SSAWW at 25: Understanding Histories, Imagining Futures 

American Literature Association, 37th Annual Conference

May 20-23, 2026

The Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL

SSAWW at 25: Understanding Histories, Imagining Futures 

The Society for the Study of American Women Writers (SSAWW) invites paper proposals for a panel that builds on our 2025 conference theme, “Understanding Histories, Imagining Futures.” Submissions are welcome from those who attended the SSAWW conference in Philadelphia as well as from those who were unable to attend.

This ALA panel celebrates the first twenty-five years of SSAWW and its mission to promote and advance the study of American women writers through research, teaching, and publication, while also looking ahead to our plans for the future. The past 25 years have shown us that historical precedence does not assure our collective futures. With past, present, and future challenges and hopes in mind, we invite proposals focused on the diverse creative work of women across the Americas.

Topics related to “Understanding Histories, Imagining Futures” include, but are not limited to:

• Women writers fostering change and/or building networks that sustain communities through difficult times

• Women writing about, promoting, and critiquing organizations and organizational thinking in moments of crisis (political, environmental, economic, etc.)

• Women writers mentoring one another or representing mentoring relationships in their work

• Women writers interpreting history, the present, and/or the future

• Pedagogies that honor our commitment to these authors, our organization, and these enterprises more broadly in the face of limited resources and structural changes within academia

Please send abstracts (no more than 250 words) and a brief biographical note to Kristin Jacobson (kristin.jacobson@stockton.edu) and Kristin Allukian (kallukian@usf.edu) no later than January 10, 2026. Include your name and email with the abstract, along with any requests for A/V equipment. Presenters must be members of SSAWW by the time of the conference. Information about SSAWW can be found at the SSAWW website: https://studyamericanwomenwriters.org/