Kristin Kalsem

Professor Kalsem teaches in the areas of commercial law, bankruptcy, feminist legal theory, and law and literature, receiving several teaching awards since joining the faculty in 2001.  She also is co-director of the College’s Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice and the university's joint-degree program in Law and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, a pioneer program for which the College of Law is nationally known.
Professor Kalsem writes in the areas of women's legal history and the cultural study of law and received the 2012 Harold C. Schott Scholarship Award for her book In Contempt: Nineteenth-Century Women, Law, and Literature. She also writes about issues of gender, race, and class in the contexts of bankruptcy reform and consumer protection. Her scholarship has been published in such journals as the Harvard Women's Law Journal, the Southern California Review of Law and Women's Studies, the UCLA Women's Law Journal, and The Michigan Journal of Race and Law.
Professor Kalsem has presented papers at national and international conferences, including meetings of the Law and Society Association and the Association of Law, Culture, and the Humanities. She has served as chair of the American Association of Law School's Section of Law and the Humanities and currently sits on the Executive Board of the Section.
Prior to joining the UC faculty, Professor Kalsem taught at the University of Iowa's College of Law and Department of English while completing her doctoral studies. Her interdisciplinary scholarship on 19th-century women and the law was supported by numerous fellowships and grants, including a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Grant and an American Fellowship from the Association of University Women.
Professor Kalsem practiced law in Chicago with the law firm Sidley & Austin before entering academia.

BA: University of Iowa

JD: University of Chicago

Ph.D.: University of Iowa

Areas of Interest: Bankruptcy, Commercial Law, Feminist Legal Theory, Law and Literature

1987 -1993 Attorney, Sidley & Austin, Chicago, IL

1994 -2000 Department of English Nonfiction Writing Program General Education in Literature, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

1999 -2001 Lecturer in Law, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

2001 -2004 Assistant Professor of Law, Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Cincinnati, Affiliated Faculty Member; Co-Founder and Co-Director, Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice University of Cincinnati College of Law; Co-Director, University of Cincinnati Joint Degree Program in Law and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

2004 -2006 Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, OH

2006 -2013 Professor , University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, OH

2013 - Charles Hartsock Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati College of Law, Cincinnati, OH

Book

In Contempt: Nineteenth-Century Women, Law, and Literature (Ohio State University Press, 2012) (Paperback edition issued in 2015)

Book Chapter

“Anonymity, Privacy, and Confidentiality,” in Ethics in Participatory Research for Health and Social Well-Being 
Routledge

Other Publication

“Theorizing Legal Participatory Action Research: Critical Race/Feminism and PAR,” 21 Qualitative Inquiry 262 (2015) (with Emily M.S. Houh)

“It’s Critical: Legal Participatory Action Research.” 19 Michigan Journal of Race and Law 287 (2014) (with Emily M.S. Houh)

“Social Justice Feminism.” 18 UCLA Women’s Law Journal 131 (2010) (with Verna L. Williams) 

“Bankruptcy Reform and the Financial Well-Being of Women: How Intersectionality Matters in Money Matters.” 71 Brooklyn Law Review 1181 (2006)

“Looking for Law in All the ‘Wrong’ Places: Outlaw Texts and Early Women’s Advocacy.” 13 Southern California Review of Law and Women’s Studies 273 (2004)

“Law, Literature, and Libel: Victorian Censorship of ‘Dirty Filthy’ Books on Birth Control.” 10 William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law 533 (2004)

“Alice in Legal Wonderland: A Cross-Examination of Gender, Race, and Empire in Victorian Law and Literature.” 24 Harvard Women’s Law Journal 221 (2001)

“In Defense of ‘Murderous Mothers’: Feminist Jurisprudence in Frances Trollope’s Jessie Phillips.” 5 Journal of Victorian Culture 179 (2000)

“The Wife’s Lament: A Riddle of Her Own.” Publications of the Medieval Association of the Midwest 128 (1997)

Invited Publication

“A Symposium on Social Justice Feminism: Introduction,” 2014 Freedom Center Journal 1 (with Emily M.S. Houh and Verna Williams)

“Stumped: The Story of Stump v. Sparkman.” 81 UMKC Law Review 825 (2013)

