Janine Utell
@janineutell.bsky.social
540 followers 390 following 26 posts
PHL/NYC writer, nerd | Associate Director, Academic Program Services and Professional Development at the Modern Language Association
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Reposted by Janine Utell
paulakrebs.bsky.social
Check out the preconvention half-day workshops. Train to be an external reviewer or work on such topics as banned books or and writing studies research or the perennial favoite--AI. Worth coming early to #MLA26 in Toronto. www.mla.org/Events/2026-...
Preconvention Workshops
Preconvention workshops at the 2026 MLA convention.
www.mla.org
janineutell.bsky.social
This is today!
modernlanguage.bsky.social
Reminder: we’re hosting a free webinar tomorrow! Register now for Supporting Faculty Research in Difficult Times and hear from experts about identifying external and internal funding sources, working with libraries, and leveraging institutional support.
webinars.mla.org/webinar/supp...
Supporting Faculty Research in Difficult Times - MLA Webinars
Join us for this free webinar to learn from panelists with experience in a variety of roles who are dedicated to sustaining academic research in an uncertain funding landscape.
webinars.mla.org
janineutell.bsky.social
The Professional Development Hub is one of those ways! We’ll be offering a mini workshop on writing for the public, discussion groups on advocacy strategies, 1:1 mentoring, and lots of information about MLA resources #MLA26
paulakrebs.bsky.social
Really excited about all the advocacy and strategy sessions we are seeing in the Just-in-Time sessions at #MLA26 in Toronto. Plenty of ways to get together outside of sessions, too. Thousands of us who value higher ed and the humanities will be there at the same time; use this opportunity.
Reposted by Janine Utell
modernlanguage.bsky.social
MLA, @acls1919.bsky.social, & @historians.org are pleased by the injunction in the Author's Guild case, preventing reallocation of grant funds, but are disappointed in the ruling on our injunction. We remain steadfast in working to stop the unlawful dismantling of the NEH. www.mla.org/NEH-Lawsuit
We will continue to press the argument—in court, with Congress, and with the public—that the NEH remains a critical agency for American democracy, history, literature, languages, philosophy, politics, society, and culture.
janineutell.bsky.social
An amazing kickoff! Looking forward to the rest (and amazing to meet in person all the lovely people I’ve been emailing! 🤩) So many thanks to @modernlanguage.bsky.social staff colleagues and all the folks contributing to this great program!
jasonrhody.bsky.social
Opening this year’s @modernlanguage.bsky.social Summer Seminar w/ the “Advocating for the Humanities”Boot Camp for Leaders. Excited to welcome 130+ humanities leaders over the next few days.
Program for the Modern Language Association Summer Seminar for Humanities Leaders Picture of the opening plenary for the Modern Language Association advocacy boot camp hosted at New York University
janineutell.bsky.social
The work we do in the humanities is under attack. @modernlanguage.bsky.social Strategy Sessions are one way we support members. Join us for our final session of the spring 20 May 4:30pm ET. Visit our website for more—and consider joining if you’re not a member.

www.mla.org/Resources/Ad...
MLA Strategy Sessions
Are you seeking resources and community to help you navigate the current moment of legislative attacks, defunding, and the erosion of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Join MLA members w...
www.mla.org
janineutell.bsky.social
If you’re looking for ways to support vulnerable students in our current moment, please join us tomorrow for our next @modernlanguage.bsky.social Strategy Session. These informal convenings are spaces of mutual support and resource-sharing for members. 6 May 4:30pm ET.

www.mla.org/Resources/Ad...
MLA Strategy Sessions
Are you seeking resources and community to help you navigate the current moment of legislative attacks, defunding, and the erosion of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Join MLA members w...
www.mla.org
Reposted by Janine Utell
modernlanguage.bsky.social
“The humanities are not a luxury,” said @paulakrebs.bsky.social. “They are a necessity, teaching people vital skills, including how to effectively communicate, construct arguments, evaluate evidence, and build connections across cultures."
Reposted by Janine Utell
janineutell.bsky.social
This was a great session; recording coming soon @modernlanguage.bsky.social
alanyliu.bsky.social
Enjoyed joining the MLA’s webinar yesterday on using the new MLA Guidelines for Evaluating Digital Scholarship. I was asked to prepare an overview of our MLA Committee on Information Technology’s goals for the new guidelines (www.mla.org/About-Us/Gov...). Here are my notes for that (screenshot).
Screenshot of a page with Alan Liu's notes on "Main principles behind the revisions resulting in the new MLA “Guidelines for Evaluating Digital Scholarship." The first 5 of 7 principles on the page are:

1. Broaden the scope of the Modern Language Association “Guidelines on Evaluating Digital Scholarship” (substantially evolved from the MLA’s 2012 “Guidelines for Evaluating Work in Digital Humanities and Digital Media”) to recognize the degree to which digital scholarship is now profession-wide.

2. Provide more detailed guidance about documenting and evaluating digital scholarship to take account of its special features (e.g., evergreen work, collaborative work, public-facing work, digital technical and ethical standards).

