Meet AUP’s 6 Newest Faculty Members

The American University of Paris is thrilled to welcome six new faculty members this fall, each of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in their chosen fields. We caught up with them to learn what brought them to Paris, which classes they’re most excited to teach, and how they like to spend their time outside of the classroom.  

What drew you to teach in Paris? 

Professor De Freitas: “I wanted to be in a cosmopolitan and dynamic environment, in which I could have access to different initiatives and people.” 

Professor Lee: “What drew me to AUP is its dedication to the wild and necessary pursuit of free thinking, which is the foundation of a liberal arts education. Its iconic location in Paris speaks to its international spirit as a crossroads of languages and cultures. Paris has historically been a place that has welcomed misfits, exiles, and creatives, so arriving here at this moment in time feels like a homecoming of sorts. It has felt so magical yet so very real at the same time.”  

Professor Marwege: “I love the fact that Paris has both a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene — which allows you to think through research questions in new ways — and that Paris is such an international city where you can meet people from all over the world.” 

Professor Sabrier: “I enjoy big cities, and in Europe, Paris is one of them. I’m drawn to its vibrant cultural and political life. It’s a city where things happen—dynamic, alive, and constantly evolving—and I find that both exciting and intellectually stimulating.” 

Professor Truong: “I'm from Paris! This is my city! And my wife told me to stay.” 

Professor Yahmi: “I was so excited to return to one of the best cities in the world (objectively speaking, obviously!), especially to join AUP. I spent five years at Sciences Po before moving to Philadelphia for my PhD. AUP’s multicultural environment offered precisely the kind of academic and cultural exchange I value, which is what drew me back. Being in an American-style liberal arts institution in the heart of Paris is a unique opportunity that is deeply fulfilling on both a professional and personal level.” 

What class are you most excited to teach this semester, and why? 

Professor De Freitas: “I am especially excited about “Foundations of Management.” It allows me to delve into topics that have been important to my intellectual development for at least 15 years now and carry on with the tradition that helped shape me into the person I am today. It means discussing the mainstream history of management and opening critical possibilities into much needed alternatives.” 

Professor Lee: “This semester I’m thrilled to be teaching “Writing and Criticism.” I love big questions and creative, unexpected, and humorous detours; these are qualities I hope to bring to my classroom. I want to instill in my students the joy of discovery and the pleasure of reading and writing as a means to dig deeper into our own minds, to imagine new possibilities for the places we inhabit. That’s the energy I want to bring to AUP.” 

Professor Marwege: “This semester I am teaching “Challenges in Global Politics” and “International Politics of the Environment,” both of which I am excited to teach. In the "Challenges" class we look at a wide variety of complex issues in today's global politics, such as decolonialism, migration or climate change, while in “International Politics of the Environment” we explore the obstacles to global cooperation on the climate crisis in more detail.”  

Professor Sabrier: “This semester, I’m teaching an introductory course, “Ancient and Medieval Philosophy,” alongside a new class, “Athens’ Golden Age in the 5th century BCE.” The first is a more familiar, standard course I’ve taught before, but the second is new territory—and I was genuinely excited to design it. I’m also really enjoying teaching it, especially because it allows us to explore a rich mix of history, literature, and philosophy.” 

Professor Truong: “I have two excellent classes this semester. In "Intro to Computer Programming," I have the joy of initiating new students to the joy and wonder of programming languages. In "Research and Writing for CS/Math," students write their first (short) scientific article.” 

Professor Yahmi: “I am currently teaching “World Politics” and I look forward to teaching it again next semester, along with the course “War and Peace.” These courses are a delight to prepare and teach, especially because we can spend time in class working on experiments, simulations, and other large games to understand politics!” 

What research are you currently working on?  

Professor De Freitas: “I am working on a project about the organization of an animal sanctuary. There is an emerging field called animal organization studies which ties together several issues around ethics, environmental concerns, and organized forms of life. I believe this topic has high practical potential for connecting everyday actions with grand challenges such as global warming and the mass extinction of species.” 

Professor Lee: “I’m a scholar of hemispheric American studies, working at the crossroads of literature and history. My research focuses on the complexity of liberty in the long shadow of abolition. My first book Mandarin Brazil examines the literary and cultural history of Chinese immigration to Brazil during the second half of the nineteenth century, the years that coincide with gradual emancipation and nation-state formation. I am now finishing my second book, Black Magic City, which examines how Brazilian laws against magic shaped ideas about religion, science, and health in the early twentieth century.”  

Professor Marwege: “Currently I am working on a few articles on climate movements and a handbook chapter on democracy and the environment. I am also in the final stages of co-editing the book Climate Justice Now - Crossing Disciplines to Combat Our Planetary Crisis, which illustrates how different academic disciplines approach the topic of climate justice and which will be published in February 2026.” 

Professor Sabrier: “I’ve just returned from Germany, where I gave a talk on “courage” in Plato—a topic I find both fascinating and especially relevant today. The conference brought together scholars from a wide range of disciplines; some presented on autonomous weapon systems, others on the ethics of war. The diversity of perspectives made it a particularly engaging event. At the moment, I’m working on a couple of research projects. One explores the notion of care for the soul in both ancient and contemporary philosophy; the other examines the Platonic roots of our modern concepts of “kind” and “gender” (genos).” 