“Reconstructions: Historical Consciousness and Critical Transformation.”  1 Freedom Center Journal vii (2008) (with Emily Houh and Verna L. Williams)

“Women’s Work Is Never Done: Employment, Family and Activism: An Introduction.” 73 University of Cincinnati Law Review 361 (2004) (with Verna L. Williams)

Review

52 American Journal of Legal History 513 (2012) (reviewing Susan Sage Heinzelman’s Riding the Black Ram: Law, Literature, and Gender)

25 Journal of Legal History 659 (2007) (reviewing Morris B. Kaplan, Sodom on the Thames: Sex, Love, and Scandal in Wilde Times)

Non-Fiction

“Purple Coneflowers,” in 7 Adanna Literary Journal 133 (2017)

Electronic Journal

“Signs of Hope: The Women’s Movement in Cincinnati,” UC Social Justice Blog (January 21, 2017) 

Editorial

Opinion, “Payday Loan Regulations Under Review,” Cincinnati Enquirer (August 30, 2016) (with Emily M.S. Houh)

Comment Letter on Proposed Rule Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans (October 18, 2016) (with Emily M.S. Houh)

Invited Presentations

Kristin Kalsem (2017. ) Participatory Action Theories, Methods, and Challenges - A Course for Doctoral Students and Members of Community Organisations .Durham University, England. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2017. ) Contracts - Commercial-Consumer Law: In Action .San Francisco, CA. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

(2017. ) “Domestic Violence: Changing the Landscape .University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH . UC. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2017. ) 'Dig Where you Stand': Women, Law, and Social Change .Cincinnati, OH, Ursuline Academy. Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2016. ) Legal Participatory Action Research: Community Approaches to Legal Issues .Durham University, England. Level:International

Kristin Kalsem (2015. ) Legal Participatory Action Research: Community-Based Initiatives on Intimate Partner Abuse .University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Professional Meeting. . Level:International

Kristin Kalsem (2014. ) Women, Law, and Literature .Des Moines Women's Club, Des Moines, IA. Level:Local

Kristin Kalsem (2014. ) Topics of Economic Justice .University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH . UC. . Level:College

Kristin Kalsem (2014. ) Law and Narrative: Readings of Stumped .S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2012. ) Participatory Action Research: A Practical Approach to Economic Justice .University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH . UC. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2011. ) Social Justice Feminish .Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA. Other Institution. . Level:College

Kristin Kalsem (2011. ) Art and Intervention .Law and Society Association, San Francisco, CA. Conference. . Level:National

Kristin Kalsem (2011. ) Stumped: A Law and Literature Interpretation .Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities, Las Vegas, NV. Conference. . Level:National

Kristin Kalsem (2010. ) A Fresh Start... Really?: Limitations on the Bankruptcy Discharge .Cincinnati Bar Association, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Local

Kristin Kalsem (2008. ) Social Justice Feminism: Principles and Methodologies .National Women's Studies Association Annual Conference, Cincinnati, OH. Conference. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2008. ) Social Justice Feminism: Words, Movements, Theory, Practice .Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities, Berkeley, California. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2008. ) Social Justice Feminism .Feminist Legal Theories and Feminisms Conference, University of Baltimore. Conference. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2007. ) Bankruptcy Reform: Challenging Statutory Interpretations .Cincinnati Bar Association, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2007. ) Social Justice Feminism: Historical Perspectives .Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2006. ) Statutory Interpretation and the BAPCPA .Cincinnati Bar Association, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2006. ) Still More stories To Tell: Intimate Partner Abuse and Education .Rape Crisis & Abuse Center Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Local

Kristin Kalsem (2006. ) Barriers to Women's Financial Well-Being .Women's Leadership Conference, Oxford, England. Conference. . Level:International

Kristin Kalsem (2006. ) Bankruptcy Reform and the Financial Well-Being of Women .St. Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) Critical Perspectives on Commercial Law and Bankruptcy: A Re-Envisioned Reform Agenda .Tenth Annual Latcrit Conference, Puerto Rico. Conference. . Level:International

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) A Mock Trial: State of Ohio v. Margaret Garner .Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, OH. Professional Meeting. . Level:Local

