Media and Presentations

This page showcases the work done by fellows while at the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom. Also check out events hosted by the Center.

Books, Articles, Reports, and Blog Posts

• Warner, John. "About That 'Institutional Neutrality.'" November 15, 2024. Insider Higher Ed.
• Darian-Smith, Eve. "Rising Antidemocracy, Declining Academic Freedom, and Challenges to Evidence-Based Knowledge." Volume 15, 2024. AAUP Journal of Academic Freedom.
• Franks, Mary Anne. Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment. October 15, 2024. Bold Type Books. 
• Kamola, Isaac. “Oct. 7 Kicked Off a Difficult Year for Higher Ed. How Should Universities Move Forward Now?,” edited by Bob Moser. October 7, 2024. Inside Higher Ed. 
• Darian-Smith, Eve. “Rebuilding the Infrastructure of Academic Freedom.” September 3, 2024. Academe Blog. 
• Habash, Tariq. "American Higher Education Law and the Repression of Pro-Peace Speech on Palestine." September 18, 2024. Institute for Middle East Understanding Policy Project.
• Kamola, Isaac. “5 Growing Threats to Academic Freedom.” July 29, 2024. The Conversation.
• Meyerhoff, Eli. “Unmasking indoctrination: The Zionist Agenda Behind Duke's ‘Antisemitism 101 Training.’” June 26, 2024. The Chronicle.
• Warner, John. "When Oversight Becomes Intimidation and Control." August 8, 2024. Inside Higher Ed.
• Warner, John. "Mangerialism as a Threat to Academic Freedom." June 27, 2024. Inside Higher Ed.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Who’s Behind the Legislative Attacks on Higher ED?” June 5, 2024. Inside Higher Ed.
• Kamola, Isaac. “State Laws Threaten to Erode Academic Freedom in US Higher Education.” May 29, 2024. The Conversation.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Alarming New Report Shows Attacks on Public Education Are Coordinated By Right Wing Think Tanks.” Interview by Hialy Gutierrez. May 28, 2024. Religion Dispatches.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Shafik Demonstrates the Banality of Current Discourses on Campus Free Speech.” May 1, 2024. Academe Blog.
• Darian-Smith, Eve. "Knowledge Production at a Crossroads: Rising Antidemocracy and Diminishing Academic Freedom." April 2024. Studies in Higher Education.

