Hannah Alpert-Abrams
@halperta.bsky.social
Here for the humanities.
Grant maker, union organizer, former federal worker, digital humanist. Writing about labor, careers, higher education, and technology. Founder @sidracollaborative.
east tennessee based | tsalagi and tsoyaha lands
halperta.com
Grant maker, union organizer, former federal worker, digital humanist. Writing about labor, careers, higher education, and technology. Founder @sidracollaborative.
east tennessee based | tsalagi and tsoyaha lands
halperta.com
Pinned
Taking Action in Higher Ed
Taking Action for Higher Education is a workbook to assist university workers in assessing personal risk and making decisions about how and when to take action to resist fascism.
halperta.com
I just posted a free workbook that aims to help university workers better understand when and how to take risks in the fight against fascism in higher ed.
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
Ten years ago today, I was working on a dissertation chapter about how we redefine what we think is "real" based on how different technologies copy and distort historical records.
You can read an article based on that work here (scroll down for an OA link):
halperta.com/scholarship/...
You can read an article based on that work here (scroll down for an OA link):
halperta.com/scholarship/...
December 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Ten years ago today, I was working on a dissertation chapter about how we redefine what we think is "real" based on how different technologies copy and distort historical records.
You can read an article based on that work here (scroll down for an OA link):
halperta.com/scholarship/...
You can read an article based on that work here (scroll down for an OA link):
halperta.com/scholarship/...
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
December 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The two young people bagging my groceries yesterday asked me what I thought about AI.
"I hate it," one said, "but my professors force me to use it."
"In my public health class," the other reported, " all the assignments were AI-based."
She went on: "I didn't learn anything at all."
"I hate it," one said, "but my professors force me to use it."
"In my public health class," the other reported, " all the assignments were AI-based."
She went on: "I didn't learn anything at all."
December 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The two young people bagging my groceries yesterday asked me what I thought about AI.
"I hate it," one said, "but my professors force me to use it."
"In my public health class," the other reported, " all the assignments were AI-based."
She went on: "I didn't learn anything at all."
"I hate it," one said, "but my professors force me to use it."
"In my public health class," the other reported, " all the assignments were AI-based."
She went on: "I didn't learn anything at all."
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
Started reading through The Campus Crisis Toolkit and even in the intro I love where it's going. This turn towards practical advice for people on the front lines of the university omnicrisis - specifically name checking staff and students too! - is a wonderful to see. Looking forward to teaching it!
Good news! The full table of contents for THE CAMPUS CRISIS TOOLKIT, edited by @thetattooedprof.bsky.social and Lisa Di Bartolommeo, is now available on the @sunypress.bsky.social website: sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-.... Follow the link or see next post for screenshots. 🤗
The Campus Crisis Toolkit
sunypress.edu
December 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Started reading through The Campus Crisis Toolkit and even in the intro I love where it's going. This turn towards practical advice for people on the front lines of the university omnicrisis - specifically name checking staff and students too! - is a wonderful to see. Looking forward to teaching it!
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
December 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
"This promise of an AI future, is really just a collective anxiety that wealthy people have about how well they're gonna be able to control us in the future."
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
- @tressiemcphd.bsky.social with an absolute mic drop moment about AI bullshit.
Incredible words.
Listen to all of it!
Adjuncting is so weird because departments recruit people with exceptional profiles and then don't pay well and then treat you really badly.
December 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Adjuncting is so weird because departments recruit people with exceptional profiles and then don't pay well and then treat you really badly.
Have I mentioned I work with the most amazing people 😍
Congrats to our amazing Sidra Collaborator co-founder Martin Tsang, who recently contributed to the catalog and audio tour for MoMA’s retrospective exhibition of the Cuban Chinese artist Wifredo Lam, “When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream” open now through April 11, 2026.
If you're in NYC, check it out!
If you're in NYC, check it out!
December 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Have I mentioned I work with the most amazing people 😍
Ok look we know that meritocracy does not exist. Academic performance is primarily an indicator of wealth and security. Hiring committees use all kinds of problematic proxies for value.
STILL when you fail to succeed it hurts as if the meritocracy existed and you just weren't good enough.
STILL when you fail to succeed it hurts as if the meritocracy existed and you just weren't good enough.
December 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Ok look we know that meritocracy does not exist. Academic performance is primarily an indicator of wealth and security. Hiring committees use all kinds of problematic proxies for value.
STILL when you fail to succeed it hurts as if the meritocracy existed and you just weren't good enough.
STILL when you fail to succeed it hurts as if the meritocracy existed and you just weren't good enough.
