CLIC extends its heartfelt congratulations to Toon Van Mierlo, Program Curator at Passa Porta – International House of Literature, and Jo Angouri, Chair in Sociolinguistics and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Warwick, on each being awarded a VUB Arts and Humanities Fellowship. Representing CLIC, Eva Ulrike Pirker (for Toon Van Mierlo) and Ann Peeters (for Jo Angouri) served as proximas. We look forward to inspiring and fruitful collaborations with both fellows!
To learn more about all the fellows, please see: VUB Fellows 2025 by Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Issuu.
Photos by Fredography
Jo Angouri
Jo Angouri (Proxima: Ann Peeters) is Chair in Sociolinguistics and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Warwick. An internationally recognized expert in multlingualism, language policy, educationial innovation, and complex decision-making, she holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Essex. Jo has published over 100 peer-reviewed works and delivered invited lectures across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. She holds visiting positions at Aalto Business School, Monash University, and Victoria University. She serves as Subject Chair for Linguistics, Language, Communication and Media on the Scopus Board, is a UK National Teaching Fellow, and Editor-in-Chief of Discourse & Communication.
As a fellow, Jo will deepen her collaboration with VUB to challenge dominant conceptualisations of multilingualism and reframe the research-policy relationship. She will co-develop high-impact publications, lead workshops for early-career researchers, support curriculum development, and explore an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Programme with Prof Ann Peeters, enhancing VUB's international and interdisciplinary profile through her expertise and leadership in EUTOPIA and beyond.
Toon Van Mierlo
Toon Van Mierlo (Proxima: Eva Ulrike Pirker) is Program curator for Dutch and international literature at Passa Porta, the International House of Literature in Brussels. He studied Dutch and English in Antwerp and Literature in Liverpool, and previously worked in the book industry as a bookseller, buyer, publicist, and marketeer for FNAC, WPG Uitgevers, Uitgeverij Vrijdag and Pelckmans. At Passa Porta, he was one of the driving forces behind the tenth edition of the biennial Passa Porta Festival (March 2025), which brought together writers and thinkers across 60 events at venues throughout Brussels.
As a fellow, Toon will strengthen VUB's connection to the literary field through public events, lectures, and student engagement. He will co-organize at least one annual event with VUB colleagues - such as in the Ties That Bind Us Series - and offer guest talks on cultural programming and career paths in literature. He will also facilitate internships, residencies and campus visits by international writers in collaboration with Passa Porta.
Source: VUB Fellows 2025 by Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Issuu
