In 2022–2023, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Neary (IRH Project Assistant, 2020–2024) received a Charles Montgomery Gray Fellowship from Chicago’s Newberry Library in support of her dissertation research. Now, after successfully defending her dissertation in Spanish & Portuguese in the fall, Lizzie is back at the Newberry, this time as Associate Director of Fellowships and Academic Programs.
Lizzie has only been at her new role for mere months, but she’s already made her mark. On a broad scale, Lizzie administers the Newberry’s fellowships operation, managing the long-term and short-term fellowships, Scholars-in-Residence, Visiting Fellows, Fellows’ Seminar, Colloquium, and Scholarly Seminars. She also oversees undergraduate study programs. On a day-to-day basis, Lizzie collaborates with scholars and fellows, providing support for their research needs, facilitating their access to the library’s resources, and organizing events like lectures, seminars, and workshops. In addition, Lizzie has coordinated a variety of academic partnerships, just one of these being with the Beer History Center to create a new beer history fellowship.
Lizzie was well-prepared to start her new role at the Newberry. During her four years as IRH’s project assistant, she played an invaluable role in running IRH’s fellowship competitions by managing application databases, publicizing fellowships, organizing selection committee meetings, and designing application forms. “Working closely with scholars at IRH taught me the importance of providing tailored support and creating an environment where research can thrive,” Lizzie said. “At the Newberry, I’m applying these insights to help develop a fellowship program that not only supports individual research but also fosters collaboration and engagement with the library’s collections.”
Though she misses the classroom, Lizzie has enjoyed supporting scholars and advocating for the humanities in new ways. Just one of the ways in which she is doing so is through the Fellows Fellowship, which was created by former Newberry fellows who wanted to raise money for a fellowship with no subject matter restrictions. “It’s a unique opportunity for scholars to pursue projects across a wide range of fields, providing them the flexibility to explore their research interests freely,” she said. Looking toward the future, Lizzie hopes to see even more emphasis on making research accessible and engaging to broader communities.
Despite working full time, Lizzie still finds time to stay engaged with research, thanks in part to her writing group with former IRH fellows. Most of this time is spent turning her dissertation—Perfidious Liaisons: Mixed Marriage in Early Modern Spanish Literature—into a monograph. Like her dissertation, the monograph will examine the intersections of Moriscos (Muslim converts to Christianity) and Old Christians in early modern Spanish literature, focusing on representations of mixed marriages in both literary and archival sources. More imminent is a volume on Cervantes studies set for publication in 2026, which Lizzie is co-editing with two colleagues.
IRH wishes Lizzie all the best in her career and welcomes her back to attend a Monday seminar at any time!