Liza Blake

Liza Blake serves as Associate Professor in the Department of English and Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), where she teaches courses spanning medieval to early modern literature, Shakespeare studies, and specialized topics in Renaissance women's writing. Her academic profile integrates rigorous literary scholarship with innovative digital humanities initiatives, notably through leadership roles in major editorial projects.

Her educational background includes a BA from The George Washington University, an MPhil from Cambridge University, and MA/PhD degrees from New York University. This foundation supports her interdisciplinary approach bridging literary studies, philosophy, and history of science.

Blake's research centers on Medieval and Renaissance literature with distinctive emphasis on early modern women writers, particularly Margaret Cavendish. She pioneers intersections between literature and scientific thought, examining materialism, physics, and poetics through historical and theoretical lenses. Her work in asexuality studies represents groundbreaking scholarship connecting contemporary identity frameworks to premodern contexts, challenging anachronistic assumptions while revealing historical continuities in non-normative sexualities.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on textual bibliography, editorial theory, and Cavendish studies, revealing evolving methodologies from close reading to digital resource development. Her scholarship increasingly integrates digital humanities approaches while maintaining philological rigor, particularly evident in collaborative projects mapping Cavendish's print legacy and developing critical editions.

No scientific awards were documented in the source materials, though her editorial leadership in the 20-volume Complete Works of Margaret Cavendish represents significant scholarly contribution.

Blake actively mentors through course design including individual studies (ENG390Y) and specialized editing seminars (ENG399Y). Her grant-funded projects include the Digital Cavendish repository and Asexuality and Aromanticism Bibliography, reflecting commitment to creating accessible scholarly infrastructure. She co-directs the Digital Cavendish initiative and leads the Asexuality and Aromanticism Bibliography project, both serving as vital community resources.

Her scholarly ecosystem encompasses the Complete Works of Margaret Cavendish editorial collective, the Digital Cavendish research team, and collaborative networks through the Asexuality and Aromanticism Bibliography. These interconnected projects form a cohesive research program advancing early modern studies while creating digital infrastructure for future scholarship.