A specialist in Renaissance and Baroque art, Irina teaches art and architectural history at Columbia University where she also earned her PhD in 2003. She has published numerous articles in her field, worked for several New York Old Master galleries, and received fellowships for her academic work from the National Gallery in Washington, the Fulbright Foundation, the Getty, the Society of Fellows and the Italian Academy (both at Columbia) and the American Philosophical Society. In addition to teaching in her area of specialization, Irina, a native New Yorker with a deep interest in local history, has been offering a class on the architecture of New York City at Columbia for the past four years.

Ben Rubin holds a bachelor's degree from Hanover College, a Master's from Western Carolina University, and is completing his Ph.D. at Drew University. He is also a graduate of the Cornell School of Criticism and Theory at Cornell University. His work has been published in the Journal of Backcountry Studies and in Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution. In addition to academic experience, Ben worked as a docent at the Biltmore House in Asheville, and as a whitewater raft guide on the Nantahala River.

As an undergraduate student at St. Joesph's College, Ryan was able to obtain his bachelors degree in education, while minoring in history. It was during this time that his passion for history, specifically New York City history began to fully develop. Upon graduating, Ryan began working as a New York City public school teacher and completing his masters degree in history at Queens College. As a graduate student, Ryan was able to merge his passion for music with New York City history with the completion of his masters thesis, which analyzed Punk Rock and the social factors that led to its creation and development in New York City. Ryan continues to work as a social studies teacher in New York City and enjoys experiencing all things the world has to offer through travel, culture, and shared experiences with new people.