Ariella Rotramel

Ariella Rotramel is the Vandana Shiva Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies at Connecticut College, where they joined the faculty in 2012. They served as Interim Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion from August 2021 to January 2022 and currently serve as department chair. An interdisciplinary scholar, Rotramel is committed to bridging theoretical and practical engagements of identity and social justice issues through community-based learning and digital humanities approaches.

Rotramel earned their B.A. in an Independent Program of Study focusing on Intersections of Racial, Sexual and Gender Identities from the University of Illinois at Chicago, followed by a Ph.D. in Women's and Gender Studies from Rutgers University. Their educational background reflects their commitment to intersectional approaches that inform their scholarly and teaching practices.

Rotramel's research centers on social movements, gender and women's history, women and work, ethnic studies, queer and sexuality studies, and feminist praxis. Their scholarship examines how women of color lead grassroots activism in organizations not singularly identified with feminism, exploring issues related to domestic work, housing, and environmental policies. They investigate how marginalized communities navigate and resist structural inequalities through collective action and community organizing. Their work often focuses on New York City contexts while addressing broader national patterns of injustice and resistance.

Rotramel's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on intersectional approaches to social justice, with recent work examining disability and sexuality, anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, feminist historiography, and community-based learning. Their 2020 book Pushing Back: Women of Color–Led Grassroots Activism in New York City explores women of color's leadership in organizations addressing injustices tied to domestic work, housing, and environmental policies. Their scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary social justice concerns, particularly regarding LGBTQ communities, women of color, and marginalized populations.

• 2019 Connecticut College Helen Mulvey Faculty Award for Fostering Student Achievement
• 2017 Faculty Mentor Award from Connecticut College's Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program
• 2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Service Award

Rotramel has mentored numerous students through the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program and supervised various community-based learning projects. They have developed innovative courses that connect classroom learning with community engagement, particularly in areas related to gender justice, LGBTQ rights, and women's history. Rotramel's teaching portfolio includes courses across the Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality Studies curriculum, from introductory courses like Sex, Gender, Culture: Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies to advanced seminars on feminist theory and social justice praxis. They have been instrumental in developing the department's approach to intersectional studies and community-engaged scholarship.