Alanna Gillis, PhD
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alannagillis.bsky.social
Alanna Gillis, PhD
@alannagillis.bsky.social
Sociologist studying inequality in higher education, Asst Prof at St Lawrence University
I taught myself crochet when I was on medical leave from long covid, mostly bed bound and wondering whether I would ever work again. About 18 months back to work and I’m wearing my first ever wearable crochet creation while teaching. So proud of my progress in lots of ways 🤩
November 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I'm so excited for my new capstone course, DEI in Higher Education, to start this week! Extremely timely and thankful to be in a state that allows professors to actually teach about important topics like these.

Preview to the first day of class slides...
August 25, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Starting my 6th year as faculty and I guess I'm moving up in the world because I'm joining the IRB!

I'm excited for this new way to serve my university. As a liberal arts college it will be a great way to support student research and see what some of my colleagues across the university are up to!
August 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
So so so so excited to be medically stable enough to attend a conference again. The #ASA2025 teaching and learning preconference was AMAZING and it’s already making me so thrilled for more panels, chats, and sociology!
August 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I’m creating an undergrad seminar with a scaffolded research paper. I’m considering having process based reflection check ins required for each component (what did well/poorly & lessons to carry forward). Would love to hear good/bad experiences doing something like this!
July 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Job alert! Anyone know someone interested in being a high school Spanish teacher at one of the top private schools in South Carolina? Hilton Head Prep, blocks from the beach, is looking to hire and interested in reviewing candidates ASAP.
July 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
June 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
South Carolina is thought of as staunchly conservative but my hometown showed up today! Hundreds lined both sides of the major road and received major support from honking cars. #NoKingsDay
June 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Course enrollment is complete and I can officially say I'll be teaching my new undergrad seminar in fall 2025: DEI in Higher Education! It's going to be so interesting and I am very thankful to be working at a university supportive of courses like this!
April 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
There is a crisis in higher education: our students are seeing their visas revoked without warning or reason. Any universities who naively think that complying with this admin's requests will prevent it from happening to their students are still seeing their names on this map.
April 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
It's hard to not feel hopeless about these new actions that make inequality worse. But as a professor, I truly believe that education is critical to changing society--we can't change things we don't understand. So I'm offering students an opportunity to ask questions anonymously
January 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
No kids around so I did a turtle instead. Next time I’ll recruit kids and make a try at a cat!
January 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I am a 33f professor, grading endless student papers 5 days before Christmas, watching the snow fall in my small town of less than 10k people.

It feels about time to meet an equally career-obsessed woman who is here visiting her hometown and have our own LGBT Christmas movie.
December 20, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Did my cats enjoy their first visit to a National Park?
November 27, 2023 at 2:42 PM
I’m suffering from health issues and most days can’t work at all right now (thankfully on sabbatical!) but I’m finding myself mentally incapable of posting my out of office reply. Anyone want to reassure me this is good? Academic culture has taught me terrible boundary setting I need to unlearn.
October 11, 2023 at 5:06 PM