Team

Board of Directors

Jan van der Crabben
Jan van der Crabben
Chief Executive Officer

MA War Studies, King's College London
BA Journalism, University of East London

Jan is the Founder and CEO of World History Encyclopedia. He holds an MA War Studies from King's College, and he has worked in the field of history-related digital media since 2006.

Joshua J. Mark
Joshua J. Mark
Content Director

MA English, SUNY College New Paltz
BA English/Philosophy, SUNY College New Paltz

Joshua J. Mark is World History Encyclopedia's co-founder and Content Director. He was previously a professor at Marist College (NY) where he taught history, philosophy, literature, and writing. He has traveled extensively and lived in Greece and Germany.

Mark Cartwright
Mark Cartwright
Publishing Director

MA Political Philosophy, University of York
BA Politics (1st), University of Teesside

Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.

Team Members

Alice Rowe
Alice Rowe
Public Relations

MA Classics, Durham University
BA English and Related Literature, University of York

Alice is a freelance Copywriter and Book Publicist, who is currently completing her PhD in Classics and Ancient History.

Aurelia Zhang
Aurelia Zhang
Bilibili Manager

Phillips Academy

(she/her) WHE Bilibili Account Manager, English-Chinese translator, current high school student in the United States, Ancient Rome/Musicology enthusiast, physics nerd, Tetris novice, air rifle athlete, studying Italian.

Aurora Alario
Aurora Alario
Italian Editor

Bachelor's degree in Linguistic Mediation.

I am a freelance translator. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Linguistic Mediation at the SSML Centro Masterly in Palermo, where I studied interpreting and translation for the English and French languages.

Babeth Étiève-Cartwright
Babeth Étiève-Cartwright
Head of Translation

Degree in English and French as a Foreign Language, University of Orléans
P.G.C.E in French and Spanish, University of Bristol

Babeth, Head of Translation, has a degree in English and French as a Foreign Language. Fluent in French, English and Italian, she used to teach English at the British Council in Milan, Italy.

Bruna Martins
Bruna Martins
Head of Communication

Global MBA in Business Management at Ibmec University
Project Management Executive Specialization at Ohio University
Bachelor in Social Communication with qualification in Journalism at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Journalist by training, with a decade-long career between marketing and technology, the past five years in senior leadership positions at global startups. Passionate about history and the importance of understanding the past to build a better future.

David Assa Naggar
David Assa Naggar
Social Media Editor

Masters of International Fashion Retailing (University of Manchester)
Bachelor of International Business Management specialized in Marketing (University of Manchester)

David takes care of World History Encyclopedia's Tiktok account and loves creating content for social media. He studied business management, communication marketing and fashion retailing but loves history due to his many travels around the world.

Ellis Newton
Ellis Newton
Education Community Manager

Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching(Further Education).
Masters of Arts in Modern History and Culture.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours in History and Politics.

A historian and educator with experience teaching politics and history at FE and university level. My research interests include military uniforms and Fascism. I now serve as a Education Coordinator for the WHE Educators Council.

Emiliano S. Grill
Emiliano S. Grill
Spanish Translator

Bachelor's degree in Sworn Translation (English/Spanish), Universidad de la República, Uruguay.

Born and raised in Uruguay, Emiliano is a translator, subtitler and history buff who loves languages, reading and writing.

Emma Williams
Emma Williams
Social Media Editor

Bachelor's Degree in Archaeology and Ancient Civilisations - Durham University
Master of Philosophy in Archaeology (Egypt) - Cambridge University

Emma is a graduate of archaeology who works for a London-based auction house. She has a passion for Egyptian mythology and in her free time she reads historical fiction, goes to museums, and is learning (or is trying to learn) Spanish.

Fabian Apostoaie
Fabian Apostoaie
Social Media Manager

BA (Hons) History and Politics - Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge

Fabian Apostoaie is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, where he completed his BA (Hons) in History and Politics. His primary interests are Intellectual History, Early Modern European History and the History of the Book.

Filipa Oliveira
Filipa Oliveira
Portuguese Editor

Masters in Translation Studies
Post-Graduation in Literary Studies
Degree in Translation (En/De↔Pt)
Several courses in various fields of knowledge

Translation is part of my being, from interpreting the world to mastering the art of linguistic transfer. Courses in tourism, literature & history culminated in my role as a self-published author and co-author of literary short story collections.

Fiona Richards
Fiona Richards
Editor

PhD in Archaeology, Edinburgh University
BA (Hons) Archaeology & Law, Sydney University

Fiona excavated, travelled and worked as a guide in the Middle East for over 20 years. Specialist and author of two books on Egyptian Scarab Seals, she founded Timeless Travels Magazine in 2014. She was awarded journalist of the Year 2018 & 2020.

Franco R. Batista Garcia
Franco R. Batista Garcia
Image Editor

BA (Hon.) History, Florida International University

Currently a Global History MA student at Free University and Humboldt University of Berlin. Holds a BA in History from the Honors College of Florida International University.

Harrison W. Mark
Harrison W. Mark
Writer

Bachelors in History
Bachelors in Political Science

Harrison Mark is a historical researcher and writer for World History Encyclopedia. He holds degrees in history and political science from SUNY Oswego.

Heather McAdams
Heather McAdams
Fundraising Manager

BA, History, Cornell University
MA, Communication, Johns Hopkins University

Heather McAdams is the Fundraising Manager at World History Encyclopedia. She has a BA in History from Cornell University and an MA in Corporate and Nonprofit Communication from Johns Hopkins University.

Ibolya Horváth
Ibolya Horváth
Editor

BA Archaeology, University of Leicester
BA Communication & Media Management, Budapest Business University of Applied Sciences

Ibolya is senior editor at WHE. She has 15 years of editorial experience with both print and online publications and also worked as a translator for a few years. She holds degrees in Communication and Media Management and in Archaeology.