3. Provide guidance on rewarding digital teaching and digital service, which in previous guidelines from the MLA and most other scholarly professional associations were rarely or thinly discussed.

4. Stress the importance of being inclusive of non-R1s (non-research universities) and also ”alt-ac” and “RSE” staff (people who are “alternative academics” and “research software engineers” hired into staff positions to support the digital humanities). Evaluation of digital scholarship occurs across a wide range of research and other higher-ed institutions; and applies across faculty and non-faculty in positions.

5. Shift the burden from individual digital scholars to their departments and institutions for establishing the expectations of what is required for promotion and tenure. Provide guidance to departments and universities about their responsibilities in:
o educating their hiring or reviewing faculty about digital scholarship;
o providing digital scholars with explicit guidelines and mentoring;
o and supporting career progression for alt-ac and RSE scholars.
Reposted by Janine Utell
paulakrebs.bsky.social
Valuing the humanities means supporting Federal funding for the humanities. The humanities are not a luxury.
Save the NEH! – National Humanities Alliance
nhalliance.org
Reposted by Janine Utell
jasonrhody.bsky.social
We need more than ever opportunities to gather & share strategies and tips for leading in and through the humanities. Join us at the Summer Seminar in New York this May. Open to anyone--current and aspiring leaders--in the humanities. Early bird ends tomorrow. Please share!
modernlanguage.bsky.social
The early bird deadline for the ADE-ALD Summer Seminar in NYC and the virtual MAPS Leadership Institute is Wednesday, 2 April! Register today to get insights into current trends in the profession, strategies for bolstering your program, and a national network of peers. www.maps.mla.org/Seminars
Reposted by Janine Utell
modernlanguage.bsky.social
Thank you to all the MLA members who participated in this afternoon's open discussion session with @tinalu888.bsky.social, Herman Beavers, and Waïl Hassan and shared how the current threats to higher ed are affecting you and how the MLA might help. 1/3
Reposted by Janine Utell
lmbowe.bsky.social
Working on exciting classroom initiatives? Harnessing new technologies? Collaborating with colleagues or across disciplines? Showcase your pedagogical and curricular developments at the #MLA26 Innovation Room! Apply by April 15. @modernlanguage.bsky.social @lydiatang.bsky.social
shorturl.at/QE2u0
Presenters and audience chat around posters highlighting new pedagogical and curricular initiatives in the humanities in the Innovation Room at the 2025 MLA Convention in New Orleans. Photo by David C. Aleman.
Reposted by Janine Utell
modernlanguage.bsky.social
The MLA Executive Council has issued a statement against designating english as the official language of the US. English has never been the sole language of the US, and the designation ignores our cultural heritage dating back to before this country was founded. www.mla.org/Resources/Ad...
Statement against Designating English as the Official Language...
In March 2025, the Executive Council approved the following statement.The Executive Council of the Modern Language Association would like to add the MLA’s voice to the chorus of objections to the exec...
www.mla.org
janineutell.bsky.social
This was such a wonderful morning—fabulous time networking with language and lit students from @sunygeneseo.bsky.social and @adelphiu.bsky.social, learning about their research and strategizing advocacy for the #humanities. Thanks @curinaction.bsky.social cc @modernlanguage.bsky.social
curinaction.bsky.social
Day 2 of STR in DC began with a networking breakfast.
Shout out to:
- Society for American Archeology
- Modern Language Association
- American Chemical Society
- Computing Research Association
- American Astrological Society
- American Association of Physics Teachers
#CURSTR
Reposted by Janine Utell
qianawhitted.bsky.social
I'm co-organizing a panel proposal on "Adaptation & Opposition Through Comics" for MLA 2026 in Toronto! Abstracts due by March 15: bit.ly/MLA2026comicsadaptation
ADAPTATION and OPPOSITION through COMICS
A session proposed for MLA 2026

How do comics adaptations riff on, rewrite, or supplant existing canonical works and literary forms? Why are these resistant adaptations often perceived as a threat?

Send 300-word abstracts and short bios by March 15, 2025 to Robert Nguyen guyen@lycoming.edu and Qiana Whitted whittedq@mailbox.sc.edu.

View the complete call at bit.ly/MLA2026comicsadaptation
co-sponsored by the forum on Comics & Graphic Narratives and Adaptation Studies.
Reposted by Janine Utell
modernlanguage.bsky.social
Registration is open for our free webinar Legislative Encroachment on Higher Ed: Defending DEIA, Academic Freedom, and the Right to Protest (24 March at 2:00 p.m. ET). Learn what advocates are doing, ask questions, and get strategies.
webinars.mla.org/webinar/legi...
Legislative Encroachment on Higher Ed - MLA Webinars
Join our free webinar to learn how advocates are defending DEIA, academic freedom, and the right to protest and to get strategies for your own campus and community.
webinars.mla.org
Reposted by Janine Utell
anasalter.bsky.social
Folks who joined us to discuss generative AI, bespoke and dying platforms, the future of text + more at #MLA25, please consider submitting to ELO!