liz polcha
@lpolcha.bsky.social
she/they | literary studies professor writing a book on gender & natural history | editor and co-founder @insurrecthistory.bsky.social | I mainly post about labor and cats | Tulsa & Philadelphia
Reposted by liz polcha
Since 2019, one of the proudest services I do for the profession is collaborate w. @rcolesworthy.bsky.social & Erin Bartram @contingent-mag.bsky.social to compile a (limited) list of pubs by contingent lit studies scholars.
Here is our 2025 compilation.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/12/16/2...
Here is our 2025 compilation.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/12/16/2...
2025 Literary Studies Book and Journal Article List
A companion list for lit studies scholars.
contingentmagazine.org
December 21, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Since 2019, one of the proudest services I do for the profession is collaborate w. @rcolesworthy.bsky.social & Erin Bartram @contingent-mag.bsky.social to compile a (limited) list of pubs by contingent lit studies scholars.
Here is our 2025 compilation.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/12/16/2...
Here is our 2025 compilation.
contingentmagazine.org/2025/12/16/2...
Reposted by liz polcha
For Jane Austen's 250th Birthday I am sharing my article for @theconversation.com that warns against pretending Austen was radical or "wild". She was a Conservative, supported of empire and mainstream tenets of white supremacy and heteronormative primogeniture.
theconversation.com/jane-austen-...
theconversation.com/jane-austen-...
Jane Austen at 250: Why we shouldn’t exaggerate her radicalism
Examining Austen as a radical genius misunderstands her art and misrepresents the imperial culture that she was part of.
theconversation.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
For Jane Austen's 250th Birthday I am sharing my article for @theconversation.com that warns against pretending Austen was radical or "wild". She was a Conservative, supported of empire and mainstream tenets of white supremacy and heteronormative primogeniture.
theconversation.com/jane-austen-...
theconversation.com/jane-austen-...
Reposted by liz polcha
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...
Reading this, because Drexel just announced that they are also cutting a deal with OpenAI for Chat GPT Edu
New preprint alert! 🚨
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”
“Let Them Eat Large Language Models: Artificial Intelligence and Austerity in the Neoliberal University”
December 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reading this, because Drexel just announced that they are also cutting a deal with OpenAI for Chat GPT Edu
Reposted by liz polcha
an Ancient Aliens meme from the Our Marathon project’s meme collection is the most viewed file in Northeastern’s Digital Repository Service. Appreciate my old coworker Sarah Sweeney sharing this data point and others! librarynews.northeastern.edu?p=276987&fbc...
DRS Reaches 500,000 Uploads – Library News
librarynews.northeastern.edu
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
an Ancient Aliens meme from the Our Marathon project’s meme collection is the most viewed file in Northeastern’s Digital Repository Service. Appreciate my old coworker Sarah Sweeney sharing this data point and others! librarynews.northeastern.edu?p=276987&fbc...
Reposted by liz polcha
Today, DWI publishes a powerful essay by @mgasia.bsky.social, who works impersonating an AI sex companion: data-workers.org/michael/
This piece offers a rare glimpse into the psychological and economic realities behind one of the fastest-growing sectors: AI-assisted intimacy.
This piece offers a rare glimpse into the psychological and economic realities behind one of the fastest-growing sectors: AI-assisted intimacy.
December 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Today, DWI publishes a powerful essay by @mgasia.bsky.social, who works impersonating an AI sex companion: data-workers.org/michael/
This piece offers a rare glimpse into the psychological and economic realities behind one of the fastest-growing sectors: AI-assisted intimacy.
This piece offers a rare glimpse into the psychological and economic realities behind one of the fastest-growing sectors: AI-assisted intimacy.
Reposted by liz polcha
The American Association of University Professors said 40% of full-time faculty members — or 169 academics — have received voluntary separation or early retirement offers, making it the “largest attempted firing of faculty currently taking place in the nation.” #AcademicSky
The New School faces identity crisis amid planned layoffs, reorganization
The storied leftist university faces a $48 million deficit.
gothamist.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The American Association of University Professors said 40% of full-time faculty members — or 169 academics — have received voluntary separation or early retirement offers, making it the “largest attempted firing of faculty currently taking place in the nation.” #AcademicSky
Reposted by liz polcha
Last call, friends! @hartmann-villalta.bsky.social and I are finishing up our annual list of lit studies publications—articles, books, book chapters—by NTT scholars for @contingent-mag.bsky.social. Please spread the word and send me your pubs by tomorrow/Tues 12/9! 🙏🫡
Adjuncts, indie scholars, publishers, journal eds: please spread the word about this and help me do recon! It's so hard w/ social media being so fragmented to learn about all the great lit studies articles and books pub'd this year by contingent/indie folx. I know there's lots! Deadline: end of Nov.