Professor Truong: “My primary research focus is statistics and time series. Currently, I am working on geometric approaches for non-Euclidean observations. I am also collaborating with neuroscientists; my work helps them search through a trove of data for early biomarkers of neurological pathologies, especially Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.” 

Professor Yahmi: “I'm currently working on a book based on my doctoral dissertation, which is titled Smuggling for a Cause: Order, Control, and Violence in Rebel Borderlands. My interest in researching the strategies and behavior of rebel groups led me to co-edit a double special issue in Civil Wars on “Rebel Groups' Use of Instruments of Finance and Governance” which will be published next spring. I'm also working on a policy paper for the Malcom H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, “Climate Crisis and Governance of Displacement in the North African Region,” as well as a book chapter on the crystallization of populism in France.” 

What is a book or article you are recommending these days?  

Professor De Freitas: “I would like to recommend two books. The first one is called Ainsi l'Animal et Nous by Kaoutar Harchi (2024). The author elegantly ties together different forms of domination through the issue of animalization, a phenomenon that makes living beings killable, and connects the everyday slaughtering of animals with the continuing forms of violence of colonial, sexist, and classist domination. The second book is a literary novel describing the reality of poverty in my home city, Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. It is called Os Supridores by José Falero (2020). The author presents an engaging narrative of two working-class people who come up with a plan to escape from the toil of their minimum-wage jobs and start selling marijuana. The book presents a hard-hitting social critique in an accessible language, making for a real page-turner.” 

Professor Lee: “I recently read R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface, a delightfully satirical novel about the publishing industry, which in many ways, crosses into the noir academia genre. And I also recommend Tao Leigh Goffe’s Dark Laboratory, a brilliant study of the intertwined histories of climate change, race, and colonialism.” 

Professor Marwege: “I really loved reading the book Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature by Alyssa Battistoni, in which she explores the question of why the environment is often considered a "free" gift in modern capitalist societies. A really, really fascinating read!” 

Professor Sabrier: “Over the summer, I read Meaning of a Life: An Autobiography by Mary Oppen. It’s a fascinating book that offers a unique perspective on life in both the United States and France during challenging periods like the Great Depression. What struck me most wasn’t the specific events she recounts, but rather the rhythm of life that emerges throughout the narrative — a sense of movement and adaptation that she gradually learns to navigate.” 

Professor Truong: “I am discovering Tillie Walden's work and loving it so far: Clementine, Are You Listening?, On a Sunbeam, etc. Fantastic stuff!” 

Professor Yahmi: “I can't recommend only one book, but Fatou Diome's books offer amazing and crisp perspectives on people's movements, migration and immigration, complicated feelings, and family relations. I would also recommend reading work by and about Gisèle Halimi.” 

When you’re not teaching, what is your favorite thing to do in Paris? 

Professor De Freitas: “Beyond discovering plant-based restaurants, I like getting to know museums and other cultural activities, and sightseeing. I highly recommend Boneshaker Donuts, and Gangnam Falafel for restaurants. As a cultural activity, I greatly enjoyed the Maison de l’Amérique Latine exhibit called “le Brésil Illustré,” which focused on the work of Jean Baptiste Debret, who portrayed Brazilian reality in the 19th century, mainly about slavery and its lingering consequences of structural racism. The exhibit offers an English language tour and is free of charge. Finally, I think the Parc de Belleville at the 20th arrondissement is an underrated free activity in Paris.” 

Professor Lee: “When I’m not on campus, you will most likely find me perusing Parisian bookstores, sitting at cafés and exploring artisanal markets. Paris has a deep love and sensibility for the spirit of creative expression. That characteristic is so unique to this city and absolutely marvelous to experience from literature, art, fashion, and design to gastronomy. My favorite thing to do in Paris, something I could happily do every day for the rest of my life, is watch the sunset from the Pont des Arts. I know it sounds simple but on any given day, from the time the sun begins to go down—to well into the blue hour, you can be sure to find a musician on that bridge playing a love song to Paris. At that moment each day, the entire city transforms into a poem, one that I will enjoy experiencing for as long as the music keeps playing.” 

Professor Marwege: “I love cycling and walking through the city and discovering new cafés and museums. My latest favorite café find is Bebop in the 20th arrondissement.”  

Professor Sabrier: “I enjoy lots of things, but one of my favorites is just sitting in a nice pâtisserie with a good pastry and a coffee. The cake level in Paris is seriously impressive!” 

Professor Truong: “I often bring my daughter to the stadium to see the Paris FC, the best soccer team in Paris. I also like to visit parks around Paris; most notably the Parc de la Vallée-aux-Loups, which has the most beautiful tree in the area (a 100+ year-old atlas cedar).” 

Professor Yahmi: “I love to explore all the secrets of the city and the region! Lesser-known spots, historical locations, museums and parks.”