Sarah (She/Her) is a PhD candidate at Brandeis University specializing in loyalty, community violence, and the repression of political dissent during the era of the American Revolution. ​ Her dissertation, “Policing the Revolution: Massachusetts Communities and The Committees of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety, 1773-1783” explores the Committees through the lens of early American carcerality. Exploring extra-legal reprisals, intimidation, incarceration, and property confiscation, this dissertation argues that the Committees employed an ever-expanding definition of loyalty as a method of social control, ensuring community compliance with the Revolutionary effort by repressing political dissent. Her work has been supported by the Massachusetts Historical Society / Society of the Cincinnati Fellowship, the Gilder Lehrman Short Term Fellowship, the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, and the Wellesley Mary McEwen Schimke Fellowship. She holds a Masters Degree in History from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. In 2021 she received the MHS Society of the Cincinnati and Gilder Lehrman Short Term Fellowships. You can follow Beth on Twitter: @phdinprogress17

Office 216

Discover how a graduate student’s temporary office space serves as a metaphor for their sense of unbelonging throughout their academic journey, and how they find solace in making the most of the temporary joys that come their way.

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PhD in Later Life: It’s Never Too Late To Be a Student

This article explores the experience of doing a part-time distance PhD in later life. The author’s age was an advantage, allowing them to focus on their thesis without distractions or major hiccups. The article reflects on how to make for a smooth doctorate – emphasising the importance of strong interest in your topic, supervisors who are easy to work with, and a bit of luck!

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