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) Bankruptcy Reform and Consumer Protection: How Gender Matters In Money Matters .University of Iowa, Invited Speaker Series, Iowa City, IA. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) An Intersectional Analysis of Bankruptcy Reform .Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) Sex, Lies, and the Bankruptcy Code .Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities, Austin, TX. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2005. ) Cross-Examining Law's Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Explorations .Section of Law and the Humanities, American Association of Law Schools, San Francisco, CA. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2004. ) Law, Literature and Libel: Victorian Censorship of 'Dirty Filthy' Books on Birth Control .Law and Society Association, Chicago, IL. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2004. ) Looking For Law in All the 'Wrong' Places: Outlaw Texts and Early Women's Advocacy .Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities, Hartford, CT. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (2003. ) Outlaw Texts and Narrative Advocacy .Brigham Young University College of Law, Provo, UT. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2002. ) Women's Legal Herstories: Nineteenth-Century Publication of Private Wrongs .University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (2002. ) Outlaw Texts: Nineteenth-Century Novels that Don'e Police .Law and Society Association, Vancouver, British Columbia. Professional Meeting. . Level:International

Kristin Kalsem (2000. ) "To Say the Least": Keynotes of Feminism in Victorian Short Stories .Midwest Modern Language Association, Kansas City, MO. Professional Meeting. . Level:National

Kristin Kalsem (1999. ) Feminist Jurisprudence: A 'Novel' Approach to Law and Literature .Law and Society Association, Chicago, IL. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (1998. ) 'Delicate Matters for Mothers Alone': Family Planning in Jane Clapperton's Margaret Dunmore:or, A Socialist Home .Dickens Project Winter Conference, University of California, Riverside, CA. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (1997. ) The Spectacle of White Queens: A Cross-Examination of Women, Law, Power, and Empire .Victorian Studies Association of Western Canada, University of Northern British Columbia, St. George, British Columbia. Other Institution. . Level:University

Kristin Kalsem (1996. ) In Defense of 'Murderous Mothers': Feminist Jurisprudence in Frances Trollope's Jessie Phillips: A Tale of the Present Day .Midwest Modern Language Association, Minneapolis, MN. Professional Meeting. . Level:Prof. Org.

Kristin Kalsem (1995. ) The Wife's Lament: A Riddle of Her Own .Medieval Association of the Midwest; Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI. Other Institution. . Level:University

Lecture

Kristin Kalsem (2014. ) From Wuthering Heights to Our Own West End: Women's Writing/ Women's Advocacy .University of Cincinnati. UC. Level:University

Symposium

Kristin Kalsem (2010. ) Intersectionality in Action .UCLA School of Law. Other Institution. Level:University

Event Organized

Private Violence: City of Cincinnati Summit on Domestic Violence Conference Cincinnati, OH Level:Local

Dodging the Debt Trap: What You Should Know About Payday, Car Title, and Student Loans Symposium Cincinnati, OH Level:Local

Social Justice Feminism Conference Conference Cincinnati, OH Level:University

2016 -2016 Marian Spencer Diversity Ambassador Award as Co-Director of the Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:University

2013 -2013 Harold C. Schott Scholarship Award For Outstanding Research and Scholarly Achievement University of Cincinnati College of Law Status:Recipient Level:College

2010 -2010 Goldman Prize for Teaching Excellence University of Cincinnati College of Law Status:Recipient Level:University

2006 -2006 Women's Studies Faculty Research Grant University of Cincinnati Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Grant

2003 -2003 Goldman Prize for Teaching Excellence University of Cincinnati College of Law Status:Recipient Level:University

1999 -2000 AAUW American Fellowship American Association of University Women Educational Foundation Status:Recipient Level:Professional Org. Type:Fellowship

1999 -2000 Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Dissertation Grant in Women's Studies Status:Recipient Level:National

1999 -2000 Ballard Fellowship Dissertation-Year Award University of Iowa Graduate College Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Fellowship

2000 -2000 Best Published Essay Prize University of Iowa Department of English Status:Recipient Level:College

1999 -1999 The 1999 Walter L. Arnstein Prize for Dissertation Research in Victorian Studies Midwest Victorian Studies Association Status:Recipient Level:Regional

1999 -1999 University of Iowa Student Government Research Grant For Archival Research in England University of Iowa Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Grant