It’s that time of year friends! Thanks to @erinbartram.bsky.social and our friends at @contingent-mag.bsky.social, Laura and I are putting together a list of 2025 articles & books by contingent & indie lit critters. DM, reply, email me @ suny press. And spread the word!!
December 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Last call, friends! @hartmann-villalta.bsky.social and I are finishing up our annual list of lit studies publications—articles, books, book chapters—by NTT scholars for @contingent-mag.bsky.social. Please spread the word and send me your pubs by tomorrow/Tues 12/9! 🙏🫡
I'm working on my course calendars for the winter term while wrapping up teaching in the fall term, but I am very excited to teach this intro to feminist theory class for the first time at Drexel. The class is going to move slow and focus on 1-2 readings per week, with lots of note-taking by hand
December 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm working on my course calendars for the winter term while wrapping up teaching in the fall term, but I am very excited to teach this intro to feminist theory class for the first time at Drexel. The class is going to move slow and focus on 1-2 readings per week, with lots of note-taking by hand
Reposted by liz polcha
A few weeks ago I was interviewed for the "Career Hacks for Humanists" podcast.
Check out our conversation about my weird career trajectory and caring about values while needing a job.
popphd.substack.com/p/job-hacks-...
Check out our conversation about my weird career trajectory and caring about values while needing a job.
popphd.substack.com/p/job-hacks-...
Job Hacks for Humanists: Dr. Hannah Alpert-Abrams
Dr. Alpert-Abrams shares the wisdom about building a values-aligned career from working in the humanities funding landscape.
popphd.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A few weeks ago I was interviewed for the "Career Hacks for Humanists" podcast.
Check out our conversation about my weird career trajectory and caring about values while needing a job.
popphd.substack.com/p/job-hacks-...
Check out our conversation about my weird career trajectory and caring about values while needing a job.
popphd.substack.com/p/job-hacks-...
Reposted by liz polcha
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by liz polcha
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Howard University AI Panel
YouTube video by Tiera Tanksley
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I need everyone, esp anyone working in education or tech (but really everyone) to WATCH THIS CLIP of @drtanksley.bsky.social discussing the technologies infiltrating our schools & psyches and how she is addressing it with our young people. youtu.be/5mtcSL4S3HQ
Reposted by liz polcha
The Daniel K. Richter Summer Writing Retreat will convene for the first time in June '26 at the McNeil Center. Each participant will be awarded $4,000, office space, and access to Penn's digital library holdings for one year. Applications open until Jan 15–apply here: www.mceas.org/awards/danie....
November 18, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Daniel K. Richter Summer Writing Retreat will convene for the first time in June '26 at the McNeil Center. Each participant will be awarded $4,000, office space, and access to Penn's digital library holdings for one year. Applications open until Jan 15–apply here: www.mceas.org/awards/danie....
Reposted by liz polcha
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by liz polcha
This is terrible. Ursinus College (where my partner works) spent last year planning a reorganization (they’re creating multidisciplinary “hubs”) only for its administration to announce layoffs this semester. I hope this isn’t in the cards for those working at Montclair State
www.wsj.com/opinion/mont...
Another one of my colleagues weighs in on the “restructuring” of our home college. This time in the Wall Street Journal. It’s paywalled, so screenshots to follow.
Another one of my colleagues weighs in on the “restructuring” of our home college. This time in the Wall Street Journal. It’s paywalled, so screenshots to follow.
Opinion | Montclair State’s Inhumanity to the Humanities
Goodbye, English department. Hello, Institute for Complex Systems and Algorithmic Infused Societies.
www.wsj.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This is terrible. Ursinus College (where my partner works) spent last year planning a reorganization (they’re creating multidisciplinary “hubs”) only for its administration to announce layoffs this semester. I hope this isn’t in the cards for those working at Montclair State
Drexel’s student newspaper, the Triangle, interviewed me & my brilliant colleague Linda Kim after our AAUP rally last week:
www.thetriangle.org/news/educato...
www.thetriangle.org/news/educato...
Educators rally at McCormick’s office to defend federal funding - The Triangle
Labor unions and higher education organizations rallied at Senator Dave McCormick’s offices to protest his support for funding cuts.
www.thetriangle.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Drexel’s student newspaper, the Triangle, interviewed me & my brilliant colleague Linda Kim after our AAUP rally last week:
www.thetriangle.org/news/educato...
www.thetriangle.org/news/educato...
