Elizabeth Drake, M.A.

My favorite book to recommend:

“Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again:Women and Desire in the Age of Consent” by Katherine Angel

Early into my academic work researching sexual violence in film & media, I learned how powerful community-based collective action is. Ever since then, I have been fortunate enough to meet and team up with many brilliant people fighting against systems of violence and oppression. Once I started working alongside these wonderful people, I finally found myself doing energizing work that deeply mattered to me. As a consultant at Ever On and as survivor of sexual violence, I am honored to use my skills in collaboration with others to build a radical future.

Education

All coursework complete: Ph.D. in English with a concentration in Film & Media Studies

Wayne State University | Detroit, MI

Research Specialization: Representation of sexual violence in popular culture

Master’s of Arts in American Literature with an emphasis in Children’s Literature

San Diego State University | San Diego, CA

Thesis: “Of Bashful Bears and Timid Warriors: Neoliberalism, Hyper-masculinity, and Ultra-violence in Moby-Dick: The Graphic Novel”

Bachelors of Arts in English Literature with a minor in German Language

Willamette University | Salem, OR

Thesis: “Male Reproduction Anxiety and Mockery in Laurence Stern’s Tristram Shandy

Non-Profit Work

Grant Writer | National Domestic Violence Hotline | Austin, TX

Grant Writer | Mercy Education Project | Detroit, MI

Grant Writer | Michigan Non-Profit Development Solutions | Detroit, MI

Teaching Experience

Wayne State University | Community Work & Service-Learning with local Non-Profits, Intro to College Writing, Intermediate College Writing, and Intro to Film

San Diego State University | Literature, Rhetorical Analysis, and College Writing

Mesa Community College | First-year English & Writing

Conference Presentations

Society for Cinema & Media Studies | “Pulsating Technologies: (Sometimes Failed) Feelings of Connection and Togetherness”

The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900 | “Being Sideways and Anti-Generational with Dogs: Thinking Through the Queerness of the Family Dog in Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness and Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood

Midwest Modern Language Association | "Down with Dogs: The Queerness of the Family Dog in Lesbian Literature”

Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association | “Getting Past Gaga: Identity, Visibility, and Queer Reimaginations in Marjorie Liu’s Graphic Novel Monstress” 

Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association | “Call Me Entertaining: The Graphic Novel Adaptation of Moby-Dick, a Consideration of Ethics, Ultra-Violence, and Neoliberalism”

University of British Columbia’s Biennial Children’s Literature Conference | “Chasing the Great White Whale of Masculinity: Visualizations of Violence, Neoliberalism, and the Graphic Novel Adaptation of Moby-Dick

Labor Organizing

President | GEOC-AFT #6123 (Graduate Employees’ Organizing Committee)  | Detroit, MI

Communications Chair | GEOC-AFT #6123 | Detroit, MI

Michigan Organizing Institute Fellowship | GEOC-AFT #6123 | Detroit, MI

Additional Work Experience

Development & Program Support Intern | The Center for Women & Their Work | Austin, TX

Public Affairs Specialist | Oregon Dept. of Forestry | Salem, OR

Front & Back of House Support | Salem Chamber Orchestra | Salem, OR

Stage Manager | Camino Real Playhouse | San Juan Capistrano, CA