Nell Lake

Nell Lake is a Lecturer in the Department of English at Brown University, holding a PhD in American Studies (2022) and MA from Brown (1997). Her work bridges journalism and academia, focusing on the gender-racialized history and politics of care labor in America. She previously served as founding editor of the Nieman Narrative Digest at Harvard and has been recognized through fellowships including the American Dissertation Fellowship (AAUW).

Education:

• PhD in American Studies, Brown University, 2022
• MA, Brown University, 1997

Research Interests: Nell examines how cultural narratives about caregiving shape political systems, particularly analyzing figures like mothers, nurses, housewives, and maids through a care justice lens. Her work synthesizes feminist and racial justice frameworks to expose systemic inequities in care labor distribution across racial lines.

Awards:

• American Dissertation Fellowship (2020-2021)
• Steinhaus/Zisson Research Grant (2019)
• Mary Lily Research Grant (2019)

Teaching: Courses emphasize narrative journalism and investigative reporting, including healthcare journalism and urban storytelling. She promotes ethical reporting practices and immersive research methodologies.