Talks and Webinars

• Kamola, Isaac. “Academic Freedom: What is it and How to Defend it,” Governing Council Meeting, Society for
  Research in Child Development, February 2025. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Dark Money Donors and The Right-Wing Attacks on Higher Education." School of Social Transformation, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. January 29, 2025. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Responding to Manufactured Backlash: How to Defend Academic Freedom in the Upcoming Legislative Cycle." College of Arts & Humanities, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. January 10, 2025. Webinar.
• Chavez, Karma, Isaac Kamola, Rotua Lumbantobing, Mia McIver, Nikil Saval, and Colena Sesanker. "Higher Ed in the Age of Trump: How Should We Continue the Fight for the Common Good?" Scholars for a New Deal for Higher Education, December 5, 2024. Webinar.
• Ahamed, Sabiya, Tariq Habash, Nadine Naber, Jay Ulfelder, and Yousef Munayyer. "Palestine Activism on US College Campuses: Dissent, Repressive Policies, and Implications." Arab Center Washington DC. November 21, 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Responding to Manufactured Backlash: How to Defend Academic Freedom in the Upcoming Legislative Cycle." Association for Political and Legal Anthropology, American Anthropology Association, Tampa, FL. November 21, 2024. Keynote address.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Manufactured Backlash, Right-wing Think Tanks, and the Attack on Higher Education." Aydelotte Foundation at Swarthmore College. November 15, 2024. Hybrid presentation.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Manufactured Backlash, Right-wing Think Tanks, and the Attack on Higher Education." Nebraska State Conference, AAUP, November 9, 2024. Webinar.
• Douglass, John Aubrey, Don Moynihan, Ellen Schrecker, and Eric Mlyn. “When Universities are the ‘Enemy’: Academic Freedom, Institutional Autonomy, and the Future of American Higher Education.” Democracy and the Politics of American Higher Education, Duke University, October 28, 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. "Manufactured Backlash, Right-wing Think Tanks, and the Attack on Higher Education." Fisher Center for the Study of Gender and Justice, Hobart and William Smith College, October 23, 2024. Presentation.
• Habash, Tariq, Rana Jaleel, Danny Shaw, and Jonathan Wallace. “Dissent, Democracy, & Higher Education: Under Attack.” Co-sponsored by the Center for Changing Systems of Power, the Humanities Institute, and the Asian American Justice & Innovation Lab; supported by Mellon’s Affirming Multivocal Humanities Program, October 22, 2024. Hybrid panel discussion. 
• Barbour, Naomi and Demetri L. Morgan. Post 2024 Futures: For Academic Freedom and Campus Life, October 17, 2024. In-person workshop.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Academic Freedom: What is it and How to Defend It.” Consortium on High Achievement and Success. September 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Manufacturing Backlash: Right-Wing Think Tanks and the Legislative Attack on Higher Education, 2021–2023.” University of Maryland, AAUP chapter. September 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Follow the Money with Isaac Kamola and Maurice Cunningham.” Library Freedom Project. August 2024.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Wealthy Donors Gone Wild: How Wall Street is Hijacking Higher Education.” Critical Race Theory Summer School, African American Policy Forum. July 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “In Defense of Academic Freedom: Defamation, Intimidation, and Suspension.” Jadaliyya, Arab Studies Institute. June 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Manufacturing Backlash: Right-Wing Think Tanks and the Legislative Attack on Higher Education, 2021–2023.” Biannual Conference and Meeting, AAUP. Washington, DC. June 2024. Presentation.
• Jaleel, Jason, Wozniak, Erica Thomas, and Isaac Kamola. “National Teach-In” The Future We Stand For, April 17, 2024. Video, 1:00:00.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Academic Freedom & Palestine from the Standpoint of Contingency.” Portland State University Faculty Association (PSUFA 3571). April 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Manufacturing Backlash: Right-wing Think Tanks and the Legislative Attack on Higher Education.”
  Contested Discourse conference, University of Texas-Austin. March 2024. Keynote address.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Academic Freedom and Free Speech.” AAUP Chapter, Columbia University. March 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “CUNY FSJP Workshop.” Faculty and Students for Justice in Palestine, CUNY. March 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Academics Under Attack: A Faculty First Responder Workshop.” Stony Brook University. March 2024. Webinar.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Supporting Faculty under Attack: Faculty First Responders.” AFT Higher Education Professional Issues Conference. Los Angeles, CA. February 2024. Webinar.

TV, Radio, and Podcasts

• Meyerhoff, Eli. "Antisemitism Training with Eli Meyerhoff." October 29, 2024. Unpacking Zionism. Podcast, 33:53.
• Kamola, Isaac. "June 4, 2024." June 4, 2024. Interview by Arnie Arnesen. Attitude with Arnie Arnesen. Podcast, 56:10.
• Kamola, Isaac. "May 7, 2024." May 7, 2024. Interview by Arnie Arnesen. Attitude with Arnie Arnesen. Podcast, 56:30.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Many Republican State Bills Undermine Academic Freedom in Higher Education.” May 29, 2024. Interview by Holly Quan. KCBS Radio. Podcast, 5:18.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Political Interference in Higher Ed: Escalations, Attacks, and the Billionaires Behind It.” May 3, 2024. AAUP Presents, season 4, episode 4. Interview by Mariah Quinn. Podcast, 51:06.
• Kamola, Isaac. “Pro-Palestinian Student Protests Expose Grip of University Donors.” April 28, 2024. MSNBC. Interview by Ayman Mohyeldin. Television, 1:57.