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
This has reminded me of an ugly time. I was in grad school at the U of Minnesota in 2008 when the financial crisis hit. Prior to that the norm in the dept I was in (history) had been that people could stay in grad school on assistantships until they finished the degree but the university introduced
December 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This has reminded me of an ugly time. I was in grad school at the U of Minnesota in 2008 when the financial crisis hit. Prior to that the norm in the dept I was in (history) had been that people could stay in grad school on assistantships until they finished the degree but the university introduced
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
Curator of African American Experience Collections.
Great job opening at KU Libraries/Spencer Research Library - @kulibraries.bsky.social
I'm chairing this search. First review starts January 19. Please spread the word!
Great job opening at KU Libraries/Spencer Research Library - @kulibraries.bsky.social
I'm chairing this search. First review starts January 19. Please spread the word!
Curator of African American Experience Collections - University of Kansas - Job Details
Job Details: Kenneth Spencer Research Library (KSRL) at the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries seeks a creative
sjobs.brassring.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Curator of African American Experience Collections.
Great job opening at KU Libraries/Spencer Research Library - @kulibraries.bsky.social
I'm chairing this search. First review starts January 19. Please spread the word!
Great job opening at KU Libraries/Spencer Research Library - @kulibraries.bsky.social
I'm chairing this search. First review starts January 19. Please spread the word!
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
🎉 Today I defended my dissertation and passed with summa cum laude.
The title is "Dependent Lives In and Beyond Archives: Enslaved People in Sephardic Jewish Households in Early Modern Bridgetown, Barbados (1654-1800)."
The abstract is below, and I hope to publish it soon.
The title is "Dependent Lives In and Beyond Archives: Enslaved People in Sephardic Jewish Households in Early Modern Bridgetown, Barbados (1654-1800)."
The abstract is below, and I hope to publish it soon.
December 16, 2025 at 3:02 PM
🎉 Today I defended my dissertation and passed with summa cum laude.
The title is "Dependent Lives In and Beyond Archives: Enslaved People in Sephardic Jewish Households in Early Modern Bridgetown, Barbados (1654-1800)."
The abstract is below, and I hope to publish it soon.
The title is "Dependent Lives In and Beyond Archives: Enslaved People in Sephardic Jewish Households in Early Modern Bridgetown, Barbados (1654-1800)."
The abstract is below, and I hope to publish it soon.
Hi friends, in case you missed it, I am offering some writing and editing services in the new year.
If you are feeling stuck on your academic writing project I might be able to help. ✨
halperta.com/categories/e...
If you are feeling stuck on your academic writing project I might be able to help. ✨
halperta.com/categories/e...
Writing and Editing
Towards a better future for the humanities.
halperta.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Hi friends, in case you missed it, I am offering some writing and editing services in the new year.
If you are feeling stuck on your academic writing project I might be able to help. ✨
halperta.com/categories/e...
If you are feeling stuck on your academic writing project I might be able to help. ✨
halperta.com/categories/e...
Today I remembered that there is a resource that is just a list of almost one hundred humanities PhDs who have transitioned to other careers and are available to talk about it.
You can schedule an informational interview or invite them to talk to your department!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
You can schedule an informational interview or invite them to talk to your department!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Alt-Ac Support network
docs.google.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Today I remembered that there is a resource that is just a list of almost one hundred humanities PhDs who have transitioned to other careers and are available to talk about it.
You can schedule an informational interview or invite them to talk to your department!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
You can schedule an informational interview or invite them to talk to your department!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Sometimes I read news about layoffs and think about how employers have a moral obligation to keep their workers employed. It's maybe their primary reason to exist. Layoffs should be a survival-level, last-resort kind of event.
December 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Sometimes I read news about layoffs and think about how employers have a moral obligation to keep their workers employed. It's maybe their primary reason to exist. Layoffs should be a survival-level, last-resort kind of event.
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
1/ On Bluesky I often see people say that arts and humanities programs are being slashed in higher ed for ideological reasons. Maybe that’s true. It’s plausible. But I haven’t seen any data or studies on program closures that would support or refute it.
Please link to any evidence you know about.
Please link to any evidence you know about.
December 15, 2025 at 2:04 PM
1/ On Bluesky I often see people say that arts and humanities programs are being slashed in higher ed for ideological reasons. Maybe that’s true. It’s plausible. But I haven’t seen any data or studies on program closures that would support or refute it.
Please link to any evidence you know about.
Please link to any evidence you know about.