Joanne Taylor
Joanne Taylor
Proofreader

BSc Psychology, University of York
PGCE Science, University of Cumbria

Joanne is a writer, fiction editor, and proofreader passionate about language and culture, world mythology and folklore, and human-centred marketing. One of her favourite mythological creatures is the makara. She runs the Ink of Ages Fiction Prize.

Liana Miate
Liana Miate
Social Media Editor

BA Ancient History, Macquarie University, Sydney

Liana is the Social Media Editor for Ancient History Encyclopedia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in ancient Greece, Rome & Late Antiquity. She is particularly passionate about Rome and Greece, and anything to do with mythology or wo

Marina Wrackmeyer
Marina Wrackmeyer
German Editor

Former student of English and Latin Philology

Marina works in the courier industry's back office and translates WHE into German on the side. She enjoys reading and learning about all kinds of subjects with a particular interest in languages and our world, past and present.

Rosa Baranda
Rosa Baranda
Spanish Editor

BA in English, University of Deusto, Spain
MA in Translation Studies, Cardiff University, UK

English and French into Spanish translator. She is very interested in history, especially in Ancient Greece and Egypt. She currently works writing subtitles for online classes and translating texts about history and philosophy, among other things.

Sebastian Beck
Sebastian Beck
Motion Designer

Bachelor of Arts (Design), Munich University of Applied Sciences
State-certified translator & interpreter
State-certified multilingual administrative assistant

Sebastian is a Designer with a focus on 3D & Motion Design with a background in engineering and science translation.

Simeon Netchev
Simeon Netchev
Graphic Designer

Moreland University, MEd. Teaching History and Globalization
Cornell University, BSc in Design and Environmental Analysis
Sofia State University, Centre for Oriental Studies and Linguistics

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past.

Taabir Asad
Taabir Asad
Intern

Bachelors of Arts in History and English
University of Delhi
Degree expected 2026

Taabir is a History and Literature student with a special interest in socio-cultural and gender history. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors from Delhi University. She is also passionate about writing.

Terry Madenholm
Terry Madenholm
Video Producer (French)

MA in Classical Art and Archaeology, King's College London

Terry has worked on archaeological campaigns in Europe, the Middle East, and South America and contributed to research projects at the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. Terry is a writer for Haaretz (International edition).

Zachary Kay
Zachary Kay
Image Editor

B.A. (Hons) History, McGill University

Having completed his degree in history, Zachary has since worked in publications and communications, as a copy and layout editor in the humanities at McGill University, and, most recently, as image editor for the World History Encyclopedia.

Zhihui Zou
Zhihui Zou
Book Review Editor

Currently pursuing a degree in American History.

Zhihui Zou is a student at Duke University. His research mainly covers 20th-century US history, the American West, and digital humanities. He is currently World History Encyclopedia's Book Review Editor.

Board of Advisors

Carolyn Metkola
Carolyn Metkola
Head of Philanthropy

BA Classical Studies, Queen Mary, University of London
PGCE Education, London South Bank University

Carolyn Perry is Head of Philanthropy at the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, a UK based charity which aims to promote better understanding between the peoples of the Middle East and the wider world.

David Tollen
David Tollen
Lawyer, Trainer & Author

Harvard Law School, J.D.
Cambridge University, Queens' College, Ll.M.
U.C. Berkeley, B.A. - History

David Tollen a best-selling and award-winning author, expert witness, attorney, sought-after speaker, and instructor at U.C. Berkeley Law School. His books include THE JERICHO RIVER, a novel that uses fantasy to teach history.

Gimena del Rio Riande
Gimena del Rio Riande
Professor, University of Buenos Aires

Phd In Romance Philology (UCM, Spain)
Master in Literary Heritage (UAM, Spain)
Master in Hispanic Literary Studies (UCM, Spain)
Bachelor of Arts (UBA, Argentina)
Proffesor of Literature (UBA, Argentina)

Gimena is an advocate for medieval and text edition studies across Latin America and for the digital humanities as an open field of research. She is an Associate Researcher at IIBICRIT (CONICET, Argentina) and the director of HD CAICYT lab.

James Blake Wiener
James Blake Wiener
Cultural Heritage PR Specialist

MA World History, New York University
BA History (Magna cum Laude), New York University

James Blake Wiener has a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and world history. He is a co-founder of World History Encyclopedia and formerly was its Communications Director.

Jeremy Seeff
Jeremy Seeff
Corporate & Finance Lawyer

MA Law Studies in Europe, Christ Church, Oxford University

Jeremy Seeff is a partner at Epstein Rosenblum Maoz's corporate, M&A, finance and banking practices. He has experience advising companies from their earliest stages all the way through to exit, on diversified corporate and commercial matters.

Mark J Tousey
Mark J Tousey
Venture Capitalist

MBA International Finance, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
BSBA Finance, Olin School, Washington University

Mark Tousey is a venture capitalist with a background in finance. He also spends time as a director on the boards of a number of charities and philanthropic organizations in the UK and the US, with a particular focus on classical music and opera.

Tom Jenen
Tom Jenen
Strategic Advisor

MBA, Columbia Business School, New York, USA
BA, English and American Literature, Brandeis University, Massachusetts USA

Based in London, Tom is an advisor and nonexecutive director working with startup and established advertising, media and tech companies in the U.S. and Europe, focusing on global expansion, revenue and product strategies, funding and M+A

Contributors

Below is the list of the 1250 people who have contributed articles, media or translations to our publication, in alphabetical order. Contributors are not part of our team; they have contributed their knowledge independently.

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