Quoted in the Media

• Speri, Alice. "'We're Like Sitting Ducks': The Right's 'War on Woke' Has a Well-Tested Playbook to Take Down Academics." The Guardian. February 14, 2025.
• Fischer, Karin. "Why Hungary Inspired Trump's Vision for Higher Ed." Chronicle for Higher Ed. January 15, 2025.
• Speri, Alice. "US Universities Brace for Education Policies Overhaul Under Trump." Aljazeera. November 24, 2024.
• Speri, Alice. "Trump Likely to Use Antisemitism Claims to Launch Crackdown on US Universities." The Guardian. November 18, 2024.
• Kumar, Divya. "How Will a Second Trump Presidency Impact Education in Florida?" Tampa Bay Times, November 12, 2024.
• Moody, Josh. “A Battle Over Florida’s General Education Courses.” Inside Higher Ed, October 3, 2024.
• Lee, Jenna. “SMPA Professor Launches Consortium to Combat Researcher Harassment.” The GW Hatchet, September 30, 2024.
• Fischer, Karin. “Squeezed From Both Sides: Why Is Neither Party Happy with Higher Education?” The Chronicle of Higher Education, September 24, 2024. 
• Tollefson, Jeff. “Harassed? Intimidated? Guidebook Offers Help to Scientists Under Attack.” Nature, September 20, 2024. 
• Doherty, Caitlin. “Professor Isaac Kamola Holds AAUP Panel Event on Threats to Academic Freedom.” Trinity Tripod, September 17, 2024.
• Quinn, Ryan. “Conservative and Exploring Colleges? The Heritage Foundation Has Ratings for You.” Inside Higher Ed, September 13, 2024.
• Blake, Jessica. “Academic Associations Face Critique for Political Statements.” Inside Higher Ed, August, 27, 2024.
• Giroux, Henry A. “The Right’s Push to Whitewash History Is a Precursor to Fascism.” Truthout, August 18, 2024. 
• Betensky, Carolyn. “‘This is What They Say They’re Doing. And They’re Doing it!’ A Conversation with Kamola, Isaac, Director of the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom,” Academe Blog, July 10, 2024.
• Scerpella, Colleen. “The Right-Wing Network Manufacturing the War Against Higher Education.” Exposed by CMD, July 3, 2024. 
• Knott, Katherine. “Colleges in Republicans’ Crosshairs Enroll Only a Sliver of U.S. College Students.” Inside Higher Ed, June 10, 2024. 
• Nicholson, Craig. “US Higher Education ‘Under Attack,’ Claims Academic Group.” Research Professional News, June 6, 2024. 
• Blake, Jessica. “AAUP Report Finds ‘Well-Funded’ Right-Wing Attacks on Higher Ed.” Inside Higher Ed, May 30, 2024. 
• Unglesbee, Ben. “AAUP Calls Out Think Tanks for ‘Culture War Against Higher Education.’” Higher Ed Dive, May 30, 2024. 
• Sangal, Aditi, Maureen Chowdhury, Matt Meyer, Matt Egan, Elise Hammond, and Antoinette Radford. “University Presidents Testify as US College See More Protests.” CNN, May 23, 2024.
• Glover, Scott, Audrey Ash, and Bob Ortega. “Dozens of professors among those arrested in campus protests.” CNN, May 11, 2024.
• Lindsay, Drew. “The Donor Revolt Comes to Annual Giving: Israel, Gaza, and Campus Unrest.” The Commons, May 1, 2024.
• Quinn, Ryan. “As Police Clear Encampments, Professors Arrested Along With Students.” Inside Higher Ed, April 30, 2024.
• Quinn, Ryan. “Black Scholars Face Anonymous Accusations in Anti-DEI Crusade.” Inside Higher Ed, April 1, 2024.
• Marris, Emma. “Culture Wars Are Raging on US Campuses. Will They Affect Research?” Nature, February 13, 2024.

Press Releases

• “New Fellows Announced for the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom.” American Association of University Professors, June 10, 2024.
• “New Paper Examines Partisan Megadonors' Funding of Attacks on Higher Ed.” American Association of University Professors, May 28, 2024.
• Cole, Kristen. “Trinity College Professor to Lead National Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom.” Trinity College News, May 2, 2024.
• “AAUP Receives Mellon Grant for Academic Freedom Center.” American Association of University Professors, February 14, 2024.