CfP: Graduate Student Research Lightning Round at AHA 2025

Call for Abstracts for the “Graduate Student Research Lightning Round” Solicited Session, AHA 2025

The Coordinating Council for Women in History (CCWH) is sponsoring a graduate student research lightning round at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Historical Association in New York City, January 3-6. We are seeking graduate student participants who are either in the developmental phase of their research or are preparing for interviews on the job market. Each participant will present a five-minute “elevator pitch” of their current project on any aspect of women’s and gender history, followed by a Q&A session moderated by a senior historian. We envision this session as a safe space for you to practice giving your elevator pitch and fielding audience questions.

Please note: If your proposed presentation develops further, you are welcome to present on any aspect of your project. We intend for this to be a flexible session that will cultivate productive dialogue between presenters and the audience.

Eligibility: 

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program or a recent graduate
• Project must contribute to women’s or gender history
• Committed to attending the 2025 conference in NYC in-person
• NOT already presenting on a 2025 AHA panel or session
• Must be a member of the CCWH and AHA by the time of the conference

Submission Materials:

• 200–500-word abstract
• Brief bio (a few sentences)

To apply, submit your abstract and bio to the CCWH Graduate Student Representative Brigid Wallace at bcw321@lehigh.edu no later than June 10th at 11:59 PM Eastern time. Upon receipt of the abstract, the committee will review the submissions, and we will notify you by June 15th.

Limited travel grants are available through the AHA: https://www.historians.org/annual-meeting/resources-and-guides/annual-meeting-funding.