Beginning in late April last year I had the opportunity to be a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Politics at the Centre for Women, Peace and Security. It was my first extended visit to London, and my only time living out of the United States! While a Visiting Fellow I had the privilege of networking with some amazing feminists in the UK.  I also had the opporunity to offer a workshop for the LSE WPS MA students with Toni Haastrup who was also a Visiting Fellow at the same time as me. One of the most exciting aspects of the visit for me, was the panel I organized in May to ..read more

I joined UK academia this year and noticed a few differences I thought I'd share with those in the US looking to do the same. Not necessarily good (except for 10 which definitely is), not necessary bad (except for 1 which definitely is), just different!  1. The office supplies. Did you know A4 is a paper size? It is. Do not get me started about the lack of manila folders in the UK and what they use instead, as I am still too upset to talk about it. 2. The marking. First of all, it's called marking (not grading). Then there is the whole conceptual equivalents scales situation. Add to this the ..read more

I got the email inviting me to interview at Queen's University Belfast in May about half way through my three month stay in London. The first thought I had was 'I'm not sure I can take another rejection so soon'. Since going on the job market in October I was invited to a total of three interviews which then lead to three rejections (two at a place where I was currently a Visiting Fellow!) and the gauge on my tank of courage was teetering near E.  But the timing for the interview invite was remarkable. For the first time in my life I was going to be in Ireland in June visiting for a conference ..read more

Image by: Colleen LockeLast year I wrote a book chapter for the text Interdisciplinary Approaches to Human Rights: History, Politics, Practice edited by by Honors College Dean Rajini Srikanth and Professor and Chair of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Elora Chowdhury which has now published.  I was grateful for two editors of color who brought their feminist knowledges to editing my chapter and the book as a whole.  It was really a pleasure to work with Srikanth and Chowdhury to produce a chapter that is truly interdisciplinary when thinking through LGBTQ Politics and Human Rights. As e ..read more

As a feminist who studies security there are so many ways I know that looking for a job is really about looking for so much more. Each application carries with it a possible future. Could it be here? Or maybe over there.  Today I listened to an episode of Death, Sex and Money about a father in conversation with his daughter. Both on the job market. I heard the same tremor in the voice of that father as I had in mine. Five years ago my dad almost lost his job. Another steel mill acquired his company. My dad never finished his college degree and was in his 60's at the time of this acquisition s ..read more

This year is a big year in the Rhode Island state house when it comes to abortion access. I had the opportunity to share my testimony in January. I've long spoken out about the need to protect access to abortion, but this was the first time I was compelled to provide testimony on why it matters so much to me.  The state house was much more hostile then I anticipated. I've been involved in many different forms of protest and political action yet the energy at the state house in Providence in January was unlike anything I'd experienced before. At one point the state house erupted with chanting f ..read more

On May 16th I defended my dissertation. For the most part I was able to enjoy the experience, though the actual defense portion with my committee was a little intimidating! As I work through my revisions I wanted to reflect on the experience.  Because of my experience presenting about this work at multiple conferences over the years I felt very prepared to speak for half an hour about my work. Mostly I saw the experience as an opportunity to speak to the public about something I'm passionate about and what to share with others so I wasn't terribly nervous. At the same time, as you can imagine ..read more

May 16, 2018 Dear me, I present my dissertation in six hours. Talking about my research, sharing my findings and continuing curiosities is a gift of an opportunity. I know those who will be there today are there to celebrate me. The questions I get are meant to inquire and motivate me to open up about my work that I hold so close, but also want to share. I’ll show up and do my best today. That is a success. I do look forward to the closed conversation with my committee and feel ready to have the opportunity to reflect on the work I have done since joining the doctoral program. I have done ..read more