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
to my great surprise, we are left with some money for buying books for our team at the institute. Any recent recommendations in computational humanities, DH, poetics, verse studies, world lit / comparative lit?
Let's go, internet! Self plugs are more than welcome.
Let's go, internet! Self plugs are more than welcome.
December 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
to my great surprise, we are left with some money for buying books for our team at the institute. Any recent recommendations in computational humanities, DH, poetics, verse studies, world lit / comparative lit?
Let's go, internet! Self plugs are more than welcome.
Let's go, internet! Self plugs are more than welcome.
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
The answers for me as I work on the conclusion to this manuscript in thread
What is giving you hope and inspiration today?
December 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The answers for me as I work on the conclusion to this manuscript in thread
Hello my doctor has asked me to share on social media that while the person who handled scheduling was misinformed about the procedure, my IUD insertion was extremely well done and there were many different options for pain management.
And everyone who wants to should consider getting one!
And everyone who wants to should consider getting one!
So I'm getting my IUD replaced today (✨) and when I asked my doctor if they had any recommendations for pain management they said "no."
December 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Hello my doctor has asked me to share on social media that while the person who handled scheduling was misinformed about the procedure, my IUD insertion was extremely well done and there were many different options for pain management.
And everyone who wants to should consider getting one!
And everyone who wants to should consider getting one!
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
He estado preguntando y hasta ahora nadie tiene una respuesta inmediata y satisfactoria: si les pido que recomienden una novela latinoamericana reciente (digamos, los últimos diez años), que sea divertida, en el sentido de graciosa, y que no sea sobre violencia ¿cuál recomendarían?
December 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
He estado preguntando y hasta ahora nadie tiene una respuesta inmediata y satisfactoria: si les pido que recomienden una novela latinoamericana reciente (digamos, los últimos diez años), que sea divertida, en el sentido de graciosa, y que no sea sobre violencia ¿cuál recomendarían?
So I'm getting my IUD replaced today (✨) and when I asked my doctor if they had any recommendations for pain management they said "no."
December 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
So I'm getting my IUD replaced today (✨) and when I asked my doctor if they had any recommendations for pain management they said "no."
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
Want to read these but can't stop by our lab's free public zine distro? These zines' authors generously share them free online: @halperta.bsky.social's Taking Action in Higher Ed (advocacy risk plan halperta.com/shalperta%20...), +
In Charlottesville for a friend’s retirement party. In the meantime dropped in on @scholarslab.bsky.social at UVA. What an amazing and welcoming place of making and creativity. @stradadoes.bsky.social still hoping! Thanks, Ammon Shepherd and the welcoming student at the entrance. A few zines
December 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Want to read these but can't stop by our lab's free public zine distro? These zines' authors generously share them free online: @halperta.bsky.social's Taking Action in Higher Ed (advocacy risk plan halperta.com/shalperta%20...), +
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
Congratulations to 2025 AUPresses Stand UP Award recipient Brett Bobley, former director @neh-odh.bsky.social. This award recognizes his decades-long leadership that empowered university presses to use digital technologies to experiment, collaborate & reach new audiences. https://bit.ly/3XJ3ydj
December 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Congratulations to 2025 AUPresses Stand UP Award recipient Brett Bobley, former director @neh-odh.bsky.social. This award recognizes his decades-long leadership that empowered university presses to use digital technologies to experiment, collaborate & reach new audiences. https://bit.ly/3XJ3ydj
Reposted by Hannah Alpert-Abrams
404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it:
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
404 Media Is Making a Zine
We are publishing a risograph-printed zine about the surveillance technologies used by ICE.
www.404media.co
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
404 Media is making a print zine! About the surveillance technologies used by ICE. 16 pages, riso printed. Shipping early January. Features reworked versions of our best reporting and a few new things. We're very excited! And hope to do more if people like it:
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
www.404media.co/404-media-is...
got asked to write a funds distribution policy today and I swear my body was immediately possessed by the ghost of program officers past.
December 8, 2025 at 4:09 AM
got asked to write a funds distribution policy today and I swear my body was immediately possessed by the ghost of program officers past.
Sarah Jaffe's book Work Won't Love You Back really shaped my thinking on this. The book is all about how mission-oriented industries exploit passion to bypass good labor practices, with examples that include teaching, non-profits, art, and academia.
workwontloveyouback.org
workwontloveyouback.org
December 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Sarah Jaffe's book Work Won't Love You Back really shaped my thinking on this. The book is all about how mission-oriented industries exploit passion to bypass good labor practices, with examples that include teaching, non-profits, art, and academia.
workwontloveyouback.org
workwontloveyouback.org