Critical autism studies
  • Mad studies
  • Feminist studies
  • Experimental ethnography
  • Tabletop Roleplaying Games

Jo Abillama (she/her, they/them) is interested in researching how creative and expressive elements of Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs) could foster the exploration of more expansive/ flexible identities and socialities among Autistic gamers. Do TTRPGs function as a space for social experimentation and/or rehearsal for Autistic people? Could TTRPGs facilitate communication and increase empathy across Autistic/allistic neurotypes? They are also interested in experimental and arts-based research methodologies as they see in them the potential to both decolonize knowledge production and encourage engagement with a non-academic public.

Advisor: Drs. Chikako Ozawa-de Silva and Brendan Ozawa-de Silva