Carolyn Zola

Carolyn is a PhD candidate in the History Department where she focuses on race and gender in eighteenth and nineteenth century North America. Working at the intersection of social and cultural history, her dissertation explores the lived experiences of female hucksters, street peddlers, and market women who sold food in port cities, both in the formal economies of public markets and in the vernacular economies of the streets. Her work also analyzes the profusion of cultural representations generated by these women’s presence in public spaces in order to better understand these ubiquitous yet elusive sellers. A recipient of the Centennial Teaching Prize, Carolyn strives to create a generous, lively, and engaging classroom atmosphere. She is thrilled to be joining the PFP community where she hopes to learn more about the joys and challenges of working in teaching-focused institutions.