Reposted by liz polcha
Always nice to find a LibGuide that's clearly a labor of love. guides.lib.berkeley.edu/twlf/home
Library Guides: The Third World Liberation Front and the Origins of Ethnic Studies and African American Studies at UC Berkeley Resource Guide: Home
A guide to library and online resources on the Third World Liberation Front and the history of Ethnic Studies and African American Studies at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University Selected re...
guides.lib.berkeley.edu
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Always nice to find a LibGuide that's clearly a labor of love. guides.lib.berkeley.edu/twlf/home
Reposted by liz polcha
CFP: "AMERICAN REVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL" - Huntington Library, Nov. 6-7, 2006. With generous support from the Early Modern Studies Institute at USC, my co-conspirators & I look forward to two days of generative conversation. Travel & lodging included! Proposals due 1/10. Please spread the word! 🙏
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
CFP: "AMERICAN REVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL" - Huntington Library, Nov. 6-7, 2006. With generous support from the Early Modern Studies Institute at USC, my co-conspirators & I look forward to two days of generative conversation. Travel & lodging included! Proposals due 1/10. Please spread the word! 🙏
a few friends reached out this week to let me know my dissertation is cited in this episode of Behind the Bastards, I’m both glad that my research is helpful in a public history context & also highly not surprised that Thistlewood is featured on this podcast podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Part One: Thomas Thistlewood: Slave Plantation Owner and Diarist
Podcast Episode · Behind the Bastards · 11/11/2025 · 1h 14m
podcasts.apple.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM
a few friends reached out this week to let me know my dissertation is cited in this episode of Behind the Bastards, I’m both glad that my research is helpful in a public history context & also highly not surprised that Thistlewood is featured on this podcast podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Reposted by liz polcha
I asked about this, and one of our excellent librarians discovered that in fact AI summaries/"Research Assistant" can be switched off at the level of the library. Something to request. support.proquest.com/s/article/Eb...
November 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
I asked about this, and one of our excellent librarians discovered that in fact AI summaries/"Research Assistant" can be switched off at the level of the library. Something to request. support.proquest.com/s/article/Eb...
Reposted by liz polcha
Ex. If you teach about gender, you run the risk of violating the compact’s principle of “Student Equality,” since “institutions [must] commit to defining and otherwise interpreting ‘male,’ ‘female,’ ‘woman,’ and ‘man’ according to reproductive function and biological processes”. YIKES (2/2)
November 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Ex. If you teach about gender, you run the risk of violating the compact’s principle of “Student Equality,” since “institutions [must] commit to defining and otherwise interpreting ‘male,’ ‘female,’ ‘woman,’ and ‘man’ according to reproductive function and biological processes”. YIKES (2/2)
Reposted by liz polcha
Our own Drexel faculty member Linda Kim giving a teach-in on the federal administration’s proposed “compact” —would YOUR school violate it? (1/2)
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Our own Drexel faculty member Linda Kim giving a teach-in on the federal administration’s proposed “compact” —would YOUR school violate it? (1/2)
Reposted by liz polcha
Great to see so many Philadelphia hire ed folks at yesterday’s Day of Action! Cross-union organizing makes us stronger in the fight for academic freedom and the soul of our schools
@aaup-penn.bsky.social @afscme590.bsky.social @aft.org @apscuf.org @fsfccp.bsky.social
@aaup-penn.bsky.social @afscme590.bsky.social @aft.org @apscuf.org @fsfccp.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Great to see so many Philadelphia hire ed folks at yesterday’s Day of Action! Cross-union organizing makes us stronger in the fight for academic freedom and the soul of our schools
@aaup-penn.bsky.social @afscme590.bsky.social @aft.org @apscuf.org @fsfccp.bsky.social
@aaup-penn.bsky.social @afscme590.bsky.social @aft.org @apscuf.org @fsfccp.bsky.social
Reposted by liz polcha
CFP for Slavery North conference on "Rebellion, Resistance, and Refuge: Slavery and Border-Crossing during the American Revolution" @umassamherst.bsky.social 7/9-7/12/2026, abstracts due 12/19/2025 #vastearlyamerica slaverynorth.com/event/call-f... 🗃️
Call for Abstracts: Academic Conference - Slavery North
Rebellion, Resistance, and Refuge: Slavery and Border-Crossing during the American Revolution Call for Abstracts: Academic Conference Dates: Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, 2026 Location: Univers...
slaverynorth.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
CFP for Slavery North conference on "Rebellion, Resistance, and Refuge: Slavery and Border-Crossing during the American Revolution" @umassamherst.bsky.social 7/9-7/12/2026, abstracts due 12/19/2025 #vastearlyamerica slaverynorth.com/event/call-f... 🗃️
Reposted by liz polcha
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
Donate to Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover, organized by Lexi McMenamin
More than half the team at Teen Vogue was laid off this week by our parent co… Lexi McMenamin needs your support for Help Laid-Off Teen Vogue Staffers Recover
www.gofundme.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:17 PM
thank you for the outpouring of support!
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.
those of us laid off from Teen Vogue yesterday are now sharing our GoFundMe to help us cover our emergency expenses now that we've lost our incomes, as we get back on our feet.