1998 -1998 John Gerber Teaching Award Awarded to a Graduate Instructor for Outstanding Teaching in the General Education in Literature Program University of Iowa Status:Recipient Level:University

1993 -1997 Iowa Fellowship Four-year Merit-Based Fellowship University of Iowa Status:Recipient Level:University Type:Fellowship

1996 -1996 The 1996 Midwest Women's Caucus Distinguished Paper Award Midwest Women's Caucus for Political Science Status:Recipient Level:Regional

1984 -1987 S.K. Yee Scholarship Three-year Met-Based Scholarship University of Chicago Law School Status:Recipient Level:College

1984 -1984 Most Outstanding Senior Distinction Awarded to twenty undergraduate seniors based on overall achievement. University of Iowa Status:Recipient Level:University

1984 -1984 Phi Beta Kappa University of Iowa Level:University Type:Recognition

1984 -1984 Mortar Board University of Iowa Level:University Type:Recognition

1984 -1984 Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Delta Kappa Level:National Type:Non-Monetary

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Center for Race, Gender, and Social Justice ) Co-Director Type:University/College Service Level:University 2010

University of Cincinnati (Joint Degree Program in Law and Women's Studies ) Co-Director Type:University/College Service Level:University 2001

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Academic Policy and Curriculum Committee ) Committee Chair Type:University/College Service Level:College 2013 -2014

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Academic Policy and Curriculum Committee ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2001 -2006

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Interpretation ) Executive Board Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2016 -2016

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Women and the Law ) Executive Board Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2009 -2009

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Law and the Humanities ) Committee Chair Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2006 -2006

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Law and the Humanities ) Other Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2005 -2005

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Law and the Humanities ) Program Director Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2004 -2004

Association of American Law Schools (Section on Law and the Humanities ) Executive Board Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2002 -2012

University of Cincinnati (Law and Women's Studies Committee ) Co-Chair Type:University/College Service Level:University 2002

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Appointments Committee ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2010 -2012

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Committees ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2006 -2008

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Committees ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2009 -2011

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2007 -2008

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ) Type:University/College Service Level:College 2009 -2010

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2011 -2013

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2014 -2016

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Committee on Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2017 -2018

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Search Committee for Director of Domestic Violence Clinic ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2005 -2005

University of Cincinnati (Faculty Senate ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:University 2002 -2004

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Orientation Committee ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2003

University of Cincinnati Center for Women's Studies (Search Committee for Mary Ellen Heintz Distinguished Professor of Women's Studies ) Member Type:University/College Service Level:College 2003 -2003

University of Cincinnati College of Law (Faculty Advisor to First-Year Law Students ) Other Type:University/College Service Level:College 2001

American Association of Law Schools (Section on Commercial and Related Consumer Law ) Member Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2001

American Association of Law Schools (Section on Creditors' and Debtors' Rights ) Member Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2001

American Association of Law Schools (Section on Women and the Law ) Member Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National 2001

Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College Type:Service to Professional Development Programs Level:State 2017 -2017

YWCA of Greater Cincinnati (Advocacy and Communications Committee ) Type:Public Level:Local 2016

YWCA of Greater Cincinnati (Violence Against Women Subcommittee ) Type:Public Level:Local 2016

Intimate Partner Abuse Judicial and Magistrate Training Community Action Group Type:Public Level:Local 2015

Private Violence Intimate Partner Abuse Working Group Type:Public Level:Local 2014 -2015

Public Allies of Cincinnati (Sponsor of Team Service Project on Predatory Lending Practices in the Greater Cincinnati Area ) Type:Public Level:Local 2012 -2013

Greater Cincinnati Foundation (Women's Fund ) Other Type:Public Level:Local 2012 -2012

The Women's Fund (Research Advisory Task Force ) Type:Public Level:Local 2011

American Association of Law Schools Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National

Society of American Law Teachers Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National

Law and Society Association Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:International

Modern Language Association Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:International

American Society for Legal History Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National

Association of the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:International

American Bankruptcy Institute Type:Service to Professional Associations Level:National

Iowa Bar Type:Public Level:State 1993

Illinois Bar Type:Public Level:State 1987

Practice - College of Law
2540 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45221-0040
Phone: 513-556-1220
Fax: 513-556-1236
kristin.kalsem@uc.edu