Led by Prof Seeta Chaganti (UC Davis), the 2025 pre-conference workshop will seek to address some of the social and racial justice challenges confronting those of us working in and adjacent to academic institutions. In particular, we will consider both the possibilities of diversity initiatives and the co-optation of diversity and inclusion rhetoric by liberal and neoliberal forces. In what further ways might we work toward a more just field? Participants will be invited to share their individual questions while learning together how to balance—and deal with the conflicts between—their identities as medievalists and their political goals for academic spaces and beyond.
Participation in the workshop is free, but places are limited to 25. Participants will be expected to complete some pre-workshop reading and reflection.
Lunch will be provided on campus for all participants.
To register your interest in attending the workshop, or to ask any questions, please email isseme2025@hhu.de.
A limited number of bursaries are available from the medieval English department at Heinrich-Heine-Universität to cover accommodation costs for staying in Düsseldorf for the workshop and the conference itself. A limited number of bursaries are also available from ISSEME to support travel costs.
If you are interested in applying for support with accommodation and / or travel costs, please include this in your email.
You may download the PDF with all relevant information here.
Düsseldorf, a view of the bank of the Rhine