Erica R. Meiners is a Professor of Education and Women’s and Gender Studies at Northeastern Illinois University – a public, urban institution in Chicago where she is also a union member of UPI: the University Professionals of Illinois.  As the Bernard J. Brommel Distinguished Research Professor, Meiners teaches classes in justice studies, women’s and gender studies, and educational studies. Meiners is the author of a number of books including: Abolition. Feminism. Now. with Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent and Beth Richie (Haymarket Books, 2021), Right to be hostile: Schools, prisons and the making of public enemies (Routledge 2007), Public acts: Disruptive readings on making curriculum public with Francisco Ibáñez-Carrasco (Routledge 2004), and with Therese Quinn, Flaunt It! Queers organizing for public education and justice. Meiners is a co-director of university curriculum for Prison + Neighborhood Arts Project.